There was a time when daytime game shows were plentiful, and it seemed that, if you hadn't been a contestant yourself, you at least knew a few people who had. Numerous game shows aired five days a week, and producers needed to fill a lot of contestant openings to keep the shows going.
With fewer game shows in syndication and the daytime game show almost a thing of the past, prime time game shows are becoming sleeker and more stylized. With the emphasis on boosting ratings and selling advertising spots, the focus on finding memorable, unique contestants is becoming more and more common.
Take Deal or No Deal for example. Casting Producer Neal Konstantini told me that they are looking for contestants that viewers will want to root for. This makes a lot of sense, and likely contributes a great deal to the success of the show. Contestants have been humanitarians, 9-11 survivors, child welfare advocates, and even a pair of married students who were deeply in debt with no time to work extra jobs to pay off school loans. These are people we can identify with, look up to, and admire.
Other shows, like The Moment of Truth, are looking for people with skeletons in their closets who don't mind airing their dirty laundry on national television. Don't Forget the Lyrics doesn't require that you can sing well, but there's no denying the bounty of contestants with singing voices that don't make the audience cringe. Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader is leaning towards contestants with professions that would make viewers assume they're quite intelligent.
While shows like Wheel of Fortune and The Price is Right are less stringent with their contestant screening, the trend towards focusing on the game players rather than the game itself is causing concern for some potential applicants.
The "average" person seems to be pushed aside for those potential contestants who have extraordinary circumstances in their lives. Application forms and video tape requests stress that producers want you to "be yourself," but if you feel like your life or personality is unremarkable, it can be difficult to muster up the courage to apply.
The good news, however, is that more and more game shows are appearing on network television. Their appeal is widespread, and even if a show only runs for a limited number of episodes, there are new ones coming along to take their places. And every show will have a need for a different sort of contestant.
Applying to be on a game show is a lot like playing the lottery. With so many people buying tickets, your own chances of winning can be fairly slim. But the fact remains that, if you don't pick up a ticket, you have absolutely no chance at the big prize. If you want to be a contestant on a game show, send in an application! You never know when your number will come up.
