The Price is (exactly) Right! Contestant nails the price of his showcase
Filed under: Extracurriculars
For the first time since The Price is Right moved to daytime television, a contestant bid the exact price of his showcase! On the episode which aired December 16, one of the final contestants, Terry, was able to correctly guess the value of his showcase at $23,743, which earned a double showcase win. For his pricing acumen, Terry won the contents of both showcases, which included; a trailer, karaoke system and billiard table as well as a set of trips to Chicago, Canada, South America and Scotland...for a total value of $56,473!
No "perfect bid" can get by without a good batch of controversy and conspiracy to liven it up. In case you're wondering why Drew Carey is less than excited when he announced the perfect bid, it's because the show took a 30-45 minute break so that CBS and the producers could verify that no cheating had taken place.
Even though Terry has been absolved from any foul play by CBS, it seems that some die-hard fans of the show were unconvinced, filling message boards and Youtube with play by play breakdowns, which indicated that Terry had been given the answer by one member of the audience. Since the show aired, a regular viewer has stepped forward claiming that he memorized the values for many of the commonly used prizes and signaled the total showcase value to Terry. This individual, known only as Ted, also claims to have helped Sharon win a car earlier in the episode.
Before you hop on the Ted and Terry hatin' band wagon, don't forget that audience participation is a key part of the show. Even if you've only seen five minutes of The Price is Right, you've been confronted with audience members screaming out prices of pop tarts, vacuums and cars. The show wouldn't be what it is today if audience members couldn't feel like they somehow influenced the outcome of a bid.
Even if Terry couldn't beat Pricegrabber in a pricing showdown, winning the double showcase with a perfect bid is an amazing moment in The Price is Right history. I only wish I had called in sick so I could have watched it live like I did back in grade school!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
12-18-2008 @ 8:44AM
Brandi said...
Leave the guy alone.
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12-18-2008 @ 9:04AM
Steve said...
I just about fell out of my chair when Terry nailed it exactly. I think TED should get over himself. Fact is, I've watched the program since I was a mini-kid myself and I don't care who you are the prices of items shown fluctuate...so for him to say he kept track and shouted them out...BULL! TERRY GOT LUCKY...VERY LUCKY....Congratulations! I thought it was sad and anti-climactic when Drew announced the actual Price of Terry's showcase....it's too bad....he himself added more to this situation than was necessary. In fact, if they took about forty-five minutes to make sure Terry hadn't cheated.....Drew should have been even more excited that this happened on his watch!
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12-18-2008 @ 7:51PM
b.morris said...
Im sure there was no cheating but there is no mention of the other contestant ,her bid was within 497 of her total bid of 30,000+ and would have given her both show cases also...I have always wondered what would happen if both contestants bid the same amount away from there prizes,what would happen then?
12-18-2008 @ 9:04AM
ken said...
in this day and age.... who cares, leave the guy alone.
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12-18-2008 @ 11:02AM
darla said...
if everyone thinks its cheating by this man or others looking to the audience.. then take the audience out just bring in the people one at a time, and let them do the prices by them selves. OH yeah that would be fun and exciting. WHO CARES?? we have an economy in crisis, and people are worried about right prices on the Price is RIGHT?.. just something to complain about.. you all have a wonderful holiday. hug the ones dear to you.
12-18-2008 @ 9:04AM
Carol said...
Isn't that the idea of the show - to get the price right? I play along and have come as close as $2.
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12-18-2008 @ 9:05AM
HatTrikk said...
Oddly enough, this is the first episode of the show I have seen in the last 10 years - having caught it while getting my hair done - and while watching I just knew it would cause controversy.
I think what made his "perfect" bid even more suspect was that when he won the bid to gain his place on stage with Drew initially, he "guessed" exactly, garnering himself the prize and an extra $500 cash. I mean, who gets it exact twice in one show? What are the odds of guessing correctly twice?
As to whether listening to the audience is cheating, I would have to say it would depend on whether this was a setup from the beginning between the contestant and helper. If they had devised a system to cheat beforehand, then yes -- it is cheating. However, I don't see much the show can do to prevent paying out to Mr. Terry. They will just have to make some explicit rule changes before someone gets "helped" again.
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12-18-2008 @ 9:06AM
dumb said...
Since you are allowed to look to the audience for help how would that be cheating? How would the audience member know the final value even if he did look to one person to get the answer?
He didnt cheat. He got lucky. If he wanted to cheat and win both prizes and somehow did know the exact amount he wouldnt have guessed that amount he would have guessed a little under that amount within $500 so he wins both showcases anyway.
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12-18-2008 @ 9:12AM
steve e said...
to dumb - he did guess both the first prize and the showcase EXACTLY
12-18-2008 @ 10:50AM
FB said...
If neither one of them have any connection to the show, its not cheating. People memorize different things to win contests and games all the time. Leave them alone.
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12-18-2008 @ 9:05AM
Tina said...
Its not cheating especially if the guy didn't know him. Your up there and you hear everyone in the audience yelling out prices you see someone holding up fingers for the pices and you go with what you see and hear. Plain and simple.
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12-18-2008 @ 2:39PM
KT said...
Could I ask for Terry's help with picking lottery numbers?
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12-18-2008 @ 11:38PM
alldark1 said...
I want in on those lottery #'s too.
12-18-2008 @ 1:32PM
Suzan said...
GOOD ONE!!!!!!
12-18-2008 @ 9:12AM
steve e said...
no one bids an odd amount on air for the showcase - I think some one told him the value of both bids, and this guy was not bright enough to vote a couple bucks lower
but, hell, the only people who care are the ones that want to win while they are sitting on their couches when i am at work
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12-18-2008 @ 9:19AM
Dennis said...
If you would go back to the original broadcasts in the 1950's and early 1960's, the audiences did not participate. The come back 1972 programs did not use the audiences like they do today. I have taped the ends of the programs for several months (less than two years ago) and know if you review the products in the showcases the same items will reappear within in a three week period or less. So if I was to go on the broadcast I would review tapes prior to the taping and be 95% confident of the correct prices. The direction of the program would have to carry all new items each time it is taped in order to be a true "price is right".
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12-18-2008 @ 9:15AM
steve e said...
the woman was within 494 also - years ago both contestants got BOTH SHOWCASES WHEN THEY WERE 200 OFF - SAW IT WITH BOB BARKER ABOUT 15 YEARS AGO
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12-18-2008 @ 2:27PM
Kevin said...
I remember that episode as well, at least from the news reports. They did give both contestants both showcases on that one. Just because it is improbable doesn;t make it impossible. People get lucky, face it. Even twice in one show. You want the odds? Well, you can safely assume the that amount would be between $15,000 and $40,000. That means you have a 1:25,000 chance to get it exactly right. Then, that other product, say it could fall within a range of $1,000. That would mean there was a 1:25,000,000 chance of getting both right on the money. Some lotteries have worse odds of winning the big prize, BUT IT HAPPENS!
Plus, lost in all of this is the fact that the contestant had to be picked randomly TO BEGIN WITH to even have a chance to be on of the four bidders to get on stage.
12-18-2008 @ 12:00PM
theresa said...
i hate this show now,i never watch it, i dont like drew carey
bob barker was the best here..
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12-18-2008 @ 9:30AM
Toria said...
I think I remember watching a showcase where the contestant was off by only $1. I stopped watching the show when Bob Barker left. I tuned in and found Drew Carey totally annoying. The show should have either chosen a better host or went off the air. John O'Hurley would have been a better choice. Drew Carey has ruined the show and the producers are total IDIOTS for picking him to host the show. He's not that attractive or funny.
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