On Thursday, May 3, 2001, in Charlotte, NC, I auditioned to be a contestant on "Who Wants to be a Millionaire." Here's what happened.
The audition was held at the Embassy Suites Hotel. I left Chapel Hill at 10:00, got there at 12:30, and ate lunch at the hotel. The auditions started at 2:00, but we had to report by 1:45.
The producers gave us a 30-question written test (all "fastest finger"-type questions), which we had 12 minutes to complete. They graded them by hand for about 30-35 minutes and then announced the results. In my group of 125, only 39 passed the written test. There was a predetermined passing score, but they wouldn't tell us what it was. We were identified by number, and when they read the numbers of those who passed, I didn't hear my number called. I wasn't too surprised since I was uncertain of many of the answers and had even changed several of them (we were allowed to do this). Then they read the numbers of those who didn't pass, and I still didn't hear my number. So I raised my hand and asked them which category I was in, and they told me I passed!
The other people left, and they had us get up in front of everyone (and a video camera) five at a time. Each of us introduced ourselves and said a few words about where we're from and what we do. They had buzzers for us and asked us a few trivia questions (not multiple choice). Then they asked us a few interview-type questions (guiltiest pleasure, worst job, what you would do with $1 million, etc). They did a couple rounds of three trivia questions and three interview questions. I buzzed in first three times, but got only one correct. The rumor is that the trivia questions are just to make us more comfortable and don't really count for or against us. I was in the second group, so it was good not to have to go first but still to get it over with early. All 39 of us who passed the written test were supposed to stay until all the interviews were over. We were done at 5:00, and I was home by 7:30.
The producers told us that they would send out postcards in a couple of weeks to those who were selected to be in the Audition Player Pool (I don't know how many). Then they select players to be on the show from this pool and the Phone Player Pool. Not everyone in the pools will be on the show--just those who get phone calls. But once you're in the Audition Player Pool, you don't have to requalify. The Phone Player Pool, on the other hand, is purged every so often. Also, the producers at the audition said that most contestants will come from the Audition Player Pool.
A few weeks later, I was able to get a slot for the Cincinnati audition, but I was unable to attend. (You don't know when the audition will be until you get a slot via the 800 number.) Auditioning multiple times is not prohibited, and several people at the Charlotte audition had already been to auditions in other cities. In fact, three people had already been on the show, but they never made it into the hot seat.
Unfortunately, I never received a postcard, and there are rumors that the show may be cancelled. So I have abandoned my hopes of ever competing for the million...
Return to my home page.