The Price is Right

The Price is Right

Seeing Stars: Becoming a Star (for 15 Minutes)



(323) 575-2449

After over 50 years since it first appeared on the air, "The Price Is Right" is the oldest (and definitely the highest-rated) of all daytime television game shows, and one of the few game shows to have survived a time when daytime TV was dominated by talk shows and soap operas.




The show was hosted by Bob Barker (whose hair wasn't gray when the show started...) until June of 2007, when the 83-year-old host finally decided to retire after 35 years as host.




But the show will go on, with a new host: Drew Carey.




It's also the only game show where you don't have to run a gauntlet of difficult tests, practice sessions and interviews to become a contestant. You just get a free ticket, show up at the studio and take your chances! And you can win a lot on this show - one woman wontwo cars worth over $88,000 back in 1992.




"The Price Is Right" contestants are recruited from the studio audience ("Come on down!"), and asked to play one of several pricing games in which they attempt to correctly guess the retail price of one or more products. The hour-long show airs here in L.A. every weekday morning at 10 AM, KCBS (Channel 2).




To have a chance of being called up onto the "Price Is Right" stage as a contestant, all you have to do to is to sit in the studio audience and wait for them to call out your name. Or so it would seem...




Actually, there's a little more to it than that. The contestants are not really selected from the audience at random, as it might appear.




Would-be contestants have to show up at the studio hours before taping time, and are given large "price tags" to wear, which feature an identification number. You write your name and address on one half of this ticket, and a page takes that half, so that later they can match your name to your number. While you wait in line in front of CBS Television City (next to Farmers Market), a studio page will select people in groups of ten to meet with the show's producer, who decides which individuals are chosen (in advance) to later be called up on stage as contestants.




The show's producers are looking for a particular type of person for "The Price Is Right," and if you're not it, they'll pass you by.




Mainly, they're looking for enthusiasm. They want jolly, emotionally expressive contestants who will get genuinely excited when they win (or lose). As a result, they tend to prefer female contestants over men (who often pretend to act excited while being interviewed, but who later sober up when they realize that their boss may be watching them on TV). If you watch the show, you may notice that they also seem to favor pretty young girls, comically plump individuals, college students, and men in uniform.




When the producer thinks he has spotted a good contestant, his or her name will be noted (via the "price tag" they are wearing) and then during the taping of the show, their names will be announced, and they will be told to "Come on down!."




So by the time the audience takes it seats in stage 33 (now renamed "The Bob Barker Studio," in the host's honor), the show's producers have already decided who is going to be called up, and who is not.




But despite the screening process, "The Price Is Right" is still probably your best hope of getting on network TV in a hurry. Even if you aren't selected as a contestant, chances are good that the TV camera will catch you, as it pans through the audience before announcing each contestant's name. So program your VCR to record the show before you leave for the studio!




For more information phone (323) 575-2449.




The show is taped at




CBS Television City7800 Beverly Blvd.,

Los Angeles, CA 90036




Mondays through Thursdays. They tape two shows on Mondays (at 1:15 p.m. and 4:45 p.m.,), but only one show (at 2:30 p.m.) on the other days of the week.




But you have to show up much earlier. Suggested arrival times are 6 AM - 6:30 AM for the 1:15 PM taping, and 8 AM - 8:40 AM for the 4:45 PM taping. Be sure to phone ahead, because they don't tape every week. They tape for two weeks, then take ten days off. They also take the summer months off.




Tickets are available at box office one week in advance, up to the day of show at the box office, or by writing to the address above (enclose a S.A.S.E.) four weeks in advance. No one under 18 is admitted. Bring two forms of valid ID. First come, first served.













[For more information about the show, you can access their official website at: http://marketing.cbs.com/daytime/price.]



















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Becoming a Game Show Contestant

Becoming a Game Show Contestant





Seeing Stars: Becoming a Star (for 15 Minutes)




The most important thing that a potential game show contestant can do is to watch the show! Producers don't have the time to teach would-be contestants the rules or how to play the game. They expect you to be prepared and ready to play when you walk through their door, and they will test you to find out if you know what you're doing. If you don't, you'll be quickly rejected.


