This Week in Game Show Casting

15 Feb

Posted by Alex Davis as CBS, Casting, NBC, New Show

Scanning through Craigslist and various other places, I’ve found some new game shows coming out, some of which might be decent. Of course with that some of them are going to be really bad and potentially end in law suits! Isn’t that fun? Let’s go over some.

First off, by the way, Million Dollar Password is still casting. I can guarantee you they had people there who know how to play the game. I auditioned for it and I can tell you first hand that a ton of people are extremely good and would be fine on the show. They just haven’t found the janitors they want. I’m not lying when I say that. They specifically told us they want people like janitors, so America can cheer for them.

Next we have a new mystery show for NBC! Oooh! It’s a pop culture quizzer. Uh oh! A new NBC movie buff game show is casting contestants who want to win up to $1,000,000 playing. If that’s you, click here. Wasn’t the DVD game “Scene It” being developed for a game show? Just saying.

I have a guilty pleasure at the Winter Olympics. The only game I like beyond hockey there is, yes, curling. NBC has the option to buy a show that sees. It’s not a celebrity show at least; though I won’t put it passed FOX to come up with Celebrity Curling Challenge. The show’s casting in April.

Finally, we have a new CBS game show that combines the fun of American Gladiators with America’s newest trend, divorce. In Splitsville, contestants who are getting divorces can bypass the legal system and go on a game show to divide their stuff up. I’m not well versed in the law (maybe some of you out there are) but I can’t imagine a game show being a legally binding substitute to the standard divorce process. Divorcing and don’t feel like going to a lawyer? Click here.

25 Responses

Mike B.
1
February 15th, 2008 at 3:55 pm

“Just because you’re divorced doesn’t mean you still can’t have fun, RIIIIIIIGHT?” - Patrick Wayne on Tic Tac Dough 1990’s “Divorced Couples Week”
steve
2
February 15th, 2008 at 4:19 pm

Password: This kinda irritates me a bit, about the whole janitor thing. The fact that they specifically ask for janitors because “the audience will like them” makes me lose all faith in the game show world. (Again.) It’s like it’s not even a game anymore, so much as it is scripted reality television.

NBC Mystery Game: Looks like Craig has already pulled the entry from the list… are you able to double-check that link, Alex? In any case, I do remember a Scene-It show being mentioned… I suppose they could have enough quirks thrown into the game to make it interesting.
keith
3
February 15th, 2008 at 4:50 pm

You said something about a pop culture show for movie buffs, yeah I did here something about “Scene it” being developed for a game show. It as on the Today Show when the creator of Scene It was on and one of the hosts said it would make a good game show. He said “it was in the works”. That was over 2 years ago, but who knows?
Mike
4
February 15th, 2008 at 5:32 pm

“They mentioned not to give the test questions online, but since I did not get to go on, they can suck it. :-)”

Someone tells you not to post something online and you do anyhow because you weren’t picked? What an asshole. All posts and comments related to said person’s comments have been edited or removed.
Intelligentfan777
5
February 15th, 2008 at 6:17 pm

Oh, come on steve, I sincerely doubt ALL of the contestants will be janitors, from what Alex has told us via the casting process it looks like the majority of players will good ones for this show. Now they just have to cast the RIGHT celebrities to play. Still, I am actually very optimistic about Million Dollar Password now, and the movie buff show could turn out good too. But……..

Splitsville?!! No thanks.

Oh, I should give some kudos to whoever designed the MDP logo, a fitting combo when you think about. The “Million Dollar” is encased in a graphic resembling the question holder on Millionaire, and the “Password” bar kind of resembles the one on Password Plus.
Jack
6
February 15th, 2008 at 6:22 pm

As long as both parties agree to it, you can use whatever means of arbitration you choose to settle a dispute - that’s how Judge Judy works. And heck, if you want your arbitration to be “SPLITSVILLE”, then you’re welcome to it.

That said, if it like like Judge Judy, both parties will walk off with a decent appearance fee.
David Howell
7
February 15th, 2008 at 6:42 pm

On Splitsville - I’m just impressed that it’s not on FOX. Or possibly depressed, who knows. Please let this not sell internationally.

On Password - it still seems surreal to see it for $1m. I can’t say quite how culturally relevant it is to you guys seeing as I’m from England, but I see it as almost like big-money Countdown. Or, heck, big-money Blankety Blank (aka Match Game). That was notorious for dreadful prizes here, not that other game shows weren’t… the idea of a big-prize game show didn’t begin to exist until at least the 80s, was not common until the 90s (and even then regulation meant the default star prize was an average family car) and the idea of a big MONEY game show is still only ten years old here.

Anyway, I digress. Let’s hope that in this now post-strike environment, the bad shows and only the bad shows go to the wall. Splitsville sounds like a bad show.
Scott Meckley
8
February 15th, 2008 at 10:48 pm

Splitsville I think i will pass. as far as Million Dollar Password and the pop culture game I think those will be exciting to watch if done right. as far as curling go ahead and throws though tomatoes I am not a fan of the olympics so I will probably pass on that too but for people who like curling then it might be something for them to check out.
Jordan Hass
9
February 15th, 2008 at 10:49 pm

So “SPLITSVILLE” is going to be Trashed but with Physical Challenges?

