Friday, April 25, 2008

GAMING THE GAME SHOWS: PART I

There’s a dirty little secret in the TV game show industry, but it’s not what you think. The tip of the iceberg is that many of the contestants you see are actually actors. However, they’re not actors pretending to be contestants, they’re simply actors who happen to be on game shows, the same as when a plumber goes on a game show, or a librarian goes on a game show. Still, the shows go to great lengths to keep you from finding out. Why? Because SO MANY contestants are actually actors. Here’s why…

Most shows tape in Los Angeles, which is where they find a lot of their contestants. Each show has its own screening process, but basically: they test your gaming skills, they rate your likeability, they judge how you respond to personal questions… and no matter which show it is, one of the first questions they’ll ask is what you do for a living. You’re an actor? They’ll show you the door. Period. So what’s the dirty little secret?

They actually prefer actors as contestants, rather than plumbers or librarians. So much so that they actively pursue actors. Confused? Here’s the deal: Actors are good looking, charismatic, and they know how to put on a good show. So through winks and nudges they make it perfectly clear that all one needs to do is simply not mention that they’re an actor. You also temp? Voila, you’re a secretary. You also wait tables? You’re a part of the food service industry. So next time you’re watching a game show really take a look at the contestant and what they say they do for a living. Odds are you’re watching an actor who also happens to be a carpenter, or works as a hotel doorman, or makes their living walking dogs. But the truth is, they’re actors.

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