Cooome Onn Dooown!!!

Barbara Cali, COME ON DOWN! You're the next contestant on The PRICE IS RIGHT!

You know the show. C'mon, it's been on TV for longer you've been alive. Errr, well most of you. Can you believe legend Bob Barker has been hosting it on CBS since September 4, 1972? I had the honor of attending the taping of the first episode of his 33rd season, just mere steps away from all that glitz, the man himself and his Barker Beauties.

Okay, I'm not a huge fan as of late. Actually until the night before when my friend Cathy was replaying tapes of recent episodes, I couldn't remember the last time I watched the show. For all I knew, Bob Barker wasn't even around anymore (dare I say I thought he "passed on"). Turns out he is 80 and hip as ever. I can estimate that most of my TPIR viewings happened between the ages of 8 and 14. Cathy was coming to visit from New York with a passion to attend a taping and managed to convince me and two other friends here, Julie and Paige, to come along. So, I thought what the hell! It's The Price is Right, the only and longest running game show and as an audience member you actually have a chance to walk outta there with a brand new boat or a trip to Kalamazoo. Or both if you win the showcase! But the fine print... you don't get the prizes until the show airs. And in case it doesn't air? Well you never won of course!

Cathy got us a room at the Farmer's Daughter Hotel, a hip, newly remodeled place to stay centrally in LA, which happens to be right across the street from CBS on Fairfax and Beverly. Turns out that Ted, the night watch guy at the hotel, runs a 40 minute "workshop" of tips and tricks all about TPIR. After a nourishing dinner at Canters, the four of us attended the workshop joined by 20-odd other eager hotel guests.

As I listened intently, I thought Ted must be insane. I thought I must be insane, what am I doing? I quickly realized this was going to be harder than any audition I have ever had. We learned all the ins and outs, what time this and that happens, what to say and not to say at our interview, what games we should know well (as he handed us out a cheat-sheet), not to bring cameras and cell phones, not to bring a list of prices (if found in your possession it could be a criminal offense), even how to apply our name tags, on and on. He advised us to go out and line up at the gate of CBS immediately after the meeting so we could be sure we would make it in the elite group of 325 who attend the show each day. And yes there was already 50 some odd people in front of us. We listened to Ted like good little cult followers, and lined up in the camping cue as if Michael Jackson itickets were going on sale the next day. It was 11:30 pm. The show tapes at 1:15 pm the next day. You do the math.

So you think you have a ticket for the show? No guarantee you'll get a seat. Even you who hitch-hiked all the way from bumble-fuck Maine in hopes of winning a brand new car to go home in, it's first come, first serve baby! People come from all scary parts of the grand old US and Canada for a chance to spin the big wheel. It's like going to an airport and knowing everyone's name. And out of the 325, nine will be asked to "Come on Down" and only six will actually make it on stage with the chance of winning the bigger prizes.

We had the luck of camping next to Velma and Tom, and older, couple from St. Louis, and a group of obnoxious women from Phoenix who immediately started waving at EVERY car that drove past us on Fairfax Ave. I already had a headache. On the St. Louis side, Tom flirted with every young woman he could find, Velma told us her life story (all of it) and complained how she was having a hard time finding anything to eat in LA due to her diabetes. (Hmmm?) And the ONLY reason they came to Los Angeles? To attend a taping of TPIR!! Now that's dedication. Or some might say "lack of culture".

These were the folks we were up against and it was going to be a tough race. People in posses with special T-shirts made just for the show didn't help our chances. The gates opened at 6 am and a sudden burst of energy came over the masses. And as luck had it, after getting a number, then waiting, and getting another number, then waiting, and getting a name tag, and waiting, going in a line to interview in front of the producers, and waiting (all along next to Velma and Tom) at 1:15 we were amongst the elite who entered the theatre.

Okay, at this point, I too was brimming with excitement. The energy of the place, the lights, the cameras, the glittery stage props. I guess the camera makes it look as if the contestants are really comin' on down as if in a football stadium. Actually if we were to 'Come on Down' from the fourth row, it was more like 'Come on UP'. We sat behind a group of geeky guys, who informed us they were part of the "Game Show Congress". (Just when you think you've heard of everything). They had to waive their rights of being a contestant since they had a backstage tour earlier that day and were very secretive of giving away any info to us. Suddenly the show was on! Bob appeared, the announcer called the first four potential winners to contestant's row and the first girl that was picked was right next to us! It was all so surreal and happening so quickly before my sleep-deprived eyes.
People were winning and losing, the audience screamed the prices out while the cameras whipped around to catch all the action. Whew.

In the end none of us "came on down", but every time Bob asked the announcer who was next I had butterflies on my stomach. And as I pictured the scenario of trying to sell my prize boat on craigslist or fitting my new Jacuzzi into my carport, I decided I was happy going home with nothing, even the Dodge Neon. So I never heard those exact words as written at the top of this article. But you know, I felt like a winner anyway! And you can too when tune to CBS Oct 26 at 11 am in to see Cathy and I making asses of ourselves. If you are ever in the Los Angeles area, it's a once in a lifetime opportunity. Cause you won't want to go twice.

And be sure to have your pet spayed or neutered!

Posted by babs at August 20, 2004 12:24 PM