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Game Show Catalog

How to Get on a Game Show: Applications, Auditions and Casting Tips

Millions of people watch contestants solve puzzles, answer trivia questions, make risky decisions, and compete for cash and prizes. It looks exciting from the couch, but understanding how to get on a game show requires more than simply being a fan.

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David Abolafia appearing on The Chase with host Sara Haines
Game Show Trivolution’s David Abolafia appeared on ABC’s The Chase after previously becoming a two-time Jeopardy! champion.

Every television production has its own eligibility requirements, application process, audition format, and casting priorities. Some shows begin with an online test. Others request photographs, written answers, or a video submission. Reality competitions may involve several interviews, background checks, medical screening, and an extended casting process.

This guide explains how to get on a game show, how to find legitimate casting opportunities, what producers look for, how to prepare an audition video, and what to expect if you receive the call.

We also have some genuine firsthand experience behind this advice. Game Show Trivolution’s own David Abolafia became a two-time Jeopardy! champion and later competed against Chaser Victoria Groce on ABC’s The Chase. His television experience included wins, pressure, confidentiality agreements, and one wildly unexpected question that caused a stir online.

How to Get on a Game Show Step by Step

The exact process varies, but most people who successfully learn how to get on a game show follow the same basic path.

  1. Identify shows that fit your personality and strengths.
  2. Confirm that casting is currently open.
  3. Read every eligibility requirement.
  4. Apply through the show’s official website or approved casting company.
  5. Complete any required test, questionnaire, photographs, or video submission.
  6. Respond quickly if a casting producer contacts you.
  7. Prepare for interviews, mock gameplay, and camera auditions.
  8. Remain patient while producers make final casting decisions.

Applying does not guarantee an audition, and completing an audition does not guarantee an appearance. Casting teams may receive thousands of submissions while filling a relatively small number of contestant positions.

Choose the Right Game Show

Your first step is not filling out an application. It is deciding which program genuinely fits you.

Different shows reward different skills and personalities:

Do not apply only because a show has a large prize. Watch several recent episodes and ask yourself whether your knowledge, personality, appearance, lifestyle, and communication style fit the actual program.

Producers are not simply looking for people who want money. They need contestants who can play the game, follow directions, react naturally, and contribute to an entertaining television episode.

Find Legitimate Game Show Casting Calls

Anyone researching how to get on a game show should begin with official sources.

Check:

For example, Jeopardy’s official contestant section explains its current application, test, and audition process. ABC also maintains an official casting page listing programs that are actively looking for participants.

Casting availability changes. A show that accepted applications last year may be closed now, on hiatus, or casting only a special edition. Always confirm the current status before preparing a lengthy submission.

Watch for Casting Scams

Be cautious when a supposed casting representative:

Legitimate productions may need identity documents, tax information, releases, or background-check authorization during the process. However, verify the production and contact before sending sensitive material.

Check the Eligibility Requirements

Before applying, read the complete eligibility rules. Requirements may cover:

Jeopardy’s current basic eligibility rules state that applicants must be at least 18 and reside in the United States or Canada. Other shows have different requirements, so never assume one program’s rules apply to another.

Answer eligibility questions honestly. Hiding a disqualifying relationship or previous appearance can remove you from consideration later, even after you have invested time in the audition process.

Complete the Application Carefully

The application is your first audition. Casting producers may form an impression of you before they ever hear your voice.

Give complete, accurate, and specific answers. Avoid one-word responses unless the form specifically requests them.

Tell a Memorable Story

Producers often ask about your occupation, family, interests, unusual experiences, proudest moments, embarrassing stories, or what you would do with the prize.

A generic answer is easy to forget:

I enjoy traveling, spending time with my family, and watching television.

A specific answer gives the producer something to picture:

I have visited 42 states in a converted cargo van, but I still refuse to drive over bridges because I am terrified of them.

You do not need to manufacture a dramatic life story. Look for distinctive details that reveal your personality.

Explain Why You Fit This Particular Show

Do not send the same generic explanation to every production. Show that you understand the program.

You might mention:

Keep the enthusiasm genuine. Producers can recognize exaggerated praise written only to flatter them.

Proofread Before Submitting

Check names, dates, telephone numbers, email addresses, social media handles, and written answers. A simple typo in your contact information could prevent a producer from reaching you.

Save a copy or screenshots of your application when permitted. You may need to remember what you wrote during a later interview.

How to Create a Strong Game Show Audition Video

How to get on a game show by preparing a strong audition video
A clear, energetic audition video can help casting producers see your personality and television potential.

Many people searching for how to get on a game show become nervous when the application requests a video. You do not need a movie studio. You need clear sound, flattering light, personality, and the ability to follow instructions.

