Roxanne and Amanda Davis, two former Pierce County residents, recently appeared on the set of the new game show Flipside, and they credit the showmanship of their father and the fearlessness of their mother for how they unapologetically embrace new adventures in the second act of their lives.
Those who don’t remember sisters Roxanne (who goes by Roxy these days) and Amanda Davis might recall their father Richard Davis, better known to many locals as the Dancing Man. The Davis’s father achieved local notoriety for being seen energetically showing off his dance moves on street corners around Blackshear and as the subject of a feature in The Blackshear Times wherein he explained to the curious public his reasons for dancing were to inspire and amuse others but also largely a personal form of stress relief.
His daughters say their father’s outgoing nature, blended with their mother’s own free spirit, inspires in them embracing every new opportunity to come their way, which ult imately landed them on television. That inspiration to branch out and explore new opportunities is what they hope kids growing up in Pierce County will take away from their own story.
Initially, Roxy was content to be a part of the audience. “Back in March, I had surgery for my foot, so I thought I could make some money just sitting there and clapping.” Which was how she wound up in the audience for Family Feud, but soon an opportunity to move from the audience to on stage presented itself. Roxy was scrolling on her phone when she saw a post seeking contestants for a game show being filmed in Atlanta. Once she discovered it was a show that required pairs of contestants, Roxy knew she had to get her sister Amanda there with her.
“She volun-told me I was applying with her,” Amanda says.
Hosted by Jaleel White, better known as Urkel on the 1990s sitcom Family Matters, Flipside pits two teams against each other, answering trivia questions and flipping the board to reveal new chances to score. Part of the premise is revealing how contestants think two different groups will answer the same questions. By way of example, Roxy recalls one question being “What do you prefer, five o’clock shadow or a full beard?” For the record, Roxy likes five o’clock shadow and Amanda enjoys a full beard.
However, both sisters have always enjoyed game shows. Amanda says, “I was obsessed with Family Feud and I loved Jeopardy.
Anything with trivia.” Meanwhile, Roxy says, “For me, it was Wheel of Fortune. I just wanted to spin that wheel so bad!”
Combining Amanda’s love of trivia with Roxy’s enthusiastic taking chances, it was probably inevitable the sisters would be selected to appear on the show, though there was a protracted screening process and Roxy’s flare for entertaining probably helped a little as well.
Asked what she was competitive at, Roxy said, “I’m a professional sugar daddy hunter. Another time, they asked my name and I said, I’m Roxy and started doing my twerk dance,” Roxy laughs. “That was probably my dad coming out in me.”
Amanda had thought her sister’s irrepressible antics might have sunk their chances only to be told later that Roxy’s impromptu dance and the chemistry between the two sisters was part of what got them picked to be in front of the camera.
Both sisters were fascinated by the behind-the scenes-look at TV game shows the experience afforded them, from waiting in the ‘lunchbox area’ to keep them from talking to other contestants to being pampered in the make-up and hair area to finally interacting with show host Jaleel White.
“We watched Family Matters as kids and now it’s come full circle,” says Roxy. “I asked if we can call him Steve Urkel.” The answer was no, but Roxy didn’t seem too disappointed. There was still too much to see and do.
“I thought Amanda was going to be more nervous than me, but Urkel said she was a natural and I thought so too. The answers were just flowing out of her.”
Amanda’s skills as a therapist help account for her composure and quick answers. She even sees ways to use her and her sister’s adventures to help inspire and uplift people in her daily work. Roxy is an empty-nester, enjoying her life “As a therapist, I see people down or sad about that next phase of life and you have people like Roxy, who are enjoying it. Once your children are adults, people get the chance to put the focus back upon themselves. What have you always wanted to do?”
“I’m a whole 21 year old again!” Roxy says with obvious delight.
With her youngest son is approaching graduation, Amanda is nearing that same second act of life and the Davis sisters intend for that next phase to be a lot of fun. One phrase they often ask each other is “Did you put your glitch in the matrix today?”, which is another way of saying, did you break out of the ordinary? Did you do something impossible?
Viewers in select local CBS markets already know if the Davis women won Flipside’s $10,000 prize. Everyone else will have to tune in to the Game Show Network’s broadcast of their episode 5 p.m. Thursday, October 8.
What’s next for Roxy and Amanda now that the world of game shows has been conquered? “Roxy has always wanted to go skydiving. I just want to do basic stuff like run the Boston Marathon.”
“Skydiving is still on the list,” Roxy interjects, saying she wouldn’t rule out an appearance on Love Island either.
More than anything, they hope their story inspires other kids in Pierce County to take chances and try new things.
“I feel like it is real inspiring to see people from our town move on to bigger things,” says Amanda. “I remember feeling that way whenever someone from Pierce made it on TV. That’s someone from our town.”
And at least one fan can’t wait to see them on Flipside. “I’m sure our dad cannot wait to brag about his daughters being on TV,” Roxy says.
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