‘Price is Right’ consolation prize: great memories

Amidst last week’s depressing stories of crimes and government shutdowns, some happy news hit the media: A California woman became the second-biggest winner in the history of “The Price is Right” game show, taking home $140, 236 in cash and prizes.

She did cartwheels across the stage after her win, reports said. (Hopefully, she then called her tax accountant.)

The story brought back pleasant memories for me, because 10 years ago this week I sat in the front row of the audience at a taping of “The Price is Right” and dreamed of being called to “come on down” to Contestants’ Row.  

The idea of going to “The Price is Right” occurred to me as I approached the big 5-0. Usually, I prefer my birthday to be low key, but it seemed like I should do something special to observe such a milestone.

So I tried to think what memorable activity I really, really, really wanted to do. The answer clearly was “The Price is Right.”  

My husband, Joe, and I stayed at The Farmer’s Daughter Hotel across the street from CBS Studios. The hotel’s décor was a bit heavy on denim bedspreads, checkered curtains and braided throw rugs, but it was great on tourism management: It offered free nightly seminars with tips for hopeful “Price is Right” contestants.

At 10:30 p.m., we and other guests were advised to form alliances to hold spots overnight in a long line outside CBS studios. Turns out, the tickets I had ordered online were no guarantee of admittance to the show; they simply granted access to stand in a line to claim spots in the audience.

Our alliance nabbed the first place in line, and we took turns holding that spot. Joe and I took the chilly 3 to 5 a.m. shift and eventually ended up with front-row seats at an afternoon taping. In fact, my seat was right next to those reserved for the participants who were chosen to bid on prizes.  

Bob Barker was still the show’s host then, and – noticing Joe’s Iowa Hawkeyes shirt – he visited with him during commercials, telling stories of past visits to Iowa.

Before entering the studio, the producer had moved down the line conducting interviews of a few seconds each to decide who would be chosen as contestants. There was little chance to impress upon him how thrilling it would be for me to play “Plinko” on my 50th birthday, but I did my best. 

Alas, fame passed me by. A woefully inept contestant played the “Clock Game,” and a woman from our hotel won the Showcase. Then it was over, and we collapsed onto our denim-covered bed at The Farmer’s Daughter Hotel before repeating the drill for tapings the next day and the next.

I was never chosen as a contestant on “The Price is Right,” but that’s OK. I had so much fun then and still have fun now telling stories of the adventure. It’s great to see the awestruck expression so many people have when they ask, “You’ve really been to ‘The Price is Right’?”

Yes, indeed. And who knows, I may someday go again. But first, I need to practice my cartwheels.