Between running down to the basement to do laundry and vacuuming, I'm half-watching The Price is Right. My sister and I utterly adored this show when we were kids. As interactive viewers, we were not content with merely shouting advice at the TV's contestants. We also pretended that we were related to them.
"Bid $600 on the washing machine!" we'd yell at little white haired ladies. "Yay Grandma!"
Today, I'm not nearly as involved. It helps that Drew Carey is not such an inspiring host. In addition, it occurred to me a few years ago that most of the prizes are complete fucking crap that no one needs, and most likely does not even have space for in their homes. One of the Showcase Showdown packages included a cafe-style cappuccino machine and a spa/whirlpool thing that seats 4-6. The pudgy guy who was forced to bid on it managed to look excited, which I think likely makes him an excellent actor. Cast that man in a TV show or movie, pronto! That man has talent!
Watching The Price is Right back in the day when Plinko was new, my sister and I dreamed of someday attending the show. Now I know this will never happen. Even if I did get on, there is no way I could pretend to want a grand piano. The producers likely try and avoid contestants who would make faces, and say, "No thanks," although I think California law allows game show winners to take the cash equivalent instead of the prize. If that is the case, I'd jump up and down, shriek, and giggle. I gotta pay to do my laundry some way, you know. ($11.20 for four loads!!!)
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In CA you also have to pay the taxes on anything you win. Although I do like Drew as a host (he makes fun of the stupid people) I never want to wait 6 hours in line to sit in that audience and possibly win crap.
ReplyDeleteSuzanne, this has nothing to do with your post and I apologize for using your comments as such, but I'm at work and don't have access to an email address for you. Wanted to send you the following link to see if you or other BlogHers were aware of this. I found it on a blog frequented by librarians who are understandably pissed off:
ReplyDeletehttp://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2008/04/a-government-fu.html
Valerie,
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for bringing this to my attention. My mother-in-law is a librarian, and I seriously believe that librarians are the best civil liberties defenders!
Suzanne
Apparently there was a contestant call for the Price is Right today in RI. Actually maybe it was for Deal or No Deal and the woman talking about how just tried to get on the Price is Right.
ReplyDelete