Most people know Billy Gardell from his standup comedy or from his role as Mike in Mike & Molly. Gardell also hosts Monopoly Millionaires’ Club (weekends, various stations, check local listings), a game show which pulls contestants from winners of a lottery game of the same name. Those chosen get to bring a guest for a four-night stay in Las Vegas while they compete for a cool million dollars.
I had a chance to chat with Billy about his duties as host for the show.
How did you get involved with the show?
I’ve always wanted to do a game show. It was always on my bucket list. Comedians make good game show hosts. I wanted a really big one and we waited and waited and waited. My agent started talking to Scientific Games and found out they were doing Monopoly, based on the board game and connected to the lottery and filming in Vegas. I auditioned and beat out a few people and got the part.
I heard you’re going to be a pizzeria owner?
I am! I’m opening a brick oven pizzeria in Orlando, Florida (Gardell Bros. Brick Oven Pizza in Hunter’s Creek) with my brother Brian and my manager Chris and his cousin. We’re putting together a throwback to the sit-down pizzeria for families and dates. It’s a nice looking place. It’s elegant but not snooty. We want that neighborhood feel.
Secret recipes?
Definitely! Absolutely. All family recipes from Chris’ cousin, Jimmy.
You’re juggling game show hosting, restaurant ownership, acting…
And standup! And being a dad and a husband.
How do you find a balance?
You just do what’s on your list that day. I try not to get too ahead of myself. I try to be smart about accommodating my time with each of the projects, especially with my family. So far we’ve been able to pull it off.
To those not familiar with the game show, can you give us a little background?
It’s based on all the iconic images we knew as kids, but they did the impossible. They figured out a way to make Monopoly fast. There’s a lot of fast all-or-nothing moments in the show and it’s life-changing money that’s on the line so it’s very electric.
Do you prefer coffee or tea?
Coffee
What’s your favorite book or book you’re reading right now?
Favorite book of all time? That’s a tough one. I would probably say The Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court.
Who is your favorite musician?
Ray Charles
What’s your go-to song in the shower?
I’m not a singer in the shower.
Do you tell jokes in the shower?
I use that as quiet time.
What was your favorite Monopoly gamepiece when you were a kid?
In my era it was called the shoe, now it’s the boot! I was always the shoe.
Other than Monopoly, what was your favorite board game growing up?
Clue!
Who was your favorite character in Clue?
Colonel Mustard, of course!
Who was your first celebrity crush?
Lynda Carter
Who is your favorite comedian?
George Carlin
What’s your favorite TV show or movie?
Mike and Molly!
Does your son think you’re funny? Does your wife think you’re funny?
Sometimes they think I’m funny. Sometimes they don’t want to hear it!
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