Nikki Schaffer
Features Editor

Katie Trostle donned a rainbow-colored wig, a polka dot clown costume and painted red cheeks as she danced to Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies.” It was show time, and only those with smiles and a high energy level would be selected to participate on the game show, “Let’s Make a Deal”, a show where contestants wear crazy costumes to increase their chances of being selected to make a deal and possibly win a prize.

Katie dressed as a clown waiting in line for her favorite game show “Let’s Make a Deal.”
Katie dressed as a clown waiting in line for her favorite game show “Let’s Make a Deal.”

“I am pretty outgoing anyway, but getting up and dancing in front of 200 strangers was just nerve-wracking,” said Trostle, when speaking of the time spent before the show, where judges were looking for outgoing individuals to select.
Trostle, who is currently a sophomore Early Childhood Education major at Millersville, had always wanted to appear on a game show, so when her family spent 10 days vacationing in California this past July, she printed out free tickets to attend. Although she was excited to be on the set of “Let’s Make a Deal,” she ultimately wanted to be a contestant and meet the host, Wayne Brady.
The day of the show, Trostle drove with her mother and her grandmother to Sunset Bronson Studio in L.A., where they each wore “Please, pick her,” shirts with arrows to further support Trostle on her quest to become selected. They arrived early around 9 a.m. to get a close spot in line, where they were given numbers 19, 20 and 21.
Trostle waited until she was in line to change into her clown costume, and afterward she was shuffled into a tent with over 200 people. Although not everyone there wanted to be on the show, there was still competition to appear the loudest and the friendliest.
“I knew I had to sell myself, so I tried to be really loud and engage with everyone. There were cameras filming us the entire time. My mom kept saying ‘we came all the way here’ to remind me that I had to just go up there and be silly. I had to learn not to care what anyone else thought,” said Trostle.
While in the tent, Trostle danced, struck up many random conversations and met lots of new people. After an hour of engaging with everyone, it was finally time to be a part of the show.

Katie (middle) with her mother (left) and her grandmother (right) as they wait to enter the tent where Katie will compete to become a contestant. Trostle arrived an hour early to get a good spot in line, where she received number 20. Trostle’s mother and grandmother both wore “Please pick her” shirts to further support Trostle on her quest to become a contestant.
Katie (middle) with her mother (left) and her grandmother (right) as they wait to enter the tent where Katie will compete to become a contestant. Trostle arrived an hour early to get a good spot in line, where she received number 20. Trostle’s mother and grandmother both wore “Please pick her” shirts to further support Trostle on her quest to become a contestant.

Trostle and her family were told where to sit, but it wasn’t until Trostle was made to switch seats that she suspected she might be a participant.
“When they called the first girl up, she was sitting so close by, so I thought it couldn’t be me. But then they said ‘the clown girl’ and I was so excited,” she said. “But when I got up there, I was so nervous. It went by so fast.”
Trostle and two other contestants, one dressed up as a Thing from Dr.Suess, and the other as a cowgirl, took turns picking a curtain. There were three curtains and behind one was a spinner with the chance to win $30,000. Trostle was selected last, and was left with the first curtain. The spinner ended up being behind the third curtain, and although no one on the game show won a grand prize, Trostle still enjoyed the experience.
“The most exciting thing is being able to see myself on TV. It isn’t just on the local news; the whole world is going to see it,” Trostle said.
Although Trostle cannot appear on the show for another three years, she hopes to one day become a contestant on the game show, “The Price is Right.” To watch the episode Trostle appeared in, catch her on Monday, Oct. 14 at 10 a.m. on CBS.