July 26, 2015
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On May 20, 2015, there was an announcement on the Mensa Philippines FB page that the TV5 show "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire is on its 14th season and is looking to partner up with Mensa Philippines for a “Genius” special!
I had been a trivia geek all my life and I had longed to join WWTBAM ever since the Christopher de Leon days so many years ago. Never had the guts of doing it back then, or now when it re-emerged with Vic Sotto as quizmaster. I felt this would be the best opportunity to fulfill a longtime dream.
They are searching to 10 contestants for each of the two categories - 11-16 year olds, and adults 18 years old and above. These 20 contestants will be screened before they can have a go on the show. Requirements were listed, including a very long questionnaire to fill out, which not only asked for personal biodata, but also for interesting life anecdotes as well as your plans for the prize money.
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On May 31, the audition for the candidates was held at the TV5 Media Center in Mandaluyong City. The call time was 2 pm, but things got going only maybe after an hour or more of waiting in the assigned conference room. We were about 15 or so aspirants there, many of whom I have met only for the first time, since I was an inactive member of the organization. When the production people finally faced us, we were again asked to fill out a form exactly like the one we filled out online, this time by hand.
Later, we were given a twenty item Multiple Choice quiz about various trivial topics. The questions covered topics from the popular (like "What year did Flashdance by Irene Cara hit #1?") to the totally obscure ("What is the name of the pet of Teddy Roosevelt's son?"). Many of the questions were very American in orientation, which was rather distressing. We had fun discussing our (wrong) answers after the quiz.
After some time, we were all herded into another waiting room while the production people set up video instruments for the next phase of the audition -- the VTR! One by one, in the order of our arrival to the venue, the candidates were called in to be interviewed on camera by the production team. We were asked basically the same questions we answered in the questionnaires. The interview concluded with us giving a personal message directed to Vic Sotto, or, as he is affectionately called, "Bossing." These individual interviews wrapped up beyond 7 pm already. After this, we would just be waiting for the final announcement as to who will be chosen.
There would be no news from TV5 for a long time after that day. Until suddenly, on July 15, the fateful text message arrived! I was one of the five people chosen to play. However, it was immediately qualified that I was only in the backup slot. That immediately tempered my expectations, but I was still very excited about the turn of events. I was watching "Ant-Man" that night with my kids, so I could not take the call from the TV5 crew who was calling me. I only got to talk to her later that night when I got home.
Friday July 17 is a holiday declared for Eidl Fitr. This was the day declared for home visits by the TV5 crew. I spent the whole of Thursday preparing the living room and my office for this visit, decluttering it the best I can. The four other candidates were already told of their home visit schedules. I was told that the crew won't be going to my house after all. By then, I already knew that I would be the last in line to play.
Despite that, I was still given an outfit peg for taping day. I had to bring 4 sets of clothing that reflected "New York in Autumn" like Richard Gere in "Pretty Woman" (yeah, right!). LOL! I was even emailed a photograph of what my outfit should look like. My inner shirt had to be orange or fuschia. Clothes with those bright colors of course are not really found in my wardrobe. Yikes!
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July 20 came. Call time is 1 pm. (Of course, Vic Sotto will still be in "Eat Bulaga" up to 2 pm.) I did not go to work anymore that day to make that call time. The production required that I had to bring a companion or two with me. As much as I would like to bring my wife and kids with me, Monday was a school day so they were not available. I brought my dad with me instead. I knew he would also enjoy this experience in a TV studio. I did not realize that the TV5 Studio was so far along Quirino Hi-way in Novaliches and the lunchtime traffic was so heavy! We parked across the street in SM Novaliches as advised. Fortunately this parking would be free for the whole day.
We just spent the whole afternoon waiting in the dressing room. They gave us food for lunch, merienda and dinner. They had us watch old episodes of WWTBAM on video to familiarize us with the rules. The production crew oriented us with the rules. They told us that they wanted one of us to actually win the big prize. We were given a chance to take pictures on the set. We saw fellow Mensans seated in the audience. For me especially, I had to take advantage of this opportunity to have a photograph in the hotseat, knowing how slim my chances of going on to play are.
