“Two teams battle in a game that’s all about guessing how America filled in the blanks,” says the opening narration on America Says, seen daily on Game Show Network! But while the John Michael Higgins-hosted game show may be fun and easy to play at home, it takes a savvy strategy for contestants to walk away with the big bucks.
For tips and tricks on how to win America Says, Game Show Insider quizzed an all-star panel of Game Show Network staffers: Vice-President of Current Programming Bryan Scott; Vice President of Development Sean Olsen; Manager of Current Programming Michelle Cygan; and Executive Producer and Showrunner Rane Laymance!
Here’s what we learned about one of Game Show Network’s most popular programs:
GAME SHOW INSIDER: What kind of a person makes a successful America Says player?
BRYAN SCOTT: People who are creative and have no filter. You have to be able to guess and not tie your mind to one specific thing.
What’s a common mistake players make?
They forget that we “ask America” these questions. You may have your own set of answers, but you have to open your mind to what other people may think: women, men, parents, grandparents. Put yourself in America’s shoes!
What’s one tip you can share with The Insider?
Let your answers happen in the moment. Don’t over-think it. If you’re wrong, the guess is going to come back you in a few seconds, anyway. Once you start guessing answers based on that strategy, you’ll clean up the board.
Are there clues built into the game board?
SEAN OLSEN: We start off by giving you the first letter of all seven answers. Plus, we always put the top answer right in the middle, and we enlarge it to give you an indicator it was the most popular. That should help you get in the mindset of “What were most people thinking about?”
What’s a common mistake players make?
If you see that first letter “P” most people start thinking “puh,” but you also have to think about different ways the letter sounds. Maybe it’s “phone.” The letter doesn’t always correlate to the generally used sound.
What’s one tip you can share with The Insider?
People naturally get into a rhythm in their thinking. If the category is “Everybody should have blank in their refrigerator” and you guess “milk,” you’ll start thinking of other perishable items. But one of the answers might be “baking soda.” There are always one or two answers that are not in the common train of thought.
What should a player be doing when the opposing team is playing?
MICHELLE CYGAN: One player should be the listener. They should focus on what the opposing team is saying, so you don’t repeat answers if you get a chance to steal. The others should focus on coming up with potential answers.
What’s a common mistake players make?
Speaking out of turn. They don’t do it on purpose, they just lose track of where they are, and they get a five-second penalty.
What’s one tip you can share with The Insider?
Sometimes your brain gets stuck thinking of one type of answer. If the question is “Different kinds of chips,” don’t just think of Doritos. It could be poker chips or chocolate chips. You’ve got to think outside the box.
What is the “skip” button and how should it be used?
RANE LAYMANCE: The “skip” button is a great tool in Round Four when your team gets stuck and can’t figure out the last word or two.The best way to use it: once you’ve gone all the way around and everyone has had a chance to guess, but nobody is close to the right answer, then hit the skip button!
What’s a common mistake players make?
The worst thing people do on America Says is, they sit there and don’t say anything. I don’t care if you don’t know the answer. I don’t care if you have nothing in your brain! You need to say something!
What’s one tip you can share with The Insider?
If all you can think of is Skittles, and there’s not even an “S” on the board, you should say “Skittles.” If it’s in your head, you have to say it to get it out. Even a wrong answer might click something in the next player’s brain!
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Our thanks to Bryan, Sean, Michelle, and Rane for sharing their America Says strategy secrets!
Would you like to be a contestant on Game Show Network? Fill out a quick application application on our
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Best of luck from Game Show Insider — and thanks for reading!
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