You can tell by the lower totals that the new WHAMMY! is much more random and there's lots of Whammys for everyone!

Indeed, there is. They definitely have made the new PYL more challenging. But I'll get back to that in a little bit. Right now, take us back to the original PYL. Lot of people wonder what it's like backstage. How was the environment, and how did the contestant coordinators treat you and things like that?

The energy level of the show was very high and so it would be logical that the energy level of the staff was as high.

Bobby Edwards was the Head Contestant Coordinator and he seemed to really enjoy the whole audition process of meeting and selecting people. Who I remember most were Fred and Martha - they had tremendous energy and personality. During the actual shooting of the program they kept everyone's spirits sky high and you can see it on the show.

Peter Tomarken was friendly and gracious host even during the commercial breaks. (Unlike some hosts who turn away and ignore the contestants. I won't mention any names but, he made a bad career move when he left Wheel to try to make a "Connection").

Bill Carruthers was the jovial and accommodating producer who assembled an enthusiastic staff in his own image.

They shot 5 shows a day and it was not easy to keep the contestants bubbly. The show that I won was the last show of the day, we had been there since 8 am and now it was approaching 6 PM. We had been able to watch the other shows and had been fed a nice lunch, I think it was sandwiches, chips and fruit, there was bagels, donuts, and coffee in the morning. Oh yeah, and lots of candy - that was Fred and Martha's energy secret!

After the show, Mr. Carruthers was pitching a new show to the Networks and they called me and my wife to come play it against another couple for the execs to watch. (We did this 3 times for all 3 networks, Pam and I won all 3 times - we like to play games.) So we got to know the staff a little better because we saw them more. FYI: Pam was scheduled to appear on PYL when it was cancelled. This association paid off big when PYL was cancelled and I was ineligible to appear due to the one year rule, they called Pam to be on Peter Tomarken's next show called "Wipeout". Although she does not like the attention of being on a game show, she did go on and won a wonderful trip to Jamaica, a week in Palm Springs and a little cash!

Yikes, man! When you say high energy, you're not kidding. I'd say everyone's having a good time. But how about you, Scott? What were YOUR emotions like during your initial game of PYL?

When I think back to 1984 it really is kind of a blur, I remember patches of the actual experience, most of my recollection is filled in by watching the show.

When you appear on a game show, it all happens so fast. You get through make-up, then the final instructions, i.e. legal stuff, questions about what will happen out on stage, etc. Then you walk on stage and the lights come on and the audience applauds and you react.

I was nervous and excited, I used my acting experience to calm myself and 30 minutes later if you are lucky, you walk out a winner! I remember when the lady hit the final Whammy to end the game - I got out of my seat to look at the front of my podium to see my total winnings. I had no idea how much I had won, I was just trying to win the game. I remember saying to myself "$17,772 - wow that's alot of money!" It sounds silly but that's what I thought.

Doesn't sound silly at all. You win boku bucks like that and of course you'll react that way.

In playing PYL, what were some of your strategies in playing the game? I know that everyone plays the game differently and I'm always curious how other people approach it.

I did have a strategy that worked well the first day and killed me the second day.

The Whammy board consists of rear projected slide projectors showing slides of prizes, money, trips and Whammies. You can see at home that they moved at the same time, meaning switching from one screen, then they all went to the next screen in unison. I noticed that some full "screens" had alot of Whammys and some only a few. I thought I would watch the board as a whole and when a "screen" with alot of Whammys came up - I would stop when that board was switching out. Usually the next board had very few Whammys and I cleaned up. When I hit the Big Bucks to virtually win the game - if you look at it in slow motion - you will see that I stop it on a Whammy that switches out to BIG BUCKS! I never figured out you could trace the pattern of the highlight box, so I didn't try. Two weeks later, we shot my second game and the results did not turn out as well.

Now the New Show - in the second round the boxes change independently and the highlight box moves much faster. Also we were too close to the board ,so I could not get the whole board in my vision. I was literally "shooting in the dark" - so when I hit Big Bucks I decided to take the 3 Whammies and my $6200 and hope it was enough.

You are right, a lot of the old strategies that worked on PYL couldn't effectively be used on Whammy!, so it makes the game that much harder. But you mention about tracing the pattern of the light, in reference to the late Michael Larson. What were your reactions when you heard and saw that accomplishment, assuming you have?

My first reaction was of disappointment that someone had ruined the game. Then I thought the producers were neglectful by not ever changing the program pattern...I mean, c'mon. Today people are looking at Whammy! With digitally enhanced slo-mo effects - THEY better change periodically.

But, Larson studied the board, made the trip to California (Game shows did not go around the country SEEKING contestants. Ahh, those were the days) and impressed the staff enough to get on the show. Well done him. But I never was sorry that I did not figure it out first. I won plenty.

Well, you figure that it's better that in the current version the light is not random, because then, you absolutely have that element of chance that wasn't completely there before. Works for me, anyway.

Now, you talked about the enviroment of the original PYL. How about Whammy? What sort of things were similar or different this time, particularly with Todd Newton at the helm?

