After more than a decade as a producer, Rane Laymance is well-suited to run the show at America Says, seen daily on Game Show Network! But he has one unique qualification most other game show producers don’t: he got his start as a contestant!
“I might not have won the game, but I won a career,” said Laymance, who was hired by a show he competed on in 2009 and has been working in the genre ever since. “I found my destiny on a game show!”
To fill in the blanks about America Says and host John Michael Higgins, I sat down with Rane recently at Game Show Network H.Q. Here are some highlights of our conversation.
GAME SHOW INSIDER: America Says is funny, but the laughs never overshadow the game play. How do you craft that balance?
RANE LAYMANCE: It all starts with John Michael Higgins. He knows that we’re playing a game and that’s the most important thing. But he also knows that the best thing about playing a game is the laughter and the fun that goes with it.
Do you ever crack up at his ad-libs in the control room?
Always! I communicate with him through an earpiece during the show. If he really gets me laughing, I just start cracking up in his ear.
Were you a fan before you worked with him?
Definitely. He’s a great comedic actor, so funny!
How do you navigate that? He’s a master at what he does, but now you have to tell him what to do.
I think it’s important to have faith in myself that I know what I’m doing. He brings what he brings to the table, I bring what I bring. We have mutual respect.
What’s his vibe with the contestants?
He talks to them, one by one, before every show so they don’t put him up on a pedestal, so they’re not scared. He treats each contestant as if they’re a guest in his own home.
And he knows when to tease them and when not to.
Absolutely. He’s great at sensing the people he can joke with and who will joke back, and the people who are more nervous and maybe need a little more support. He gives them what they need.
What’s one thing about John Michael Higgins that viewers don’t know?
I think they’d be surprised by how calm he is when he’s not on stage. When he’s on-stage, he’s a bundle of energy, so much fun. When he gets off stage, he has his hot tea, relaxes, and centers himself.
Do you film episodes every day?
We actually shoot five episodes every day, for four, five, or six weeks at a time. Michael puts on a new suit between each show, there are new contestants, and it’s a brand-new day!
What comes first when you’re planning a new season?
Our casting team starts finding contestants, then our content team starts making content. We write the questions and then we have to go out and poll people.
How do you “ask America”?
There’s a polling company that surveys a cross section of Americans: different ages, races, people who live all across the country.
What does a typical day look like when you’re in production?
Contestants arrive around 6:30 in the morning and do a practice game. Then they do another game in front of myself and our other producers where we select which teams will play each other. We shoot three episodes back-to-back from 11 am until 2 pm, break for lunch, then shoot two more.
Sounds like a busy day!
It’s a long day but it’s a great day.
What kind of a person makes a good America Says contestant?
Someone who is not afraid to guess! Contestants struggle on America Says because they’re nervous that what they say is going to sound dumb. Who cares? Just shout out whatever comes to mind!
Do contestants apply as individuals or as a team?
Plenty of people sign up to play America Says as an individual, but then they need to find three other people to play with. We get a lot of contestants who say, “I would never have done this, but it’s my brother’s lifelong dream to be on a game show!”
Does your experience as a contestant makes you a better producer?
For sure. I know exactly what they go through, so it’s important to me to make sure contestants have a good time. By being on a game show, I was able to fall into what I was supposed to do in my life. I’m very thankful.
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Talking to Rane Laymance totally makes me want to be a contestant on America Says! If you feel the same way, why not apply? There’s a quick and easy application on the Game Show Network website. Fill it out and you (and three other friends or family members) could be on your way to winning big money! Best of luck — and thanks for reading!
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