Is is Getting Harder to be a Contestant on a Game Show?

There seems to be a trend lately with prime time game shows, or more specifically the contestants who play the games. Contestants who have lived remarkable lives, survived unspeakable tragedy, given of themselves to humanitarian causes, or stand out above the "average" person for some other reason, are appearing in droves.

A good example of this is contestant Katie Henslin (pictured, with Howie Mandel), who recently appeared on Deal or No Deal during the Million Dollar Mission. Katie was someone that everyone could cheer for, because of her positive attitude and warm demeanor. However, it sure didn't hurt that Katie worked with sick children and volunteered her time to help even more kids. Don't get me wrong - I admire her giving spirit and hard work. But does the trend towards sympathetic or remarkable contestants mean that the rest of us won't get a fair shake?

The focus seems to be shifting from the game itself to the contestants who play it. Can the average person still become a game show contestant? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Photo courtesy NBC