I was on the first show that was taped that day, and I observed that it was much more scaled down, between being on CBS versus GSN, fewer people as far as staff goes. It was done on a chepaer budget, there were plenty of prizes they were giving away, but not much in the way of cash. During the breaks, it was the same type of thing in that they had donuts and things out but no full lunch. But they were definitely true to their word about the Argus cameras that they gave to the runners-up. They didn't have to wait, they got them right away after the show was over.

Todd is a nicer guy, but he seems slicker and hip compared to a lot of hosts before him. This made him perhaps a little less sincere, but he was still friendly. I remember during my question round, Todd asked about who had Meryl Streep just tied for the record of most Oscar nominations. I buzzed in with Katharine Hepburn, and the others got it right also after I buzzed in. During the break, Todd actually asked me "You knew it was Katharine Hepburn, didn't you?" I said, "Absolutely. You don't guess with a name like that. I mean, you can ask most people nowadays to name 20 actresses and you'll be hard pressed to find anyone who would name Hepburn or someone else from back in those days."

Agreed, most definitely.

In talking about your interactions with Todd, there are lot of hosts that you've met over the years on all your shows. Out of all of them, who would you rank as the best and the worst of them?

The best host without a doubt was Bob Eubanks on Trivia Trap. I was on as a Junior since I was only 29 at the time, during the second half of their run after they had changed the format. But Bob was the nicest and friendliest host I had met. He talked and joked with us a lot during the breaks, too. He was truly genuine. And I'll bet you didn't know this, but this shows the kind of things that Bob has done in his career. But back in '63, he actually mortgaged his house in order to finance the Beatles' first American concert at the Hollywood Bowl. It's something that I really find amazing.

Far as other hosts go, I've mentioned about Peter Tomarken. He was very good as well, real personable guy. The only thing that bothered me about his style was that he came off sometimes as a little corny in his delivery. It was as though he was trying too hard, almost forcing the jokes. You even see it a little in my episodes. But he knew how to keep the game moving as well.

The worst host I would have to say was Chuck Woolery. When I was on Wheel back in '78, Chuck did a good job with the game, but when the breaks came, I and some of the other contestants would try to talk to him, and he would just walk away from us, sort of putting up his nose, almost. He didn't seem to really want to engage in a lot of conversation.

Heh, I see... kind of interesting when you're there live to see who really shows the same sincerity you see on TV and who doesn't.

Finally, Scott, given your game show experience, you can answer this. For those of us that wish to try out for game shows, what sorts of tips can you offer that will help us impress the producers?

I wrote some articles on the subject and here are the tidbits that will help you most:

Arrive early and the Contestant Coordinator (Whom I'll refer to as "CC") will lead you into a room filled with tables, chairs and #2 pencils. The CC will have you fill out an information sheet. It asks for your name, address, TWO phone numbers, occupation, family and game show experience.

It could also ask for 5 interesting facts about yourself - QUICK - name 5 interesting facts about yourself...

This is where my advice can help you. Pre-Plan! Over the next few days think of somethings about yourself that are interesting and make you unique. Something short and cute or comical. Something to make you stand out in their minds. Sometimes I write that I was lost in the jungles of Hawaii or that I met two of the Three Stooges. Make sure they are true because they might ask you about them on TV.

Then they will ask everyone to stand up and introduce themselves, this is another spot where prior preparation will come in handy. Before you arrive think of a little speech you can deliver. Include your name, occupation, family life and a quick one line aside, like your hobby. Practice it out loud at least three times in the car on the way over. This should only be about 20 seconds. DO NOT ramble. They are watching to see how comfortable you are in front of people. Stand up smile brightly; say your piece TO THE CCs and sit down.

FOLLOW ALL INSTRUCTIONS THAT THE CC GIVES YOU! I amazed at the people who are told what to do and not to do and they ignore the CCs. Their job is to get happy, energetic, intelligent people for the show and if you can't follow directions in the audition, they cannot risk putting you on stage where wasted time costs lots of money. Show them that they can have confidence in you.

Now comes the test - they will probably have puzzles or questions of some kind. It will be timed - so go through the whole test answering the easy ones and then go back and work on the rest as time permits. Passing grades are usually 65%.

Congratulations - You've passed the test! Now you will get to play a mock game. You play this game differently than when you get on the show - show strategy and knowledge of the game and clap a lot.

It will not matter if you win or lose here as long as you play well and have a good time. If you lose or make a mistake, laugh it off like your having the time of your life. One trick I use to get myself excited - when you win a fake $200 in the mock game, try and imagine someone handing you two hundred dollar bill cash - that's kinda fun! Show it on your face and in your actions. Try to be upbeat and excited to play, let that nervous energy work for you. Clap a lot.

To relax, try to imagine yourself playing the game with friends in your living room. Have a good time - and that will show the CCs that they should have no doubts about putting you on their show.

All notes are duly taken. I thank you so much, Scott. It's been a real pleasure, and here's hoping to more game show success in the future.

And thank you. If you ever want to know more, just send me an e-mail. Take care. And whenever you come back to California, I don't mean to sound cliche, but "Let's do lunch."

You've got it, Scott. Take care.