Name that celebrity. North Canton man wins thousands on 'We Are Family' game show

North Canton resident Michael Evans said it felt surreal to be a contestant on the new Fox game show "We Are Family."

The elaborate set, vibrant colors, neon lights and being in the presence of celebrities such as Debbie Gibson, Michelle Williams, Nikki Glaser, Cam Newton and Tamar Braxton was an overwhelming experience.

"I had to pinch myself every time I went on set," Evans said of the new show, which airs at 9 p.m. Wednesdays and is also streaming on Hulu.

"Oftentimes, there are (contestants) who are super fans of these (celebrities)," he said during a recent phone interview. "And it's really special just being in the same room, and even if you're not a super fan, it's just really special to be in the presence of these folks."

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How does the game show 'We Are Family' work?

The show is fun and suspenseful. While a famous person hides inside a sphere, Evans and other contestants are given clues in an attempt to guess their identity and win money. A relative of the celebrity also appears on stage and offers hints before singing solo and duetting with the star.

Evans is among 100 contestants on "We Are Family," which began airing episodes in January. He appears in multiple episodes, as well as the two-hour finale on Feb. 28. Hosted by Anthony Anderson with his mother Doris Bowman, the show is executive produced by Jamie Foxx, and shares similarities with the Fox television series, "The Masked Singer."

"I've always been a huge fan of game shows," Evans said. "And I think that they offer such an escape for people."

How did Michael Evans become a contestant?

Evans, 38, found out about the game show through an online casting call.

"I heard back from production ... and went through a series of interviews and phone calls (and answered pop culture trivia questions) and was cast as a contestant," he explained. "It's literally taking that step answering that casting call. ... You have to take that first step and hope for the best because they are looking for people who are from all walks of life."

Who is Michael Evans?

Evans grew up in Hubbard and graduated from Hubbard High School in 2003 and from Ohio State University in 2007 with a degree in strategic communications and public affairs journalism.

Working as a health care advocate in government relations in Northeast Ohio, Evans has lived in North Canton since 2013.

In 2018, he was selected for the Twenty Under 40! awards, which recognize Stark County’s leaders younger than 40 who have demonstrated dynamic leadership and social responsibility.

Evans also serves as the volunteer board chairman of the Greater East Ohio Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, which includes Stark, Wayne, Holmes, Summit, Tuscarawas, Carroll, Columbiana, Portage and several other counties.

Marcy Schulman, who works on the development team of the local chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, said she's not surprised her friend was selected for a game show.

"Michael's energy is magnetic," said the Hudson resident. "He has a really engaging and outgoing personality, which definitely bodes well for competing and maintaining his cool on game shows. His vast knowledge of trivia helps, too."

Evans also appeared on 'The $100,000 Pyramid.'

Evans isn't new to game shows.

In 2018, he appeared on the "The $100,000 Pyramid" on ABC. His celebrity partners were actors Rita Moreno and Justina Machado, although he didn't win any money.

"I love to live life in full color," Evans said. "And being on two game shows now has been possible all because I took a chance and applied for shows."

"I would love to someday be on another game show, or even a reality show," he added. "My ultimate dream is 'Survivor.' For anyone that wants to do the same, my advice is to just go for it."

Contestants can win up to $150,000

This time, he's won money by guessing what celebrity is shrouded inside the sphere − more than $8,000 through the first six episodes.

Contestants on "We Are Family" receive clues that are projected on the sphere as the time to guess their identity dwindles. Meanwhile, the celebrity's relative appears on stage to add a twist and provide more hints.

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Money is at stake in the multiple-round game. The more contestants who guess the celebrity correctly, the less money each person receives. The fewer contestants who guess the name, the higher the prize amount.

Individual contestants can win up to $150,000 per show.

'A sponge for pop culture.'

On episode five, Evans was one of only three contestants out of 100 to correctly guess the first two celebrities − Terrell Owens, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and Pat Monahan, vocalist for the pop rock band Train.

"You have to be really well-rounded to play the game and play it well because you have to pull from all of those areas from pop culture," he said.

"I was religiously watching MTV and VH1 and all of those shows (when he was younger), which were heavy on pop culture," he said. "So I think growing up during that time was really helpful for me in this game. And I think I was just a sponge for pop culture."

What was Michael's favorite part of the game show?

Contestants stayed in a hotel in Atlanta and filmed the show over the course of 18 days, Evans said.

"We got to really know one another, and it was the best part for me because I got to walk away with some real friendships," he added. "And it was really remarkable to be part of that and keep in touch with those people."

Evans has been watching the recorded shows at home.

"It is so exciting to watch, especially along with my friends and family because I can see them play along," he said. "And that's a really great thing to do for anyone who would tune into the show."

Schulman is among Evans' friends who have been watching how he fares each week.

"Michael recently had a watch party, and it was so fun to watch him compete and cheer for him when he was on camera," she said. "I myself enjoy pop culture trivia, so the show is really entertaining to watch. Michael seems to be doing really well on the show, and I'm hoping he ends up a big winner."

Reach Ed at 330-580-8315 and ebalint@gannett.com.

On X (formerly Twitter) @ebalintREP and Instagram at ed_balint

This article originally appeared on The Repository: North Canton man appears on Fox television game show 'We Are Family'