Fallen Timbers Middle School Assistant Principal Terry Tansel will make his TV debut after earning a spot on the big stage of FOX’s hit trivia-based game show, The Floor. Hosted by Rob Lowe, the show pits 100 contestants against each other in a battle of wits, strategy, and trivia mastery on a massive LED game board. With categories as varied as the contestants themselves, the goal is to claim territory and outlast the competition.
While he can’t reveal some details or the outcome of his appearance, he shared the journey of how he made it onto the show, what it was like to compete, and how the experience may shape his work back at school.
Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at Terry’s adventure, from the application process to bonding with fellow contestants on set in Dublin, Ireland.
Q&A: Terry Tansel's Experience Competing on FOX’s The Floor
Q: What inspired you to apply to be on The Floor?
Terry: I started watching the show when I learned that Principal Matt Smith’s longtime friend’s wife was a contestant on the show back in January 2024. Watching it was fun and got me thinking about applying. She encouraged me to submit an application and even sent me the link.
At the end of February, I went online, filled out a questionnaire, and included a one-minute video to share a little about myself and show my personality. I went into it thinking maybe I would get to do something I’d never done before: play a game, maybe see a new place, and meet new people.
Q: What was the selection process like?
Terry: Just before spring break, I got a phone call from an unknown number. I happened to answer, and it was a producer asking to set up another interview for the next step of the selection process. I had to take a trivia quiz that covered a variety of categories, identifying pictures and answering questions. I think I got 70–80% correct, which allowed me to move on to a zoom interview with another team member.
That interview lasted almost an hour, and I was told that they would produce a short “highlight” clip of our conversation to pitch me as a contestant to those making the casting decisions. By the end of the school year, I hadn’t heard much, but went through a rigorous background check, and other items needed to be completed to be considered for the show.
Waiting was the hardest part. Each stage took time, but they reassured us that no news was good news. In mid-June, I finally got the word that I would be traveling to Dublin, Ireland, in late summer to compete.
Q: Why Dublin?
Terry: I don’t know the exact answer to that, but I have since learned several game shows are filmed at their studios there.
Q: Did you get to be a tourist while in Ireland?
Terry: There were a few opportunities for sightseeing, but you always had to balance that with game play. I had to decide: do I want to go out and see the city and landmarks, or is it more important to study and be rested for the show?
Q: What’s the format of The Floor?
Terry: It starts with 100 people of various backgrounds, ages, and hometowns—each standing on a square representing their trivia category. Some contestants are people you may recognize, like actors, athletes, or contestants from other shows, while others are just normal people – teachers, engineers, or people with unique areas of expertise.
The randomizer picks the first contestant, who then must choose an adjacent opponent to challenge in a timed trivia duel based on the opponent’s category. The duel alternates turns, and contestants can pass if they don’t know an answer, but you lose precious time if you pass. Whoever runs out of time first loses.
The winner takes over the opponent’s square and inherits their category. They can then challenge someone else or go back to their space on the floor and let the randomizer pick the next challenger. Whoever has the most squares at the end of an episode wins $20,000, and the last contestant standing at the end of the season wins $250,000.
Q: What was the production process like?
Terry: The entire season is 12 episodes, and as long as you’re still playing, you stay on set. Once you’re eliminated, you go home. You really get to know the other contestants well, so when someone was eliminated, it was emotional for some —you realized you might not see them again.
Recording days were long. We’d be up early, head to hair (or in my case, head!) and makeup, and then start filming with the studio audience. After a full day, we’d return to the hotel late to rest, study and prepare for the next day.
Something that people may find interesting is that we had to have our clothes approved prior to the show, then we wore the same outfit for the entirety of the season. We had to bring two identical sets of our outfit, including shoes, to ensure continuity. It helps the viewers find their favorite contestants during each episode.
There were rules that helped to ensure fairness like phones and smartwatches weren’t allowed, we were escorted when we needed to leave the set, and our microphones were always on.
They were long days, and we didn’t always know what would happen next, but the crew and producers took great care of us. They truly made the experience feel professional, exciting, and memorable.
Q: How did you prepare for the show?
Terry: I like trivia and am very competitive. I’d say my strengths are in sports, entertainment, movies, music and geography, but topics like art, poetry and literature are more challenging for me. It’s impossible to know everything, so during game play, you try your best to avoid categories you feel weaker in, but eventually, you’ll face them, so you just have to do your best.
Between episodes, we studied a lot and strategized, focusing on genres we thought we might face. Flashcards helped with certain topics, but open-ended ones were tougher. Meals and downtime were a mix of friendly conversation and subtle strategy. You’d be making friends with people, but also have to keep your strategy kind of close to your chest—sometimes you’d deflect from areas you were strong in and inflate confidence in an area to throw others off.
Q: Did you form lasting friendships with the other contestants?
Terry: Definitely. Spending so much time together, you form bonds. Many of us have kept in touch through a group chat and I’ve even had the chance to meet up with a couple since we’ve gotten back. We keep up with each other and have even checked in on contestants during events like the wildfires going on in California. I now have friends across the country thanks to this experience.
Q: How did you keep the experience in perspective?
Terry: It was definitely stressful. If you could have seen my heart rate every time that Rob said, “Activate the randomizer!” it would have been off the charts, but overall the odds of winning are 1 in 100, so depending on how you look at it, those are really good or really bad odds.
It helped to think about how the show is designed to be accessible, so you don’t have to be a genius to compete. It helps to have general knowledge in a variety of topics, and hope that luck is on your side. It helps to study, and as a middle school assistant principal, I’m exposed to a lot of different subjects.
For example, the winner of season two won with the category “Periodic Table of Elements,” which 6th graders study in science. I’ve seen it enough times to know most of the abbreviations, so my exposure to a wide range of topics helped.
Q: How will this experience influence your work with students?
Terry: Middle schoolers are competitive and don’t like to lose, or to think that someone is better than them. If I’d happen to win, I can talk about what it means to be a good winner. If I lose, I can share how it’s okay to fail—it just means someone was better that day.
I also want to emphasize the importance of empathy and communication. Spending time with people from different backgrounds was a big part of the experience, both in conversation and competition.
Q: How can we watch?
Terry: The show premieres after the Super Bowl on Sunday, February 9, on FOX. While it might air late that night, the rest of the episodes are on Wednesdays at 9:00 p.m. You can also watch it on Hulu the next day.
Q: Final thoughts?
Terry: This was an amazing experience, and I’d do it again in a heartbeat. I’m not a genius, but I know a little about a lot of things, and I’d encourage anyone interested to apply. Thousands of people apply, but you never know what they’re looking for in a contestant.
I hope my students think it’s cool that their assistant principal is going to be on TV. Whether they cheer for me or against me, I hope they watch and enjoy the show!
As the premiere of The Floor approaches, Whether cheering him on, playing along, or just enjoying the show’s high-energy trivia battles, Terry hopes his students, colleagues, and community will tune in to watch the action unfold.
For Terry, the experience was about much more than trivia—it was a chance to meet people from all walks of life, showcase his competitive spirit, and embrace the unpredictability of the game. “If you’ve ever thought about trying to get on a game show, give it a shot. You never know what might happen.”
How to Watch
Where to watch: Live on Fox or streaming on Hulu
When to watch:
Season premiere: Following the Super Bowl on Sunday, Feb. 9.
Season episodes: Wednesdays at 9:00 p.m.
Look for: Terry’s blue shark shirt – it will be easier to pick him out in the crowd of contestants.