So, before you try out for a show, watch it on TV! Watch it every day. Videotape it if necessary. Make sure that you understand the rules and customs of the game. Practice and prepare.


If you're going to try out for "The Price Is Right" , for instance, try to memorize as many prices as you can, and be sure that you're familiar the show's individual games and try to master them (including putting a golf ball!).


If you want to go on "Jeopardy" , it isn't enough just to know everything, you've also got to be fast on that trigger-button and you must know how to wager wisely. Record the shows on your VCR and then use the remote control as a trigger-button to practice "buzzing in "; see if you can beat the other players to the punch. If the game moves too fast for you at first, pause the picture while you try to answer the questions. (But remember that you'll have to keep up with the other contestants if you make it onto the stage of the real "Jeopardy!") Also keep track of your "winnings" for each show and see how you measure up to other contestants in terms of money won.

If you can find a home board-game version of your favorite game show, buy it and play it with your family and friends. Both Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune are both available as board games. You can also get a computer game version of Jeopardy.


A key rule to remember is that it's never as easy as it looks!


Sure, you might be able to ace your favorite game show when you're sitting in your easy chair, in front of your TV set in the comfort of your own home. But when you're standing in front of a live studio audience, under bright, hot lights, with a camera pointed in your face, and 10 million people watching your every move, the adrenaline starts flowing, and it's a whole other story.


It also helps if you can practice speaking in front of an audience, so you don't "freeze up" during the initial interview (or worse, during the show).


When you go in for the game show interview, be sure to "give the people what they want ": dress for success. Good grooming and a nice suit never hurt anyone's chances (and it goes without saying that you have to be sober). Be sure to speak up, producers hate it when people mumble or speak so softly that they can't be heard clearly.


If it's a silly show, such as "The Price Is Right," be sure to show a lot of enthusiasm - they want colorful, happy contestants who the viewers will like. If you're trying out for a more sedate show, like "Jeopardy," be friendly and outgoing, but try to maintain a reasonable sense of decorum. And no matter what show you try out for, be sure to smile! All producers love happy contestants who look like they're having a good time.


Game show producers love out-of-towners. Most of their contestants come from L.A., and the producers realize that these Los Angeles residents can always come back at some later date to be on the show - so they tend to take locals for granted. But they'll go out of their way to accommodate a visitor from another state so that they can get the widest representation of the nation at large. However, they won't pay your way out to Los Angeles, though; they won't buy you a plane ticket, or put you up in a hotel. Getting to L.A. is up to you. And if you are an out-of-towner, don't phone them collect; they simply won't accept collect calls. Also, don't assume that being disabled or physically impaired will disqualify you from a show; they will try their best to accommodate you.


Read the rules on the contestant application form when they give it to you. Study these rules, and stick to them. Otherwise, you could forfeit your winnings. (For instance, you have to be at least 18 years of age to appear on any game show.)


Remember that your game show winnings are taxed just like the rest of your income. If you accept cash or prizes, you'll have to pay taxes on whatever you take home.


The hard bottom line, though, is that most of the people who try out for game shows don't make it.

Out of 1,000 people who would like to appear on a game show, perhaps only 100 will get up the nerve to actually come in for the test and interview. Out of those 100 wannabes, fewer than ten will get past the initial tests & screening process, and perhaps only one or two will survive the interview process and be called back later. And even then, they may not actually make it onto the show: they sometimes call you in as only a "back-up " contestant, in case some other contestant gets sick and can't go on.


The truth is that there are far more people who want to be game show contestants than there are openings for such contestants - and only a select, lucky few ever make it in front of the cameras. But don't let that stop you. If you really want to be a game show contestant, go for it!

The Match Game

The Match Game






Seeing Stars: Becoming a Star (for 15 Minutes)


(310) 255-4700



The new "Match Game '98" is the fifth incarnation of this veteran TV game show, which has been popping up in one form or another since 1962. You might remember its original version, which was hosted by Gene Rayburn and featured such regulars as Richard Dawson, Rose Marie, Betty White and Charles Nelson Reilly.

This new version is hosted by Michael Burger(formerly the co-host of ABC's a.m. talk show, "Mike & Maty.").