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By about 6 pm, our first contestant went on stage already with Bossing Vic -- this was it! We were seated backstage watching the proceedings. What we saw in the monitor was actually what it would look like on TV already. There were hardly any cuts made by the director. The game with our first contestant was intensely high drama from the second question! This was really very good TV because you will want to see how what would happen in his game.
When the first game ended, our second contestant went on. He was only able to reach his fourth question, when the time for episode 1 ran out. He will continue his game in the next episode which will be taped on that same night. It should be noted that Vic was quite serious in between takes. He was very quiet, only sitting on his seat diddling with his phone.
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We waited for another hour or so before the shooting for the next episode began. Despite the slimness of chances that I will go on, I was still treated as if I will. My final outfit was checked, though I was not really told to change. I still had a run-through of my script with the production assistant in case I get a chance to banter with the host.
Our second contestant had changed his outfit already to give the illusion that a week had passed. When his game ended, our third contestant started his turn. Again, this would be a very tense game as it transpired. His game concluded before the episode time ended so our fourth contestant got to sit and play! The game of our fourth contestant was going much smoother than the first three games, but time eventually ran out and he would have to return for the next episode.
So that was the end of the line for me. Our organization was only good for two episodes, so that was it. I was told I would have to audition all over again if I wanted to play again. I was given P500 for my transportation allowance. We left the studio past 10:30 pm already. We did not get a group photo with Bossing, or even with the WWTBAM logo behind us.
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So with that I end my account of my close brush with the hotseat that never came. I will not deny it was disappointing to come so close to fulfilling a longtime dream, yet it still did not come to pass. Oh well, that's the way life goes. I guess I will just have to earn my million pesos in other ways.
On May 20, 2015, there was an announcement on the Mensa Philippines FB page that the TV5 show "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire is on its 14th season and is looking to partner up with Mensa Philippines for a “Genius” special!
I had been a trivia geek all my life and I had longed to join WWTBAM ever since the Christopher de Leon days so many years ago. Never had the guts of doing it back then, or now when it re-emerged with Vic Sotto as quizmaster. I felt this would be the best opportunity to fulfill a longtime dream.
They are searching to 10 contestants for each of the two categories - 11-16 year olds, and adults 18 years old and above. These 20 contestants will be screened before they can have a go on the show. Requirements were listed, including a very long questionnaire to fill out, which not only asked for personal biodata, but also for interesting life anecdotes as well as your plans for the prize money.
Our only group photo on testing day
On May 31, the audition for the candidates was held at the TV5 Media Center in Mandaluyong City. The call time was 2 pm, but things got going only maybe after an hour or more of waiting in the assigned conference room. We were about 15 or so aspirants there, many of whom I have met only for the first time, since I was an inactive member of the organization. When the production people finally faced us, we were again asked to fill out a form exactly like the one we filled out online, this time by hand.
Later, we were given a twenty item Multiple Choice quiz about various trivial topics. The questions covered topics from the popular (like "What year did Flashdance by Irene Cara hit #1?") to the totally obscure ("What is the name of the pet of Teddy Roosevelt's son?"). Many of the questions were very American in orientation, which was rather distressing. We had fun discussing our (wrong) answers after the quiz.
After some time, we were all herded into another waiting room while the production people set up video instruments for the next phase of the audition -- the VTR! One by one, in the order of our arrival to the venue, the candidates were called in to be interviewed on camera by the production team. We were asked basically the same questions we answered in the questionnaires. The interview concluded with us giving a personal message directed to Vic Sotto, or, as he is affectionately called, "Bossing." These individual interviews wrapped up beyond 7 pm already. After this, we would just be waiting for the final announcement as to who will be chosen.
