How to Get on a Gameshow: 12 Popular Shows Looking for Contestants

Game shows are incredibly entertaining to watch, but can you imagine how much fun they’d be to actually participate in?

Anyone who participates in a game show has the potential to win a good amount of money, too, which can make joining in even more worth your while.

If you’ve ever wondered just how people get a chance to be on your favorite shows, from classics like Jeopardy to newer game shows like Ellen’s Game of Games, then you’re in luck.

I’ve researched how to become a contestant on some of the most popular current game shows so that you’ll know exactly what you need to do – and where to go to fill out game and quiz show applications – for your chance to participate in a live taping.

How to Get on Reality Shows like Big Brother and Survivor

Some of the most-searched game shows to audition for are popular reality shows, like Big Brother and Survivor.

Not surprisingly, these both come from CBS, a network that seems to stand out in the reality realm.

It also produces big names like The Amazing Race and Love Island.

As you might expect, the casting periods and processes are a bit different for each show because the shows focus on different aspects of reality and air at different times.

Survivor, for example, specifically looks for people who can withstand the monotony and challenges they’ll face stranded on an island.

Big Brother castmates don’t need to be quite as rough-and-tumble because they get to live in a cozy house.

However, the world watches their every move, so people with big personalities – particularly those that thrive in drama – are likely to get first pick.

For most reality shows, there will be an application you’ll need to fill out followed by an interview process.

The application may be more than just a written application.

Many shows want to see your face and personality to get a good idea of who you are before inviting you to casting calls, so you’ll likely need to submit a video along with your application.

Contestants chosen based on their applications are expected to meet the casting team at the nearest casting location.

You’ll, of course, need to pay for the trip yourself, no matter how far, but there usually are a few spots set up across the country to get a good mix of people from all walks of life.

Most shows also require you to be at least 21 years old and be in good mental and physical health.

During the interview process, you may be asked to undergo a few interviews as the casting team narrows its prospects. This usually occurs in a few waves to get to the final number of contestants.

You can find the casting calls for CBS shows here. Keep it bookmarked to know when other shows open their applications.

ABC also has quite a few game-reality shows with open casting calls, and you can find them here.

How to Be a Contestant on The Wall and Get Paid

The Wall is a somewhat newer game show that shot to fame thanks to its popular executive producer, LeBron James.

This is a question and answer game where contestants can win more than $12 million, but their fate is determined by dropping a ball into the right slots and answering questions to earn more money.

An aspect of the game that viewers love is that the game is played in teams of two.

Teams of players can have any relationship, but their relationships and unique personalities are what makes viewers really attach to them.

To get on this show, you’ll need to audition with whoever you’d like to play the game with.

Like most game shows, you’ll send in a video along with your application, but you and your partner should both be in the video.

The show also requires you to answer a few specific questions in your video to give the casting team a good idea of how you’d interact with one another and how your personalities would fit the show.

You can find all the details and the link to submit your video on this page.

How to Audition for Family Feud

Auditioning for this show is a bit different than others because you need yourself and four family members to join you, so casting doesn’t just rely on you.

Your family needs to leave an impact on the casting crew!

Your family members must be related through blood, adoption, or marriage, so you’re not allowed to have anyone on the team who you just “consider” family.

No members of the family who will be playing are allowed to have been on more than two game shows in the past year, either, or on another episode of Family Feud in the last 10 years.

Although you usually see adults on the show, kids are allowed to be on it, too.

However, the casting crew suggests that kids should be at least 15 years old to fully understand the questions and their content.

Your family needs to send in an audition video to get the ball rolling, or you can opt to apply for a local tryout if there’s one near you.

Tryouts are by appointment only, and you can find more about them and the process on the audition page.

Read More: Get Paid to Be an Audience Member: 7+ Places That Find You Jobs

How to Get on The Price Is Right

The Price is Right is one of the longest-running game shows on TV, so it’s no surprise that people really want to get on this show.

Besides, it looks like so much fun!

This show doesn’t actually require auditions.

Instead, any name from the audience has a chance to get pulled as a contestant, so all you need to do is be an audience member for your chance to win!

Unfortunately, there’s no guarantee that you’ll end up on the show, but even if your name doesn’t get called, you’ll get to experience the fun of watching a live taping.

The Price is Right gets taped in Hollywood, CA, so you’ll need to be able to get there on the date you have tickets for.