Regular celebrity panelists include the always-tanned George Hamilton ("Love At First Bite"),Nell Carter ("Gimme A Break!"), andVicki Lawrence ("Mama's Family" & "The Carol Burnett Show").

It's a fairly easy game to play (especially compared to "Jeopardy!") Contestants are given a phrase or sentence with one word missing, such as "apple (blank)," and then try to guess what answer will be given by most of the celebrity panelists. In this case, the best answer might be "apple pie."

But there's a catch. Since the "Match Game" likes to draw laughs from the studio audience, the sentence that you have to match is often a joke, and you are expected to supply what amounts to the punch line. In these instances, it pays to have a good sense of humor. Watch the show until you get the hang of it.

[The show is currently "on hiatus," which means it hasn't been cancelled, but it hasn't been officially renewed either. Stay tuned...]

The show is taped at CBS TV City, near Farmers Market. It airs locally at 3 p.m. on KCBS, Channel 2. To become a contestant on the show (orr if you just want tickets to watch the show), call (310) 255-4700, leave your name, and they'll set up an audition. No doubt they are looking for witty contestants.



(See tips for game show contestants.)

[For more information, you can access a page about the Match Game at:http://www.pearsontv.com/pages/library/matchgame.htm.]

Sound of Music Review

Santa Clarita Regional Theatre presents The Sound of Music. It was awesome and fun to watch. I loved singing along with every song. The beautiful Starlet who played Maria was actually the understudy Audree Garman and her first play, she was Amazing; she stole the show. The Highest Nun Virginia Stewart sang ’Climb every mountain’ so gracefully with her operatic voice.The music was delightful but there could of been better acting. The Von Trap Children Were awesome. It was quite amusing to watching the 16 year old character Liesel Von Trapp played by Taylor Lane try to sing louder and  steal the show from the Main Character Maria Audree Garman. Captain Von Trapp was the worst actor and his singing was alright. For an Arrogant Captian that Became happy and I love , he constantly slouched and looked depressed (  more after he married Maria or which he should of been standing taller and much more happier) bad acting I say I didn't feel it.

How you can Be In A Movie

How you can Be In A Movie






Seeing Stars: Becoming a Star (for 15 Minutes)




Did you ever wish you could be in a movie? Not just see a movie, but actually be in it?

Sure you have.

Well, you can. It's easy. No acting experience is necessary. And it's totally free.

I can't promise to get you the lead in a film, of course, but I can tell you how you can be a small part of major motion pictures - if you don't mind spending a few hours on the movie set with big stars...

What's the catch? There is none, really. Movies are shot on location all the time in L.A., and they need people - lots of people - for those crowd scenes that you see all the time in films. Your only problem is finding out where and when these movies are being made, so you can be in them. And for the producers, their only problem is finding people who want to be in their films.

Fortunately, that's no longer a problem.

A Hollywood agency named "Be in a Movie" makes its money by solving both problems, by bringing together the people (like you) who'd like to be in the movies with the producers who need them. In short, they round up crowds for big movie scenes.


Val Kilmer crowd scene in "The Doors" Jim Carrey crowd scene in "Man On the Moon"


For instance, remember the crowds rooting on "Seabiscuit?" as he thundered down the stretch?BeInAMovie.com provided those crowds, and you could have been one of them. Remember the excited crowds in "Spider-Man" when the Green Goblin attacked the World Festival? BeInAMovie.com provided those crowds too. As well as for the films "Dodgeball", "Anger Management", "Rocky", "The Bodyguard", "The Doors", and many more.


Crowd from the final scene of "Rat Race" Crowd scene in "Seabiscuit"

The people who make up the crowds are called "unpaid extras" in the trade. When a big crowd scene requires thousands of people, Hollywood can't afford to pay union wages to all of them - so they look for volunteers who want to participate just for the fun of it. That's where you come in.

If you're not a full-time working extra (they get paid), but you would like to be on the set when they shoot a big movie near you, this is a great opportunity to see big stars in person.

