Columbus State instructor to appear on network TV game show
Campus News | Monday, September 15, 2025
Above: Instructor Seth Smith lectures during his interpersonal communication class on Sept. 8 in Phillips Hall.
It’s not every day you have the opportunity to take part in a TV network game show with the chance to win a million bucks. That’s how Languages and Communication Instructor Seth Smith spent his break in May between Spring and Summer semesters!
When he was a child, Smith’s mother loved game shows. Naturally, he grew fond of the genre himself. Last year, he applied to be on “The Floor” – a reality game show on FOX. He filled out an application and made a one-minute video to pitch himself for a spot.
By the time producers looked it over, the season’s contestants had already been selected. However, they liked his video and invited him to be a contestant on “99 to Beat,” a new game show in the United States that will begin airing Sept. 24. (It is based on the British game show of the same name.)
“We had to fly to London to tape the show,” said Smith. “I was there for more than two weeks. Some days were long with 12-hours of taping. But I enjoyed the entire experience and I’m proud to have been a part of it.” Smith said his round-trip flight and hotel room were covered, and he and the other contestants received a stipend while there.
Smith began as an adjunct member of the faculty at Columbus State in 2008. After spending many years on the faculty at Capital University, he became a full-time instructor here in 2024. His courses include Small Group Communication and Interpersonal Communication. He said his communication skills provided occasional advantages in some of the competition challenges he faced on the game show.
“I have always taught students to put themselves out there and take chances,” said Smith. “Now I’m going to stress that more than ever with my real-life example of what can happen when you go for it.”
Ken Jeong and Erin Andrews host the 10-episode run of “99 to Beat.” It will premiere on Wednesday, Sept. 24 at 9 p.m. on FOX following the season premiere of “The Floor.” In central Ohio, both game shows can be seen on WTTE-TV (FOX 28).
A non-disclosure agreement binds Smith from disclosing details of how well he fared. Smith is sharing some behind-the-scenes details on his Instagram account @professorsethsmith.
Ahead of the premiere, there are promotional videos available. Smith can be seen in one of them at this link. He appears for about three seconds at the :55 mark. He is standing with a yellow rope wrapped around him as he works with a partner below him.
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