JeniPeni,
I am afraid it's all part of dumbing down,I don't think that they vet/test people any more on quiz shows.I used to watch the old original 15 to 1,and the questions were more difficult than the new 15 to 1.I wonder if it's to get a laugh out of the clueless contestants?
They do screen candidates and try to select a mix of good and not so good (this applies to most game shows). The idea is make viewers feel clever when they can answer questions the contestants fail on.
I actually auditioned for Tipping Point - they give you 10 general knowledge questions over the phone and decide if you should audition. Then you go to the audition and take part in 20 general knowledge questions and stand up and talk about yourself for 3 minutes while being videoed. I got the majority of questions correct but obviously didn't make a good enough contestant to take it any further.
They have a good time, might win something or get a trip to OZ or NZ, or spend a few days on one of the Costas etc etc. A collegue was addicted to it, like a hobby and he told me that you are very well treated the whole time. Google "be on a show"
I did an interview for a how called "Today's The Day" with someone who was very clever and at the interview we got 49 out of 50. Never heard another thing from them not even a rejection. Eight months later a applied with another friend. On the phone they knew I had applied before and said there was not much point in applying again. I said it was with another person. They then said by means come to another interview which we did not do as half a well Then we had a call and ended up doing four progs and a celeb one as well with Bernard Cribbins and Barry Cryer. Why they did not like by first partner I do not know although he was clever but people like Egghead Kenneth Ashman were on the prog