WWTBAM Bored

Yesterday, when I was actually not even thinking about Millionaire when I checked my phone messages, THEY CALLED!!! My tape date is Sept. 9 with the show to air about the first week in Nov.

For those of you who have been on the show, auditioned in NYC, or live in the area, I have a few questions I'm hoping you can help me with:

- I'm on a Motel 6 style budget and even with prospective winnings, I don't want to return to CA in the hole by "living about my station in life". I'm thinking of staying in New Jersey and taking a train in to the city. Is this a reasonable idea or ridiculous? Any suggestions for cities/locations, if it is reasonable.

- Would there be a good reason to stay in NYC at the Lucerne (WWTBAM) Hotel for a night or two and then head out to NJ for a night or two? I'm thinking of early taping times that might make commuting more difficult.

- I know I may be held over to Sept. 10, but other than that, what is the likelihood for having the tape date completely changed to days (or even weeks) later once I've already arrived or booked non-refundable hotels, etc. Has this ever happened to anyone?

- Are there any posts I can be directed to that already supplies a lot of this type of info. And because I am generally a techno idiot, please be specific about how to find the post.

Thanks so much for all your support (even though I'm mostly a lurker, but a long-term lurker -- eight years) and help with questions. When WWTBAM started those many years ago, I found many of you already on the show message board and learned everything I ever needed to know about the show from reading the posts. As the quest reaches its climax, perhaps anything I know will be useful to someone someday.

Winnamill

Winnamill wrote:Yesterday, when I was actually not even thinking about Millionaire when I checked my phone messages, THEY CALLED!!! My tape date is Sept. 9 with the show to air about the first week in Nov.

For those of you who have been on the show, auditioned in NYC, or live in the area, I have a few questions I'm hoping you can help me with:

- I'm on a Motel 6 style budget and even with prospective winnings, I don't want to return to CA in the hole by "living about my station in life". I'm thinking of staying in New Jersey and taking a train in to the city. Is this a reasonable idea or ridiculous? Any suggestions for cities/locations, if it is reasonable.

- Would there be a good reason to stay in NYC at the Lucerne (WWTBAM) Hotel for a night or two and then head out to NJ for a night or two? I'm thinking of early taping times that might make commuting more difficult.

- I know I may be held over to Sept. 10, but other than that, what is the likelihood for having the tape date completely changed to days (or even weeks) later once I've already arrived or booked non-refundable hotels, etc. Has this ever happened to anyone?

- Are there any posts I can be directed to that already supplies a lot of this type of info. And because I am generally a techno idiot, please be specific about how to find the post.

Thanks so much for all your support (even though I'm mostly a lurker, but a long-term lurker -- eight years) and help with questions. When WWTBAM started those many years ago, I found many of you already on the show message board and learned everything I ever needed to know about the show from reading the posts. As the quest reaches its climax, perhaps anything I know will be useful to someone someday.

Winnamill

WAHOO!!!!!!!!! Now go out there and fulfill the promise of your Bored handle!

YES! We're up to three calls this season! I want to see three millionaires now.

Woo hoo! Congratulations, Winnamill!

I'd suggest you stay in NYC for the day(s) you'll be taping. They do want you particularly early that first morning and you don't need to worry about commuting into town on top of everything else.

They have Sept. 9, 10 and 11 scheduled as taping dates that week (and that's as far into the schedule as we know about so far, from what they've offered on the ticket request form--right now they don't list any taping days available for tickets!) so you should be good for that week. Occasionally, they've gotten really backed up and called some local contestants to change their taping date to much later, but they know better than to do that with people coming across country.

Way To Go!!!!!!!!!

Awesome!

Go get a Mill!

Can't help you with the logistics stuff, but CONGRATULATIONS!! Great news! May the luck of the stack be with you!

Woo hoo! Break a leg!

