By The TimesLedger
Astoria resident Lisa Jolley will try not get spooked as she steps in as a contestant on Hollywood Squares, beginning the day before Halloween.
Jolley’s appearance coincides with Hollywood Squares’ annual Halloween celebration, this year entitled “Halloween Squares,” airing Oct. 28-Nov. 1. During Halloween Squares Week, the grid of celebrities will feature a wide variety of costumes, rising, as if from the grave, from a specially-decorated, spooky set. Jolley will interact with Ellen DeGeneres, one of the big stars who will occupy the center square during the season.
The nationally syndicated Hollywood Squares can be seen locally each Monday-Friday at 7:30 p.m. on channel 2, WCBS-TV.
Jolley, a Gymboree teacher in Manhattan, keeps busy by volunteering for such organizations as the Amanda Foundation, which finds homes for pets that would be euthanized if left in the pound. She also participates in delivering meals to HIV and AIDS patients with Project Angel Food and God’s Love We Deliver. In what’s left of her spare time, Jolley enjoys playing the marimba, tap dancing and collecting Rat Pack memorabilia. To secure her spot on the popular show, she simply called the Hollywood Squares hotline and auditioned. Other Astoria-area contestant hopefuls can also call the show’s hotline in Los Angeles at 323-850-0707 for an interview.
When contestants come to Hollywood’s CBS Television City to play, they can expect to tape up to five episodes each production day before a live studio audience. “I loved being in Los Angeles,” said Jolley. “I went to Disneyland.”
The Astoria resident also noted that she practiced tic-tac-toe with her boyfriend and prayed to prepare for the game. Her advice to fellow contestants coming on the show? “Listen to Fern and Robert, the contestant coordinators.”
In addition to Center Square Ellen DeGeneres, Jolley shared the stage with a wide range of television and film stars, including Mistress of the Dark, Elvira, former talk show host Tammy Faye, rappers Master P and Lil’ Romeo, actress Kathy Najimy, gender-bending singer RuPaul, WWE’s Hulk Hogan, comedian Martin Mull and Vicki Lawrence as “Mama.” Emmy Award-winning Tom Bergeron hosts the show.
This season, Hollywood Square’s new executive producers, Henry Winkler and Michael Levitt, have made major changes to the series’ overall look and feel, including a completely new set, logo and on-air graphics and music. A new team of writers is in place, and the contestants now play the game standing rather than sitting. Also, a new bonus round includes all nine celebrities, and gives each day’s champion the opportunity to take home great prizes, including brand new automobiles, trips around the world and everybody’s favorite, cash. “If I win big money, I would love to buy a car,” said Jolley.
Will Astoria’s Jolley win that money to buy the car of her dreams? We’re not saying, but viewers can find out by tuning in beginning Wednesday, Oct. 30.
