Audience behind the stage

[shea6408]

What was the deal with the audience behind the stage? How much of the show could they actually see from there? It didn't look like much to me, and on one show it looked to me that their heads were turned as if they were looking at monitors.

Also wonder what was the deal with the signs some of those people had. Were they really rooting for those particular families, were they friends/relatives of the contestant families, or were they just random audience members who were handed the signs and told to hold them up?

[Rob]

Those are very good questions shea!

Aside from potential camera time, I can't imagine the appeal of sitting in the background, between the family's entrance set piece and the big board. It certainly didn't appear to provide a wide field of vision for an audience member, and without the ability to see the big board altogether, I wouldn't want to bother sitting there. I would not be surprised if they were looking at monitors most of the time.

As far as the signs, that whole concept was just ridiculous. It's not a sports rally or a protest...it's a game show. Unless it's "Let's Make a Deal", I can't see the point in having signs present. My gut tells me that most of these signs were pre-made by staff & handed out, maybe in hopes that this would catch-on and the audience would start doing it themself?

All I know is, as long as I see some audience in the background during Fast Money, then I'm fine with not seeing them sitting in the background on the main stage.

[shea6408]

Wonder who actually had to wind up sitting in those seats. Guess it was latecomers who'd otherwise be turned away.