Janets’ Millionaire Hot Seat Report
http://www.gannetshome.com/
OMG what a day. I didn’t embarrass myself!! But then I didn’t win a million either.
They’ll let me know a week before it goes to air – probably in a few weeks they say! I will let you know.
From the beginning…
I was applying on-line for mum to play – I was a bit slow getting the process and mums’ scored paid the price with a few timeouts. Obviously I had it mastered and got the best score with mum over my shoulder. What we thought was that.
A few weeks later they emailed me an invitation to audition number 2 at the Convention Center – was I available…..? I had the hide to reply and suggest it was mum that deserved to audition, not me. Well – sometimes my “hide” pays-off – we weren’t allowed to trade places but next thing you know mums’ got an email in her inbox inviting for another nights audition space. Out comes my “hide” again…… “Could we possibly be auditioned on the same day…..?” Well that worked too
At the second auditions we were divided into 4 groups of about 100 and herded into separate auditoriums, shown the set and a show. We were quizzed and graded out of 30. Same as the show – 4 multiple choice answers with 15, 30 or 45 seconds, according to the question number. There was a bit of cheating – looking over mums shoulder and an ACDC question that I didn’t know the answer to was made obvious when the entire rest of the room up’d pens at the mention of the answer!
Lucky for us a low scoring room – the top 60 got to stay . Then we were herded into smaller groups according to our score – we were separated – mom got a smarter group!!!! More forms, a photo and a minute in front of a camera! What could I bring to the show! Well I name dropped as much name dropping as I could… Eccentric aunt, zoo keeper, elephants, maned wolves, RSPCA, wildlife, Eddies magpies, Bob Irwin, Jane Goodall, How I shaved my head to support dad, now recovering non-hodgkins lymphoma, travelled the world, wildlife carer, RSPCA – did I say elephant keeper – I met queen with a koala and a wombat had ringworm!!..........
DON’T CALL US – WE’LL CALL YOU
Only a matter of weeks later I get a phone-call from Victoria on the mobile – bloody Optus again… Oops – no it’s Millionaire Hot Seat. How would you like to be on the show! OMG
That brings us to the show.
They flew myself and my supporter (mum) to Melbourne, put us up in a motel for the night, fed us most meals and organized all the transfers! What a ride! I totally recommend it. The possibilities – just the experience – AWESOME
We were introduced, instructed, guided, briefed and rehearsed. There were 30 contestants today – representing 5 episodes and a weeks worth of shows for the afternoons filming. We where clothing approved (RSPCA t-shirt), make up applied and we were briefed again. We were wired for microphones and fitted with a heart monitor! A new trial thing they were doing just today.
I was first in line. First in the seat. Michael, one of our coaches, adamant that a pass on the first question is not a good strategic move. Oh shit – so you guess and get the first question wrong… Shit. During my practice run so we all know how to change seats and walk-on time! The I-can’t- believe-it’s-not-Eddie-stand-in, pretends I get it wrong and I walk straight off stage! Just between us - I actually got it right – Something about Agatha Christies writing style – Romance, History, Mystery or something! And the next time round he boots me off too, but I don’t remember the question. Hmm, I hope there’s nothing underlying here – I didn’t get to practice walking or playing musical chairs.
A little nervous now. We don’t get to meet up with our supporters before hand – Eek.
I’m in Episode group 2. Second up! We get to watch from the big room… EEEWW, now I’m excited, the whole room is electric and we’re all best friends…..rooting and cheering and calling out the answers! Awesome
That’s us – Ep2 we are affectionately called. Security screens us for secret cheating devices… Make-up, mikes, heart monitors in place, there’s a girl with a lint brush. Take your seat, 10, 9, 8, (shit which camera was mine), 7, 6, 5, 4(oh crap), 3, 2 (shit smile), 1……….Eddie bounces in and the scrolling prompt screen “MEET OUR CONTESTANTS TODAY – JANET GAMBLE – STATE WILDLIFE COORDINATOR FOR THE RSPCA ONCE PRESENTED A WOMBAT WITH RINGWORM TO THE QUEEN OF ENGLAND” , smile, wave……look bouncy, smile….blah blah blah … Giday Eddie – I’m in the hotseat, chat chat chat about something???? Question – oh shit when’s it coming. What is something enhtusiatic something… It’s B Eddie, I’m a Sagittarian – I’m often a bit too Gung-ho. Shit time 12 seconds lock in B Gung-ho
Chat chat chat about something – oh yeah – what does a zookeeper do? –We shovel a lot Eddie! How do you become one? Doh – (look blankly, shit think – how) – I got a certificate...(dickhead – what sort of response was that?)
