SARABETH ROTHFELD
Face the Music, Double Dare, Sale of the Century, Tic Tac Dough, Love Connection, Match Game '98, On the Cover

From 1980......to today

Yes folks, you are looking at THE Sarabeth Rothfeld, the FIRST 10-time Face the Music champion. As many of you have probably seen on GST Moment #13, Sarabeth answered Debbie Reynolds to win an additional $3,000 in prizes and a trip for two around the world, which also includes a car for running 5 times on the show.
It was convenient that Sarabeth had located the ONLY Face the Music clip on YouTube and had left a comment there. I waited until I got her 10th win posted to respond to her, and I thank my trader, Paul Burgos for her episode. Sarabeth had been looking for her episodes, since something happened to her tapes. When I responded to her, I immediately led her to my website and we struck an agreement to an interview, and it's lucky to have a retiring champion being interviewed. Here she is, in her own words of the interview.

1. Before making your appearances on game shows, what was life like? What was your occupation and what-not?
I was a student at Cal State Northridge working on my teaching credentials. I lived at home with my parents to save money. I was about to start my student teaching with students who had moderate to severe disabilities.

2. What did you have to do throughout the tryouts for Face the Music?
We played mock games (all the games on the show).

3. How long did you have to wait before you were notified you could be on, and what was your reaction?
I don’t remember waiting a long time. I was so excited and wanted to do better than I had on Double Dare. Since I knew my music, I was confident. The taping was so great. They took us to a lovely brunch in Westwood at a restaurant called Alice’s Restaurant. They wanted to have us for the whole day without coming into contact with anyone from the show. During taping, they even took us to the bathroom in groups.

4. What was Ron Ely like? Did you ever get to talk to him off-camera?
WHAT A DOLL!! So handsome and very, very nice. He was always happy for me when I won. When I was really winning, and winning double and triple prizes of the same thing (washer/dryers) we had a good laugh while they were being announced. No contact off camera since he was either being de-briefed or makeup touch-up. The contestant coordinators would always come to us during breaks, giving us water, etc.

5. Did you get a chance to talk to singer Lisa Donavan, or the late conductor Tommy Oliver?
No, never got to talk to them. We were kept very separate from the cast and crew.


The image of Debbie Reynolds that got Sarabeth her final victory to be the only retired champion

6. On your 10th consecutive win, it took you to the $3,000 level to find out it was Debbie Reynolds. Where did you recognize the picture from?
I just knew it was her. By the time I got to that level, it was the Debbie Reynolds with whom I was familiar.

7. Your final opponent was Cindy, as I recall. Did you two get to speak at anytime after the show?
I don’t remember talking to her.

8. Did you take your trip around the world? And, what's happened to the car you won on your 5th win?
That is an interesting story. The trip was actually plane tickets to 4 locations around the world with hotel stays in each city. That was all. So, the game show production felt bad about that so they let me choose any trip I wanted with a travel agency (Ask Mr. Foster). I chose an incredible trip to Israel and Egypt. Since that was a tour that really hadn’t been done before because of the relations between the 2 countries, I jumped on it.
The car lasted quite a few years...I got a stick and had to learn to drive it. I got a personalized plate that said EYE 1 IT (I tried to get a more regular spelling but many had already been taken).


An interesting fact I don't want to pass up, Israel was an answer that Cindy got on Sarabeth's final episode

9. Remind us what other shows you were on. Can you compare any of them to Face the Music?
Double Dare, Face the Music, Tic Tac Dough, Sale of the Century, Love Connection, Who Knows You Best and one other a few years ago that was on cable, On the Cover. It was based on made up magazine covers. I’m proud to say I won on every show I played (on Love Connection, I got to be the one who chooses!!) I have to say Face the Music was the most fun and most classy production as far as what they provided for contestants (at least first season, I heard 2nd season was less generous).


The late Tommy Oliver in the intro of Sarabeth's final appearance on Face the Music

10. I said "late conductor Tommy Oliver," because he passed away on May 2nd, 2006. Did you know that?
I did now....Too bad, he wasn’t that old.

11. Have you tried out for any other game shows?
I sent in a tape for the Amazing Race and also tried out for 1 vs. 100.

12. What would you recommend for people who are trying out for game shows today?
Well, I would say, be yourself with a little extra..but it’s so hard to know what production companies want....But my philosophy has always been I’m going to leave with more than I came in with...and it’s fun. I felt grateful because I know people all over the country would kill to even try out.

The only Face the Music clip on YouTube that led me to Sarabeth is actually in my rulesheets. She has her own YouTube account, marked sarabeth721.

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