I've dreamed of being on Family Feud since I was a child, but that was back when my family could somewhat stomach to be in the same room. (It's probably not a good idea to turn the "feud" in Family Feud into a real thing, ya know?)
In all seriousness, I'd probably come up with better answers than the people who fumble only to have their braindead family members yell out "Good answer! Good answer!" as the host looks on incredulously.
But that has to be staged, right? People can't be that ridiculous, right? What actually goes on behind the scenes?
"People who have been on game shows: What are some things us viewers don't know?" –– This was today's burning question from Redditor cutchisclutch22 and it's a trip!
"They tape..."
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Was on Wheel of Fortune. They tape a full week's worth of shows in one day, so as a contestant you get to watch the game being played at least four other times as an audience member.
"A hype man..."
My partner was on Who Wants to be a Millionaire, and I was in the audience. They tape about 5 shows a day. The audience in the background is made up of all the contestants and their partners. You were forced to stay for the full day to sit in the audience. A hype man would come out and spriuk the crowd, and yell at you if you weren't looking excited enough.
"They tape five shows a day..."
I was on Jeopardy! Alex Trebek was not allowed to speak to the contestants except when the cameras were running. They were afraid of claims of collusion. We dealt with the staffers. At Final Jeopardy!, the staffers will come up and help you to figure out how much you want to bet and what you're hoping for in the final result.
They tape five shows a day, and you're supposed to bring at least three changes of clothes, so if you win, you go up and change clothes so that it looks like you're on two days in a row instead of two shows on the same day.
"I had to pay CA sales tax..."
Was on Wheel of Fortune years ago. The game goes A LOT faster when you are playing it so cut people some slack when you think the answer is obvious. The "Used Letter Board" is just a white board that somebody writes letters on as they are used. Nothing fancy. They play the actual commercials during taping and contestants have to turn around with their back to the board during it so they don't study the board. Vanna is super nice and walks over and talks to contestants during commercials but Pat leaves immediately and comes back right before. You literally meet him when he reads your info card at the beginning. I am short so I had to stand on a box because they want everyone the approximate same height. I won several thousand dollars worth of merch. I had to pay CA sales tax before it was shipped to me then in my state that total was added to my taxable income.
"The backs of all the props..."
The backs of all the props on The Price is Right is all open wires and circuits. The models (1997) were rail thin. Bob Barker looks orange in person with all the make-up. The show is one hour and it was taped in one hour.
"Some of my smaller prizes..."
I was a big winner on The Price is Right. A few things that come to mind.
You don't get the car you see on the show. A local dealership called me after it aired and told me to come pick a car, think of it as a $23,000 gift card. I could have any car, but had to pay the difference if it was more expensive.
The producers make a BIG DEAL to tell you not to go over on the bid in the Showcase round. Two overbids means no winner, which is a downer. It really screws with your head, which is why you see many drastic underbids.
From arriving at the studio to the show starting was 3 or 4 hours. From the show starting to me sitting backstage having won a car was less than 5 minutes. It's pretty surreal.
Drew vamps with the audience during commercial breaks.
Some of my smaller prizes were delivered in literal Amazon boxes to my house.
Amongst other things I won a cellphone and data plan. They gave me the value in cash instead (no choice). For all other prizes I was given the prize without a choice for cash. They offered me cash instead of the car, but it was something like $12,000 for a $23,000+ car.
After the show they had to refilm somebody having their name called and running to the front, the person never got on stage so having them fake excitement was awkward.
That's all I can think of for now.
"I was an audience member..."
I was an audience member for X Factor in Australia and they filmed the "reaction" shots before we had even seen anyone perform. A guy on a loudspeaker would count us down and then we'd have to do our best grimace, or cringe, or amazed face.
I made sure to include some movement when I knew the camera was sweeping over me so I raised my hand and bit my knuckle in a fake cringe and sure enough that shot was included in the final edit of some poor bloke who never stood a chance.
I also noticed what I assumed to be the director do a thumbs up, thumbs down or half-half hand to the judges before each contestant. It's already decided who goes through to the next round.
"Because they are filming..."
Was on the Newlywed game.
