Welcome to…
CONTESTANT EXPERIENCES
SR: Hey -- How are ya ?
DCL: I'm great! How are you?
RS: I just signed on & saw yr message -- I know I'm early
DC: That's fine.
SR: So -- let's talk "Remote Control"
DCL: Sure! I've never done any interviews, so I'm really not sure how to start, but I'll do my best.
SR: I've actually rewatched "my" show a couple of times. At one point I was behind by 40 points. The score at the end of round 2 was actually me-70, DJ-90, Michael-25
DCL: Still not a safe lead for D.C. D.J., sorry. Habbit.
SR: It could have gone either way. I might have been a bit better on TV trivia but DJ hit a hot streak
DCL: It happens.
SR: DJ wasnt a bad guy -- I actually stayed in touch with him for a while after the show. It's just the way they tell you to "keep the energy up" -- you can wind up looking kind od stupid.
DCL: That's good to hear.
SR: Had had a movie zine and I wrote some stuff for him. He also got me in touch with some other Remote Control vetrans. I'll have to let them know about your site --If this goes well I could get them in touch with you as well.
DCL: Great! Thanks! I would apreciate that.
SR: I was watching the show one afternoon and at the end of the show I heard about a contestant search. They gave a phone #, I called. I live a little more than an hour from NYC and when I was in My 20's I got into the city about once a month. I was working in a music store at the time I got one of my coworker to go up with me. It was an early morning thing. We had to check in ( I gave my name when I called for info ) and like I said there were about 200 of us trying out. The written test was pretty cool. I did really well. Some questions I remember was " Who's the goofy barber on The Any Griffith show ?" " Name the Teenage mutant Ninja Turtles", "What Fox network TV show was Paula Abdul the choreographer for" There were about 30 questiona and one bonus -- they said no one had ever gotten it. Something like " Actor T.C. Castronova has appeared on "Taxi" over 30 times. What character does he play " " I lucked out -- a "Taxi" rerun I'd seen the previous day had featured this guy and I caught his name at the end. He was Tommy, the bartender at the bar where the drivers hung out. The staff was blown away --like I say, no one had ever gotten that one right
DCL: Good for you! Luck never hurts with auditions!
SR: The timing was right I guess. As they collected the test and scored them they called our names and we had to come up front, speak in front of other hopefuls and the contestant staff ( No on-screen talent there -- and the test was in a confrence room kind of thing in an office building, not at MTV. The crowd got a little wild at times. workers in other offices kept coming in to hear what was up with all these noisy college kids. I was 26 when I appeared on the show. As I recall you had to be between 18-30. Most people were pretty good about introducing themselves to the crowd. They say that public speaking is a huge fear, but not for the kind of person who wants to be on Remote Control I guess. One thing I remember was one kind of scary/obnoxious guy. When you got up you told about yourself -- where from, How old, what do you do, any celebrity stories, talents, etc. This guy -- who looked to be mid-30's -- was wearing a really gross Hawaiian shirt --it looked like something that had been lying by the side of the road. His "talent" was that he impersonated Archie and Edith Bunker. Weird. The thing was that guy must have wound up on the show -- his episode aired a week or so before mine -- and he wore the same gross shirt !!
DCL: Why???
SR: For luck I gues -- wish I could remember if he won or not.
DCL: Yeah. I have a question about that.
SR: ask away
DCL: When you're trying out, do you know which version you're trying out for? I've always wondered about that because several shows had syndicated runs that ran at the same time as network versions.
SR: I had no way of knowing --didn't know until I got there. Didn't even really know there was a syndicated version. Strangely enough it ran on one station out of New York -- Channel 11 -- and it aired early Sunday morning. As fun as it was to be on the show ... and I won the prizes anyway ... I was really concerned that I wouldn't see the show. It would be pre-empted for "Davey & Goliath" or something. I even called the production company and asked if I sent a tape could they make me a copy -- No dice. The show costs however many 1000's of dollars ... until the TV station airs it -- that's what it costs. Once it airs, you can tape it and do whatever you want
DCL: Interesting.
SR: Being on the syndicated version kind of stunk. Like I said ... the time slot for local broadcasts sucked -- I only know one person that saw it when it aired -- everyone else saw it through me.
