
So, as I was saying, we taped the show on the coldest day of 2013 (to that point). So, I’m in the Lower East Side, not allowed entrance to the building because I’m too early, freezing my trivia off...
One of the advantages of being the second taping was we got to watch the first taping. I was unfamiliar with the bar trivia scene and was curious and wanted to get a feel for the game. So once the producers decided there was room, we were permitted to stand in the back row and watch. It was a very funny, irreverent take on game shows, with Noah Tarnow as the quizmaster and his sidekick, EdP, doing the sidebar interviews with the contestants. The questions were quirky. They had visual aids. Categories were more like comedy premises. They worked it out where each team had an iPad where we would type in answers. TYPING??? Nobody said there would be typing! Three teams battled for the top two spots and then those two teams went into the lightening round for the championship. All pretty exciting when you consider there were no prizes. That’s right, no prizes. The winners got to hold up a trophy. Not even keep it. Just hold it up. That kinda lowered our expectations.
Between tapings, they interviewed the competing teams, had us introduce ourselves, asked us to look fierce, do a little trash talk, get some video footage for editing. Stuff was said that we could come to regret depending on the editing.
Then it was time. We were seated and handed our iPad. None of us are very tech-savvy, so already we were beginning to sweat. Where’s the buzzer? I want to slam down on a buzzer! What do you mean “Hit ENTER?” What do you mean “Touch-Screen?” Our friends and family were ushered into the bar and seated. The band started playing and we’re off to the races. We had a few moments of technical difficulties where our iPad went off-line, which was quickly addressed and will probably be edited out. Not fun being the center of attention there. Between rounds EdP would chat up the teams and discuss strategy. We quickly realized we had none. Apparently, you can get points for wise-ass answers, wrong answers that are really funny, but no one was in the mood to attempt to type funny answers on an iPad with a clock ticking. I had one funny moment that I couldn’t have scripted better and I hope it gets in, concerning the Buttermilk Channel (not the cable station).
It was a fun experience, certainly something out of the ordinary and I am legally prevented from revealing the outcome (this legality coming from a city government that is trying to ban big sodas and transfats, so you know they’re serious about legally preventing stuff). I hope it plays well and I pray I didn’t embarrass myself too badly and if anyone needs a funny writer with some game show experience, here I am.
The Big Quiz Thing premieres on Sunday, July 14, 2013 at 9pm on NYC life (Channel 25). Episodes will encore on Wednesdays at 12pm and 10:30pm as well as Saturdays at 2pm and 10:30pm. NYC life is available in the New York tri-state area on broadcast, cable and satellite channels. Visit www.nyc.gov/media for local cable and satellite listings. The Big Quiz Thing will also be available to watch online on the NYC Media Video on Demand player – www.nyc.gov/vod – and through the NYC Media app, available to download for free from iTunes.