There would be no news from TV5 for a long time after that day. Until suddenly, on July 15, the fateful text message arrived! I was one of the five people chosen to play. However, it was immediately qualified that I was only in the backup slot. That immediately tempered my expectations, but I was still very excited about the turn of events. I was watching "Ant-Man" that night with my kids, so I could not take the call from the TV5 crew who was calling me. I only got to talk to her later that night when I got home.
Friday July 17 is a holiday declared for Eidl Fitr. This was the day declared for home visits by the TV5 crew. I spent the whole of Thursday preparing the living room and my office for this visit, decluttering it the best I can. The four other candidates were already told of their home visit schedules. I was told that the crew won't be going to my house after all. By then, I already knew that I would be the last in line to play.
Despite that, I was still given an outfit peg for taping day. I had to bring 4 sets of clothing that reflected "New York in Autumn" like Richard Gere in "Pretty Woman" (yeah, right!). LOL! I was even emailed a photograph of what my outfit should look like. My inner shirt had to be orange or fuschia. Clothes with those bright colors of course are not really found in my wardrobe. Yikes!
Our only group photo that taping day
July 20 came. Call time is 1 pm. (Of course, Vic Sotto will still be in "Eat Bulaga" up to 2 pm.) I did not go to work anymore that day to make that call time. The production required that I had to bring a companion or two with me. As much as I would like to bring my wife and kids with me, Monday was a school day so they were not available. I brought my dad with me instead. I knew he would also enjoy this experience in a TV studio. I did not realize that the TV5 Studio was so far along Quirino Hi-way in Novaliches and the lunchtime traffic was so heavy! We parked across the street in SM Novaliches as advised. Fortunately this parking would be free for the whole day.
We just spent the whole afternoon waiting in the dressing room. They gave us food for lunch, merienda and dinner. They had us watch old episodes of WWTBAM on video to familiarize us with the rules. The production crew oriented us with the rules. They told us that they wanted one of us to actually win the big prize. We were given a chance to take pictures on the set. We saw fellow Mensans seated in the audience. For me especially, I had to take advantage of this opportunity to have a photograph in the hotseat, knowing how slim my chances of going on to play are.
The production team briefing
By about 6 pm, our first contestant went on stage already with Bossing Vic -- this was it! We were seated backstage watching the proceedings. What we saw in the monitor was actually what it would look like on TV already. There were hardly any cuts made by the director. The game with our first contestant was intensely high drama from the second question! This was really very good TV because you will want to see how what would happen in his game.
When the first game ended, our second contestant went on. He was only able to reach his fourth question, when the time for episode 1 ran out. He will continue his game in the next episode which will be taped on that same night. It should be noted that Vic was quite serious in between takes. He was very quiet, only sitting on his seat diddling with his phone.
My view of Bossing from backstage
We waited for another hour or so before the shooting for the next episode began. Despite the slimness of chances that I will go on, I was still treated as if I will. My final outfit was checked, though I was not really told to change. I still had a run-through of my script with the production assistant in case I get a chance to banter with the host.
Our second contestant had changed his outfit already to give the illusion that a week had passed. When his game ended, our third contestant started his turn. Again, this would be a very tense game as it transpired. His game concluded before the episode time ended so our fourth contestant got to sit and play! The game of our fourth contestant was going much smoother than the first three games, but time eventually ran out and he would have to return for the next episode.
So that was the end of the line for me. Our organization was only good for two episodes, so that was it. I was told I would have to audition all over again if I wanted to play again. I was given P500 for my transportation allowance. We left the studio past 10:30 pm already. We did not get a group photo with Bossing, or even with the WWTBAM logo behind us.
My one chance to sit on the Hotseat
So with that I end my account of my close brush with the hotseat that never came. I will not deny it was disappointing to come so close to fulfilling a longtime dream, yet it still did not come to pass. Oh well, that's the way life goes. I guess I will just have to earn my million pesos in other ways.