Well, the time has come to admit
that Paul's Friends are not going to be selected to play on ABC's new
prime time game show Six Minds. If you're interested in trying out,
call (323) 785-2119 for information first, then write to the
contestant selectors at sixmindscasting@gmail.com.
You can see the original Russian version here
(the logic puzzle: What does a pirate ship carry that allows it to get
close to other ships so it can board them. Answer: foreign flags), or
read about the Russian show at Wikipedia.
Of course, they'll change the format some for the American market. But
when we tried out, we saw the pilot, and everyone was dressed
in
formal wear (supplied by the show), just as in Russia. How much money
can you win? That is under discussion, and probably won't be decided
until the shows are taped July 24-26.
You may recall a brief
note here on June 1 that I was assembling a team. We all met up in LA
on June 19; there were three people on the team I knew only from email.
I thought we did great, but apparently casting executive CC (name and
initials changed for privacy purposes) did not. In all my years of
trying out for gameshows, this was the first time they dismissed me
without even taking my picture (or that of any of my teammates).
I
am not a naif in the game show world. My first appearance was on Wheel
of Fortune in 1983 (won), followed by Jeopardy 1985 (lost), Scrabble
1991 (won), Win Ben Stein's Money 1997 (lost), Merv Griffin's
Crosswords 2007 (lost). I know what it takes to be cast for a prime
time entertainment show. First and foremost, you have to be able to
play the game. Secondly, you must look like you're enjoying it. Third,
you must be audible. For the first time since my Wheel tryout in 1983,
when the contestant coordinator told us our behavior in the tryout room
was being observed, I had the feeling we were auditioning from the
moment we sat down in the unadorned conference room. And apparently, we
didn't pass. There were two teams in the room who alternated play; we
were certainly more voluble than the other one, and did better, but it
wasn't a competition between the two teams in the room, it was a
competition between us and the ideal. And that was a competition we
lost. No one from the other team had their picture taken either.
I
can offer some logistical advice (reducing anxiety and mystery), and
some game playing advice. It is always difficult to know how
to
play a game that has never been on the air. There was no such problem
with Wheel of Fortune (than in its third year of syndication), or
Jeopardy (in its second year, but I knew the original quite well). No
one was going to get on the Wheel if they weren't fast with words. No
one was going to get on Jeopardy if they failed to put their answer in
the form of a question when they auditioned. Scrabble was a simple
game, and Chuck Wollery kept reminding us how to play. Even at that, I
made one or two game-playing errors. Ben Stein's money had not aired
when I taped my show, and in fact, I tripped up over a fine point of
game play that cost me my chance to play against Ben (details available
on request). Crosswords hadn't aired either. I would have lost in any
case, but my performance was reduced by an utterly unfamiliar and
complicated game (which may have been a partial explanation for its
cancellation after one season).
So here's the logistical
advice. I am not going to give out the production company address (I
still want to be on another game show or two in my life), but I can
tell you it is closer to Burbank than LAX, so fly into Burbank if you
can. If you have people coming from all over California, they can get
to Burbank early. A frequent flyer friend of mine said to make sure and
leave plenty of time, because flights are sometimes late and sometimes
canceled. The Northern California contingent arrived three
hours
early.
The Boston-area member of the team took the red-eye in the night before.
The
closest AAA two-star motel (I've been in 1 star motels; you don't
want to go there) has rooms for $90, $100 and $110 a night. It is
one-quarter
mile from the studio, so we met there in the Boston guy's room and
walked.
We were told parking can be difficult during the week; we were there on
a Saturday; plenty of parking.
Vagabond
Inn--Hollywood (destination: California/Hollywood)
1133 Vine St.
Hollywood, CA 90038
United States
Hotel Phone Number: 323-466-7501
Reservations: 800-522-1555
I
have offered this advice before in my other writings about game shows:
it is HOT in LA in the summer time, especially in the direct sun. This
production office has more shade than most on the street, but if you
burn easily (as I do), bring an umbrella!
The instructions are
clear--you will be thrown out if you are found in the building without
a guide from the show staff. This does NOT include the veranda outside
the front door, so buzz when you get there and you can sit in the
shade, on a bench, instead of standing on the sidewalk.
There
are several serious requirements about ID; pay attention to them. If
you don't know where your social security card is (the original), find
it, or get an official duplicate from the Social Security office near
you. The producers want a minimum of 8 team members, with no maximum,
so recruit as many people are you can. You'll be asked for a team name;
think of that before you call or you'll end up being known as "Paul's
Friends," which is what we were called.
I can only speculate as
to why we were not selected; I suspect we did not appear to be having
fun. May I suggest caffeine? A pep rally? Some cheers out on the
sidewalk? Get your adrenalin up and be ready!
This is the
hardest game show to prepare for that I have ever seen. There is
nowhere on the planet (except, perhaps, Russia) where you can find
puzzles to practice on. Please note that I have not revealed any of the
puzzles used to test us, even the one they give you on the phone as an
example when you're signing up. Again, I'd like to continue to be
beloved by contestant coordinators.
Still, I can offer some
advice. As CC said, several times, quite loudly and clearly, "LISTEN TO
ME." He has a lot of information to impart. Listen to him very
carefully. Listen to the contestant staff that meets you on the veranda
and has you fill out forms. I am sure an inability to follow
instructions is disqualifying. When CC talks to you, answer
loudly, clearly and with enthusiasm. Mushmouths don't make it onto
television.
One key piece of advice (which I learned the hard
way years ago when I was trying out for Password): the show staff is
always right. You think your answer was right, and they don't? Keep it
to yourself. Never argue with the umpire.
So, let's see. Loud, Energetic. Happy to be there.
Now
let me offer a couple of specifics. On TV you get to see the question,
but during the audition they simply read it to you. CC will tell you
that the questions are deliberately tarted up with extra verbiage;
listen hard and close and understand the actual question. Had we known,
we would have assigned one or two team members to listen, so that when
our 60 seconds to solve the puzzle started, their job would have been
to say, "We're looking for a what" or a who, or a when, or a where. Of
course, you answer should be the category being sought.
Another
pointer; the first thing the team leader should say is "gut check."
Anyone who thinks they know the answer should say it. The team leader
should then say, "bank it" and force the team to discuss other possible
answers, out loud, for the remaining 50 seconds. Pick out the key
words; "pirates," "other countries." No matter who assembles the team
and appoints themselves team leader, CC will have you play at least
once with someone else as the leader (or at least he did our day).
As CC told us, "there are no bad guesses," except those not spoken out
loud. Those guesses are lousy.
I
don't know how you practice this, but if you think about it, and talk
about it, maybe you'll be picked. Gut check. Every guess out loud. Bank
an early guess and go on. Look like you're enjoying this.
The
prize money was not set when we auditioned; they said they might not
set it until the tape rolls on July 24. But CC promised it would be
"life changing money" for all six members of the team.
I can't wait to see the show; I only wish I was going to be seeing it
from the front of the camera.