THE call

[henrix77]

To say "long time lurker" seems inadequate. From the initial 10 night run in August 1999, I've been around. Going back to the old ABC/Go boards, I've sat in the shadows, reading the heroic exploits of all the lucky folks who made the big time. I never really felt I had anything to contribute (other than jealousy, lol), so I just lurked...and kept trying, and lurked, and kept trying. 70+ successful phone game tries (3 call backs, but never ROF), 5 different passed auditions, and all those flame-outs later, I had more or less given up.

Time marches on, and a few weeks ago, I was in Vegas for my annual World Series of Poker trip. I only play one event, and as luck would have it this year, I busted out of the money at the very end of day 1. So, at 2 a.m., I was headed back to my hotel feeling sorry for myself, and I see the Millionaire audition info on the giant marquee outside Bally's. I'll admit, I initially blew it off thinking "Why would this time be any different". But, I'm a sucker, so by the time I got back to my hotel, I'd pulled up the audition info online, and had the front desk print it out for me. Filling out the paperwork, trying to be pithy/witty at 3-4 a.m. is a real treat, let me tell you. The next day, I sluggishly go to Bally's, eager to collect my next "so close, but yet so far" story. Around 70 or so of us, I'd estimate, test, and I was one of the dozen or so passers. Big deal. We file in to the next room, and have a little meet and greet with an associate. Somehow, this was different. It was the first time I'd auditioned since my wife passed away 3 years ago, and for whatever reason, I wasn't nervous at all. I could tell she genuinely liked me. Got to the video interview, and same story. I suppose when you go through certain things in your life, it makes auditioning for a gameshow seem a little less daunting (that being said, my God, did I still ever want this...).

Anyway, 2 days later, I got the happy email. For the first time, I genuinely felt like I had a shot at it. Then, I start reading online that all the shows are taping in the next 5 weeks, and calls are already going out. I was crushed, of course, but at the same time, not surprised. Life resumes.

Then, last night, on a Sunday evening at 7 p.m., they called. Yes, THEY called. To say I was elated does a disservice to the word "elated". I swear, it was like a 17 year old weight had been lifted. But now, it's here, and I'm beginning the process of prepping. I tape August 13/14.

More than anything, I just wanted to finally post a thank you to all of you who I know don't know me, but I swear over the last 17 years, I feel like I've gotten to know some of you. Thank you for sharing, for keeping this thing going, and for perhaps giving someone else the inspiration to keep trying. Dreams can come true, sometimes it just takes much longer than you think to get there.

[ghostjmf]

Wow!

Let me be the 1st here, it looks, to congratulate you.


Very good luck on the show.

[Ritterskoop]

Two things I heard in there that you had working for you:

Being tired takes away some inhibitions, for some of us.

Losing someone important may have made you more of a "character" than before - I know that probably sounds really wrong but I hope you understand I mean it in a good way - you have A Story.

Have fun!

[ne1410s]

Lordy, Lordy! A post about the show! Best of luck to you.

[jaybee]

Congrats!

You made one hell of a first post!

Good Luck.

[BackInTex]

Lordy, Lordy! A post about the show! Best of luck to you.

That's two in a week. What's the bored coming to?

[mrkelley23]

And sometimes it's not about any change at all to you, but rather to the show. And sometimes it's not a change anywhere, but just persistence. I"m glad you had it. I've compared this process to Broadway-style auditions many times, and every single actor/singer/dancer I know who's made it in any sense, from the woman I went to high school with who managed to make the cast of A Chorus Line at its peak to the young lady/former student who just left on a US tour of Wicked as standby for Elphaba, all of them say, "I just kept trying."

Congratulations to you, and thanks for finally delurking to share your wonderful news.

[henrix77]

So my dream +1 is unavailable. Would anyone else be interested? I should mention that terms are negotiable, depending on pedigree.

[goongas]

I will be in town for TCONA, I could be a +1.

[Bob78164]

August 13/14 is a weekend, right? I might be able to do that. I've been a PAF a few times (I think 24 all told, with 5 on-air appearances) so I'm okay with the responsibility.

And welcome aBored! --Bob

[K.P.]

Congratulations and welcome! Hard work and persistence pays off. Hopefully it'll pay off big!