Unless you literally want to stay in a Motel 6, why stay in New Jersey? You won't be paying enough less for it to matter unless you go a long way from NYC unless you go to a dump in Jersey City, for example. Check Expedia.com for NYC listings.

If they've told you Sep. 9 or 10, they're committed to it.

You need to get your PAFs lined up right now if you haven't already.

Congratulations!


I would like to point out an interesting quote from Winnamill's first post here:
Even tho I made them laugh with my "loud and funny" reaction to my number being called, unfortunately (it seems), I was not chosen to receive a second interview after the reeealllly quick interview

Therefore, it appears that you DO NOT have to get a 2nd interview to get a call for the show.

MarleysGh0st wrote:They have Sept. 9, 10 and 11 scheduled as taping dates that week (and that's as far into the schedule as we know about so far, from what they've offered on the ticket request form--right now they don't list any taping days available for tickets!) ...

Really? I thought I saw the 18th listed just yesterday.

jsuchard wrote:Congratulations!


I would like to point out an interesting quote from Winnamill's first post here:
Even tho I made them laugh with my "loud and funny" reaction to my number being called, unfortunately (it seems), I was not chosen to receive a second interview after the reeealllly quick interview

Therefore, it appears that you DO NOT have to get a 2nd interview to get a call for the show.

It was also her 5th audition!

jsuchard wrote:Congratulations!


I would like to point out an interesting quote from Winnamill's first post here:
Even tho I made them laugh with my "loud and funny" reaction to my number being called, unfortunately (it seems), I was not chosen to receive a second interview after the reeealllly quick interview

Therefore, it appears that you DO NOT have to get a 2nd interview to get a call for the show.

Whoops! She said in another post:

As far as the taped interview, yes, I did get the second, taped interview.

gsabc wrote:

MarleysGh0st wrote:They have Sept. 9, 10 and 11 scheduled as taping dates that week (and that's as far into the schedule as we know about so far, from what they've offered on the ticket request form--right now they don't list any taping days available for tickets!) ...

Really? I thought I saw the 18th listed just yesterday.

Maybe Skip the intern broke something while editing the page. Nothing appears in the drop-down menus where you're supposed to select the dates you want, but I did find some more dates by looking at the source code:

dates=[

"September 2nd 3:30",
"September 4th 12:30",
"September 4th 3:30",
"September 9th 3:30",
"September 16th 12:30",
"September 16th 3:30",
"September 17th 12:30",
"September 17th 3:30",
"September 18th 12:30",
"September 18th 3:30",
"September 22nd 12:30",
"September 22nd 3:30",
"September 23rd 12:30",
"September 23rd 3:30",
"September 24th 12:30",
"September 24th 3:30",
"September 25th 12:30",
"September 25th 3:30",
"September 26th 12:30",
"September 26th 3:30
];

Winnamill wrote:Yesterday, when I was actually not even thinking about Millionaire when I checked my phone messages, THEY CALLED!!! My tape date is Sept. 9 with the show to air about the first week in Nov.

For those of you who have been on the show, auditioned in NYC, or live in the area, I have a few questions I'm hoping you can help me with:

- I'm on a Motel 6 style budget and even with prospective winnings, I don't want to return to CA in the hole by "living about my station in life". I'm thinking of staying in New Jersey and taking a train in to the city. Is this a reasonable idea or ridiculous? Any suggestions for cities/locations, if it is reasonable.

- Would there be a good reason to stay in NYC at the Lucerne (WWTBAM) Hotel for a night or two and then head out to NJ for a night or two? I'm thinking of early taping times that might make commuting more difficult.

- I know I may be held over to Sept. 10, but other than that, what is the likelihood for having the tape date completely changed to days (or even weeks) later once I've already arrived or booked non-refundable hotels, etc. Has this ever happened to anyone?

- Are there any posts I can be directed to that already supplies a lot of this type of info. And because I am generally a techno idiot, please be specific about how to find the post.