Follow the Required Format

If the application specifies a time limit, file type, orientation, or list of questions, follow those instructions exactly.

A polished five-minute video does not help when the producers requested 60 seconds. Following directions demonstrates that you can work within the production’s requirements.

Use Clear Lighting and Sound

Record in a quiet room. Face a window or soft light rather than standing with a bright window behind you. Place the camera near eye level and make sure your face is easy to see.

Test the sound before completing the entire recording. Personality cannot rescue a submission producers cannot hear.

Start with Energy

Do not spend the opening 20 seconds adjusting the camera, apologizing, or explaining that you feel nervous.

Begin with your name, location, occupation, and a strong detail about yourself. Smile, speak clearly, and let the producers see what you would be like on television.

Be Yourself—Turned Up Slightly

You do not need to shout or perform a fake character. Television compresses energy, so the version of you that feels lively in person may appear subdued on camera.

Aim for authentic enthusiasm: expressive, responsive, confident, and conversational.

Avoid Overediting

Quick cuts, graphics, and music can be useful when allowed, but the producer primarily needs to evaluate you. Do not hide your personality beneath a complicated production.

Prepare for the Game Show Audition

If casting contacts you, celebrate—but read the instructions before doing anything else.

Auditions may include:

Jeopardy currently begins with its Anytime Test. Applicants who pass and are randomly selected may be invited to a virtual audition process involving another test, mock gameplay, and a contestant-style interview. Even strong audition performance does not guarantee an invitation to tape the show.

Know the Format

Watch recent episodes rather than relying only on childhood memories of the show. Formats, rules, hosts, bonus rounds, and production styles can change.

Understand:

Practice Under Realistic Conditions

Watching comfortably from the couch is different from answering while a timer runs and strangers observe you.

Practice:

Prepare Several Short Stories

Contestant coordinators may ask about your life, job, hobbies, family, or an unusual experience. Prepare several stories that can be told clearly in 20 to 40 seconds.

Do not memorize every word. Know the beginning, key detail, and payoff so the answer remains conversational.

Show That You Can Play and Entertain

Knowledge alone may not be enough. Producers are creating television, and they need contestants who react, communicate, follow cues, and remain composed.

Celebrate a correct answer. Stay engaged after a mistake. Listen while other applicants speak. Avoid dominating every conversation.

Game Show Advice From a Two-Time Jeopardy! Champion

Game Show Trivolution’s David Abolafia understands how to get on a game show because he has done it more than once.

David appeared on Jeopardy! in April 2004. He won his first two games and entered his third appearance as a two-time champion with $42,000 in winnings. The surviving episode listings show him returning on April 20 with $27,000 from his first victory and again on April 21 with two-day winnings totaling $42,000.

You can see one of David’s episode listings through TheTVDB’s Jeopardy! archive.

Becoming a two-time Jeopardy! champion required much more than broad knowledge. David had to pass the contestant process, perform under television pressure, master buzzer timing, wager strategically, and remain composed through three separate games.

David Later Took on The Chase

Nearly two decades later, David returned to national television on ABC’s The Chase. He competed alongside Traci Mack and Tanya Melendez against Chaser Victoria Groce.

David and his teammates fought valiantly, but the Chaser ultimately got the better of them. Losing to one of the world’s elite quiz competitors is not exactly a walk of shame. Sometimes the Chaser is simply terrifyingly good at knowing things no normal person would ever expect to study.

The Question That Caused a Stir

David’s appearance also produced the episode’s most talked-about moment.

During his individual round, host Sara Haines read an unexpectedly adult question asking which country is known for painting giant lifelike phallic symbols on buildings as a way to ward off evil spirits and bring good luck.

The choices were Bhutan, Azerbaijan, and Burkina Faso.

David selected Burkina Faso and noted that it was not exactly something he had studied. Sara jokingly asked whether he meant Burkina Faso or the rather memorable subject of the question. David’s beautifully understated reply—“That one”—sent the set into laughter.

The correct answer was Bhutan. Chaser Victoria Groce knew it, later explaining that she had encountered the fact on a flashcard.

The exchange caused a stir among viewers. The U.S. Sun covered the moment, including social media reactions from viewers who were stunned to hear the unexpected question during a prime-time game show. One viewer called hearing the word during the broadcast the “jumpscare of the century.”

What Future Contestants Can Learn From David

David’s experience gives Game Show Trivolution a perspective most live entertainment companies cannot claim. We understand game shows from both sides of the buzzer: producing them for live audiences and competing under actual television lights.

What Happens After the Audition?

After an audition, you may hear back quickly, months later, or not at all. Casting decisions depend on much more than your performance.

