SAVANNAH — A teacher trivia contest inspired Benji Cates to browse casting calls for television game shows.
After a strong performance, Cates, an elementary school music teacher, stumbled upon a national calling to audition for NBC’s “Weakest Link.”
“My team dominated (the trivia contest),” he said. “When I went home I was like, ‘You know what? I’m going to check out the game show casting calls,’ and low and behold, the “Weakest Link” was looking and I saw that they were searching nationwide.”
A 2009 Madison High School graduate, Cates decided to apply for the show — which was followed by a callback and interview with a producer.
In order to standout among other applicants, he knew he’d need to do something to standout during his audition. An inflatable hot tub and a dress suit were the answer.
“I wore a full suit and tie in the hot tub and did my interview from there,” Cates said.
“Ultimately I just wanted to have a hook to be memorable. That interview must have went well because low and behold eventually I was in Los Angeles filming for the “Weakest Link.”
Cates’ episode will air Tuesday at 9 p.m. on NBC. It will be available for streaming on Peacock starting Wednesday.
Episode features ’emotional’ moments
Hosted by Jane Lynch, the “Weakest Link” features eight contestants working together to earn the maximum amount of prize money available each round.
Contestants take turns answering general knowledge questions to build “chains of correct answers.” At the end of each round, contestants vote to eliminate the teammate they consider to be the “Weakest Link” in the chain, according to NBC.
Cates couldn’t legally share specific details of the episode he’s a part of — but thinks it was a “particularly entertaining” episode.
“Ever since I’ve been on it (the show), I’ve watched every episode of the Jane Lynch era, whether in preparation to being on it or to see how the other teams have done,” he said.
Cates added the episode is “particularly compelling” compared to others.
“There is some emotion in our episode,” he said. “I don’t think you see a lot of emotion get drawn out of the contestants in the other episodes I’ve watched.”
“Clearly, even in their (NBC) advertising of it (episode), they’re leaning into the fact that there’s some emotional drama in our episode and I think it would be a compelling watch as far as game shows are concerned.”
Not the family’s first game show
While opportunities to make it onto a game show don’t come frequently, Cates isn’t the first member of his family to claim this opportunity.
On February 19, Cates’ cousin, Beth Ann Sinnett, applied for — and was accepted to — participate on “Wheel of Fortune,” a television game show that’s been running since 1975.
Sinnett came in second, earning prizes which added up to nearly a $10,000 value.
For her second-place finish, Sinnett received $2,000 in cash. She also won an all-expenses paid trip to an Arizona dude ranch, which she previously told Ashland Source she hopes to take in the fall.
Cates, who currently resides in Savannah, Georgia, said the way things have worked out has been a fun topic of conversation among family members.
“Some of my other cousins are like ‘What is going on that all of our family members are on game shows?'” he said with a laugh.