Thanks so much for all your support (even though I'm mostly a lurker, but a long-term lurker -- eight years) and help with questions. When WWTBAM started those many years ago, I found many of you already on the show message board and learned everything I ever needed to know about the show from reading the posts. As the quest reaches its climax, perhaps anything I know will be useful to someone someday.

Winnamill

Great news Winnamill - and I sure hope you do!!!

First, I'm assuming that you are going to fly from CA - so I would book as early as possible. Since your scheduled date is a Tuesday with a hold over possibility for Wed - I would book the return flight for Thursday. If you fly out on the Saturday before you might get a cheaper fair for a Sat. Evening stay-over. This will also give you Sunday and Monday to adjust to the time difference and get rested. If the ticket price difference is not that much lower then the cost of the motel/hotel for a night it is your call to fly on Sunday instead - but I would think the extra day to relax and adjust is more important.

Go the the website and try to sign up for tickets for the Monday taping (if there is one) - this will get you used to the studio and any changes to the game that there may or may not be. Staying in NJ is fine for most of the time but I would storngly recommend staying within walking distance the night before your scheduled date. There are several reasons for this (if things are still the same as from when I taped several weeks ago - which I think is a safe assumption).

First and foremost, you need to be at the studio early - before 7:30 AM - it's a long day so you want to be well rested. If you stay in NJ, then you will be getting up really early to make sure you get to the city in time, given the CA time difference, it will mean you biological clock will think you are up all night. In addition, you are placing you fate into the hands of the NYC metro area of various public transport systems - although I've used them alot they can be fickle at times with breakdowns in one area grinding the system to a halt. You don't to fall victim to that. So, spend what you need to for Monday night to be in walking distance. I know some people were closed out of the Lucerne and stayed elsewhere, if that is the cheapest/best option that you can find - then make sure you book early (find out when you can cancel if you find a cheaper alternative). I know someone stayed at the NYC YMCA in the area - they said it was fine - you might want to check out their rates and restrictions. Hotwire and Priceline are pretty good at getting reasonable rates - you can specifiy the number of stars and the section of NYC you want to restrict you search for. This might turn out to be the cheapest option.

If you do find cheap rates in New Jersey - make sure that you have a cheap way to get to the trains into NYC - the cost of taxis or a rental car may outweigh the savings of the motel room. In addition, NYC is so much fun - staying in the city has its own advantages from that perspective.

If you do stay outside of Manhatten, and choose only to stay in NYC on Monday night and are held over for Wednesday's taping - you don't need to be at the studio until a little after 10 am - so the stress of getting there is not nearly so big as for you scheduled taping date. That is very doable (IMO) from NJ. I was lucky, I have a sister who lives on Long Island and walking distance to the LIRR and a niece who lives on W 56th near Broadway so it is only a quick 10 block walk to the studio. I stayed at my niece's place the night before my scheduled taping so I could avoid the situations I described above, but then stayed at my sister's the rest of the time and that worked out fine. Coming in from Long Island is not all that different then coming in from NJ.

As far as any other changes that they may make in the next few weeks - contact you qualifier (that's the person who called you) and just let them know the days you are planning to fly in and fly out on - once they confirm that they are are OK with those dates - book the travel. They know you are coming in from CA so if changes need to be made it most likely would affect only those in the NYC area - so a quick confirmation now should be sufficient to let you book everything as non-refundable.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

Good luck, have a load of fun and make your handle come true!

---Jay

MarleysGh0st wrote:

gsabc wrote:

MarleysGh0st wrote:They have Sept. 9, 10 and 11 scheduled as taping dates that week (and that's as far into the schedule as we know about so far, from what they've offered on the ticket request form--right now they don't list any taping days available for tickets!) ...

Really? I thought I saw the 18th listed just yesterday.

Maybe Skip the intern broke something while editing the page. Nothing appears in the drop-down menus where you're supposed to select the dates you want, but I did find some more dates by looking at the source code:

Everyone blames me for everything that goes wrong around here!!! Are you working for _TPTB_ Mr. Marley?

