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WIU alumnus Mario Calero will appear on "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" Nov. 27.
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Calero is a freelance technical director for broadcasts of numerous professional sports, including the NHL and NFL.
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WIU Alumnus to Appear on 'Who Wants To Be A Millionaire' Nov. 27

November 19, 2018

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MACOMB, IL – An alumnus of the Western Illinois University broadcasting program will appear on the television game show "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" the week after Thanksgiving.

Mario Calero, of Elgin, IL, a 2016 broadcasting graduate, will appear as a contestant on the show Tuesday, Nov. 27. Locally, the show will air on WGEM, channel 10, the NBC affiliate in Quincy, IL, at 12:30 p.m.

Since graduation, Calero has been working as a freelance technical director, creating visual effects that go on air during a broadcast. He also works with show directors to execute their ideas during a broadcast, such as mixing cameras and creating graphics.

Most of the work Calero does involves professional sports teams, including telecasts of the Chicago Bulls, Blackhawks, Cubs and White Sox, as well as NFL games. He also frequently works in Las Vegas, NV, with the Vegas Golden Knights hockey team and with the NBA Summer League.

Because "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" tapes in Las Vegas, Calero took a chance and applied to be a contestant because he was going to be in town.

"I got a phone call to do a Skype interview the same day," he said. "I had another interview the next day, and I was told I would be passed on to a producer. A few weeks later, they asked me to be on the very first show of the season. The dates didn't line up, but I was able to go to a taping later that week."

While Calero can't reveal the results of his time on the show, he said he has always been interested in game shows.

"Even in college, in the broadcasting department, we produced a 22-minute episode of 'Press Your Luck," said Calero. "I finally decided, why not try out for a game show?"

For more information on WIU's broadcasting program, visit wiu.edu/bcj.


Posted By: Jodi Pospeschil (JK-Pospeschil@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing