Yesterday I went into Manhattan to watch a taping (actually 3 tapings) of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire,” and while I was there, took the contestant’s audition test. Although I didn’t think the test was very hard, I regret to say that I did not make the cut – out of about 150 people who took the test (general knowledge, multiple choice, 30 questions in 10 minutes,) only 6 were told that they passed, and I don’t know how many correct answers that entailed. The woman sitting next to me (the thing about these shows is everybody, for the most part, is in a jovial mood and very friendly. This lady decided – I’m not exactly sure how – that I was very smart and had surely gotten a passing score) had a theory that they don’t necessarily choose the highest scores b/c then ABC would have to give away too much money, which is interesting, but it conflicts with the fact that, as we all know, David Mackey who graduated from our h.s, was a contestant, and I’m willing to bet Dave got the highest score they ever saw.
Anyway, it was still a days’ worth of free entertainment, and I’d even consider trying again, if one of you would come with me. Here is what I have learned about the proceedings:
1. They send out more “reservations” than they actually have seats available, so you need to get there early, but not too early. I arrived at about 9:30, for a 10:15 “seating,” which was fine but I would’ve been out of luck if I’d arrived much later. The 10:15 seating means that the show begins taping @ 12:30 and is done by 3 – 3:30.
Once you show up and tell the young production assistant your name, she checks her clipboard, gives you a pink ticket w/a number on it, and tells you to come back @ 10:15. There is a nice Starbucks less than a block away so there’s no problem killing time, and if you forgot to bring a paper, there’s also a Barnes & Noble right near the subway stop. Once you get there @ 10:15, all the folks with pink tickets are herded into a line, where they give you an application to fill out, and eventually start admitting people into the building, a few at a time. The whole process takes maybe another 45-60 minutes, during which you stand outside on the sidewalk – it is a perfectly nice neighboorhood, on a block that appears to be owned almost entirely by ABC, but if you haven’t had breakfast bring your coffee w/you, as there are no pushcarts and nowhere inside the studio to get food. I recommend bringing a snack in your purse.
2. You have to go through security and get your bag checked, but it’s not a very stringent process - nothing like going to court.
I forgot to take my Swiss Army Knife out of my purse, and the nice guard waved me through without even noticing.
3. Wear layers, as the studio is really chilly, although not as frigid as when we went to the Letterman show. The “reservation” sez “you will be on national television, so dress to impress,” but people wear any damn thing.
4. Although when you are watching at home, “your host” is Meredith Viera, Meredith is essentially an actress who comes out at the last possible moment and reads from a teleprompter (quite effectively, I might add. She seems like a woman who knows this is a pretty sweet gig, and does her best to take it seriously.) The person actually in charge of wrangling the audience, once you are seated, is a third-rate “warm-up” comedian whose jokes aren’t all that funny, but who does have a very good understanding of maintaining a high energy level in the room, in a “let’s get this party started” kind of way – sort of like a dj at a bar mitzvah, but more off-color.
5. I am pleased to report that Meredith has not had a lot of cosmetic surgery, and is still sporting the face God gave her. She is as thin as a person can be and still look normal. They do a lot w/hair and lighting: her hair is absolutely perfect, in a simple, casual, sort of looks-like-she-does-it-herself-except-you know-it-took-a-stylist-hours-to-get-it-that-way-sort-of-style. From maybe 20 feet away, under the lights, you’d think she was my age or younger, even, but up close she looks like a very pretty Older Woman, with the natural lines of movement around her eyes and mouth intact. Her eyes are an intense, sparkling blue color that cannot be faked.
5. They don’t have the “life lines” anymore! Apparently with the widespread availability of Google, the people at home were looking up the answers, so now if a contestant wants help, s/he has the choice of asking the audience, which is great fun because you get to press this little keypad and vote in real time – or “asking the expert,” (who is a news correspondent from “ABC Weekend” and seems like a very bright guy. He is available by Skype, and does his best to give decent advice – I didn’t get the sense he was faking knowledge he didn’t have, and I think his proposed answers were correct all but one time. BTW my record in “ask the audience” was just as good, but I’m not bitter or anything,) or “double dipping”, which means s/he is allowed to choose 2 of the possible four answers.
Everybody won at least some money – the first few questions are really easy, as you know if you have watched the show, and I think any one of us could get at least as far as the $5,000 round -so if chosen, why wouldn’t you? After that, it’s sort of a crap shoot – the questions are not “Jeopardy” hard, but some of them are sort of obscure. Yesterday the biggest prize – $100K – went to a Protestant clergyman who said he intends to give most of the money to his church – how could you not root for him? Anyway that was my foray into American popular culture for the day. As I said, keep an eye on the website, and if any of yuz wants to go the next time they are taping (I think after next week, they’re done for a few months,) let me know. I think Rosie and I should go with the Baby Genius next year after she turns 18.