Skip the Intern wrote:

MarleysGh0st wrote:

gsabc wrote: Really? I thought I saw the 18th listed just yesterday.

Maybe Skip the intern broke something while editing the page. Nothing appears in the drop-down menus where you're supposed to select the dates you want, but I did find some more dates by looking at the source code:

Everyone blames me for everything that goes wrong around here!!! Are you working for _TPTB_ Mr. Marley?

You can be sure that I am not!

Yay! Congrats, and have a fantastic time, Winnamil!

t.

Hooray, yet another one! Got get 'em and have a ton of fun!!!

Congratulations! Good luck! (And if you need a pretty smart kid who knows a thing or two about Google, I'd love to volunteer to be a PAF. )

Wow!

My advice is the same as to Slade, who also got THE CALL; try to see a couple/3 new-format shows before you tape yours. I dunno the start date for broadcast of the new season; maybe you're taping late enough this taping-year that you will have seen a few newies on TV already? If not, although it could be stomach-turning, try to arrive a few days early & watch some tapings, if they'll let you.

I know all my strategies involve the now-bygone rules. People will have to come up with new strategies fast. But hopefully not in-the-hot-seat-&-blindsided-by-the-new-rules fast.

Thanks for all the good words of cheer. And Frogman, thanks for the very helpful info. on where to stay from someone who has been there, done that with the hotels, etc. That will really help me decide whether or not to break open the piggy bank.

And I do want to clarify something regarding the interviews. The confusion was probably due to my incompetence with the quote box as I was replying to someone else who did not get a second interview. Anyway, I DID get a second interview, and it was about the 5th time I auditioned. I was in the Ring of Fire in 2001, but no Hot Seat. That also came via the very first round of auditions they did as they phased out the phone game.

jsuchard wrote:Congratulations!


I would like to point out an interesting quote from Winnamill's first post here:
Even tho I made them laugh with my "loud and funny" reaction to my number being called, unfortunately (it seems), I was not chosen to receive a second interview after the reeealllly quick interview

Therefore, it appears that you DO NOT have to get a 2nd interview to get a call for the show.

This will clear things up:

Actually, that "Even tho I made them laugh/I was not picked for a second interview..." comment was mine; Winnamill must have just cut & pasted my post (instead of putting it in the white box), and then added her response, so it looks like my comments were part of her post. We were both in Jackson, CA at the "Sacramento" auditions on June 24th, during my 1st audition and her 5th, and I think we were together in the group that passed both (movie & regular) tests. Anyway, she got the 2nd interview.

Unfortunately, as evidenced by our experiences, the "no 2nd interview/no happy card" theory is still firmly intact.

So, Winnamill -- Congratulations!! - GO GET 'EM, GIRL!!!

Ps - Were you picked for the regular game, or movie week?

PPs - Wheeeee!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PPPs - I was still typing this and then posted before I realized Winnamill already cleared up the 2nd interview confusion.

Congratulations! I like hearing that someone gets their shot after 5 tries.

That's terrific! Congratulations!

Just saw this......YAAAAAYYYY, best of luck and congratulations!!!

So many people (me included) like to get as much data as possible regarding each step of the process. So if you don't mind me asking a few questions....

Just some I'm clear - this was your 5th attempt or did you try out 5 times before?

On your previous attempts did you pass the test every time or, if not, do you know how many times you passed?

If you did pass and get interview(s) - did you ever get the happy card - and if so how many? How about the sad card - do you know how many you got?

The reason I'm asking is that if you passed often and got the sad card a lot, then I think this bodes well for the many on the bored who think that once a sad card always a sad card.

Finally, if you had been getting the sad card in the past, did you do anything different in either this or other interviews and if so what?

Nothing would make me happier then to see everyone on this bored get a shot in the hot seat and maybe you might have some data to help make that happen.

---Jay