Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, Green Room FAQs

Before Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, I wasn't really sure what a green room was. Well, now I know! It's a place where special guests, or in my case, money-grubbing game show contestants, wait their turn to appear on a TV program. Below are the most common questions I get about the green room.

Is the Green Room really green?
Nope. As far as the Millionaire green room is concerned, I'd describe its color as "neutral." I'm sure there were some plants and things, and maybe some green trim, but it was your basic, generic room. In some ways, it reminded me of a doctor's waiting room.

What goes on in the Green Room?
This is an article in and of itself. I promise to write it soon, but in the meantime, suffice it to say that by the time the actual taping begins, contestants have been in the green room for hours. Contestants arrive at the studio around 8 a.m., but taping doesn't begin until early afternoon. The morning is filled with briefings by Millionaire staff members from the legal guy to the public relations gal. We also spent a lot of time eating (or not eating), getting our hair and makeup done, and quizzing each other.

Do they feed you? Water you? Clothe you?
The show does provide food – breakfast in the morning, lunch around noon, and snacks throughout the day. We had soda and water to drink -- no booze. We had to bring our own clothes, but there was a very nice hair-and-makeup lady who made us look good. (Click here to see my "before and after" transformation.)

Do the contestants get along with each other?
In my experience, yes. One nice thing about the current Who Wants to Be a Millionaire format is that contestants aren't competing against each other. This means there's a real sense of camaraderie. We were happy to see our fellow contestants win. And sad when things didn't work out for them.

Can you see the taping from the Green Room?
Oh yeah, and this was amazing. There's a big TV in the green room, so we could watch our fellow contestants in real-time through a live video feed. Best of all, the TV screen looked just like it does when you watch Who Wants to Be a Millionaire at home, with the answer choices flashing on the screen and everything. Other than the fact the drama was playing out live in the other room, the only difference was that the guy squirming in the hot seat was the same guy who'd been eating cookies next to you just few minutes earlier.

Do you return to the green room after your turn in the hot seat?
Nope. After you sign the paperwork with the money guy, you're ushered out a side studio door, never to see your fellow contestants again. Your personal belongings are gathered up from the green room and given to you right before you're booted out onto the cold streets of New York. (Okay, it wasn't exactly that heartless. The staff really was incredibly nice. But the whole thing implied, "Get out and stay out!" which really cracked me up.) I suspect this is a counter-measure against cheating, and plus, it might be distracting to have experienced hot-seaters milling with those who are still waiting their turn.

If you'd like to read my other FAQs about my stint on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, please click here.