Google Groups no longer supports new Usenet posts or subscriptions. Historical content remains viewable.
Dismiss

The "21" Isolation Booths

2 views
Skip to first unread message

T. Jay

unread,
Jan 26, 2000, 3:00:00 AM1/26/00
to
How exactly do they limit the contestant's viewing from their isolation booths?

I did notice on last night's show that I could make out swirling images reflecting off the glass. I'm
curious to find out how/where that is projected from.


T. Jay

Dave Legler

unread,
Jan 26, 2000, 3:00:00 AM1/26/00
to

Having been in the booths in question, allow me to answer. I'll try not to
spoil the show for anyone ;-)

From the inside of the booth, the glass is somewhat reflective. The show
requires contestants to wear light-colored clothing so adequate light will
reflect off of their clothes on to the glass. When you have clothing
considered potentially too dark, one of the stage managers comes in the booth
with you to test it out and make sure you can't see the main audience. You can
see Maury from the booth and you can see the front section of the audience,
where the on-deck contestants sit. People seated in this section are not
allowed to clap at any point in the game. The main audience is further back
and cannot be seen. A partition between the two sections of the audience also
helps.

Shawn Wilsie

unread,
Jan 26, 2000, 3:00:00 AM1/26/00
to
I also noticed the contestants take a step back when it is not their turn.
I'm guessing they are instructed to do that.
-Shawn

narzoSP...@uswest.net

"Dave Legler" <dle...@aol.comNOSPAM> wrote in message
news:20000126002100...@nso-cg.aol.com...

Dave Legler

unread,
Jan 26, 2000, 3:00:00 AM1/26/00
to
In article <fLGj4.117$ov1....@news.uswest.net>, "Shawn Wilsie"
<narzoSP...@uswest.net> writes:

>I also noticed the contestants take a step back when it is not their turn.
>I'm guessing they are instructed to do that.
>

Yes. There are marks on the floor where you are supposed to stand, and you are
instructed to step back whenever your light is out.

lwt...@webtv.net

unread,
Jan 27, 2000, 3:00:00 AM1/27/00
to
Dave Legler wrote:

>You can see Maury from the booth and you
>can see the front section of the audience,
>where the on-deck contestants sit. People
>seated in this section are not allowed to clap
>at any point in the game. The main audience
>is further back and cannot be seen. A partition
>between the two sections of the audience also
>helps.


I'm curious about something....you say the contestant can't see the
audience clapping, but can't they hear the audience clapping?

When a contestant answers a question correctly the crowd applauds and
when a contestant answers a question incorrectly the audience is silent.
And so i wondered as i watched yesterday's show..... after the
challenger answered his first question correctly, the audience
applauded. And that applause was still lingering on as Maury started to
ask the question to the champion. And after she answered her question
correctly, Maury asked the second question to the challenger...to which
he got wrong, and therefor, no applause. So when Maury moved over to ask
the champion her second question, there was no lingering applause as her
booth was opened (as opposed to the previous time)...so i thought that
that would be a tip off that the challenger missed his question. But
after she correctly answered her queston...and the option came up for
either contestant to stop the game, i was surprised when the champion
didn't catch on that her opponent missed one question (because of the
lack of applause after his second question) and therefor knew that since
she answered both her questons correctly....that she was obviously ahead
and would've been the winner if she stopped the game.

So what am i missing here? If they *can't* hear the applause, than why
not? I don't understand how they can hear Maury talking, but not the
applause....when both are happenning simultaneously. And if they *can*
hear the applause, why aren't they smart enough to figure out that when
they hear the lingering applause, that means their opponent answered the
question correctly.....and no applause means, incorrectly.

Can someone explain this for me? Thanks.


Scott


jill

unread,
Jan 28, 2000, 3:00:00 AM1/28/00
to
I auditioned for the show yesterday and they explained that the
headphones have applause piped in so the contestants don't know if they
are hearing real clapping or fake clapping.
In article <17048-38...@storefull-174.iap.bryant.webtv.net>,

* Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet's Discussion Network *
The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet - Free!


Card Shark

unread,
Jan 29, 2000, 3:00:00 AM1/29/00
to
One thing I noticed on the show that aired on last Wednesday is
that the contestants can hear the audiences' reaction. For
instance, I can't remember her name, but I remember that when
she gave an incorrect answer, she heard the audience groaning
and her face turned pale. Hopefully, since NBC has ordered 13
new episodes, they will make a policy that the audience cannot
react because it may influence the contestants.

Randy Amasia

unread,
Jan 29, 2000, 3:00:00 AM1/29/00
to

Card Shark <Card_Shar...@4u.net.invalid> wrote in
message news:07ae904e...@usw-ex0103-023.remarq.com...

> One thing I noticed on the show that aired on last
Wednesday is
> that the contestants can hear the audiences' reaction. For
> instance, I can't remember her name, but I remember that
when
> she gave an incorrect answer, she heard the audience
groaning
> and her face turned pale. Hopefully, since NBC has ordered
13
> new episodes, they will make a policy that the audience
cannot
> react because it may influence the contestants.

Adam, the audience reacted to her given answer, thus, is is
the *audience* that's influenced, not the contestants.
Moreover Randy West, the warm-up man, *encourages* the
audience to react to answers, wioth cheers or "aw," as
appropriate.

- R


Zach Horan

unread,
Jan 31, 2000, 3:00:00 AM1/31/00
to
>Hopefully, since NBC has ordered 13
>new episodes, they will make a policy that the audience cannot
>react because it may influence the contestants.

I think they now have applause being heard by the contestants in their
headphones. This way, they have no way of knowing if their opponent was right
or wrong on the last question.

Bill Ingram

unread,
Jan 31, 2000, 3:00:00 AM1/31/00
to
Zach Horan wrote:

> I think they now have applause being heard by the contestants in their
> headphones. This way, they have no way of knowing if their opponent was right
> or wrong on the last question.

I still think they should just dump the booths and let the contestants
sit side by side, knowing what the other has and when one misses a
question. Modifications would be needed to the rules, of course (for
example, stopping the game after two rounds would not be an option
and contestants would select the difficulty of their question on
hidden panels before either is asked the question). I think it would
be a more entertaining game and we would not have all the discussion
about whether or not the booths are fair.

-- Bill

Tritle5458

unread,
Jan 31, 2000, 3:00:00 AM1/31/00
to
>>Hopefully, since NBC has ordered 13
>>new episodes, they will make a policy that the audience cannot
>>react because it may influence the contestants.

The policy for now is that applause is piped into the headphones regardless of
whether the opponent was right, AND that the entire front row (which is as far
as anyone in the isolation booths can see) cannot applaud.

Ben

0 new messages