DCL: It ran on a cable station here in Seattle. I think weekend afternoons.
SR: Probably across the country a lot of people got to see it. Strangely enough here in the Tri State area -- not so much. -- want to hear more about tryouts ?
DCL: Absolutely.
SR: When it was my turn to get up -- I don't remember if it was alphabetical or if they just scored the test and called you up from the top of the pile on down -- anyway, I had seen what worked and what didn't. Be confident, get a laugh, have a good story. My introduction went something like this ( funny -- I remember it REALLY well -- probably from telling about it afterwards ) : Allright everybody ... My name is Scott ... I'm from Jersey ... and I don't care who knows it ! I worked at Camelot Music ... I watch a lot of TV ... Hey, Did anyone else have a problem with the test ? " At this point one of the staff seemed confused " You had a problem ? " she asked -- I found out later I had practically aced it, plus got the bonus question. " Yeah, I had a problem ... "Who's the GOOFY barber on the Andy Griffith Show ?" Look, I don't know who writes your little test but Floyd Lawson is a GENIUS at cutting hair. I fly down to Mayberry once a month for the old "short back & sides" and I don't have to touch my hair again for 3 weeks. Lemme tell you folks a liitle story ... my "Brush with Greatness". I used to live in Texas, worked in a Department store. One day we had a celebrity in store appearance by WWF wrestler King Kong Bundy. I waited in line to see him and when I got up front I mentioned that we were both Jersey Boys. I told him I'd seen him in a couple of movies he did and wished him luck with his career. He shook my hand and said " Good Luck to you too, Brother !" That's right ... he called mne "Brother" ... so it's kind of like ... I'M a professional wrestler too. Hey Knock, Knock ! ( Who's there ) Not me, I am SPENT ! " I think I actually got some applause. I went over for my Polaroid ( and I posed too, I didn't just do "Cheese!" ) and the tryouts continued.
DCL: Good work! Are you a comedy writer, now?
SR: I wish. I worked at music stores, video stores. I'm between assignments as a postal carrier now. Sometimes I definitely think I could have tried harder and parlayed my Remote Control or Letterman appearances ( I was on in audience back in his NBC days, " Ask Larry "Bud" Fortensky ) into something more but I went through a few years where I didn't have a car and wasn't in a position to pursue a career in NYC.
DCL: Didn't have a car. Gee that sounds awful familiar!
SR: I don't know what public transportation is like where you are but it's rough here in South Jersey. I have a car now but thru my late 20s and early 30s I was lucky to be able to get back & forth to work.
DCL: It's not very good here.
SR: Actually this past week was 16 years ago that my episode taped. Jan 11, 1990
DCL: On taping day, how was it determined who would play against who? And who would be in what position (sit in what chair)?
SR: I dont think there was alot of rhyme or reason to it. On thing that was weird. It was ll guys the day I was there. First show, 3 dudes - My show, 3 dudes -- last show they taped that day was a celebrities playing for charity deal. They asked if I wanted to stay & watch but the "celebs" were soap stars and I was too jazzed -- I wanted to get back to my area and tell evryone about the show. By the way, in case I haven't mentioned it -- I won.
DCL: Awesome!
SR: Yeah. Gimme a minute and I'll break it down for you
DCL: Thanks!
SR: The lightning round ( or "think real fast" as they called it ) on my episode was " G.I., P.I. or S.I. -- I'll name someone and you tell me if they're a TV soldier, i.e. P.I., A TV detective, i.e. P.I., or a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model, i.e. S. I. --wanna play ?
DCL: I'll try.
SR: Ernie Bilko
DCL: P.I.
SR: No, GI ... Thomas Magnum
DCL: Shoot! PI
SR: Right Elle MacPhearson
DCL: SI
SR: Right Margaret Hoolihan
DCL: SI???
SR: No -- Gi -- "Hotlips" from M*A*S*H -- Jim Rockford
DCL: Oh! [hits head on keyboasidjf] PI
SR: Right Gomer Pyle
DCL: GI
SR: Right Mike Hammer
DCL: PI
SR: Right ! Now imagine the lights, the crowd, the thousands of $ in prizes at stake and the popcorn down your back !
