The Price is Right

I was over on the CBS lot the other day taking care of some stuff, and I bumped into Drew Carey. Nice guy. Reminded me that I have yet to watch an episode of Price is Right since he’s been hosting. I used to watch that show all time when I was a kid. I’ve heard a few comedians do bits about that show, and I don’t care to elaborate on anything that they’ve discussed but, but I do have a story that is from a different view point that I wouldn’t mind sharing.

Back when I first moved to LA, before I had a job or anything, My Mom and Grandmother came out to visit me. My Grandmother had been watching The Price is Right since it started back 1972. I thought it would be a nice surprise to take her to see the show live. So I got us some tickets, and we did just that. Being in LA opens that door to see a live taping of almost any show. I remember back when I used to watch it, at the end of the show it would always say: “If you would like become a contestant on the Price is Right….” Fuck yeah I would! “…..and will be in the Los Angeles Area….” SHIT!

So now that I had arrived, why not? Go in, sit down, get your name called, play a game, and win a NEW CAAAAR! Sounds easy right? Wrong! First off, once you get your kickass Price is Right name tag, you have to wait in line for about 4 hours. Normally I wouldn’t mind as much, but when you have your grandmother with you and it’s hot outside (on top of how hot she already is from thinking about Bob Barker)… you start to become concerned. One thing that was playing out was that you didn’t have to wait in line standing up. There were benches. Really long, line-waiting benches.

I went to a near by Coke machine, and got a Sprite for each of us. When I got back, my mom was talking to this girl who was now sitting in my seat. Sarah was her name. I know this because everyone at the Price is Right is on a first name basis. They say “Cheers” is a place where everybody knows your name…that’s bullshit, The Price is Right is. It’s funny too because they have to write your real first name on the tag just as it would appear on your birth certificate. No nicknames are allowed. Even if your name is Michael, and you’ve always went by Mike….still no. So my grandmother stopped this one gentleman, and asked him how he was able to get his nickname on his tag. He responded with: “I didn’t, this is my real name.” I looked down at his tag to see the name: “Poncho.” To keep from laughing my ass off, I just turned over to talk to Sarah.

We continued to talk for a while. She explained to me that her mother was on the show back in 1985, and won a lamp. She said her mother now had to walk to work because of car troubles, and she just wanted to get on the show and win a car for her mom. What a very kind and generous girl. Its people like her that you hope get on the show and do really well. But, sadly enough, your kindness doesn’t get you on the show. Your enthusiastic personality does. Yeah, they interview every single person before you go in to decide who should get called on stage. Three question interview: Name? Hometown? Occupation? See how creative you can be with that.

At this point they were putting us into an order that was decided by when you reserved your tickets. Sarah had to move up to the front of the line, cause apparently she camped out all night to get on the show. So on her way up there, Little Miss Generosity was gathering up her things, and packed up my Sprite in the process. She took off with it, and I never saw it again.

Once we got to our seats I saw her sitting a few rows up from us. I yelled out her name to get her attention and asked her why she had to be such a Sprite-stealing bitch. She was like: “Oh was that yours? I am so sorry, I was wondering why I was carrying around a random Sprite.” Fair enough, accidents happen. You had to throw away your drinks when you entered the studio anyways.

They called down the first 4 contestants, and Sarah ended up being one of them. “First Item up for bid Bob”…she ended up being the first contestant up on stage. “What’s she playing for?” You guessed it: a Car. First game… a Car. She won it too. She re-told the "mom walking to work" story to Bob right after she won it.

Sarah made it all the way to the showcase showdown and was the top bidder. Everyone always passes on the first showcase because the second one almost always has the car in it. But not the kind and generous Sarah. She said “I’m going to go ahead and bid on this one, so that maybe he (her competitor) will get the car…I’ve already won one today.” Now everyone thinks this girl is a saint. Saints are good people, and good things happen to good people. She won her showcase within $250, which meant that she got both showcases. Sarah walked away with two cars, a bedroom set, snowboarding equipment, luggage, a trip to Cape Cod, and a 5,000 bucks cash off her bonus spin. Wow.

I kept waiting for her to take her generosity to the extreme, grab that stupid looking microphone away from Bob and say: “I would like to give away my second car to this guy in the audience. I stole his Sprite earlier and I just feel so bad about it.” But, I guess she didn’t feel bad about it, cause she didn’t give me shit.

While were one the subject… I would also like to share with you the funniest Price is Right clip I have ever seen. Please Enjoy:



AJ