Game Show Blues
November 12, 2013 5:29 PM Subscribe
I'm scheduled to appear on a game show and I just found out that a guy I went to high school with years ago used to work for that particular game show, but no longer does. I think this might disqualify me and I'm Not sure what to do.
I know that ethically, I should disclose this information, but I'm worried that it will disqualify me. Is there any chance of the show finding out? I am not close with the guy. We hung out back in the day, but haven't spoken in years. We were friends on facebook, but I defriended him. I heard that one person was disqualified from the show because his sister worked for a station that aired the syndicated episode of this show. Help please.
I know that ethically, I should disclose this information, but I'm worried that it will disqualify me. Is there any chance of the show finding out? I am not close with the guy. We hung out back in the day, but haven't spoken in years. We were friends on facebook, but I defriended him. I heard that one person was disqualified from the show because his sister worked for a station that aired the syndicated episode of this show. Help please.
What does the paperwork say?
posted by Lesser Shrew at 5:46 PM on November 12, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by Lesser Shrew at 5:46 PM on November 12, 2013 [3 favorites]
Well, presumably they could find out if your friend calls them up and says "Hey, that guy that was just on your show is an old friend of mine." It's not like you can do something on broadcast TV and keep it a secret, you know?
It seems unlikely that the fact that you used to be friends with someone who used to work on the show will disqualify you. Here, for example, are Jeopardy's eligibility requirements:
You are not eligible to be a contestant on JEOPARDY! if you have appeared on any version of the show with Alex Trebek.
You are not eligible to be a contestant on JEOPARDY! if you have appeared on a nationally broadcast game show/dating show/relationship show/reality show in the last year or three game shows/dating shows/relationship shows/reality shows in the last 10 years.
You may not be eligible to play on JEOPARDY! if you are employed by, related to, or within the last five years known anyone who works for Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc., CBS Television Distribution, Sullivan Compliance Company, or any television stations broadcasting Wheel of Fortune or JEOPARDY!
There are a couple of key things here to my mind.
The first is the language switch from 'You are not' to 'You may not be'. Even if you meet the requirements in that section to the letter of the rule you may still be eligible.
The second is the phrase 'anyone who works for' which seems to indicate it's only an issue if the person currently works at those places.
So, read your own eligibility requirements carefully, and figure out if you even need to worry about this.
(Note: I work for a division of CBS, but not the television or distribution division and I don't have anything to do with any of this professionally. My answer is purely based on what I read on the Jeopardy website like any random person could.)
posted by jacquilynne at 5:57 PM on November 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
It seems unlikely that the fact that you used to be friends with someone who used to work on the show will disqualify you. Here, for example, are Jeopardy's eligibility requirements:
You are not eligible to be a contestant on JEOPARDY! if you have appeared on any version of the show with Alex Trebek.
You are not eligible to be a contestant on JEOPARDY! if you have appeared on a nationally broadcast game show/dating show/relationship show/reality show in the last year or three game shows/dating shows/relationship shows/reality shows in the last 10 years.
You may not be eligible to play on JEOPARDY! if you are employed by, related to, or within the last five years known anyone who works for Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc., CBS Television Distribution, Sullivan Compliance Company, or any television stations broadcasting Wheel of Fortune or JEOPARDY!
There are a couple of key things here to my mind.
The first is the language switch from 'You are not' to 'You may not be'. Even if you meet the requirements in that section to the letter of the rule you may still be eligible.
The second is the phrase 'anyone who works for' which seems to indicate it's only an issue if the person currently works at those places.
So, read your own eligibility requirements carefully, and figure out if you even need to worry about this.
(Note: I work for a division of CBS, but not the television or distribution division and I don't have anything to do with any of this professionally. My answer is purely based on what I read on the Jeopardy website like any random person could.)
posted by jacquilynne at 5:57 PM on November 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
A guy you went to hs with who you have not spoken to in years used to work for the show and because of that you think you might be dq'd? I am not a lawyer, but I highly doubt this is a disqualifying event. If it is, then the whole six degrees of separation thing means no one could be on any show.
