It's a Deal!!

Television game shows have been a part of pop-culture since the mid-1900s and have managed to stay relevant by changing with the overriding cultural trends. I don’t know if it is the allure of winning big or of actually getting that fabled 15 minutes, but the idea of being on a game show is undeniably tempting to a vast majority of Americans and I am certainly no exception. The other day I finally made my move at an open-call audition for Deal or No Deal! To be perfectly honest, I have probably only ever watched about six total minutes of the show, but I figured a game show is a game show. I didn’t have time to plan an elaborate shtick, so I stuck with the bubbly but starving college graduate, and lo and behold – the truth paid off! I introduced myself in the brief 30-second first round, the casting judges fell for my oozing enthusiasm, and I made it through to the second round of auditions.

That’s when the real fun began. Stick 30 TV-worthy personalities in one room, tell them to turn on the charm and wait for the magic. With the incentive of one guaranteed spot on the show everyone’s energy level was at its max, smiles were 100 watt and hands soon hurt from clapping so much. Each person had a few minutes to stand in front of the judges, and everyone else, talk about themselves and prove their ability to entertain. There was such an eclectic mix ranging from a 79-year-old grandmother of 41 who used to mix dynamite, to the 20-something, motorcycle riding, night-life loving DJ, to the middle-aged balloon-animal maker.

I missed out on the guaranteed spot, but that does not even matter. I left that audition with a new friend, we visited DJ Hollywood at his last gig and he did not disappoint, and a renewed appreciation for the rainbow of people I am surrounded by everyday. I feel richer to have spent a day hearing the stories of people I never would have otherwise met. Actually, I’m thinking open-calls may become a new hobby.