And $1,000,000 Password is still the game I am looking forward too, Regis is a fantastic host, but this “root for the underdog” mentality should be scraped, it’s why I stopped watching US Big Brother.

As for this “Scene It?” game, I am sure this showed up during the days of “On the Cover” with Mark L. Wahlberg, but seeing a pop culture trivia show sounds good (even though 1 vs 100 is mostly pop culture) too bad it sounds like a zonk! on Craigslist.
Intelligentfan777
10
February 15th, 2008 at 11:59 pm

Hey David, I’ve seen clips of Blankety Blank, and it really was “Match Game,” a good show, but man………

I know the Independent Broadcasting Authority over there put limitations on game shows, but (no offense), as far as the prizes went, that was just sad. That show made most Canadian game shows of that era look like WWTBAM!
jaymich
11
February 16th, 2008 at 12:01 pm

Firstly, the first link in your post is not working anymore…it was “flagged for removal” (just letting you know).

MDP…I seriously hope the show isn’t being dumbed-down…which is the impression I got if they are looking for janitors. Yeah, I know that janitors are smart…but the implication is a bad one.

I seriously think that a lot of shows are being dumbed-down…which is why I love GSN…current show producers need to look at the classics on GSN as a blueprint.
KBGUY09
12
February 16th, 2008 at 8:16 pm

Splitsville sounds like it may be good if done right…maybe.

Each password in Password will take 5 minutes at least… I wish we could just leave Password, P+, and SP to rest and remember them as good shows.
Neville
13
February 16th, 2008 at 8:21 pm

So they’re looking for janitors, eh? That explains why they didn’t cast me! :)
Tim H
14
February 17th, 2008 at 2:02 pm

Here’s a different link to the Craigslist post about the NBC game show.

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/wst/tfr/575368359.html

When there’s no option other than the craigslist e-mail for replying, I tend to wonder about the legitimacy of the post.
MrQuiz
15
February 17th, 2008 at 8:57 pm

I’d like to believe that they were pulling your leg when the casting mucky-mucks (back in the ol’ days, thery were called “contestant coordinators.” But I guess that must seem quaint). On the other hand, if they ARE serious (not to imply that all janitors, or all blue-collar workers are inarticulate), then of course, it makes perfect sense to get those B-through Z-list celebs to play as well. I’m of course, being sarcastic, here. But, remember this phrase: THE DUMBING DOWN OF AMERICA…
CarShark
16
February 17th, 2008 at 11:47 pm

I don’t see it as a dumbing down of society…more of an overdramatization. Take Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. They don’t just redo any ol’ family’s house. There has to be a recent tragedy, chronic illness, mass adoptions or something else compelling about them to make you want them to get a new house.
B-W
17
February 18th, 2008 at 12:10 pm

It’s not so much that I see American game shows as being “dumbed down” that bothers me, but that getting people with nice stories (often what I call being “sympathetically pathetic”) is getting to be so much more important than the ability to play the game. Unless you’re cute, or struggling, or have some other “special” feature that “will make America love you”, they don’t want you as a contestant. You can play the game beautifully, but at best that’s a secondary consideration.
Nikolai
18
February 18th, 2008 at 3:34 pm

“Celebrity Curling Challenge” will not work in the USA. Canada for sure it would, because here major curling championships are actually televised every year unlike the US. To me that show has jumped the shark in the US already.
Mike
19
February 18th, 2008 at 6:38 pm

I think you might be surprised, Nikolai. One of the few Winter Olympic events I watch, as well as my family and friends, is curling. Unfortunately, unless you’re in some of the extreme northern states, participating in curling is limited to some ice rinks and country clubs.

This would definitely work in Canada. Back in the mid-80s, I used to get CKCO (I think) out of London. Every Saturday afternoon had an hour of curling. Good times.
Intelligentfan777
20
February 18th, 2008 at 10:49 pm

MR. QUIZ……..SHUT YOUR IDIOTIC MOUTH!

(sigh) The truth is America Is Smart and is getting Smarter everyday! We lead the world in intellectual property, research and development! We have the best Universities in the world, we make scientific breakthroughs every day, we are an intelligent example to the rest of the world. Can YOU say NASA?! I rest my case.

Anyway, I think it’s about time the record be set straight! We are discussing GAME SHOWS! For the most part, game shows still cast based on how you can play the game. The fact that some of them look fr people with stories or what have you, DOES NOT mean they aren’t looking for people who can play the game competently. Playing the game well is still the top priority to most coordinators, anyone can play, if you can play well, GEEZ!

Oh, and another thing, what happens on game shows, stay’s there! People who win (or lose) on game shows have real lives, and contribute to society in a good way. Just because a contestant choose to be on, say, DoND, does not mean they don’t have intelligence. For all we know you could have a conversation with that person and he/she might turn out to be an very smart person, socially and mentally.

