A lot of work goes into making our favorite TV game shows as interesting as they are. We as viewers don't see a lot of behind-the-scenes that make the show entertaining: how audience members get picked, what the selection process to be a contestant is, and whether the host really smells as nice as he looks.
One avid game show enthusiast wanted to know what goes on behind the curtain, so they decided to ask: "People who have been on game shows, what are some things that watchers don't know?" Netizens came through with all sorts of answers. From stories from the contestants on The Price Is Right and Who Wants To Be A Millionaire to exposing how true the show Survivor really is, people shared some interesting game show secrets. Check out people's answers below!
Bored Panda got in touch with the author of this thread, u/Meme_Lord4522. They kindly agreed to tell us more about what gave them the idea to post this question. The Redditor also opened up about their favorite game shows and which one they'd want to participate in one day. Read our conversation below!
#1
I won the Showcase Showdown on The Price Is Right back in 2012. The day is LONG. Started standing in line around 6am, then you’re put through quick interviews. They ask what’s your name, where you’re from, and what do you do (work). I have no idea why they picked me because my answers were pretty unenthusiastic as I was just happy to be in the audience. My guess was that I was an young 23 year old woman with okay legs.
You truly do not know if you will be called to “come on down” until the moment of. Yes, the wheel is heavy. After the show, you’re pulled into a back room to discuss prize acceptance, paperwork, and taxes. You also sign an NDA declaring you will not tell others the outcome of your episode, which airs 3 months after filming.
The prizes are truly nice and high quality! I won 3 international trips in the Showcase and the locations and accommodations were incredible.
144points
#2
I was on a show where someone in the audience blurted out the answer before I could. They stopped production, removed the audience member, took me off stage, reset the *entire round* and started over. The kicker is I knew the answer anyway, and the new round had a category I knew absolutely nothing about. Audience member cost me $30k.
116points
#3
It was not me, but an acquaintance was taped for “Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?“ He was more intelligent than a fifth grader, but that doesn't make for good television. It never went to air.
108points
The Redditor who posted this question is an avid fan of television game shows. One of them was what prompted u/Meme_Lord4522 to start this thread. "I was watching Jeopardy and was wondering how long it actually takes to make an episode, including filming, costumes, makeup, etc.," they told Bored Panda. "I first did some light Googling but then decided to turn to Reddit and make it a much more open-ended question."
The netizen says that Jeopardy! is their favorite game show. "Additionally, I've always wanted to be on Deal or No Deal," they tell us. It was nice then to find several answers about those two shows. The Redditor says they're glad that many people took the time out of their day to respond. "I really appreciated reading everyone's responses and finding out a lot about different game shows."
#4
My mother won the first microwave that The Price Is Right gave as a prize. I was about 14 years old, and I cooked everything in that monster.
100points
#5
As a phone-a-friend on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, there is no rule against googling. Instead of studying, I practiced googling all kinds of esoteric subjects for a few weeks. I helped my friend win $50K.
93points
#6
I was on The Price is Right. The stage is much smaller and the colors (including Bob’s makeup) were much brighter than what you see on TV. They took my SSN in case I was picked for tax purposes. Everyone said to act enthusiastically to get picked, but I couldn’t fake it- not my personality. Despite that, I got picked. I must have been wearing a good outfit for TV or something. I ended up winning a lot of $ on Plinko.
Yes, the spinning wheel is heavy!
Edit - I did NOT kiss Bob. They kinda suggested you do it, but no way I was going to. I just wanted to get off that stage and call my Mom.
84points
The Redditor says they haven't been on any game shows yet. But reading people's comments about the behind-the-scenes secrets made them want to participate even more. "I learned that it can be fun behind the scenes as well as the fun the audience sees. There were some off-putting stories, but most were pretty positive," u/Meme_Lord4522 adds.
#7
On Jeopardy, there are tiny lights surrounding the game board that aren’t visible on camera. You can’t ring in until the lights flash and if you try before the lights flash, you get locked out for a couple of seconds. That’s why you see people rapidly clicking the signaling device.
81points
#8
I was on Cash Cab. They actually select and prescreen people under the guise of a separate show. They use this to gauge your knowledge and tailor the questions to your ability. As an example one of my questions was " What large archipelago is made of over 15,000 islands? Another team on the same episode got What social media platform has a blue "F" as part of their logo? When you show up for the other show - they tell you there is an issue with the location and you need to take a cab to another site. Up pulls the cab and blamo!
81points
#9
I wasn’t on a game show, but I went to a taping of Wheel of Fortune. They taped 3 shows and I was absolutely exhausted by the end of it. You never realize just how much the audience has to clap during that show until you have to do it.
81points
#10
In the early 80s a friend’s family got to be on Family Feud and I got invited to be in the audience. Among many revelations (to a kid who had been raised on the TV) Richard Dawson was way more creepy in-person than he appears on TV and he had to stand behind the set pieces and chain-smoke in-between takes. It was so odd to see how he could just turn himself ‘on’ and ‘off’ like that. On camera, a totally different person, warm and friendly, off camera, sullen and hungover looking. He did not look like a happy man. What a trip that was.
