lauren@vortex.UUCP (Lauren Weinstein) (09/28/83)
Calling people who give bizarre "wrong" answers on game shows "dumb" is usually grossly unfair. I've known people who have produced these shows and those who have appeared on such programs, and I've been in the audience for various game shows as an observer. All parties agree, the pressure on contestants is (by design) immense. Unless you are a professional tv person (and by definition, game show contestants are not) the combined effect of the cameras, audience, very bright and hot lights, music, time limits, etc., are enough to cause even the most intelligent people to blow even obvious answers. To those who doubt the above, come on out here to LA and I'll see about getting you on a game show as a contestant, *IF* you can pass the (very NON-trivial) general information tests. We'll see how *you* do when the pressure (and the tally light) are on. --Lauren--