On July 14,2009 I had the privledge to interview Karen Levin who won $100,000 on the Kennedy Version of the "$100,000 Name That Tune".
The one's in bold in Karen speaking.
You said this game show almost costed you a job tell me about it?
​
It took 3 days of going to the studio before they finally used me and each day I had to call my job and tell them I wan't coming in. On the 3rd day, my boss gave me the choice of going to the studio or not having a job. I really had to think about it. I finally told her that I had gone that far and I wasn't going to give up the chance. After I won, she apologized for putting me under extra stress.
How long did you had to wait until you had to get called?
They told me the day of my audition that I was picked for the $100,000 show. I came down to try out and there were about 20 of us in the room. We had to listen to a tape of just very brief snips of songs and try to name them. Apparently I did well, but I don't know how many I got right. After they scored the tests, they said goodbye to the ones that didn't pass, then they interviewed the rest of us 1 on 1. We all waited around until they made their decision. I was the only one they chose for the nighttime version of the show. I got really nervous because I thought I had a shot at the $25,000 daytime show, but I never considered the $100,000 show.
Now when you were a contestant on that show which song did you actually had trouble with?
I was't 100% sure of the title of the $100,000 tune. I knew the lyrics, but the title isn't in the lyrics so was not sure of my answer.
When you were going for the $100,000 were you a little nervous?
​
I was a lot nervous. I can see it in my face every time I watch the tape. It's because I really was not sure of the title. Also, the booth was very hot and there was warm air being blown in from behind me. I don't know if their AC wasn't working or what. Also, the 30 seconds were actually ticking off in the booth and it was very distracting.
Your answer on the final tune was "Dancing on the Ceiling" that made you win the $100,000 do you still have the lyrics still stuck in your head today?
Yes. I don't know why I knew the lyrics to that song, but I did. I even sang it for the audience after the show. They must have thought it was a set-up but it wasn't.
When you won the $100,000 what did you do with it?
Unfortunately, nothing glamorous. My son was born in 1980 and I divorced in 1981 so I used the money to help raise my son. At least my ex didn't try to get any of it.
Now you were on a total of nine game shows other than the "$100,000 Name That Tune" which game show was the easiest and which show was the hardest?
I was on Name That Tune and then in 1980 I was on Card Sharks. In 1984 I was on the Tournament of Champions when Name That Tune returned in syndication. That same year I was on Love Connection. I also did Sale Of The Century, Joker's Wild, Match Game and 2 cable shows - Shuffle and Let's Go Back. In about 1996 I did a Dreamworks Production show called Majority Rules, but it never aired in California, so I never saw it.
The easiest show was Card Sharks and the hardest was Sale of the Century. The most frustrating was Match Game because you had to rely on the celebrity's answers and they didn't always follow the game rules. I would have won but for the stupid celebrity answer at the end of the show.
Which of these nine shows that in your own opinion that you didn't want to try out but did it anyway?
Was had tried out for 2 shows at the same time. Match Game called me first. I really didn't was to do that show because of the celebrities, but I did it anyway.
You said you tried for "Deal or No Deal" tell me that experience and which other shows did you try out for?
Trying out for shows now is not like it used to be. I actually slept in the street the night before the audition with 4500 others. It was a zoo! In the morning they finally let us in and interviewed us in groups. I made it through to the next audition, but that was the end of it. If you do the math, the number who audition compared to the number they actually use is a season, is outrageous. They did call me to be in the gallery on 1 vs 100, but I said no.
In your own opinion which show that you were on do you like to see revived?
I think the cable show Let's Go Back would be fun to see as a GSN show. It was kind of like Jeopardy, but the questions were about different decades.
What do you do today as in occupation?
I am an Adult Education Teacher. I teach medical front office professions.
What is your favorite hobbies?
I sing, I collect Barbie dolls and I have a small business making hats for competition carriage drivers. My website is www.KarensKarriageKreations.com.
​
Do you have any advice for any future game show contestants that want to try out for game shows?
Just do it. Don't be afraid. The worst they can say is no.
This is my last question.
What do you have to say to all of us game show fans?
Game shows are great. I still watch them and enjoy them a lot. They stimulate the mind and that is a wonderful thing. WATCH ON!!!!!
Thanks for the Interview.