I was recently engaged in a conversation with Guy Fieri on his lastest hosting gig, “Minute To Win It”. Guy lamented on his signature hair do and his return to the South Beach Food and Wine Festival in February 2011.
Guy Fieri’s love affair with food has taken him around the country divulging in varied culinary delights and has made him a popular TV personality. In a limited episode game series, “Minute To Win It,” Guy will return as the rockstar host with his signature bleached blond spikey hair to complement.
How many of us are able to complete a task in one minute, simple or otherwise? Not many. In this series, 10 contestants will compete to make time into dollars by completing simple, yet nerve wracking tasks while Guy egg them on.
“Minute To Win It” features competitors participating in a series of simple, yet nerve-wracking, games that can lead to a $1 million prize. In each one-hour episode, competitors face 10 challenges that escalate in level of difficulty using everyday household items. Each game has a one-minute time limit and failure to finish the task on time will eliminate the contestant. At various points throughout the game, the competitor can walk away with the money earned up to that point – but it’ll take nerves of steel to complete all 10 tasks to win $1 million. The competitors, who come from all walks of life, are shown over 60 games prior to the competition and are encouraged to practice these one-of-a-kind challenges at home.
Additionally, if you think you have what it takes to turn time into dollars, join the casting team in Miami and New York. “Minute” is also holding open casting calls this month in New York (December 11) and Miami (December 11). More information at nbc.com/casting/#minute.
“Minute To Win It” returns to NBC’s primetime schedule on Tuesday, December 7, 14 and 21 (8-9 p.m. ET), with three special holiday-themed episodes that include huge audience giveaways, an extra-generous grand prize of $3 million — and of course, Santa’s helpers.
Daedrian McNaughton: Hi Guy. What’s up with the hair?
Guy Fieri: What’s up with the hair? I wish I had a really cool answer for you. I don’t know. Ten years ago I was with the girl that cuts my hair, (Kristina) said, “You know, you got to lose this haircut. You got this hot, slicked back spiky mullet. You don’t know if you’re a rock business. And what are you doing?”
I said, “Fine. Do whatever you want.” You know, kind of really taking my stand with her. “You don’t like my haircut, you” – because she’s been cutting my hair for about, you know, five, six years. And so she says, “Anything I want?” “Yes, go ahead.” It comes from underneath this beehive and I thought it was like shampoo and I – I’m like, “Are you going to wash this out?” And she goes, “No, that’s your hair color.”
It was such a unique situation, you know, if you take yourself out of our comfort zone. When I went to Food Network for the next Food Network shot, it was the – it was the color of choice that, you know, quarter or month. And it just kind of stuck. So I don’t have really any gradients report. It’s been all different colors. But right now it’s currently staying in that bleachish look.
Daedrian McNaughton: That’s okay. I think it’s cool. Anyway…
Guy Fieri: Thanks.
Daedrian McNaughton: …what it is about the show that you like doing compared to the other shows you’ve hosted in the past?
Guy Fieri: I got to – I love the question because as a person and people that know me personally know that I’m a very sensitive guy, very about family, very about my friends, very about helping people. And that’s the biggest charge that I get from this.
I get – it gets to help people. Everyday people. I mean people – you don’t have to be a road scholar. You don’t have to be a world-class athlete. You don’t have to – just an everyday person. You like challenge. You like game. You like playing the stuff.
And that is a lot of people. You know, when you play in the office, you know, I can bounce this pencil across the room. I can, you know. And to give everyday people at shot at what I like to call ridiculous amounts of money and to be the dude that does that and to get paid for it, I mean, you know, I mean honestly it’s like being in the line at the mini mart when somebody buys a lottery ticket and wins a million bucks and you’re standing there with them.
You get to experience that joy and that excitement and that thrill. And – but in the same respects to that, we live some lows. I’ve been on the floor with them and they’re going after big money and they’re putting it all on the line and they lose it and there’s tears and there’s heartbreak and there’s disappointment and there’s loss and you got to be the shoulder to cry on.
So like I say all the time, I live some high highs and some low lows. And I wouldn’t trade it for anything. It’s a wonderful experience and I’m really happy to see what its done for people.
Daedrian McNaughton: And it’s very sad when someone loses. But how do you feel when you know you have to send that – or that person is eliminated, describe your emotion?
Guy Fieri: Oh I mean you want – you know, I was explaining to my son the other day. He lost something. He wanted to blame the dog. I said, “You ever heard that thing my dog ate the homework?” You want to blame somebody. You want to grab a reason, you know, the ping-pong – something happened. You know what. It just happened. You know, it didn’t go down.
The great thing that I tell all the contestants before they ever come on the show, I said, “Walk away from here, you know, with whatever money but make sure you walk away from here with an experience and a good memory.” And I’ve had some players that have been on the cusp of massive money and have lost.
I have to pull them aside after the show and say, “Listen. You did win some money. But how would you have felt to cash out early, take the money, have two lives left and never tried. Would it be worth that money? Would it be worth it to think back about that and go should I have, should I have, should, you know. You get one shot. You going to play it or not?”
So it’s tough. It’s tough. But you know what; I think the majority of folks walk away with an appreciation and a positive experience. But I’ve – there’s been holding a few tears back before. I mean there’s some really – they’re phenomenal people that just didn’t get the break.
Daedrian McNaughton: And maybe just a short one. Will you be in SOBE for the food fest?
Guy Fieri: Will I be in SOBE for the food fest? Will the waves be crashing on the beach? Of course I will. Yes. I will be in SOBE and looking forward to it. If you haven’t been to the food and wine fest you guys, go check it out. It’s one of the greatest culinary experiences that you’ll find really good. A really good time down there. So yes, I will be for sure.