Because they are filming 3 - 5 eps in a day, the bulk of the audience is a bunch of actors who get paid to come in and applaud and cheer on days they don't have rehearsals and call-ups. My (now ex) wife and I had brought friends, and it was a whole process to get them to be able to be in the audience.
"The contestants..."
I was on America's Funniest Home Videos (second place yay). Sitting in the audience smiling and laughing constantly is exhausting. Like I was so done by the time filming was over. The audience does actually vote! However, they don't show them actually voting. There is like a real one and then a fake one that is filmed. We also get to watch the videos for the episode, but they are played on an off camera screen. The electric wall behind the host doesn't actually have much of a purpose.
The contestants sit in the back until the announcements where they move them to the front. They gave each of us money for every day we were there to buy food. 75$ for the adults and 50$ for the kids. That's fine and all and definitely enough to feed a person for a day, but this is in Los Angles and the contestants come from all over the country. Of course we want to try some cool food! The hotel buffet breakfast alone cost 20$ per person. I totally get it but c'mon man.
When we're intoxicated, or even the slightest bit tipsy from having a little too much to drink, our immediate perspective on things is hazy.
But there's nothing like a bit of alarming news or a jarring incident to snap us out of the fog and focus on the moment.
Sometimes alcohol isn't always to blame for our impairment.
It can be a state of mind, like a perpetual numbness from being complacent in life, and all it takes is one shocking moment to rattle us back to our senses.
Curious to hear from strangers online about this type of scenario, Redditor Known_Challenge_7150 asked:
"What’s one thing that sobered you up real quick?"
These individuals were witness to shocking events that sobered them up right quick.
Bleeding Out
"Got out of a taxi and found a naked man profusely bleeding from his head crawling up the driveway in my condo. Called him an ambulance completely forgot I was absolutely wasted until 45 minutes later when I'd helped him translate and in to an amublance and stepped in my front door."
"Later a few days later learned he'd slipped in the tub and literally crawled out for help. Poor dude. He was fine but I genuinely thought he was going to die there."
– DongLaiCha
Tragic News
"At a bachelor party and we got a phone call that the groom’s father had suddenly passed."
– accountnameredacted
Bottom Of The Barrel
"I went to visit my parents back in July. I was homeless and deep into fentanyl addiction so I lost a lot of weight. My folks could see it. They knew something was up. Anyway, I spent the night and I was getting ready to leave in the morning and I looked at myself in the mirror for a good long time. I finally had enough and told them everything. They took me to detox, from there I went to rehab. Graduated in August and been living with them ever since then. I have 160 days clean and sober."
– Crotch-Monster
A reality check can be enough for some people to snap out of it.
Like Father, Like Son
"Was driving a drunk friend home, he had been on a bender again and was smart enough to call me for a lift rather than try and drive. As I helped in to his house his mother came down the stairs and said 'your as drunk as your father' and went back upstairs. I haven't seen him drunk since then, he still drinks but the thought of turning into his dad scared him out of hard drinking."
– psycospaz
Busted
"Flashing blue lights."
– FiddleOfGold
"This sobered me up just thinking about it."
– redmaple_syrup
Losing Sight
"Woke up to no sight in one eye. I had cataract surgery so just thought one of the lenses had slipped and it was an easy fix. Eye doc says nope, you had a stroke. I loved soy sauce, teriyaki sauce and salty food, which caused high blood pressure, which caused retina damage. Over six months was able to get most of my eyesight back with medication, and all back within a year. Trying to navigate life with one eye was very sobering. Started taking HBP much more seriously."
– MissHibernia
Quitting The Bottle
"Looked up someone I went to highschool with who was an awesome guy. Found out he had been dead for 3 years from alcoholism, at age 33. I made an overnight change. I hadn't started drinking that night yet, 10 months ago. Haven't touched it again since."
– omgtater
These disturbing moments were enough for Redditors to immediately come to their senses.
Unplanned House Guests
"Me and a buddy Woke up in someone’s living room, realized neither one of us knew the people, they were just nice and let 2 drunk guys sleep on their living room floor. We didn’t even say goodbye."
– Oneinsevenbillion75
Serious Health Warning
"Elevated liver enzymes."
"And the knowledge that this sh** was gonna kill me and I just couldn't orphan my family over it."
"So I opted for recovery, instead."
"Clean and sober since June 5, 2009."
