On the newest edition of SNAPSHOTS. I am a lover of game shows, and I’ve hosted game shows at sci-fi conventions, and an alumnus of two game shows myself.
Our guest today spent the last 25 years in Los Angeles. Serving as an actor, host and an audience warm up, stand-up comedian. He’s hosted everything from the game playing game show on real airline flights to a fake award show on “Hell’s Kitchen”. And now he’s sharing duties on Wheel of Fortune Live! with Mark L. Walberg, whom I’d interviewed just a few years ago.
We’re talking about Wheel of Fortune Live! It’s coming to the MGM National Harbor on September 25th. Then later in Baltimore at the Horseshoe Casino on November 29th. We have the one & only Jay Flatts!
Welcome to SNAPSHOTS, Jay!
Hey Dean, good to see you.
It’s good to see you too. So the first question that I have is you’re sharing the hosting duties of Wheel of Fortune Live with Mark L. Walberg. When you got the call to host America’s Game Live, what went through your mind?
I was shocked at first because I’ve been wanting to get back into that role of hosting a game show for a while and I didn’t hesitate when they called and said “are you interested?” I said “yes”. Jeff from the show kept pitching it to me. I was like, “Jeff, I’ve already said yes. What’s the next step?”
And I’m looking forward to seeing you in Oxon Hill, which is my hometown, at the MGM National Harbor. And you know, Wheel of Fortune has been America’s game for 50 years now, from the NBC days with Chuck Woolery to Pat Sajak, all the hosts between and you now have Ryan. Seacrest. Why do you feel that Wheel has been long lasting like The Price is Right, Let’s Make A Deal?
Well, it’s one of those legacy shows where either someone personally loves it or they instantly go, “oh, my mom loves this show. My grandmother loves this show.” Like when I was a kid growing up in the 80s, I watched “Wheel of Fortune”, “The Price is Right”, “Press Your Luck”, “Let’s Make A Deal” with my grandmother. And I actually….
(Jay pulls out something)
Check this out. From 1986, the OG version of the Wheel of Fortune board game with a classic spinner on it.
Oh, yes!
And operated how many E’s? 3 E’s. So I am not just excited to host it, but as a fan, I’ve been watching Wheel of Fortune almost my whole life.
Same here, same here. And especially since I was on the game show back in 2013 and did the Secret Santa Sweepstakes made to the bonus round and won. So it’s been an exciting experience and I’m glad you could talk….
Wait, wait, wait. What? What was the the final puzzle you had to solve? What was the bonus puzzle?
Patio chairs, Patio chairs.
Did you buy patio chairs?
No, but there was a funny story that when my ex-wife and I were moving from our old home to a newer one, that was one of the things that was on the list. So it was a “Slumdog Millionaire” moment come to life.
Fantastic.
Absolutely. When did you realize that you wanted to be a host or a stand up comedian?
I grew up with with zero stage fright, and I remember at 10 years old at my local Public Library in Groton, Connecticut, I was hosting Monopoly tournaments in the library. I brought people in, I assigned them their seats, I gave a countdown, I kept scores and updates and we had 12 people in a tournament style and it was the first thing I hosted when I was 10 years old at the library. So I knew early on acting, comedy, performing and my grandmother really pushed me was like you’d be a great game show host one day and that always stuck with me.
Nice. I had a similar experience to myself when I was roughly around 10 where I was hosting Jeopardy and by the time I got to high school, I was hosting various game shows for our school’s TV network at the time. And then I created “The Friendly Challenge, and it stuck with me that led to being not only being on game shows, but also hosting game shows at sci-fi conventions, hosting “Pyramid” and “Press Your Luck”. The most popular one of all is Hollywood Squares and everyone gets to kick it out every single time.
Yeah, it’s outstanding. You and I probably have so much in common.
We definitely do. So, what has been the most rewarding aspect of being creative in your career so far?
Well, one thing I love is giving away other people’s things, whether it’s prizes, cash, whatever it may be, and just pure joy. I mean, one of the most rewarding jobs I had was the in-arena host for the L.A. Kings hockey team to where 40 nights a year I gave away. Multiple prizes throughout the entire game, including trips and autographed jerseys and fan experiences. So just genuine shock when people win something unique. I love that.
So I gotta ask, what was the most unique prize you ever gave away to anyone?
Wow. On the airplane game show, when we landed in Las Vegas, the grand prize winner won the High Rollers suite at the Palms Casino in Vegas that had two bowling lanes in it. And these young ladies who won the trip, they were staying at a discount motel. They won the VIP grand package and they got to take a limousine and it was the best upgrade that I had ever seen.
