Don't Forget the Lyrics...And definitely not last night's winner, Patricia Canale

Last night, Patricia Canale owned the stage on FOX's popular game show, "Don't Forget the Lyrics." The only sad thing about her win of $100,000 was that it signaled the end of her vocal performance! At a packed viewing party in the Valley, Patricia caught her breath to dish on karaoke bars, shuffling-off-to-Buffalo, and knowing when to walk away.

Congratulations on beating the system! Are you prepared for people to interrupt you in the grocery store asking you to sing "Maniac"?

I can't wait! I'm a born performer, darling—I'm ready to perform at any moment.

What was the casting process like for you?

My friend was up for the show to be a contestant and I auditioned to be his back-up. He ended up not getting cast and the producers ended up calling me a month later out of the blue and brought me into the studio. I had to pass three written tests and then I was brought to the casting directors, where we did a practice run of karaoke.

Having cast game shows, I'd say you're a dream contestant. Obviously! But have you been on any other game shows?

I was the tap-dancing cupcake on "Grease: You're the One That I Want!" I received the most audience response and producers said if they hadn't cut me, America would have voted me in. That was an exciting thing, as well.

I hear you've actually worked as a tap-dancing cupcake.

Can you eat cupcakes now?

I can't.

What were you feeling or doing right before you walked on stage?

I was a little nervous. I'm a Buddhist, so I chanted, and felt really centered because I had done a lot of studying prior to the show. I was pretty confident that I had done enough studying to be successful. I had no idea what curves they were going to throw at me.

And the curves were"¦

The one that cost me a hundred thousand dollars! ("You Can't Hurry Love" by Diana Ross) You think you know these songs, but when you really pick them apart word by word, not so much. They really get you on the specifics of the wording. "My Sharona" was one of those songs that I thought I knew but I didn't really. You don't know which part of the song they're going to use.

Did you try to cram song lyrics prior to the taping?

I actually tried to learn categories I'm not as strong in— 80s, rock, top ten—I trolled the internet. There are millions of sites dedicated to lyrics, but the lyrics aren't the same on all the sites.

Was there a song you were secretly hoping would come on?

Was there a song you were secretly dreading would come on?

I was hoping that there would be no heavy metal because I would be lost—any songs that I had just absolutely no idea. I knew I had a choice of two, so I was concerned that I wouldn't know either one.

Anything you can disclose?

He announced to the audience my name, and then, "Actress, Singer, Comedian," and then said "I'm not worthy!" and started bowing down to me. I was completely floored by that, given Wayne Brady's stature in the business, and I tried to maintain composure. Then he looked at me and said, "You're going to be a star."

How did you stay focused between commercial breaks?

The producers would whisk me off and brief me on things I could say or couldn't say. They kept me separate from my family or anyone who could have helped me in any way. It's nerve racking because the entire studio audience is screaming your name, and knowing that that your family is standing behind you.

Did you really have no clue that your family (she's one of 12) was going to be there?

I had no idea that my family was going to be there. Complete surprise to me. They had called my Uncle Cos and asked him to give him my parents' number in the Bronx. And Fox called my family and flew them all out unbenownst to me. I didn't understand why I had such intense security prior to the show—I had three security guards around me at all times! It was because my family was in the building.

Have you done karaoke since? How is it different?

Do you have a signature karaoke song?

What's your favorite karaoke place?

I would have to say Robin Hood Pub—it's an English pub in Santa Monica. There are so many foreigners who don't know American music and you get a much more honest and less jaded LA crowd. They would give me money to sing certain songs. I made fifty bucks. They asked me to sing a Whitney Houston song—"One Moment in Time." One of them asked me to sing "Danny Boy." And an Italian guy asked me to sing something by Connie Francis—gave me ten dollars to sing "Where the Boys Are."

Have you had any weird dreams about the show or your performance?

I've been having weird dreams that I was naked on the show—that I was on national television with no clothes on. I think it was just my anxiety about how they were going to edit the show. I was a little nervous about how it was going to sound, etcetera.

What did you think of the way they cut it?

I was a little surprised that they used certain cuts of the songs, because I sang them a couple of times. I didn't know what they were going to play, I had no idea what key they were in. You're trying to sing a song, you don't have a monitor, and you're on stage in front of millions of people and your family. Under those circumstances, I think I did well.

Your uncle helped you at the very end—if he hadn't been there, do you think you would have walked with the money?

Honestly, I knew instinctually that they weren't the right lyrics. Because my uncle was not certain, I took that a sign to walk away. I just knew in my gut that it wasn't right.

What's the response been like from your homies in the Bronx?

This kind of publicity is really exciting--I'm being seen for projects I normally wouldn't be seen for and I'm really grateful to this for raising my profile a little bit.