We're talking the likes of Jack Nicholson, Jim Carrey, Adam Sandler, Tobey Maguire, Billy Crystal,Samuel L. Jackson, Chris Rock, Whitney Houston, Richard Gere, Val Kilmer, Whoopi Goldberg,Ashanti, Martin Lawrence, Tommy Lee Jones, Christopher Lloyd, Burt Reynolds, Raven,Kirsten Dunst, Sylvester Stallone, Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn, Dean Cain, Kevin Costner... All of these stars (and many more) have appeared in front of crowds booked by BeInAMovie.com.


"Little Nicky" crowd scene with Adam Sandler Whitney Houston crowd scene in "The Bodyguard"

Which means you not only have a chance to see a major star in person, and a chance to watch him (or her) making a movie, but you also have a chance to see yourself later, up on the Silver Screen when the movie is released. Of course, there are no guarantees about that. Sometimes the directors does close-ups of the people in the crowd, and other times they keep it at a wide-shot, but if nothing else, you'll have fun looking for yourself in the film and telling your friends that you're actually in the movie!

I first encountered just such an opportunity when I was a youngster, way back in 1976. MGM was filming the re-make of the movie "King Kong", and took out an ad in the newspaper asking for people to be part of the crowd for the big scene where Kong breaks his chains and escapes. It gave me the chance to see Jessica Lange in person (back before she was a big star), not to mention Jeff Bridges, Charles Grodin, and a 50-foot tall mechanical version of King Kong himself. I still look for myself in the crowd scenes every time that movie comes on TV.


Billy Crystal and crowd, in "Forget Paris" Sylvester Stallone & crowd in "Rocky IV"


I found out about BeInAMovie.com when I helped design their website. It's amazing how many stars they've worked with, and how many chances they've provided for the public to see stars in person.
Don't get me wrong, they're not doing this for out of the goodness of their hearts. The studios pay them to provide the crowds for these big scenes. But they go out of their way to make sure the crowd gets treated well and has a lot of fun - and what really matters is that you get a chance to be in a major motion picture.

How exactly do you do go about being on the set? It's easy.

First, check their website at www.BeInAMovie.com, scroll down and see if they have a new movie coming up soon. They probably will. (Most of their films are shot in the Los Angeles area, but they also do shoots in other locations, including New York, San Francisco, Austin, Kentucky... wherever the scene requires.) Then all you have to do is sign up to be an extra in the film. No red tape, just give them the basic info (name, email address, etc.) and they'll make a reservation for you. Later, they'll email you detailed instructions on where the movie is being shot, where to park, what to wear, etc.

If you'd like, you can also put your name on their email list, so they can let you know in advance when a new movie project is on the horizon (often several times a year in the L.A. area). Of course, there's no obligation, and no cost - you only sign-up for the movies that interest you.

When the filming day comes, all you do is park where they tell you, ride a shuttle to the filming location, and take your place in movie history.

The only drawback to being in a movie is that the actual filming is often a slow, drug-out process. Directors can do multiple takes of the same shot, with long waits in between. But the BeInAMovie staff helps keep things moving, with raffles for prizes, entertainment, food, etc.

If you're in the Southern California area, it's definitely worth doing at least once. You'll never look at the movies quite the same way again.


(Remember, this is for unpaid extras. If you're interested in working as a paid extra, go to this page.)




[For more information, you can access the BeInAMovie webpage at: http://www.BeInAMovie.com,
or phone them at (323) 653-4105.]

Seat-fillers

Seat-fillers

Seeing Stars: Becoming a Star (for 15 Minutes)



Did you ever wish you could get into those exclusive Hollywoood award shows?

Well, here's your chance.

Producers of these events don't like empty seats. They think they look bad on camera, especially if they are in in the first ten rows or so where the nominees sit, and which are often panned by the camera.

So when a celebrity guest gets out of their seat (to visit the restroom, schmooze with friends, or whatever) or if a guest is late to arrive, the producers quickly fill that empty seat with a warm body.

They call them "seat-fillers."

Basically, all seat-fillers do is sit in the seat until the celebrity returns, and then they get up and give him (or her) his seat back. The seat-filler then waits for another opening... Sort of like a game of celebrity musical chairs.

