Does the audience really care whether contestants win or lose?

So I set out on a mission – to satisfy my curiosity…and win big money. My quarry? A spot in the famed "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" hot seat.

The goal seemed far-fetched at the time. I'm no Ken Jennings. I'm just an average person right down to my shoe size. (Okay, I have freakishly wide feet, but the length of my feet is still average. Sort of.)

So, on my wide little feet, I pursued that elusive "Millionaire" slot like a Mallard on Mountain Dew, all the way from Northern Alabama to New York City -- twice. The first time was to audition. The second time was to try my luck in the real-life hot seat.

Armed with trivia books, plane tickets, and a whole lot of support from friends and family, one amazing day in September, I won 100,000 dollars on "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire." I'm incredibly thankful, not just for the money, but for the experience. It unforgettable.

Sounds simple. Play game shows, win easy money, right? I wish! What you don't see on TV is the months of preparation it took to get that far.

If you're ready to play game shows for real, I'd love to see you become a real-life contestant too. When I was a game show hopeful, good information seemed hard to find.

This site's goal? To satisfy your curiosity, and hopefully give you an edge in your gameshow quest.

Some of my theories are hair-brained. Some are common-sense. Some won't work for everyone. A few are illegal in 27 states, but I won't tell you which ones.

Yes, I'm no expert, but I played one on TV.

Ultimately, it's up to you. Play your game show cards right, and with a lot of preparation, along with a good dose of luck, maybe, just maybe, you too can win big money on national TV. I sure hope so!