Gina Rodriguez on game show Lucky 13

Regarding the onscreen presence of executive producer Kevin Bacon, Gina Rodriguez was just as in the dark as the Lucky 13 contenders.

"They informed us we had a special guest. That night prior was very out of the blue. "Just be ready; tomorrow is a special guest," they said. " And then they omitted telling us, the presenter told Us Weekly just before the Thursday, August 15, broadcast of the hit ABC game show. "Then right before I went on they were like, 'During the Kevin Bacon question, Kevin Bacon is going to come out.'"

Though he worked behind-the-scenes for the concert, Rodriguez, 40, was not expecting to run across Bacon, 66. (After a trivia question regarding whether Bacon had a vegan cookbook was asked of a contestant, the actor made a quick visit on Thursday's broadcast. His spoilers alert: he does not.)

"I discovered online that Kevin Bacon is two degrees of separation away from me. That morning, then, I felt as though I was one degree of separation from Kevin Bacon. I was actually startled when he walked out; I don't really get shaken. "I've also been in the business for over 10 years and I've met a lot of amazing human beings."

Rodriguez, who like Bacon's work, was thrilled about the unannounced chance and said, "I am a big admirer of Kevin Bacon. So I said, "Oh s—t, you are Kevin Bacon and you are here," when he came out and was simply there in the flesh.

She went on: "It's a rather hysterical moment. Then he walks away exactly like a lovely angel. Or like a lovely unicorn showing , then vanishes. I won lie; it was very strange. The responses will reflect how utterly taken away I and [cohost Shaquille O'Neal were.”

With 13 true-or-false trivia questions, Lucky 13, which debuted on ABC in July, is a high-stakes game show challenging competitors' knowledge. The turn is Every competitor vying for the $1 million grand prize must fairly estimate their answers to the questions.

Old school game shows were my preferred ones. I enjoy family Feud. We worked very hard on our house till we got the game and played Family Feud there over Christmas. Steve Harvey [for this position] is someone I did research as I absolutely enjoy Family Feud and Who Wants to be a Millionaire. And I truly paid close attention to Elizabeth Banks in Press Your Luck on landing the moon as a host. " Elizabeth — like me — is an actress and director; she just comes at it with such a love for the human perspective." You may also read this: After Richard Simmons's Passing, Jane Fonda Expresses Her Sorrow

When Rodriguez first got the opportunity to be on the show, she was taken aback.

Shaquille initially approached me to be part of this initiative. Really, who turns down Shaquille O' Neal? Not that I! But I thought, "This is definitely very different for me." Before Shaquille O'Neal came up to me, it was nothing I was truly ever interested in. "But as I had never actually hosted before, I had to work out how it would make sense for me. Giving money to folks made me happy. It was thus from that standpoint, asking how I fit within this? Oh, I like everyone to leave contentedly wealthy.

Moving from performing to hosting had difficulties as well.

It was much unlike creating a TV program. Rodriguez pointed out that you are fronting a live audience. "It's like there are 200 people without industry knowledge who are sort of peering at the skeleton process of creating anything truly artistic in front of the camera. It can be a little unsettling.

Rodriguez also noted how "nonstop" the filming was and remarked, "I am standing for 12 hours in heels and my feet are broken." TV shows need for a lot of downtime. You set up a shot, shoot it, then you could rest or decompress or go work on lines. With this, you are on from the beginning through the entire day before plenty of people. and you cease not stopping. Like the train leaving the station, you are clinging tightly for dear life.

Still, the actress has been having a lot of fun—especially due in part for her cohost.

"I say improvisation. Shaq and I spend most of our time improvising. I am able to incorporate it into it as I come from a humorous background and it is quite freeing and fun. Rodriguez told Us he does not feel particularly limited by a screenplay. "So much of the show is me and Shaq being us or having fun and able to bring in both of our comic chops.."

Lucky 13's new episodes shown on ABC Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET may be watched the following day on Hulu.