– Far_Meal8674
The Joyride
"Grew up in a rural area. The little town hosted dances at the hockey arena, everyone (adults and kids) went and they overserved everyone, regardless of age. I was maybe 16 or 17 and was absolutely sh*tfaced, and jumped in the back of someone's truck with about 8 other people to go back to someone's cottage for after dance drinking. The driver (still don't know who it was) started racing one of his buddies and we whipped around small dirt roads, flying around blind corners on the wrong side of the road, going god knows how fast. It was basically a disaster waiting to happen. It was crazy scary and I was sober and thankful to be alive when we finally arrived."
– foxfood9116
The human psyche is a fascinating thing, isn't it?
How we can automatically focus on something urgent at a crucial time, even after getting buzzed from drinking too much alcohol.
But as we're in the thick of the holidays, it's a good reminder to drink responsibly and stay off the roads if you drive to your celebratory destination.
Cheers. Stay safe. And happy holidays.
We've all complained or vented about something in our lives which, in the grand scheme of things, wasn't exactly a problem, or is very easily solved.
Then there are those who complain about things that others almost hope will happen to them at some point in their lives.
These are known as "first world problems", as they are problems that pretty much only the world's one percent faces.
From having to fly business class instead of first class, or being served Roederer instead of Dom Pérignon, these complaints are often met with amusement, bewilderment, or even anger.
Redditor jennimackenzie was curious to hear the most absurd "first world problems" anyone ever complained about, leading them to ask:
"What’s the most ridiculous 'first world problem' you’ve seen people get worked up over?"
"Tale As Old As Time..."
"I once knew a mom who was legitimately devastated, to the point of tears/grief, because a doctor predicted her 8 year old daughter's final height to be around 5'2","
"Which wasn't tall enough to get cast as Belle at Disney World."
"That was the child's (and her mother's) only dream in life, apparently."
"Didn't appreciate my suggestion that she could be Minnie or Mickey."
"Lol!"
"Only a face character would do!"- TravelLovingMom
"Must Be Funny, In A Rich Man's World..."
"My boss from about a decade ago was this insanely rich dude who always went to the bank to get fresh and crisp currency."
"He'd call the bank in advance to make sure they had some on hand."
"I think he was a germaphobe."
"He had a trash can that he'd throw $1 and $5 bills in that he thought was 'dirty' and regularly just donated it vs spending it."
"I asked him why he did this and he said it was too much trouble and asked if I wanted it."
"I said f*ck yeah dumped it into my bag and when I got home it was close to $400 in singles and fives.
"Another time, he wanted to upgrade all the computers in his studio, so we went to a store and bought 10 PCs."
"They all had $150 mail in rebates and he wasn't bothered to go through the trouble of mailing them in."
"3 weeks later I received $1500 after spending a whole afternoon filling out all those goddamn forms."- azninvasion2000
Money Burn GIF by nog
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Who Wore It Better?
"When I was about 19 years old, I was at my boyfriends family BBQ."
"I was wearing this pretty floral sundress."
"His cousins girlfriend showed up in the same dress and she was SO mad that she went and changed."
"I will never understand being upset when someone is wearing the same thing as you.'
"Did you really think that your shirt you bought off the rack is going to be unique to you?"
"No."- mertsey627
Seeing Red! Or Blue In This Case...
"The blue of the balloons wasn't quite the same as the bridesmaid's sashes."
"Years ago my wife and I attended a wedding."
"It was very low key."
"The dinner was in the dining hall at the university where the couple met, cinder block walls and all."
"It was a Baptist wedding - no booze and very serious."
"The dark blue balloons attempting to liven up the hall were a slightly darker shade of blue than the sashes on the bridesmaid's dresses."
"The bride lost here sh*t and absolutely raved for nearly an hour."
"I can't remember how they finally managed to talk her down."- mechant_papa
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See You In Court!
"Rich neighbors who end up in expensive court battles because they disagree about where a tree can be planted or whether the color of a fence fits in with the street’s 'amenity'."
'These disputes get really heated and rack up huge lawyers’ bills."
"The most pathetic part is after the judgement when they are arguing about who should pay the other party’s costs."
"Lots of affidavits filed citing the 'emotional distress' they had to endure, or painting themselves as brave warriors who were forced to take a stand to fight for 'justice'."
