Benjamin Brassord ’14 unexpectedly found himself on one of television’s hottest new game shows, The Floor, hosted by actor Rob Lowe, for the ultimate trivia challenge. The show was unlike anything he could’ve anticipated, navigating the unexpected bond he had with contestants while competing for $250,000.

“I was nerding out the whole time seeing how everything was running,” Brassord said. “It was really cool to get a behind the scenes look into a game show.”

The Floor features contestants on a large interactive LED game floor divided into squares, each representing a different category. A randomly selected contestant chooses one of their neighboring opponents for a head-to-head quiz duel. The duel winner takes control of the opponent’s square, while the loser is immediately eliminated. The contestant who controls all the squares on the floor wins the grand prize.

Five days prior to filming, contestants are emailed the categories that will be featured on the show. Immediately after receiving the list, Brassord went into overdrive and started studying, scrambling to memorize anything he could.

The categories included specific and vague topics, including the periodic table, cheese, the beach, and state capitals. Producers randomly assign categories based on each contestant’s work and personal history. Brassord, a senior product marketing manager, was assigned brand mascots—a category he was confident in because it tied into his career.

Brassord reflected on the diverse courses he took at Colby and how they gave him the skills to efficiently study. “I felt very grateful for the liberal arts education I had and being able to learn and think critically,” he said.

Now, understanding what went into the process, he watches game shows “in a whole new light.” In addition to the thrill of competing, Brassord was captivated by the process of producing a game show. He got to know the crew members, including the camera operators and hair and makeup artists, who shared insight into the process. He shared that the costume and wardrobe department worked behind the scenes to clean the contestants’ outfits since the production asked each contestant to bring two of the same outfits to wear whenever they were on set.

After filming, the contestants stayed in touch through group chats, Zoom reunions, and watch parties. The combination of being in a foreign country and never having been on a game show led to a unique experience only the contestants could understand, he said, comparing the bond he felt for fellow contestants to the bonds with fellow students after his Colby COOT trip, where students from different backgrounds shared an outdoor experience.

Brassord graduated from Colby with a psychology major and a minor in studio art. He achieved his goal of working in marketing and advertising and credits what he learned at Colby with his successful career.

“My psychology background paired with studio art blended itself throughout the entire course of my career,” he said. “So much learning went beyond the classroom, and I find that to be equally valuable as everything I learned in the classroom.”

Brassord is grateful that his education at Colby set him up for a life where he can spontaneously go on a game show and feel confident in the skills and knowledge he has built. His experiences at Colby have stayed with him and enriched his life in every aspect.

“It was definitely a full circle moment of realizing that my education wasn’t just for me to get a job out of college,” said Brassord. “My Colby education was for me to have all these different life experiences.”