In an interview, musical director Milton Delugg said that many prostitutes in the Hollywood area would audition for the show, because they could make more money in a minute-and-a-half on the show than they could make working the streets for two weeks.
The cash prize of $516.32 is reportedly the minimum pay for a day's work per the Screen Actors Guild.
Tommy Hunter was the inspiration for this show. In an interview with CBC's George Stroumboulopoulos, "Canada's Country Gentleman" relates a story about a terrible act that was auditioning for his show. He was telling this to his producer Chris Bearde, who thought it would be a great idea for a show. Bearde pitched it to the CBC with Hunter to be host, but neither Hunter or the CBC was enthused with the idea. Bearde went back to L.A., pitched the idea to producer Chuck Barris and the rest is history.
In a poll conducted in May 2009 by The Factor (1996), host Bill O'Reilly revealed that this series was voted the 4th worst TV show in broadcast history. Other dubious nominees included: (1) My Mother the Car (1965) / (2) The Jerry Springer Show (1991) / (3) Friends (1994) and (5) Cop Rock (1990).