77points
#11
Tried out for Who Wants to be a Millionaire years ago. Had to be in Manhattan first thing in the morning to take a test in a room of maybe 50 people. They quickly grade the test while asking who had the longest drive in, who’s the youngest/ oldest. Results come in and probably 35 people are out the door not scoring high enough. Myself and everyone who stayed back are told we would meet with the producers of the show, pretty sure they were just interns, and our pictures were taken. During the interview I talk about being a veteran and try to sound interesting lol. I mention the only question I struggled with was what cosmetic company is Halle Berry a spokesperson for? We wrap it up and I’m told I would be notified if I would be put in the contestant pool. A week later I get the no thank you card. Oh and on my way to the train station every other picture is Halle Barry and f*****g Revlon.
68points
#12
I dated a guy who was on Chopped. He said it's not as rushed. That they are allowed to have sips of alcohol if they're using it in the food.
The one that bothered him was that they were super encouraged to take swipes at each other and he's a really nice guy.
67points
#13
Wife and I tried out for Supermarket Sweep in 2021. We did a zoom call with the casting people but didn't get the call. I think:
1. We got too many answers right.
2. We weren't "enthusiastic" enough. They really went hard on this, like jump up and down and scream, give us more, MORE! MOOOORE!! It was exhausting.
67points
#14
I was on Jeopardy a looong time ago and two of my BTS memories are: the production team was so supportive and kind, and I had to stand on a box. I won the last two games of the day, returned a couple weeks later after a tournament, and tanked hard.
65points
#15
I was on The Price is Right. Never expected to be picked and ended up winning the showcase. There is no trading your prizes for cash, it's take it or leave it, and you have to pay sales/income tax on the winnings.
61points
#16
My wife and I were on "Let's Make a Deal" a few years ago. Here are a few interesting things:
1) It looked like Wayne Brady picked us from the audience at random to be contestants in a game, but it wasn't random. Before the show, when all the "audience" is waiting in line outside, they interview everybody. They're looking for people who are enthusiastic, fun, and have great costumes. (If you've seen the show, you know.) My wife and I were enthusiastic, fun, and dressed up like mad scientists, so they picked during the show (seemingly at random).
2) People who come to the show, but don't have costumes, are given costumes from the wardrobe department. They never get picked to be contestants.
3) We won $500. Wayne Brady handed us five $100 bills. At the end of the show, they took them back! Apparently they reuse them for each show. I'm not sure if it was real money or not, but it looked really real. After the show, we went to a little office and they told us we'd receive a check in the mail after the show had aired.
4) When we were playing the game (picking a number 1-7) we took a LOOOONG time to decide which number we wanted. When the show aired, it looked like we only took 3-4 seconds. They cut out our indecisiveness.
5) By the end of the hour, nobody in the audience is cheering anymore, because they aren't going to pick any more contestants from the audience. If you watch the show you'll notice they don't really show the tired audience in the last 5-10 minutes.
6) They shoot it pretty much in real-time, meaning that they'll shoot a segment where they pick an audience member to play a game, and then give them money, and then when a commercial should be happening the video-ing pauses for just 2 minutes -- long enough for the real commercials to be inserted later. They don't wait 10 minutes between segments or something. During that time, they play loud party music to keep the audience's energy up.
7) I just remembered there is a TON of leg room in the audience bleachers. That's because audience members have to stand and run down to the stage, and they don't want anyone tripping on someone else's feet.
58points
#17
I was in the audience for Deal or No Deal once. There were a couple running gags that didn't make the TV cut.
They also took the secrecy of the briefcase contents very seriously. One of the briefcases got dropped and it opened. I don't think anyone saw the number inside but that was enough for every one of them to be taken back behind the stage and re randomized.
They also took the secrecy of the briefcase contents very seriously. One of the briefcases got dropped and it opened. I don't think anyone saw the number inside but that was enough for every one of them to be taken back behind the stage and re randomized.
50points
#18
I've been on six game shows from 1983 until around 1997. They mostly shot five episodes each day. So it's a long day. They start with reviewing rules, your wardrobe, and signing contracts etc. Eventually you play practice games on the actual set. Food is provided all day long. Generally episodes were shot three months before airing and I didn't receive any money or prizes until one month after airing. Of course you pay taxes on any prizes or cash. You can refuse any well. I refused a trip to Australia. Most travel prizes are for off-season and the window was only two months. My wife would have been eight and nine months pregnant in that window so she did not fell like being on such a long flight.
Not what you asked but other times I've posted this on Reddit I got asked what shows I was on. I'll only mention the three where I won: Catch Phrase, Now You See It, The Weakest Link (daytime version).
50points
#19
No one hails the cash cab. It’s all a setup Though the contestants don’t necessarily know they’re about to be one cash cab. They also pull you out of the cab after the initial scheme, set everything up then send you on your way. You also get a cheque, not the actual cash.
47points
#20
I was on Slime Time Live as a kid in the early 2000s, back when they filmed it at Universal Studios Florida. They picked the contestants that are going to play in advance and then put us in the crowd and announced us on air and told us to act surprised. The host was a jerk and wouldn't talk to the contestants off air. The two cohosts were a lot nicer though. Also the slime is cold and takes multiple washings to get out of your hair.
43points