DCL: I'm there.
SR: Yeah, Remote control really should come back -- I'd even watch the old eps -- VH1, TVLand ... somebody, help an 80's brother out !
DCL: I hear ya! I've always said I was born 15 years too late, so I'm with you!
SR: Want me to break down how the game ended ?
DCL: Go for it! I take it Michael was the first one to get yanked Off the Air?
SR: Yeah. I didn't get to know him much. Kinda suprised he got on the show. He didn't seem to have a lot of personality and he didn't know the trivia. Nerves, maybe. He seemed like kind of a dud that day, though
DCL: There's always a few.
SR: Before "Think Real Fast " it was me: 70, DJ:90, Michael:25 ... When the smoke cleared it was me:100, DJ:90, Michael: 55. Michael gets yanked !
DCL: 55 isn't a terrible score. It loses most games, but I've seen MUCH worse.
SR: Yeah. That's one thing I remeber -- people winning with less than 50. Michael kind of came to life in the lightning round but too little, too late.
DCL: I see by the tote board that D.J. didn't score in Think Real Fast. Was it that you guys were buzzing to fast for him?
SR: He had a couple of answers but they were wrong. It's a tough rhythm to keep -- Wait for the "GO" light, buzz in, but don't answer til Ken calls on you.
DCL: So THAT'S what that light above Steve is for!
SR: Yeah. Plus there are lights over contestants chairs -- they light when you're buzzed in. When you see my ep look for the light above me swinging back & forth after "Snack Break" -- I hit my head getting back into my chair
DCL: It's that low? I've seen someone kick it on their way Off the Air, before. It was the "flip chair."
SR: pretty low -- no one's supposed to be standing below it -- only sitting. I was in the flip chair but as I told Gena (contestant coordinator) "I'm not going back through any wall ! " They do make sure that whoever is in that chair would be okay if they wound going up and back
DCL: A couple questions about that: Are those seatbelts just for show, or do they really restrain you from falling? And do you get a chance to get pulled Off the Air before taping so you know what to expect?
SR: You're strapped in prett tight I remember I had trouble during the food fight. You do get a tour of the set before any shows are taped -- as I recall they do choose someone as a guinea pig -- so you can all see what might happen -- it was very cool seeing the set of this show that I watched everyday.
DCL: But you didn't yourself "take the ride" back through the wall? Did you learn how the chairs worked at all? Are they manual or on a motor?
SR: I didn't ride the chair. They were manual -- people pulled the chair back -- or up. One thing I had been concerned about was that I weighed about 180 -- not fat and the other guys probably the same (or Michael was more ) They said the limit for the flip chair was 200
DCL: That's interesting! I exceed that weight limit, unforutneately.
SR: Well just don't lose !! So -- Steve leads the audience in a rousing version of "Hit the Road, Jack" and Micheal is history. It's DJ and Me in the end game. I hate Math but I love trivia. I was dealt a little bit of both. " Cranky Uncle Charlie has to prepare Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner for himself, Steve and the boys. How many meals will he prepare in exactly 4 weeks and ( 2 parter ) what show is home to his crabbiness ?" You have 20 seconds -- Go !
DCL: Is it 336 & "My Favorite Martian??"
SR: No. 5 people x 3 meals x 28 days = 420 meals and "My 3 Sons"
DCL: Oh of course! Who was the uncle on "My Favorite Martian?" What the heck am I thinking about? (I go to The Internet Movie Database and look it up) Uncle Martin.
SR: Ray Walston, The martian was " Uncle Martin" on my favorite Martian" Don't feel bad -- we both got it wrong too. DJ really blew it -- somehow he only completed part of the work and still screwed up ... he showed his work -- somehow he came up with 20. He got "My 3 Sons", though. I screwed up because I was thinking 30 days -- a month -- rather than 28 days -- 4 weeks. I knew "my 3 sons" too -- now it was all down to who bet what.
DCL: I don't feel bad, I'm not playing for a Honda motorscooter!