However, there is a new show called The Price is Right Live! which is a traveling version that goes to other cities, so you can attend one of those tapings instead if you’d like.

Click here for more information about getting tickets.

Attendees must be at least 18 years old.

How to Become a Contestant on Ellen’s Game of Games

Ellen’s Game of Games is possibly one of the most ridiculously entertaining game shows you’ll watch on TV, so I can only imaging how much fun it would be to be a contestant and do silly things.

Although it seems on the show that people get pulled from the audience by their surprise, there’s an actual audition process to be on it.

I’m not sure if Ellen’s casting team narrows down potential contestants to a pool to choose from during the taping or how it all works.

But you can audition for this.

You’ll need to send in an audition video and fill out this form with your basic information to get started.

You must be at least 18 years old to become a contestant.

How to Get on The $100,000 Pyramid

The $100,000 Pyramid is now in its more modern version based on the previous classic game show.

Contestants must be legal residents of the United States and at least 21 years old or older to apply to be on the show.

The application process for this one is rather straightforward. All you need to do is fill out some questions on the website about yourself.

It’s reported that you’ll also need to send in an audition video of yourself so that the team can learn more about you and your personality.

Getting on Wheel of Fortune

Wheel of Fortune is another incredibly long-running game show that’s somehow still holding strong as a popular show to watch.

You’ll obviously need to have excellent spelling and language skills for this show, but as you know, your skills won’t always help you advance.

In many cases, it’s simply the luck (or lack thereof) of the wheel that determines the big winner.

To become a participant on this game show, you’ll need to apply on this site and send along an audition video or a photo of yourself.

Videos don’t need to be lengthy for this one, but they should show a little of your personality.

You can also skip the photo, video, and application if you prefer to attend a Wheelmobile casting event that comes to your area.

Auditioning for Jeopardy!

Jeopardy! specifically looks for contestants who have a proven track record of high intelligence, so the audition for this one is a little different than your average game show.

You’ll actually need to take a test of your knowledge as part of the audition process!

Anyone who has not already been on the show or who has gone through the audition process in the past 18 months is eligible to take the online test, which is estimated to take about 13 minutes.

If you pass the test, you may be invited to an audition, but there’s no guarantee.

If you are, the team will let you know via email.

In-person auditions consist of mock games, a written test, and pictures of yourself.

You can expect this process to take about two hours from start to finish.

From there, the team will narrow its pool of potential contestants to those who will appear on a future episode.

You can learn more about the full process on the casting website.

How to Play on Common Knowledge

The Game Show Network’s Common Knowledge is a fun trivia show about everyday questions you probably should know, but may not.

You can head over here to go to the casting page, which requires you to fill out an online form about you, your team, and your team captain.

The form is long, so make sure you have some time to sit down and fill it out.

No contestants are allowed to have appeared on a filmed game show for at least one year before applying.

Becoming a Contestant on Hollywood Game Night

Pop culture enthusiasts can have a blast on Hollywood Game Night and get a chance to win up to $25,000.

You must be at least 21 years old to apply and be chosen.

Along with the online application, you’ll need to send in a headshot and a full-body photo of yourself, but this casting process doesn’t require a video.

Get the form here.

How to Become an Audience Member (and Possible Contestant) on Let’s Make a Deal

Let’s Make a Deal is similar to The Price Is Right in that there’s no direct selection of contestants.

Instead, anyone in the audience can be a potential participant in the live taping.

So, get yourself some tickets and earn your chance to be a contestant!

However, there’s a catch: You need to have a costume.

No costume will ensure that you don’t make it to a contestant spot!

This show is all about fun, unique, and entertaining costumes, so the more you stand out, the better.

The information page even says that your costume could be part of why you were chosen to play – but be careful to avoid anything offensive or with trademarked characters or logos.

If you can’t find a costume you love, you can always rent one from the costume shop on set.

How to Get on a Game Show: Final Thoughts

Hopefully, some of your favorite game shows are on this list, and you now know how to audition for them!

If not, you can always head to the game show’s website (you can usually find them on the website of the network on which they air) to learn more about casting.

There’s usually a page devoted to the information for that specific show, like who it looks for and how to submit your application and/or video.

Some shows have open calls for casting all the time, while others start casting during specific periods.

Either way, the page should give you those details.

Good luck!