Of Meredith and Millionaires

Old friend JB -- the game show fanatic -- procured tickets for a taping of "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" in NYC two weeks ago, so I met him there and spent the day with him in Manhattan. A few observations --

(1) It was COLD. I'd been there an hour and already lost feeling in eight of my remaining nine toes. And I had a jacket, hat, gloves, scarf and earmuffs. JB showed up with little more than a windbreaker, but he's a heartier soul.

(2) The taping was fun. We saw three shows being produced, which will air in May 2007. Enjoyed cheering the contestants and participating when called upon (each one "asked the audience"). They said we'd be there about 3 hours and it was really close to 5 because it took about 2 hours for them to start the tapings. Still, a good time.

(3) There was also a 30-question multiple-choice audition test which we had 10 minutes to complete. During the last taping the announced about 12 names that had "passed." Yours truly was the first name called, and even more ironically, JB missed the cut. Following the last taping I did a 60-second interview with one of the producers and had a polaroid taken, while submitting a previously-completed questionnaire. For one of those reasons (interview, polaroid, questionnaire), I was advised about a week later that I would not be considered in the future as a contestant. Must have been the glare from my bald spot.

(4) Dinner at the ESPNZone in Times Square -- a reasonable wait for a Friday night, and surprisingly reasonable prices. JB then caught his train back up north and I wandered around Rockefeller Center for a few minutes before catching the bus.

(5) While leaving the aforementioned R-Center, I was accosted by a pizza delivery man on a bicycle who asked me to clarify an address affixed to his precious cargo. I had to tell him I had not a clue -- I hadn't even been to NYC in nearly eighteen years.

(6) The "slick" map I purchased the day before was worth its weight in gold. Not only did it help me maintain my orientation in a city of tall buildings and on a day of virtually no sunlight, it also had most subway stops marked, allowing for greater ease of travel.

We'll try to do it next year . . . hopefully before December!