SR: Don't get ahead of yourself. The minibike was a joke. I had bet 50 points -- DJ bet 60 points. I ended with 50, he ended with only 30. I WON !!! The wierd thing was that they had been telling us all gane to keep the energy up so I'm acting like a nut ! Ranting and making hand gestures like a wrestler " Two people cannot win when there can be only one winner ! I'm the man ! I'M THE MAN !! " It's kind of embarassing.
DCL: I'd probably be acting like a maniac, though, as well. I'm sure you're not alone. So you won with 50, but Michael had 55.
SR: Yeah, but before that round i'd had 90-- If I got the question right I'd have had 150.
DCL: But who cares. You won!
SR: Hells Yeah! Wanna hear about Spingame ?
DCL: Go for it!
SR: The good thing about being on the syndicated version was that I didn't have to guess videos. I'd have probably done allright, but I had much more confidence in my trivia knowledge. The BAD thing was that identifying videos you sat in a comfy chair. I was strapped down to the spinning wheel The strap across my middle had a tiny camera attatched -- many shots are my big face. I had to wear walkman-style headphones as well so that I could be sure to hear the questions over the noise of the wheel spinning, the crowd and my own screaming. I'm not prone to dizziness or anything but after about 20 seconds spinning around, anybody would scream. Ken said " Here you are, Scott ... strapped to metal wheel ... and you're a grown up" I said "Yeah, Go figure" Ken started the wheel and the category was a follows " I'll name an odd-looking TV family, you tell me what show they're on " -- wanna play ?
DCL: (I'm in the living room)
SR: anybody home ?
DCL: Yeah, sorry.
SR: Wanna hear the questions ?
DCL: Absolutely!
SR: The Bradfords
DCL: 8 is Enough
SR: Right The Bundys
DCL: Married... with Children
SR: Right The Ingalls
DCL: Little House on the Prarie
SR: Right The Seavers
DCL: Growing Pains
SR: Right ! The Gruesomes
DCL: I have no idea.
SR: They were an Addams Family rip-off that were the Flintstones neighbors in about 6 episode -- Ken seemed suprised -- I think that was saupposed to be the stumper
SR: The Cleavers
DCL: Leave it to Beaver
SR: Right The Cunninghams
DCL: Happy Days
SR: Right The Petries
DCL: Dick Van Dyke Show
SR: Right The Keatons
DCL: Family Ties!! One of my favorites.
SR: Right The Evanses
DCL: Good Times
SR: Wow -- you did better than me -- but I'm guessing that you're not strapped down and spinning. The spinning was getting to me and even though I knew the Keatons = Family Ties all you can hear is me screaming. It's the funniest part of the show. I knew the Evanses too but I couldn't make "Good Times' come out of my mouth. You just see me scream-strammering " AAAHH --Guh-Guh ... Guh-Guh " Ken called it " Good times ! " and as the whell was shut off you can hear me verbally kicking myself " Good Times !! "
DCL: I couldn't have done that spinning! I've got vertigo, so there's no WAY I could have done that. You got 8, I take it? You got the Gruesomes.
SR: Yeah.
DCL: 8's a good score, though. I've seen someone only get three and come close to the grand prize.
SR: Yeah, my big ole head wound up pointing toward a "Grand Prize" screen, but the funny thing was since I only got 87 right, I only got 8 prizes. I didn't get the computer or the trip to Aruba. I did get the minibike but it was a joke -- 50 horsepower -- I'd have felt like a clown riding that thing. I had the dealership sell it for me and send me the $.
SR: got 8 right, I mean
DCL: 87 would have been some kind of record! Did you get anything worthwhile?
SR: A few things -- it was more the fun of being on the show, though. As soon as they pull you off the wheel you have to sign IRS paperwork and declare your prizes. I wound up paying like $500 in taxes on that stuff. I didn't realize it but I could have told 'em to keep it. Let's see I won the minibike, some CDs, the neon telephone ( which buzzed like crazy if you tried to talk while it was lit ), A zenith 9" TV ( pretty cool ) blank VHS, waterskis ( sold to my roommate ) A VCR ( good one -- worked for years ) A Gibson guitar ( I don't play -- sold it ) ... that's pretty much it, for prizes.
DCL: Gibsons aren't really good guitars, anyway.
SR: Maybe that's why I could only get $50
DCL: Probably. Did you interact much with the cast?
