INTERVIEW: Lisa Arch has some trivia questions … in the delivery room
Lisa Arch, the successful comedian and actress, is hosting one of the most talked about reality series of the season. Trivia games are a dime a dozen. Family-based reality series are even more frequent on television. However, what’s novel, and somewhat shocking, is when trivia and expectant families are brought together in the delivery room. That’s right, Labor Games is a Discovery Life game show that questions parents-to-be in the hospital during labor.
Intense? Yes. Surprising? Of course. All in a day’s work for Arch? Absolutely.
Recently, Hollywood Soapbox exchanged emails with Arch on the show and its upcoming finale, set for Thursday, Oct. 22 at 7 p.m. on Discovery Life. In addition to her hosting duties, Arch is currently playing Principal Hader on Nickelodeon’s 100 Things to Do Before High School, and she has appeared on several other shows, everything from The X Files to Reno 911!
Questions and answers have been slightly edited for style.
How did you get attached to Labor Games as the host?
I got lucky, I guess! It was an audition. Actually, it was an audition for something ELSE that got me called in to audition for Labor Games. I went in and really clicked with the producers. I immediately got them, and they got me. I loved the angle they were taking, and they really followed through on that with the show.
Were you initially skeptical at the idea of having a trivia game at such an important, personal time in a couple’s life?
I was VERY skeptical. I thought it sounded terrifying and very wrong. But the producers convinced me they were going at it from a very loving place, a place of empathy and fun, and that’s why they wanted a mom to host it.
What have you been surprised the most by from the mothers and fathers-to-be?
How CHILL they all were! Here they are, their lives are about to completely change forever, and they are having a BLAST answering these questions and winning prizes together. It definitely gave me insight into how great couples can be together, even at the most stressful moment of their lives. AND ON TV!
You have had so many interesting roles and hosting responsibilities on TV. What do you look for when getting ready to take on a new project? What makes a show, in your mind, worth the commitment?
It definitely has to be worth me possibly missing some time with my son. It has to be fun, something that I can be proud of. The older I get, the more I want to do things where I’m working with good people. If that’s in place, everything else sort of falls into place, too.
What’s the future hold for Labor Games? Have you been surprised and happy with the response from fans?
I’d love to shoot more episodes. I think parents would be chomping at the bit to get on the show now that they’ve seen it. I get emails and tweets from people asking if we can come to their city or state. What’s been most surprising is how people’s opinion of the show changes from when they hear the concept to when they actually see it! Like me, they’re skeptical at first, but then they fall in love with it.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
- Labor Games airs 7 p.m. on Thursdays on Discovery Life. Click here for more information.