Kudos to you. Now when I was reading your bio, it said the airplane games and immediately I thought of Art Fleming hosting Jeopardy! on Airplane II. So for those who have never heard of the game playing game show, please tell us all about this experience.
It was literally Allegiant Airlines as a major promotion for their airline. Myself and Mark L Wahlberg both hosted episodes of this show and it was literally when you reach 35,000 feet the pilot would say “this flight has now become the gameplay.” Come up to the empty row and play games. And it was real prizes that people got to win, whether the episode aired or not. Because when we landed in Vegas, it was cash, helicopter tours, limo rides. It was unique experiences that you would win. So most people showed up to the airport like it was smaller regional airports like Austin, Fort Wayne and Bellingham, where Allegiant Airlines would fly out of. So most people would just get to the airport. They’ve already bought a discount ticket to Vegas or Hawaii. And when they get on the plane, there was a an overall like, “wait, our flight is a game show? Yeah, I want to play.” So if you paid, you know, 150 bucks for your round trip flight to Vegas and you won $400.00 cash before you even landed in Vegas.
Wow.
Win win situation.
Why didn’t I take this flight when I was going to Vegas? I need to do that next. Since we are both Wheel aficionados, if you had your go to Wheel of Fortune category, what would it be? Mine is Song and Artist, which actually got me a trip to Hawaii.
I’m a movie buff, so movie titles would would be my category. I’m an old school like if you want to call me Gen. X or whatever, I prefer to be called Generation Goonies or generation flux capacitor. That’s my category if you give me 80s movies titles.
Absolutely. Since I’m also a film critic by trade, what are your favorite movies?
I’ll put “Goonies” in there. Obviously the first “Star Wars”. I’m in my top five. Surprisingly, a lot of people don’t know this one, or they don’t add it to their top five or their Mount Rushmore, top four or whatever. But “Catch Me If You Can” is one of my top five movies of all time. It’s DiCaprio, Hanks, Walken, Spielberg, John Williams, just the overall. “Frank, you’re going somewhere exotic. Where you’re going?” Just that whole movie in DiCaprio is. So Goonies, Star Wars, Back to the Future. Catch Me If You Can. Shawshank Redemption.
I’ll share with you. My favorite film is Safety Last from Harold Lloyd. Now I live in downtown Los Angeles, and Safety Last was filmed right here in the 1920s. And there’s a very famous scene where Harold Lloyd is hanging off the face of a clock. So here in in my apartment, I printed out a huge wallpaper print Of Harold Lloyd on my wall and if you look outside my window, the building across the street is this building here.
Since we mentioned moments ago that you’re hosting the National Harbor location, will you also be hosting the Baltimore location?
Yeah, so we get double duty with you. That’s great.
What do you consider the most important task when it comes to hosting, whether it’s a game show, whether you’re during Kelly Clarkson Live, or anything?
Clarity. If you’re if you’re hosting, you’ve got to be very clear about, you know what the rules are or what the prizes are. Clarity and honesty, I think a lot of times like being a host is a trust between you and the audience. And a lot of times, like for my years of doing audience warm up, the audience sits down and the first person to come out has to bond with the audience. You got to relate. There’s got to be a level of trust. So you’ve got to be clear, precise. Likable. Energetic. Obviously. Like I’m the most energetic person. Follow me when you’re doing warm up, of course. But I relatability, I think.
Now for those who have not been to Wheel of Fortune Live, and shame on them, because it’s the third year now it’s been out there. What would you say to them to tell them they have to come out?
Well, I mean, for some people, it’s a once in a lifetime experience. You know, I I said this before, there’s always someone who says I love this or someone I know loves this. So if it’s you or someone you love, there’s no better way to experience it than to come see it live because it’s the real deal. And before the show even starts, the big show, 18 people get to come on stage with a chance to come back to spin the wheel or be Vanna.
I learned in Las Vegas that there’s a wedge game that’s played during the pre show where someone gets to be Vanna. Whoever wins the wedge game gets to come back to the big show and be the the co-host and something new they’re doing this year. You’ll be able to submit. I think there’s like a QR code. When you’re on at the theater or at the location, you’ll be able to submit an audition to get on the TV show with Ryan & Vanna.
So you come see the show cause it’s it’s real cash, real prizes and anyone can win. Anyone in the audience can win. So say you make it to the bonus round and you solve the puzzle, whatever you win.
Catch Jay at The Theatre at MGM National Harbor on September 25th and in Baltimore at Horseshoe Casino on November 29th! Go to wheeloffortunelive.com to see if the show comes to a city near you!
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