Producers may be balancing:

Do not assume silence means you performed badly. You may have been strong but not the right fit for that particular production cycle.

Should You Follow Up?

Follow the instructions provided by the casting team. When no follow-up guidance is given, avoid repeatedly contacting producers for updates.

A brief thank-you message may be appropriate after a personal audition, but do not turn it into a campaign. Casting professionals remember applicants who make their jobs easier—not applicants who fill their inboxes.

Keep Applying

Learning how to get on a game show often means accepting rejection or silence without taking it personally.

You may be a better match for another program, a future season, a special tournament, or a different contestant mix. Continue watching official casting pages and apply again when permitted.

Preparing After You Are Selected

Being selected creates a new checklist. Read every email and document carefully.

Confirm the Logistics

Make sure you understand:

Choose Camera-Friendly Clothing

Follow the show’s wardrobe instructions. Producers may discourage tight patterns, visible brand logos, certain colors, excessive jewelry, or clothing that interferes with microphones.

Bring approved backup choices in case the production requests a change.

Respect Confidentiality

You may be required to keep your appearance, results, prizes, or memorable production details private until the episode airs.

David experienced this after taping The Chase. His episode did not air until January 2023, and he could not publicly discuss what happened during the intervening months—including the question that later generated national entertainment coverage.

Read confidentiality agreements carefully. A premature social media post is not worth risking your appearance, prize, or relationship with the production.

How to Improve Your Chances of Getting Cast

There is no guaranteed formula for how to get on a game show, but several habits can make you a stronger applicant.

Most importantly, do not pretend to be a completely different person. You may be able to maintain a character for a two-minute application video, but it will become harder during interviews, rehearsals, and an entire taping day.

Can You Experience a Game Show Without a Television Audition?

Sometimes you want the buzzers, competition, music, big reveals, and championship moment without spending months applying and waiting for a casting call.

Game Show Trivolution brings professionally hosted live game shows directly to corporate events, conferences, team-building programs, resorts, HOA events, and private celebrations throughout Florida.

Our formats include:

Instead of hoping a casting producer chooses you, your guests become the contestants. We bring the professional host, wireless buzzers, game software, music, scoring, visuals, and production directly to the venue.

Planning an event in Central Florida? Visit Orlando Game Show for more information about corporate game show experiences at Orlando hotels, resorts, meeting spaces, and event venues.

Frequently Asked Questions About How to Get on a Game Show

How Do You Apply to Be on a Game Show?

Use the program’s official website, network casting page, or approved casting partner. Complete the application accurately and submit any requested photographs, tests, videos, or supporting materials.

Do You Have to Pay to Audition for a Game Show?

Legitimate productions generally do not charge applicants a fee that guarantees an audition or television appearance. Contestants may still be responsible for certain personal, travel, wardrobe, or logistical expenses depending on the show.

What Do Game Show Producers Look For?

Requirements vary, but producers often want contestants who understand the game, follow directions, communicate clearly, react naturally, and bring an interesting personality or story to the episode.

Do You Need Acting Experience?

No. Most game shows cast real people rather than professional performers. Comfort on camera helps, but authenticity, responsiveness, and enthusiasm usually matter more than acting credentials.

Can You Apply to More Than One Game Show?

Generally, yes, but review each production’s rules. Some shows restrict applicants who recently appeared on another game or reality program.

How Long Does Game Show Casting Take?

The process can take weeks or many months. Some applicants remain in contestant pools for extended periods without receiving a guaranteed invitation to tape.

Was David Abolafia Really a Jeopardy! Champion?

Yes. Game Show Trivolution’s David Abolafia won two consecutive Jeopardy! games in April 2004 and accumulated $42,000 before his third appearance. He later competed on ABC’s The Chase.

What Happened to David on The Chase?

David competed against Chaser Victoria Groce and fought valiantly, although the Chaser ultimately defeated the team. His episode became especially memorable because an unexpectedly adult question during his round sparked laughter on the set and surprised reactions from viewers.

Take Your Shot at Becoming a Contestant

Understanding how to get on a game show comes down to preparation, personality, patience, and persistence.

Choose programs that fit your strengths. Apply through official sources. Follow every direction. Practice the game. Prepare memorable stories. Most importantly, allow casting producers to see the real person they would be putting on television.

You may not receive a response from every application. You may audition and still never reach the stage. But every television contestant began at the same place: deciding to apply.

And when you want to give your company, organization, friends, or family the game show experience without waiting for Hollywood to call, Game Show Trivolution brings the show directly to you.

Check Game Show Trivolution’s availability or call 813-892-8453 to discuss your Florida event.