(I apologize for the incoherent rambling in this message. I'm running on very little sleep!)
I went to the St. Louis event today.
Of course, how could I pass up this opportunity?!?! I mean, I have a replica Plinko board and Showcase Showdown wheel in my garage!
I wanted to be there early to beat close the front of the line, and to my surprise, at 8:30 am I was the second person there! A woman named Jeni was first in line. She was there at 6am!
The audition interviews with a GSN producer started around 10:30. Jeni was in her interview for a very long time, but she came out with a card indicating what time she would host a live game show in the mall.
My interview consisted of telling a bit about myself and why I want to be a host. I told my "spayed and noodled" story and talked about Game Show Night for the American Cancer Society. I was also asked to recite a few lines from shows like "Come on Down!", "It's time to Press Your Luck", and "Let's start the Feud!". The producer also asked my favorite show, and favorite hosts. I rattled off the names Bob Barker, Gene Rayburn, and Bill Cullen. Then I was asked to read some trivia questions for the camera, with the producer playing the part of an obnoxious contestant. At that point the producer asked if I could stick around for 20 minutes or so. I told him I would, and left the audition area. I didn't get a card. I thought
I had bombed, and I considered leaving.
Jeni convinced me to stay, and after a few more interviews, the producer called a few of us without cards over and told us we'd be alternates, and to not go far.
After more waiting, the producer singled me out, and told me I would be on at 2:40. I WAS GONNA GET MY SHOT AFTERALL!
I ended up being the seventh candidate. My game went smoothly, which was great news since the buzzers were acting up!
After the last candidate hosted their game, the finalists were announced, and I MADE IT!! The other candidate was Jeni!
Just about this time, I stepped off the stage after being declared a finalist, and who shows up? MOM! She knew I was an alternate, and I updated her when I knew I'd host for sure, but I never got a chance to call her to let her know I was a finalist. She just happened to show up at the right time!
After a few minutes, Jeni and I each hosted one more game, and then the results....Jeni won.
She won the trip to LA and the appearance on "GSN Live", but don't feel bad for me. I ended up with a DVD Game Collector's
Tin with TEN different game show DVD games, plus a GSN gift bag, and $100 cash! Not bad for a total of fifteen minutes of hosting!
Everyone from GSN was great, and the producer told me it was a very, very, very close decision. Jeni was that good. I showed him a snapshot of last year's ACS Game Show Night, and he could not believe the detail I put into it. He also said "I have some friends in LA you need to talk to!" I wonder what he meant by that?!?!? I told him to "Let me know if I can ever help you guys.", to which he replied "Wanna go to Phoenix?" (The tour's next stop). I must have made an impression on the GSN people!
It was a great experience, and I'd do it again if I could.