SR: Not much -- they drop confetti on me and Ken lists all the prizes I won, Quinn comes over to shake my hand -- I couldn't hear him because I was still hearing Ken in my headphones. One cool thing is that Susan climbed up on the wheel and we got to spin around slowly and wave to the camera. As the credits roll I put my hand on her ass. Ken points and Colin does a double take --it was a pretty great ending. As I said on TWOP the contestant relations staff telly you that you won't really be interacting with the cast much unless the camera is on. When I got off the wheel; I grabbed the index card with the "TV Family" questions on it -- if i hadn't been so dizzy I would have had Ken sign it. I've still got it.
DCL: Definitely a good souvinier to keep. Did Susan mind that?
SR: Nah -- I figure that it comes with the territory. I didn't goose her -- I lowered my hand down to her upper-butt area.
DCL: I kind of thought that.
SR: Like I said, when they pulled me off wheel I was way dizzy. The weird thing was one of the contestants staff, this girl Cyndi was really nice and resembled an old girlfriend of mine. The whole contestants staff was so cool I'd have loved to hang out with them -- gotten a job or even an internship with the show. the weird thing is that after the show you're kind of yesterday's news. They're no mean or anything but taping 3 shows a day you figure they've got 9 new friends every day. I was in touch with them a couple of times to see when the show would air and a question about prizes but they're really your friend du-jour -- and that's it.
DCL: I understand. Do you remember what day your show aired?
SR: Earrly on a Sunday morning. I remeber because they told me what month it would air but not what week -- I taped a few shows I wasn't on -- didn't keep 'em, though. Sorry. I taped it that morning and I had told a girl that I was sort-of-seeing that it would be on -- she saw it to. Sh actually called me during the middle break and said " You're winning ! You're winning ! "
DCL: That's nice. I like that!
SR: The weird thing is that after I taped the show I had to go to work -- I was working at Camelot music at the local mall. I remember on girl coming into the store, kind of looking at me funny I'm thinking "she saw it, she saw it ! " she says " Excuse me ? " I say "Yes", expecting her to ask about the show. she asks " Do you work here ?" Wah-wah !
DCL: Bummer! That's got to be a little let down.
SR: almost everyone that saw the show saw it because I showed them the tape. It's kind of weird. For the first few months you can say " Hey, I was on Remote Control -- wanna see ? And sure they do, then the show got cancelled -- MTV did other shows and after a while it seems kind of egotistical to say " I was on TV -- wanna see ! "
DCL: Yeah. The syndie version got axed before the MTV version, if I recall.
SR: I think so. The syndie version wasn't that big a deal around here. If you had cable you had MTV and could see the show almost every day. Having the show on tape is best for when you get to know someone and it comes up somehow ... you're talking about old TV shows or you see Colin Quinn on some show. It definitely helped me with dating. Get to know a girl a little bit, show her that tape and you're liable to move up in her eyes. Showing that episode is like having 3 good dates.
DCL: Good for you! I'll keep that in mind.
SR: Doesn't come up much anymore -- I've been married 7 years. My wife did tell me she was impressed back when I first showed her.
DCL: Do you think being on TV helped you get married?
SR: Helped me start a relationship that led to getting married. If she's JUST married me cuz I was on Remote Control in 1990 I think we'd be in trouble now.
DCL: I would think so.
SR: You too -- Rock on ! Let me know what you think of my ep once you see it.
DCL: Absotulely. Thanks again, Scott.
SR: Later, DC
To watch Scott's episode, visit The Remote Control Playhouse.
Go to
dc-lundberg.net
Scott Ruisch was a contestant on the syndicated version of Remote Control in 1990. I had the opportunity to chat with Scott about his appearance on January 14, 2006, at 9:40 AM (Pacific Time).
DCL: Hey, how's it going.
What was the try out process like for "Remote Control?"
I was on in 1990-- it was actually the syndicated version of "r.c." that I was on -- have you seen them -- slightly different.
Antthing else specific about RC you wanna ask -- or just wanna hear more off the top of my head ?
Thanks a lot! I apreciate all of this. Don't be a stranger, now! Take care of yourslef.