Gameshow Preparation - FAQs

Gameshow study habits aren't set in stone, which is probably why I get a lot of questions about how I prepared, not just for the audition, but also for the actual game show. Below are the most common questions about how I studied for Who Wants to be a Millionaire.

Did you study for Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? And if so, how?
Well, this is a big, big yes. I studied my little heart out for both the game show audition in June and the taping that September. I read trivia books, listened to books on tape, played practice Millionaire games, watched documentaries, and generally kept my eyes and ears open for interesting factoids. By the time I plopped down into the hot seat, my mind was stuffed with more useless information than I'd ever use in an entire lifetime. When I left the Millionaire studio that day, I let all that know-how drift like pigeon droppings onto the streets of New York City. Yes, I got stooopider and stooopider by the minute. But I was too happy to care. For more specifics on how I studied, please visit my gameshow study page.

Speaking of gameshow prep, did the other contestants study?
I can't speak for all contestants, but I will tell you this: Almost every single contestant I met in the green room had also studied their heart outs. And we didn't stop there. On breaks from taping, we quizzed each other back and forth. It was actually kind of scary.

Did the Millionaire Gameshow give you a list of topics to study?
Oh, I wish! But alas, we were on our own. I'd watched the show for years, so I had a decent idea of what kinds of questions they might ask. In preparation, I bought a ton of trivia books and devoured them for months -- both before my audition, and after I was selected to be in the contestant pool. On the day of taping, I lugged a bagful of trivia books into the green room, only to have the books locked away by the nice Millionaire staffers. Apparently, they do this to discourage cheating.