"Also lots of pompous litigants insisting that the judge refer to them by their 'Dr' title."
"An absolutely insane dumpster fire of entitled rich people problems."- ElectrocRaisin
It's Always People With Money Who Don't Want To Pay!
"I work in a public library."
"People will get so so mad if they have to be put on a wait list for a book."
"A popular book that just came out."
"Ok our services are not only free but so are the books."
"You’re welcome, a**holes."- Switchbladekitten
A Warm Butt Is A Happy Butt!
"My own."
"We have a bidet toilet seat (Fabulous! Everyone should have one!) and not only does it wash your bum and blow dry it, but the seat's heated!"
"It's shocking how much a heated toilet seat makes the whole process more agreeable."
"Except: We had a power outage and I went to use the toilet and the seat was cold!"
"Unacceptable!"
"This shall not stand!"
"I was really upset because it didn't feel good."
"Then I stopped and thought: This is the most first-world problem anyone's ever had."
"I was really pissed because my heiny was tepid."
"I got over it."- DeathGrover
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Holy Matrimony!
"Weddings are a gold mine for this question."
"People get so hyped up over their 'most important day of their life'."
"They'll destroy friendships, go into debt, and have crazy expectations."
"It's not always the couple who go crazy, either."
"Sometimes, it's the parents or another family member who feels entitled to control the wedding."
"It's just a party."
"Be considerate of guests, have plenty of food and drinks, and enjoy it."- magicrowantree
When Fast Food Isn't Fast Enough...
"Having to pull off to the side to wait for a drive-thru order to be brought out to you because your food isn't ready and there's a line building up behind you."- demanbmore
In Case You Don't Think Customer Service Employees Are Undervalued...
"I was working the return desk at a Target next to a military base so I have so many stories."
"One of my favorites was a lady who had her baby shower before revealing the gender and was livid that she had received floral newborn diapers when she’s having a boy."
"It was a huge box of super expensive, all organic diapers, that we didn’t carry and therefore could not return."
"I cannot accurately express her fury and disgust."
"How dare either suggest her boy could wear feminine diapers."
"I suggested she donate them if she didn’t want to use them and she instead threw away the entire box."
"When she left we pulled it out and threw it in our donate bin."
"There have also been multiple times where mom’s order massive toys and when we bring them out to the car they get furious that they aren’t wrapped."
"We don’t offer wrapping services."
"Here’s the thing, if you don’t want your kids to see the toys you got them for Christmas or their bit to day DON'T BRING THE CHILD WHEN YOU PICK IT UP."
'I’ve had multiple women scream and curse me out that I had ruined their kids Christmas by bringing the toys they ordered out to the car like they requested."- clever-mermaid-mae
Customer Service Waiting GIF by Juno Calypso
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Happiest Place On Earth!
"I used to work for Disney."
"That in itself should tell you everything."
"However for fun I'll give you two specific stories one form our tech department and one from my wife who worked bookings."
"I specifically worked for their call center to help with technical issues with magic band and the website."
"Suddenly got worse huh?"
"A right of passage call everyone has at least one story of is the 'Dome call'."
"Basically there is a subset of Disney Guest (TM) that believes if it rains at Walt Disney world there is someone that will push a button to encapsulate the whole of Disney property in a dome to keep out the rain."
"I'm not kidding."
"If this button is not pushed they call our tech department to angrily ask why."
"My wife worked booking."
"Pretty much everything including Bibbidi Bobbidi boutique and Pirate's league."
"These two things did roughly the same thing difference being price and theme."
"BBB was expensive did more and was focused on princesses, pirates league did a bit less and focused on mermaids and pirates."
"Lady called up my wife, and got pissed about BBB being booked up (It goes FAAAAST)."
"Karen: 'Im going to give the phone to my daughter and I want you to tell her how you are ruining her vacation by not letting her do BBB'."
"Wife proceeds to explain how pirate's league is so much cooler and how she can be a mermaid or pirate and basically gets the kid to start demanding to their parents about how they want to be a mermaid instead of a princess."- trollsong
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The horror!
Being booked into a junior suite at Disney World instead of an executive suite!
It's almost as bad as having no money for groceries, or no food to feed you children...
Said absolutely no one.