Jeff Sutphen Talks About 101 WAYS TO LEAVE A GAME SHOW

ABC is launching a whole new game show, 101 WAYS TO LEAVE A GAME SHOW, tonight, June 21, at 9pm, which eliminates contestants in some unusual ways. Game host Jeff Sutphen recently took some time to answer a few questions about the show.

How do you get people off the show without killing them?

Jeff Sutphen: I wonder that, too. Here’s what I can tell you, we have some insane eliminations. Everyday when I see one of these eliminations I’m jaw dropped amazed. Generally, when I’m on camera and what you’ll see on TV is my legitimate reaction to these things for the first time. I purposely don’t want to see it get tested.

So you’re going in blind?

Jeff Sutphen: I’m going in blind, and nine times out of ten I’m refraining from saying something like, ‘I can’t believe I’m on a show that has explosions.’ The way that I think we keep people safe is that we have an amazing stunt crew. These guys have this place so well buttoned up. They’ve thought of everything. They’ve thought of plan B, plan C and they’ve tested it to make sure that it’s going to be first and foremost safe, but secondly is going to look spectacular on TV. These are the same guys who did ‘Fear Factor’. It’s the same guys who do ‘Wipeout’. They know what they’re doing and they know how to put together a great show.

Why should people watch this show?

Jeff Sutphen: Here’s what I think, and this is just my humble opinion. I don’t care if you’re a guy or a girl, if you’re seven years old or seventy years old, there’s something on this show that you’ll want to tune in for. Whether it’s the trivia questions because they’re really fun and different than any other show, whether it’s the fiery explosion eliminations or if it’s the comedy, seeing people in unbelievably ridiculous situations, there’s something there for everybody. Even our contestants are from all different walks of life. They’re from ages eighteen to fifty five, all different backgrounds. People who have PhD’s, people that are in culinary school. It’s absolutely amazing and I’m having a great time doing it.

What’s one of the shocking things we’ll see on the show?

Jeff Sutphen: As I mentioned everyday I leave in complete shock because I think there’s no way that they can top what they just did. Some of the eliminations we’ve done so far are we lifted someone three thousand feet into the air via helicopter in a split second. I literally forgot my lines because I was like, ‘Holy crap,’ and then I had to do pick ups later. So we’ve done that. We had people yanked and dragged across a lake by a powerboat. We pushed someone off the top of a moving tractor trailer. Someone standing on the wing of a bi-plane as it took off, someone in car as a monster truck crushed them. That one was scary, really scary. Luckily, I was in safety. The other day, this one was great, they were in a car and we drove them forty miles an hour at a ramp and then they flipped off it in a huge fireball explosion and the car flips and landed and then caught on fire. So it was just great.

Is this a show for adrenaline junkies?

Jeff Sutphen: That’s the other thing, someone asked me earlier, they said, ‘What’s the common denominator that all these people have?’ As I mentioned, they’re all different, from all different walks off life; the unemployed videogame nerd, the person that works in the medical field, the single mom. People are all different ages, different genders, whatever. I think the common denominator is that everyone wants fifty thousand dollars. People are willing to put it on the line for the fifty thousand dollars. They might be rethinking that when they’re staring down the barrel of a gun, so to speak, but they sign up thinking they have a chance at fifty thousand dollars. And here’s a fact, someone is going to leave every episode with fifty thousand dollars.

How many contestants are involved in each show?

Jeff Sutphen: We start with eight contestants and we split them into two groups of four for just obligatory reasons. For example, the other day we split them, like, ‘You four we found out are lactose intolerant and you guys are dairy enthusiasts.’ So, we make it up. We split them in to two groups. The first group goes and we eliminate one and the second group goes and we eliminate one. We go back to the first group and eliminate another, eliminate another and then those four go to the final.

So, you have a one in eight chance of winning fifty thousand dollars?

Jeff Sutphen: Yes, and the questions are really fun and different. Unlike any other trivia show we give the answers first and then ask the question. So, for example, a question would be, I’ll go with an easy one; Quiche Lorraine, nachos, granny smith apples, two of these foods are named after a real person. Tell me which one was named after a real person. So, two are right, one is wrong. You want to avoid the wrong one. [Editor's note: Quiche is the right answer.]

Do you have stunt doubles for your players?

Jeff Sutphen: No, they’re all…it’s funny because the first day, I think it was the person who does my makeup came to me and said, ‘That was crazy. I kept waiting for them to stop and put the stunt double in.’ I said, ‘Oh, no, it’s definitely real.’

Stunt people are trained. How can you stick a person who’s not trained into that situation and not come out injured?

Jeff Sutphen: Well, that’s what the team does. We have a stunt team that tests it and tries it and does it time and time again to make sure that we are on point, making sure that if the monster truck hits this part of the car and does this then we’re okay, and if we put the car in this position, and then when the people are put in there obviously they have tons of safety gear, helmets and goggles, the appropriate padding where it need be. They’re harnessed in and everything and they’re told, ‘If you’re in this situation you hold your best here and don’t do anything else.’ Generally, when you’re freaking out of your mind you’re going to listen. The option is if you don’t then there could be consequences, but like I said, I’ve seen some amazing stuff on this show and it’s one of those things where I literally go, ‘I can’t believe that person is walking away from this.’ Not only that, but they’re excited that they just did what they did. You’re standing on the wing of an airplane and took off and flew up into the air and around and she came down. She was like, I’ll do it again.’