By: Tommy Steimer

In September of 2025, Innovation Academy student Tommy Steimer was a contestant on a popular Fox and Hulu television game show called “The 1% Club“. How does a high school student manage to appear on a game show with 99 other adults competing for $100,000, what was the process like, and did Tommy win?

The 1% Club is a popular TV game show (airing on Fox and Hulu) that tests logic and reasoning rather than general knowledge. One hundred contestants compete to solve increasingly difficult brain teasers, aiming to answer a question that only 1% of the public got right, for a chance to win up to $100,000. There are 15 consecutive questions to answer correctly to win the grand prize, with contestants receiving a one-time skip at question 5. Contestants also receive the opportunity to leave with $1,000 at question 8 if they have not used their pass. They also have the opportunity to eliminate themselves at question 14 for $10,000 regardless of whether the pass is used or not.

In the end, Tommy lost $100,000 to a Kite on question 4 and walked away with nothing. But how did he get on the game show in the first place? Innovation Academy student Tommy Steimer stated, “I am on casting websites where I did a basic application for The 1% Club. Later, I got a message from a producer with the link to a website where I filled out a bunch of information about funny or interesting experiences I’ve had that could be said on the show. After advancing again in the casting, I had a Zoom meeting with producers confirming I would be on the show, and was requested to send in 3 potential costuming decisions. It was awesome filming at the same studio where Avengers was shot and working with Jole Mchale.”

The set was absolutely massive, with large camera dollies that would go around the entire room. A camera dolly is a wheeled platform cart used in filmmaking to create smooth, horizontal camera movements, often riding on tracks. There were hundreds of studio-level lights everywhere, with a light pointing at each contestant, ready to turn blue for their elimination. Tommy Steimer states, “It was for sure a memorable experience, working with one of my favorite actors of all time. Hopefully, I can get a chance to redeem myself on season 3.”

Innovation Academy Student Tommy Steimer on the 1% Club.