What do you something something ships galley? It’s C Eddie – lock in C, cook. I like to cook. Big smile (Phew – wipe brow) - (I got 2!) nerves…..
I forget a bit the order but here goes…
Chat chat chat about something – favourite animal… I don’t have one Eddie.. Ohh come on pick one (oh shit – pick one – which – oh) Elephants…..Maned wolves… maned wolves – why maned wolves ….chat chat – must have said something?
What does it mean to panhandle? Oh crap – what does that mean. Cook, (it can’t be cook – we just had cook), garden?, beg?, something else? (I’m not allowed to say I have no idea) (look like I’m rationalizing logistically the answer) (hmm watch the time – don’t run out!) Pass Eddie – I don’t know it. I’ll Pass.
Walk to seat… It’s Beg – shit you work for a charity – why didn’t you know that? Smile –
Something about singing peter paul and mary? Lemon tree, olive tree, ? 2 other trees, (It’s Lemon tree – I knew another one - wow) Pass
Walk to next seat in file – quick – smile, look interested
Next contestant gets it right.
Something, something? Pass
Smile – get up walk to next seat - smile
Something something? Sorry wrong – bye
Smile – get up walk to next seat – shit I might get in again here – smile, chin up
Something something?
Walk – sile – chin up
Something something?
Smile,
Somehow I’ back in the Hot Seat, chat chat smile – chin up, crap
Janets’ here with her um toda – Roseann – Hi Roseann – “She’s hard to keep up with”
What do you get when you mix yellow and cyan? (Oh cool – I must know this one too), Cyan is blue – purple, brown, green, and something. I should know this Eddie, I think it’s Green – D green thanks Eddie, did I say lock it in? (Eddie tells me off for not being clear enough and locking it in on time.) Correct! YAYY
(Phew, wipe brow – another one down, shit nerves, I could win this, I’m not so dumb! - smile) chat chat chat about something? Shit – I’m still here!
Just remembered another question but I am not sure where it presented itself in the scheme of things….Watch the show – we’ll know…
Who’s glove sold for $420,000USD in 2009? A Tiger Woods, B dunno, C – Michael Jackson, D – can’t remember – Hey I think I know this – if it was Tiger Woods it’d be this year, Lock in Michael Jackson,,,,,,, It was in the question – the hint was glove = singular!!!!!!!! Doh
YAYYYY another right….
What was the ball’s name in the Tom Hanks movie Castaway? Smile big – A Watson, (It’s Watson), B something else, C - Wilson (oh shit – maybe it’s Wilson), D - something else. Hmm Eddie at first I though it was Watson but now I think it’s Wilson, blah blah Wilson, lock in C Wilson please Eddie.
YAYY
Shit – smile chin up
Chat chat chat about something
What’s the % of ethanol allowed in Australian fuel? Poop – what! A 5%, B 10%, C 15%, D 20%, think – mention pass maybe?
Must have gone for a break….. I remember Michael whispers to me that I can’t pass – I’ve used it.
Shit will have to guess – lock in A Eddie 5%
BEEP – wrong – your gone pooh – never mind shake hands, why didn’t I look harder at the answers – oh pooh – shoulders drop out the door. Hey did okay – didn’t fall over, didn’t swear, didn’t embarrass myself. Staff de mike and de heart rate monitor and associated equipment.
Sit and watch – the next question – I think
Who is married to Paula Abdul? I miss the choices but didn’t know it anyway – So unless I had succeeded in another guess I didn’t know it. The last person in the seat wins the safe level $1000
Little note
Episode 1 had the question Where was the latest baby elephant born in Australia?
And in Episode 4 a subject mum had asked me just on Sunday that we then looked up was asked - What is the study of Silviculture? Study of Forests!
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