What do you get when you combine Operation Repo with a trivia quiz show? You get an interesting hybrid called Repo Games, which airs on Spike TV.
Host Josh Lewis, who shares repo and hosting duties with Tom DeTone, spoke with us about his role on the show.
Question: How did you end up choosing repossessions as your career?
Josh Lewis: It's funny, because I didn't really choose it. I started in 2003 as a way to make some money. I was just out of the Navy and in school, and it was part-time. I was good at it though, so I stuck with it. It was never a chosen career path, but it can pay well depending on volume.
Q: After last year's shooting incident, have you had to beef up security or take any other precautions on the show?
Lewis: Not really. Our security has always been top notch, the best in the business. Maybe we're a little more cautious overall. This can happen anywhere - that incident was in a nice neighborhood - so we're always on our toes.
Q: Does it ever suprise you how many contestants seem to flub the answers to what seem to be fairly simple trivia questions?
Lewis: Yes and no. If someone's prepared to play a trivia game and they study ahead of time, that's one thing. These folks at home and chillin', eating dinner with the fam, and suddenly they're on the spot and answering questions to keep their car. There's a huge production on their front lawn and they were never prepared for this.
I mean, I can try to drop some hints, but they're basically on their own.
Q: As the show travels to different cities, are you finding that people react to you differently based on location?
Lewis: No, it's really the same everywhere. People all around the country are living check to check. They all have bills. Americans are stressed right now, and that's true for just about every city in the country. There are some cultural differences, sure, but overall the reactions are similar.
Q: You've obviously seen a lot during the course of your career, but what reaction has surprised you the most so far?
Lewis: Well, the funniest ones are the people who are like, "Just take it. Just take the car."
The scariest one was a guy in Dallas, Texas. We knocked and explained who we were and what we were there for, and he shut the door. He came back with the meanest looking pit bull I've ever seen, then he told his little 4-year-old daughter to go grab Daddy's shotgun. Eventually he came around and everything, but after he signed the contracts for the show and put the shotgun away, he pulled a .45 out of his waist! If I didn't have the cameras and crew with me that day, someone would have been shot dead.
Q: What's the best part about working on a show like Repo Games?
Lewis: The people. Number one, the crew. They're the best anyone has ever worked with. And I get to meet people all across the country. I was a Poli-Sci major and now I'm seeing the electorate, exploring the country. All of this makes great stories for the kids and grandkids.
Q: Do you see yourself ever hosting another game show in the future?
Lewis: I don't know - I never thought I'd be doing it in the first place. You won't ever see me hosting Jeopardy!, put it that way.
Q: You'd likely make a good contestant though!
Lewis: Oh I would kill. Jeopardy! was a big deal growing up, we'd compete against one another to see who could answer the questions fastest.
Q: Maybe Celebrity Jeopardy for you then?
Lewis: (laughs) Sure, if I'm ever a celebrity.
Thanks to Josh Lewis for speaking with us about the show! You can catch video clips, bios, and air times for Repo Games at the Spike website.