[triviawayne]

Lordy, Lordy! A post about the show! Best of luck to you.

That's two in a week. What's the bored coming to?

The house of million dollar winners I hope!

[triviawayne]

Congrats and good luck!

Here I thought I had the monopoly on passes with no calls. 42 tests passed (various shows), this is my first call (MSQ didn't call, they didn't really want me, I just crashed the gates).

What changed is the staff. Last year was the first time in years there were a bunch of new people interviewing contestants. In the past, there are some that would recognize me and have pre-determined they would never put me on the show. I'm not kidding, I've had some of the fastest interviews before being shown the door. The three on-camera interviews I had were people who had never seen me before.

What also changed is this year they seem to be actively looking for trivia types, and on the sites I'm on, those of us getting the call seem to be right around TCONA. I think they finally understand the ROI of actually having someone win this game even if just once a year, and they're finally trying to make that happen.

[ghostjmf]

So now that its pretty much too late you're telling me (& Marley) we should have tried out this year, huh.

These days I just wait 'til they schedule a Boston or Providence stop because I'm done long-D commuting for instant rejection. I coulda made it to Phili, I think they had a tryout there.

If the show lives, maybe next year.

[ghostjmf]

I'm still mad that the woman at my test-table in Boston last year who did get the video interview didn't get the call. At least, I didn't see her play this year. If those were the new batch of interviewers, they did reject me.

[UbaybPerry]

I have to say that I too was getting the "well, maybe next year" depression because the phone wasn't ringing (oh it was ringing alright, and my heart would skip a beat every time I saw that it was an out of state number only to be crestfallen to answer it and hear that I may be able to reduce my student loan debt (I haven't had student loans in 7+ years)). So to see yours and triviawayne's posts these last couple of days at least rekindles some glimmer of hope that the fateful call may still come.
Congratulations to you both, and hopefully you guys kick ass and take $$.

[Bob Juch]

I will be in town for TCONA, I could be a +1.

As will I. I'm not leaving until late Sunday.

[triviawayne]

Then, last night, on a Sunday evening at 7 p.m., they called. Yes, THEY called. To say I was elated does a disservice to the word "elated". I swear, it was like a 17 year old weight had been lifted. But now, it's here, and I'm beginning the process of prepping. I tape August 13/14.

13 & 14 are Sat & Sun---are you sure of those dates?

[henrix77]

That's what's on all my paperwork...

[ghostjmf]

Vegas is on its own time thingie, I'd bet, but check w/ your "handlers" about this if you can.

[Bob Juch]

Yes, they tape on weekends:

http://on-camera-audiences.com/shows/Wh ... illionaire

[Catfish]

There was a story on This American Life a few weeks ago by a woman, one of the show's producers, who had lost a lot of weight . . . .

The relevant bit here is that as a thin person she got a job seating audience members for the Letterman show, & was told to seat the fat people in the balcony. She remembered that when she was fat, & in that audience, they'd seated *her* in the balcony. She couldn't figure out why at the time, as she'd gotten there early.

I'm not even all that fat any more. But I'm older now. Just not even ready for Daytime..

Funny you should mention this. I auditioned a couple of times with Sonny and his two Jennifer sidekicks and never got called. I thought I came close once when I hit it off quite well with Sonny during the mock game, which seemed to irritate the Jennifers.

Cut to two years later and me weighing 90 pounds less. I interviewed with the same two Jennifers, who didn't recognize me, and was called within 10 days and asked to report to NYC.

[triviawayne]

That's what's on all my paperwork...

My mistake, I didn't notice any weekend tapings when I looked at the schedule earlier this year...I probably should've looked before leaping.

Let's face it, after what we've been through, how could either of us possibly screw up our tape dates

[henrix77]

That's what's on all my paperwork...

My mistake, I didn't notice any weekend tapings when I looked at the schedule earlier this year...I probably should've looked before leaping.

Let's face it, after what we've been through, how could either of us possibly screw up our tape dates

AMEN!

[AndyO92]

Right on! I'm from Philly, and will taping the 13/14th as well. Can we be each other's +1s?

EDIT: Not to steal your thunder but legitimately still looking for a +1 myself. If anyone is interested let me know.