WWTBAM Bored

Just out of the blue, Monday evening.

The caller said they are launching a syndicated version. She saw the application I filled out for 1 vs. 100 and said that I am a "silly, silly" guy, and they want me to audition.

Her: "So, can you be at the Culver City studios Wednesday?"
Me: "That might be a little tight."
Her: "OK, how about Friday? 2 pm?"
Me: "Um, when you read my application, did you happen to notice my address?"
Her: "No, what is it?"
Me: "Bethesda, Maryland."
Her:
Me: "Hello?"
Her: "What are you doing out there?"
Me: "I live here."

Anyway, long story short? I'm going.
I know, I know.
I KNOW.

So I just took a look at the application they sent me (in between viewings of the show on YouTube...I've honestly never seen more than 15 minutes of the show before), and they are REQUIRING me to name "supporters," that is, people who will appear on the show and heckle me.

I'm not about to fly my own family out there if I do get on the show. (Yes, I would have to pay my own way, just like to the audition. I KNOW.) And, as Uly is uncomfortably aware, I do not have any family in the area (thanks again for putting me up, Uly! I got a motel this time!).

So I'm thinking that maybe some of you all would like to join me on TV at some future date if I ever do get picked. It would, I'm thinking, actually be fun to have a group of accomplished trivia game show veterans crash their little package-opening party.

What do you say, California (and anyone willing to travel to California) BBs? I have to have at least a couple of names on my application for my audition Friday, although that does not constitute a commitment on your part. If this sounds like fun to you, let me know!

Good for you, Vails, and good luck!

If you had watched more than 15 minutes of the show, you'd know that interaction with the supporters is very important on DoND; the more exciting they are the better! Usually it's family and close friends, although if you coach a marching band or sing in a choir, they sometimes bring in the whole group.

TPTB won't be sold on a handful of internet buddies from California, so you'd better come up with a better backstory if you use this approach.

Or, better yet, bite the bullet and fly in the family.

But, hey, we always support fellow BBs on game shows, so if TPTB want me to fly in and support you from Upstate NY, just say so.

TPTB should be advised that I will use the phrase "expected value" on the air!

I'd be up for it.

If Marley is going to use "Expected Value", then I'll shout out the strategy of picking Case 1, then 2, then 3...

Seriously- hope you can find some people to go with you. I would suggest using people you know...and trying to get them to help with the airfare.

Thanks for the advice, Marley! Maybe the family route is the way to go. (Issa is so anti-this-sort-of-thing it's not even funny.) My sons are 12,6, and 4. Would they allow family members on who are that young?

If I do stay on this course, you're right, I shouldn't paint BBs as Internet friends. So my backstory would simply be that of a group of sympathetic game show champs rooting for one of their own. That is, of course, if anybody is interested in doing so.

What I was hoping for most was that maybe the syndicated version would downplay the whole group-support thing, but it looks like that's not the case.

Vails wrote:Thanks for the advice, Marley! Maybe the family route is the way to go. (Issa is so anti-this-sort-of-thing it's not even funny.) My sons are 12,6, and 4. Would they allow family members on who are that young?

Absolutely!

A four-year-old can pick a number as well as anybody!

Vails wrote: Her: "So, can you be at the Culver City studios Wednesday?"
Me: "That might be a little tight."
Her: "OK, how about Friday? 2 pm?"
Me: "Um, when you read my application, did you happen to notice my address?"
Her: "No, what is it?"
Me: "Bethesda, Maryland."
Her:
Me: "Hello?"
Her: "What are you doing out there?"
Me: "I live here."

I wonder if she knows where Maryland is. She was probably thinking you have to drive all the way from the Bakersfield area, on a Friday.

If you want to use your family, I'd think the story about the multiple food allergies they have and the magnificent baking treats your wife has created to deal with them would go over well.

I can see the host interviewing each kid in turn.

Kid #1: I'm allergic to...

Kid #2: And I'm allergic to...

Kid #3 But I'm allergic to...

Mom: And I have to cook for them all!

