Want a future in game shows? Cal State LA has a path
Many people dream of one day winning big on a television game show. But if your dream is to one day work on a game show, now Cal State Los Angeles is offering a path.
Game show experts on Thursday, April 25, gave student attendees tips on what it takes to make it in the industry in a panel unveiling the university’s new, first-of-its-kind game show curriculum, which kicked off the four-day, 25th-annual Golden Eagle Film Festival.
“It’s something I can’t say I ever considered but the (game show) format is here to stay even as media changes,” Tracy Chin, a Cal State L.A. student majoring in the College of Letters and Arts, said. ”It definitely has me thinking about that route for my future, which I never thought I’d say.”
The panel was moderated by veteran game, reality and talk show host, Michael Burger, and featured Emmy-winning executive producer of “Wheel of Fortune” and “Jeopardy!” Harry Friedman; Game Show Network program director Rane Laymance; actress and host of “The Chase,” “Masterminds,” and “Tic Tac Dough,” Brooke Burns; and game show executive producer and co-founder of the National Archives of Game Show History Bob Boden.
The curriculum was developed by Boden and Friedman, and aims to equip students with skills and knowledge that will prepare them for careers in the production and development of game shows in the entertainment industry.
“Game shows can change people’s lives,” Boden said. “And we want to make sure that the next generation can continue doing that.”
Brooke Burns and Rane Laymance laugh as Cal State Los Angeles held a panel discussion to announce the creation of a game show curriculum featuring Harry Friedman, Bob Boden, Burns, Laymance and hosted by Michael Burger on April 25, 2024 in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Reality TV and game show producer Bob Boden was on hand at Cal State Los Angeles held a panel discussion to announce the creation of a game show curriculum featuring Harry Friedman, Boden, Brooke Burns, Rane Laymance and hosted by Michael Burger on April 25, 2024 in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Michael Burger, Brooke Burns and Bob Boden seen before Cal State Los Angeles held a panel discussion to announce the creation of a game show curriculum featuring Harry Friedman, Boden, Burns, Rane Laymance and hosted by Burger on April 25, 2024 in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Game show host Brooke Burns, was on hand for Cal State Los Angeles held a panel discussion to announce the creation of a game show curriculum featuring Harry Friedman, Bob Boden, Brooke Burns, Rane Laymance and hosted by Michael Burger on April 25, 2024 in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Brooke Burns speaks as Cal State Los Angeles held a panel discussion to announce the creation of a game show curriculum featuring Harry Friedman, Bob Boden, Burns, Rane Laymance and hosted by Michael Burger on April 25, 2024 in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Rane Laymance speaks as Cal State Los Angeles held a panel discussion to announce the creation of a game show curriculum featuring Harry Friedman, Bob Boden, Brooke Burns, Laymance and hosted by Michael Burger on April 25, 2024 in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Television producer Bob Boden speaks as Cal State Los Angeles held a panel discussion to announce the creation of a game show curriculum featuring Harry Friedman, Boden, Brooke Burns, Rane Laymance and hosted by Michael Burger on April 25, 2024 in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Cal State Los Angeles held a panel discussion to announce the creation of a game show curriculum featuring (l-r) Harry Friedman, Bob Boden, Brooke Burns, Rane Laymance and hosted by Michael Burger on April 25, 2024 in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Harry Friedman speaks as Cal State Los Angeles held a panel discussion to announce the creation of a game show curriculum featuring Friedman, Bob Boden, Brooke Burns, Rane Laymance and hosted by Michael Burger on April 25, 2024 in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Michael Burger hosts as Cal State Los Angeles held a panel discussion to announce the creation of a game show curriculum featuring Harry Friedman, Bob Boden, Brooke Burns, Rane Laymance and hosted by Burger on April 25, 2024 in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Michael Burger, Brooke Burns and Bob Boden seen before Cal State Los Angeles held a panel discussion to announce the creation of a game show curriculum featuring Harry Friedman, Boden, Burns, Rane Laymance and hosted by Burger on April 25, 2024 in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Cal State Los Angeles held a panel discussion to announce the creation of a game show curriculum and hosted by (l-r) Michael Burger and featuring Harry Friedman, Bob Boden, Brooke Burns, Rane Laymance on April 25, 2024 in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Brooke Burns, fills time in the program by dancing past Michael Burger as Cal State Los Angeles held a panel discussion to announce the creation of a game show curriculum featuring Harry Friedman, Bob Boden, Burns, Rane Laymance and hosted by Burger on April 25, 2024 in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Cal State Los Angeles held a panel discussion to announce the creation of a game show curriculum featuring (l-r) Bob Boden, Harry Friedman, Brooke Burns and Rane Laymance and hosted by Michael Burger on April 25, 2024 in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
The classes — which are billed as the first of their kind in the nation and teach the inner workings of creating, developing and producing game shows — will be offered in the fall 2024 semester. Following the panel discussion, attendees were able to network with the guests at the festival.