Read the fine print as Lesser Shrew mentions, but sleep easy.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 5:57 PM on November 12, 2013 [5 favorites]
Read the fine print as Lesser Shrew mentions, but sleep easy.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 5:57 PM on November 12, 2013 [5 favorites]
Assuming there is paperwork, read it. If you are required to disclose the relationship, disclose the relationship. If you are even arguably disqualified because of the relationship, disclose it now. Don't wait until you win something and find out that you cannot keep it because of the undisclosed relationship.
It may be that the objective factors of the relationship are not within the eligibility exclusions. If so, you should be in the clear.
posted by starkraven at 6:02 PM on November 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
It may be that the objective factors of the relationship are not within the eligibility exclusions. If so, you should be in the clear.
posted by starkraven at 6:02 PM on November 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
What if you hadn't found out? Would they expect you to look up everyone you've ever known to determine if they'd ever worked for this show?
posted by windykites at 6:21 PM on November 12, 2013 [7 favorites]
posted by windykites at 6:21 PM on November 12, 2013 [7 favorites]
I think it depends what "went to high school with" means.
If you're related to this person, dated this person, or were very close, you should disclose it.
If this is someone who you vaguely remember from a class, and you're not in touch at all, I don't think it's worth bringing up.
Nthing that there will be paperwork about this, and that you should read it, and follow what it says.
posted by Sara C. at 6:40 PM on November 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
If you're related to this person, dated this person, or were very close, you should disclose it.
If this is someone who you vaguely remember from a class, and you're not in touch at all, I don't think it's worth bringing up.
Nthing that there will be paperwork about this, and that you should read it, and follow what it says.
posted by Sara C. at 6:40 PM on November 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
What if you hadn't found out? Would they expect you to look up everyone you've ever known to determine if they'd ever worked for this show?
Also, definitely this.
I'm a former Jeopardy! contestant. I work in film and TV production, which means that, if I had scrutinized the work history of everyone I knew at the time, some Sony Pictures Entertainment or CBS connection definitely would have come up. I did not, however, and neither was I ever asked about this despite the production team knowing that I worked in episodic TV at the time.
They don't expect you to do an inventory of everyone you've ever known and everywhere they've ever worked.
Though, again, if you have an ongoing relationship with this person, you should definitely disclose it on the off chance. I just don't think they're going to care that some dude who sat behind you in physics used to work there.
posted by Sara C. at 6:46 PM on November 12, 2013 [4 favorites]
Also, definitely this.
I'm a former Jeopardy! contestant. I work in film and TV production, which means that, if I had scrutinized the work history of everyone I knew at the time, some Sony Pictures Entertainment or CBS connection definitely would have come up. I did not, however, and neither was I ever asked about this despite the production team knowing that I worked in episodic TV at the time.
They don't expect you to do an inventory of everyone you've ever known and everywhere they've ever worked.
Though, again, if you have an ongoing relationship with this person, you should definitely disclose it on the off chance. I just don't think they're going to care that some dude who sat behind you in physics used to work there.
posted by Sara C. at 6:46 PM on November 12, 2013 [4 favorites]
This is silly. Don't worry about it.
posted by jayder at 7:19 PM on November 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by jayder at 7:19 PM on November 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
1. Do they have any way of knowing you knew that the person worked there previously?
2. Your final answer? "Who? No shit? Yeah...I sorta remember him. That idiot from my high school worked HERE?"
3. It's a game show.
posted by timsteil at 8:26 PM on November 12, 2013
2. Your final answer? "Who? No shit? Yeah...I sorta remember him. That idiot from my high school worked HERE?"
3. It's a game show.
posted by timsteil at 8:26 PM on November 12, 2013
Echoing Sara--if the guy still worked there, it could be a possible red flag, but unless he was the EP, no one is going to care that you went to the same school. ( I was on Jeopardy, I work in TV and they did ask me to come up with another personal trivia point, so I talked about gardening.)
posted by Ideefixe at 9:00 PM on November 12, 2013
posted by Ideefixe at 9:00 PM on November 12, 2013
I don't think this is an issue. At. All.
Good luck!
I love being on game shows! I've been on two, and it's a real hoot!
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 6:44 AM on November 13, 2013
Good luck!
I love being on game shows! I've been on two, and it's a real hoot!
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 6:44 AM on November 13, 2013
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I would definitely lean towards honesty, but you should figure out what your worst-case scenario is here to help you make that decision.
posted by peanut_mcgillicuty at 5:32 PM on November 12, 2013 [1 favorite]