As you might expect, this arrangement appeals to a fair share of people (especially star-gazers), and there is rarely a shortage of warm bodies to fill those seats.

But there's a good chance you can be one of them.

How?

An organization called "Seatfillers & More" recruits volunteers and provides seat-fillers for various events.

All you have to do is go to their website (www.Seatfiller.com) and sign up. There are no guarantees you'll be accepted (they want you to send them a resume and a photo), but if you are, then all you have to do is watch their email list (or go to their website) to find out about upcoming events that need seat-fillers. (They usually only find out a few days ahead of the event.) When you see an event you like, sign up for it, and they will contact you if you are chosen to be a seat-filler for that event. You will be notified by phone or e-mail. At that time you will be given specific instructions including arrival times, directions, parking, etc.

Seatfiller.com handles over 40 events each year. Recently, they have handled the SAG Awards, theAmerican Music Awards, the People's Choice Awards, the MTV Awards, the TV Guide Awards, the Blockbuster Awards, Soap Opera Digest Awards, the Soul Train Awards, the NAACP Image Awards, the Latin Billboard Awards and Rock & Jock baseball. They have done the Grammys in the past. (Alas, they don't handle the Oscars. They use ABC employees and Academy people as seat-fillers.)

Other than the general excitement of attending such an event, there are also three ways a seat-filler can get lucky. One, he (or she) can end up sitting next to some of the biggest stars in Hollywood. Two, he can be seen on TV as the camera pans the crowd (set those VCR's in advance, folks.) And three, if they're really lucky, the person whose seat they're holding may not show up at all, letting them keep the seat for the entire show. (In fact, sometimes they want seat-fillers to stay for the entire event because they didn't sell all of the tickets to the event.)

And bear in mind that tickets to shows like the Grammys (if you can get them) often sell for hundreds, even thousands of dollars from scalpers. So getting in free as a seat-filler, even if it is a game of musical chairs, could be considered a bargain.

However, there are some downsides, as well.

Waits can be long, in small back rooms. They don't guarantee that you'll get a seat. And they don't pay you. You have to provide your own transportation and meet their dress code for each event. You must be over 18 (they ask for photo ID.) And you can't ask stars for autographs or take photos at the events.

Also, they encourage you to go to their smaller events to improve your chances of being selected to go to the big events. I read this as meaning that you probably won't get invited to the Grammys or SAG Awards unless you are willing to first work your way up through the ranks by attending lesser events like "Rock & Jock Baseball."

And of course, the assignment takes a certain attitude... It can be a humbling experience to have to give up a seat to another, even if it is a big star. It's a reminder that you are, after all, just keeping their seat warm. And you're not allowed to speak to "the talent" unless "the talent" speaks to you first. (Sort of sounds like the rules for a medieval royal court, doesn't it?)

But if that sort of thing doesn't bother you, you might want to try your hand at seat-filling.

One fan who contacted me about her trip to the 2000 SAG Awards (as a seat-filler) emailed me afterwards to tell me this:

"It was one of the most wonderful experiences of my life. I had a blast and they were right, it was just like a mini-Oscars. Everyone under the sun was there. From my favorite actress,Gwenyth Paltrow to James Cromwell, who I sat next to the entire night. Tom Hanks,Tom Cruise, the whole cast of 'Friends', 'Green Mile', 'Magnolia', 'American Beauty', 'The Practice' and much much more...
IT WAS TRULY AMAZING!!!"

Now, of course not all seat-filling assignments are going to turn out to be this much fun. But if you're interested, take a look at their website for more details.

A new face on the seat-filling scene is the "Dynamic People Club", run by the folks atAudiences Unlimited (the agency which distributes most of the tickets to TV tapings). They also provide seat-fillers for many award shows, including the Soul Train Music Awards, People's Choice Awards, the Soap Opera Awards, the American Music Awards and the Daytime Emmy Awards (that last one is in New York). You can find their web page about seatfiller athttp://www.audiencesunlimited.com/seatfillers.htm, and an application athttp://www.audiencesunlimited.com/dpc.htm.

Extra work / How to Be an Extra

Extra work / How to Be an Extra