It’s illegal for somebody to ask you for personally identifiable information and not tell you what they’ll use it for. And when you ask for reasons why you need to provide that info, answering, “Because, if you don’t provide it, you won’t go on the show,” is not a legitimate answer. I’m sure it’s nothing worth suing over (and I’m sure mess-NBC knows that) but it’s still sleazy.
Really, this is all for the better. It was probably nothing more than a Jerry Springer-style ambush anyway.