Here is a sure-fire way to pass the audition:


Her: So who are you bringing for your supporters?
You: I'm hiring them.
Her: You're what?!
You: I'm hiring them. I'm going down to the SAG office and hiring some professional extras.
Her: Why?
You: Why?
Her: Yes, why?
You: Because I can't afford to bring my family out and plus it will make great T.V.
Her: Why do you say that?
You: Because the extras will be celebrity look alikes.
Her: Hmmm... what celebrities?
You: I don't know. Whoever is available.
Her: So you can't afford to bring your family, but you can afford to hire extras?
You: Well, I'm not really hiring them. They will work on a percentage.
Her: That's not scale.
You: I've not bargained with them, collectively or otherwise.
Her: So why would an extra want to do this, for only a percentage?
You: Isn't that what I'm doing?
Her: No, you get it all.
You: So I'm working for 100 percent.
Her: Well, but you know what I mean.
You: Yes, I do. Why would the extras come here and provide you with entertainment to sell your advertisers when they aren't guaranteed anything?
Her: Yes, that is what I mean.
You: Isn't that what you are asking me to do?
Her:
You: Hello? Are you O.K.
Her: Yes, yes, I just never thought of it that way.
You: But, I'm still willing.
Her: O.K. but I need to see the list of celebrities.
You: I'm hoping for George Washington and Andrew Jackson
Her: Who?
You: Nevermind.

BackInTex wrote: You: Yes, I do. Why would the extras come here and provide you with entertainment to sell your advertisers when they aren't guaranteed anything?
Her: Yes, that is what I mean.
You: Isn't that what you are asking me to do?

REC!! Made me laugh out loud.

I'm glad that I passed on the offer. This is way too involved for me. Plus, I've never seen the show. Doesn't seem like it's BAM where you can just walk in, answer a few questions and win some cash. But, then again, I don't really know having never seen the show. The only thing I know about the show is Howie Mandel. I'll just wait for the next BAM audition in Charlotte or Des Moines, depending on when we are at the time.

Sir_Galahad wrote:I'm glad that I passed on the offer. This is way too involved for me. Plus, I've never seen the show. Doesn't seem like it's BAM where you can just walk in, answer a few questions and win some cash. But, then again, I don't really know having never seen the show.

Gah! I know it's not WWTBAM, but you should have seen it at least once.*

It's actually much easier to win money on this show, since the only question you have to answer is whether or not to take the banker's offer. Getting on the show, OTOH, take far more personality, telegenics, excitement, yada yada yada, than we see even among the WE/WEs.

After all, TPTB are counting on you taking what should be a 5-10 minute game and filling it up with an hour of emotion.



*And to pre-emptively answer Pea's questions--Why should I see it? What did you get out of the show?--the answer is: comparative game show data.

GREAT suggestion, Marley. I was thinking about talking about that anyway, and had included it in my application, but I didn't make the leap to the support group. This could work. Also, thanks for remembering.

Tex, that was hilarious.

Sir G, I know what you mean. I was going to pass on this as well, but there are--how can I put it without sounding totally flaky?--signs that are suggesting that this might be worth my while. Plus, it's guaranteed money, right? Everybody walks home with something. If I spend a thousand on bringing the family out--which, ouch--are the chances fair that I'll at least recoup that on the show? (NOTE: Top prize for the syndicated version is $250,000. I don't know how many cases there are.)

Vails wrote:GREAT suggestion, Marley. I was thinking about talking about that anyway, and had included it in my application, but I didn't make the leap to the support group. This could work. Also, thanks for remembering.

Tex, that was hilarious.

Sir G, I know what you mean. I was going to pass on this as well, but there are--how can I put it without sounding totally flaky?--signs that are suggesting that this might be worth my while. Plus, it's guaranteed money, right? Everybody walks home with something. If I spend a thousand on bringing the family out--which, ouch--are the chances fair that I'll at least recoup that on the show? (NOTE: Top prize for the syndicated version is $250,000. I don't know how many cases there are.)

Be sure that you "give a lot of thought" as to which number case to pick. Howie asks that of every contestant on the primetime version, and it annoys the dickens out of me - how much thought does it take to choose a random number?

Vails wrote: Plus, it's guaranteed money, right? Everybody walks home with something. If I spend a thousand on bringing the family out--which, ouch--are the chances fair that I'll at least recoup that on the show? (NOTE: Top prize for the syndicated version is $250,000. I don't know how many cases there are.)

Yes, everyone gets something, but it might only be a penny!

I don't know what the different case values will be, but if there are about 20 cases and a total prize value of $500K, the expected value would be $25K. There would be a rather skewed distribution, though, with a handful of big winners and many more who got chump change.

Trying to recoup your expenses for a family of five might be a challenge.

But if you consider it a family vacation that gives everyone a chance to be on TV...

There's a lot to digest in this thread. I finally talked to Mike, well I talked to two Mikes today. The tomato-y version says hi and he is probably on a plane heading eastward as I type this. The other Mike scheduled me for an interview tomorrow for DoND.
When my b-i-l was on the show, he was told no kids could be supporters. I was not allowed on because I had just been on WWTBAM. So my sister and the other supports showed up. Well they met my niece (15 year old) and they decided they wanted her as a supporter so they went out and bought her $200 worth of clothes and put her on. I haven't watched enough to know whether they have had even younger family members on or not.
Now I have to go and figure out who will be my supporters should I be so fortunate (or not so fortunate) to be chosen. If I think of anything else I will be back to add to my post total, I mean to add pertinent thoughts.

