2. What was the tryout process for STYD? What did you have to do?
Gary and I were in a room with 3 or 4 other teams. The test was that we were given pop culture references that we had to describe to each other without saying the actual word. For instance, Gary got "Road to Perdition." He said, "Graphic novel. Movie with Tom Hanks and Paul Newman" and I got it. We did the best out of the other teams in the room.
3. What you got the notification to be on Shop 'Til You Drop, what was the reaction?
After the tryout we knew that we had it nailed. I think we got a phone call a few days later. We were psyched.
4. How do you know your teammate, Gary?
He and I were in an improv troupe in St. Louis a few years prior so we were used to working together on stage. It helped a lot.
5. Where was STYD taped?
Hollywood Center Studios. 1040 N Las Palmas, LA
6. Winning against your competition, did you ever get to talk to them off-camera?
Well the way it works it that we were in the "green room" which is really just a big room with a TV, books, magazines and snacks with like 10 other teams. They bring in more people than they need in case some teams don't show up. So the first time they brought us in, we sat there all day and didn't get on the show. The next time they brought us in they guaranteed that we'd get on before lunch. Which we did. The girls were in the room with us but we didn't talk to them much. During the actual taping there isn't any time and besides we wanted to keep our "game" on.
7. Did you ever get to talk to J.D. Roberto off-camera?
A little. He's seems like he's pretty much in game show host mode 24/7.
8. What was the bonus round feel like, the pickup-and-handoff concept basically?
It sounds typical but it was just fun being on the show. For the most part, we didn't care about the prizes. After we smoked the girls and got to the bonus round I still wasn't caring if we won or not till they said it was a trip to Hawaii. Then I really wanted it. We strategized how we wanted to do it, and then just stayed really focused on the job of moving the prizes in and out. It's a lot more tiring than it looks because your heart's already pounding just from the excitement and on top of that you gotta do a lot of running. The actual hand-off part was easy.
9. What happened to the wonderful prizes you won?
Some of it I gave away like the ShopVac which I gave to my brother. I sold the ugly lamp on eBay. Gary got some of it. Some I kept obviously. None of it was all that great. It was fun winning stuff but most of it was useless. I still have the karaoke machine and a few other trinkets. Mostly it's a pain having to pay the taxes on it all.
10. You accumulated enough for the Hawaiian vacation. Did you get to take it?
Yes, I did. However, Gary was unable to go. It was cool but a bit of a bummer having to go alone.
11. Being on J.D. Roberto's version, how can you compare it to Pat Finn's version? Did you ever watch Finn's era?
I had never heard of the show before we got on it.
12. Did you ever appear on any other game show?
No. I wanted to do the $25k Pyramid but never got on.
13. If family and friends saw your appearance on STYD, what was their reaction?
They thought it was funny. I look like SUCH a game show contestant. I'm really not that hyper. Something about being on a game show turns you into a bit of a freak.
14. Has anything changed for you since your appearance?
Well, not BECAUSE of the appearance but yes, things in my life have changed in the last 4 years.
15. What would you recommend for people who would still try out for today's game shows?
High energy. Do something that distinguishes yourself from the other people. Most of all, get to know then game really well. They WANT people who can beat the game because that makes it more exciting for the viewers and they get to sell more advertising space.