It makes me sick to my stomach sometimes when people like you say the things you say. You’re a cynic and you should be ashamed! “Oh, they’re looking for janitors, it’s dumbing down…..” Ridiculous! Absolutely pathetic!

Look, I like game shows along with all of you, but when you take things out of context and you speak negatively about nation in a nonsensical manner like this, it’s a bad reflection on you being a member of this community. I’m sorry, but it really does. You need to knock it off, just….stop.

Okay, I know I’m going to get flamed for this, but everything I just said is the TRUTH! I know many would agree with me. This has been building up inside me for a while, and I had to get it out. I will stand by these statements FOREVER! I know it’s true, and I’m sure many of you do, too.
Neville
21
February 19th, 2008 at 12:44 am

Let me begin by saying that this is not a flame, but a response to the words of IntelligentFan777! :) For the main point of what I’m writing, skip down to the bottom paragraph.

I agree with you - most contestant coordinators look first for people wh can play the game well, and then for people with personality, and then for people with a story of some sort. Let’s all be honest with ourselves for a moment. Would everyone you know do well on Jeopardy!? How about half of them? Maybe a quarter? Ten percent? Five? Jeopardy!, to those who haven’t been watching since they were in the womb (like I have :) ) can be very difficult. For that reason, the contestant coordinators get to pick based on skill at the game.

Now, consider J’s sister show, Wheel of Fortune. Can you think of someone you know who wouldn’t do well on Wheel? You might be able to. But I bet that most of your friends and family could stack up against the contestants on any given episode. Because of this, Wheel’s people can’t just pick the “best” contestants, because so many people are very good at the game. So, they move on to personality.

There isn’t an adult in America who can’t play Deal or No Deal. This is NOT because the game is dumb or is dumbed down, as some would have you think - it’s a game of greed (not to be confused with How Much Is Enough?, or… Greed!) and risk-taking. But, anyone can play it. And, being the great country that this is, many Americans have big personalities. So, at Deal, they’ve got to pick based on a story. It’s the only criteria they’ve got left.

We haven’t seen Million Dollar Pa$$word yet, but based on my audition for the show, I’d say that they’re somewhere between Wheel and Deal. Most of us who took the written test together (and no, I’m not giving out answers!) got perfect or near-perfct scores, but were not called back. Why? Because they had already done the preliminary personality test with us. I doubt that, as Alex says, they’re looking for janitors. But, based on the fact that this is only gong for 6 hour long episodes to start, I would think that they’ve got contestants by now.

In essence, all game shows cast contestants who can do well on the show. Some shows, because of the nature of the show, have more leeway with whom the can cast, so they seize th opportunity to make good television.
Mike
22
February 19th, 2008 at 2:19 pm

Oh geez, not another “America is smart” rant from IntelligentFan…

If America was so smart, this country wouldn’t be in the bottom half when it comes to science and math test scores among industrialized countries. NASA’s all fine and well but that is hardly a measuring stick for the level of intellgence for the United States as a whole. I work with students. I know that my students are not as smart as their counterparts from 15 or 20 years ago. Sorry to deflate your ego a bit. It’s the awful truth.
J.R. Ewing
23
February 21st, 2008 at 11:53 am

I see Intelligentfan777 is being jingoistic again, he must watch Fox News on a regular basis.

That being said, I have grown weary of the cries of America “dumbing down” just because something they’re watching isn’t on the intelligence level of “Masterpiece Theater” or because “Survivor” or “Desperate Housewives” is getting a couple extra viewers than they would like…
MrQuiz
24
February 21st, 2008 at 6:00 pm

Hey, IntelligentFan;
You’re missing my point altogether. I HAVE been talking about game shows, dips**t! It seems more important to get a certain kind of contestant whom the so-called “casting” people figure that America will identify with, and root for, than someone who comes off as having the ability to make the absolute most of having half a brain. Unfortuantely, from what I’ve seen, there have been contestants on DOND, who I find rooting AGAINST, because they come off as being total a**h***s on cocaine (I KNOW I’m not alone on this one); and 1 VS.100, where some contestants can’t answer a question that requires nothing more than some common sense, and a little thought (I mean, there’s no time limit to speak of; have you ever heard Saget say to a contestant, “…you have five seconds…”)

Le’me make this easier for you. Watch any given vintage game show on GSN. Think back to the caliber of contestants that were on POWER OF 10. and then watch DEAL, 1 vs. 100, or even ARE YOU SMARTER THAN A 5th GRADER. Failure to get my point here, and you prove my point.

My point is, while you don’t need a Ph.D to play on a game show; it seems you need to create the perception that you’re financially strapped; have struggled through life; or, have a annoying personality (how America can identify with THAT stymies me).

And YOU call yourself IntelligentFan!
George
25
February 22nd, 2008 at 1:52 pm

I auditioned for the show and they called me for more information - that was about 6 weeks ago and have head nothing since. But then again I am NOT a janitor. I was under the impression the show was airing in Feb as a mid season replacement but there had been no mention of it anywhere - I wonder if it is still on this season’s schedule. Does anyone know when it might begin airing? Has anyone had any recent contact with the contestant department?