I auditioned today for the syndi version DoND. They already had theme weeks set up: fireman, police, pregnant mothers, twins and people with famous names. There was a short weeding out process, maybe a third were sent home. The rest, including Jennifer Garner and all the pregnant moms passed. They then had us all give our pertinent information and answered questions on tape. This took about three hours. The reason they need a lot of contestants is because they need 22 contestants along with 4 alternates to appear on week's worth of shows. Part of the game was explained: there will be 22 cases, held by the prospective contestants. One will be chosen randomly to play the game. Only one contestant per half hour show. The top prize is $250k. So, they have eliminated the million dollar case along with the $750k and $500k along with a lesser value to get to the 22 cases for the syndi game. The next game (day) one of the alternates replaces the player who was chosen and played the previous game (day). What was not explained was how they will change the game to make it fit the half hour.

Do you mean that you might end up paying your way to California and then leaving WITHOUT a chance to even pick a case??

Yikes. That's REALLY cheap ...

MarleysGh0st wrote:

Sir_Galahad wrote:I'm glad that I passed on the offer. This is way too involved for me. Plus, I've never seen the show. Doesn't seem like it's BAM where you can just walk in, answer a few questions and win some cash. But, then again, I don't really know having never seen the show.

Gah! I know it's not WWTBAM, but you should have seen it at least once.*

It's actually much easier to win money on this show, since the only question you have to answer is whether or not to take the banker's offer. Getting on the show, OTOH, take far more personality, telegenics, excitement, yada yada yada, than we see even among the WE/WEs.

After all, TPTB are counting on you taking what should be a 5-10 minute game and filling it up with an hour of emotion.



*And to pre-emptively answer Pea's questions--Why should I see it? What did you get out of the show?--the answer is: comparative game show data.

Great answer!

And

It is stoopid to not know what happens on a show you are trying out for.

If you are not going to try-out for it - no need to see it.

Vails wrote:GREAT suggestion, Marley. I was thinking about talking about that anyway, and had included it in my application, but I didn't make the leap to the support group. This could work. Also, thanks for remembering.

Tex, that was hilarious.

Sir G, I know what you mean. I was going to pass on this as well, but there are--how can I put it without sounding totally flaky?--signs that are suggesting that this might be worth my while. Plus, it's guaranteed money, right? Everybody walks home with something. If I spend a thousand on bringing the family out--which, ouch--are the chances fair that I'll at least recoup that on the show? (NOTE: Top prize for the syndicated version is $250,000. I don't know how many cases there are.)

Exactly what I was thinking - tell them you would bring them - if you don't get on the show, saying you would bring them costs you nothing. If they let you on the show, you will edn up with money.

Very exciting for you!

Use your mother-in-law again. Make sure you bring pictures of your family.

ulysses5019 wrote:I auditioned today for the syndi version DoND. They already had theme weeks set up: fireman, police, pregnant mothers, twins and people with famous names.

WTF?

Did TPTB get together at a convention and brainstorm this idea?

MarleysGh0st wrote:

ulysses5019 wrote:I auditioned today for the syndi version DoND. They already had theme weeks set up: fireman, police, pregnant mothers, twins and people with famous names.

WTF?

Did TPTB get together at a convention and brainstorm this idea?

Calling AJ!


Calling AJ!


Do it!

Jeemie wrote: ... then I'll shout out the strategy of picking Case 1, then 2, then 3...

Is this so you get to look at everyone's legs?

dimmzy wrote:Do you mean that you might end up paying your way to California and then leaving WITHOUT a chance to even pick a case??

Yikes. That's REALLY cheap ...

Yup. But they were calling anyone who had come in and auditioned. There were a couple of people who had flown in from northern California. And there was one person who claimed to have never watched the show!

mntetn wrote:

Jeemie wrote: ... then I'll shout out the strategy of picking Case 1, then 2, then 3...

Is this so you get to look at everyone's legs?

Jeemie wants to make the point that if the case amounts are really random, all that emotion about which case to pick next--"Should I go with 6? How about 15?""--is nonsense. Going in order is just as good.

I'd like that as a contestant, although I think it would be more fun to start that way and then begin jumping around, so that the cases that are left end up being 4, 8, 15, 16, 23...(no 42, darn it).