The Price Is Right

This article is about the current version of the U.S. game show. For other versions, see The Price Is Right.

The Price Is Right
File:Season37HD.jpg The Price Is Right logo from Season 37 (2008–2009).
Created by	Bob Stewart
Developed by	Mark Goodson Bill Todman
Directed by	R. Brian DiPirro
Presented by	Bob Barker (1972–2007) Drew Carey (2007–present)
Narrated by	Johnny Olson (1972–1985) Rod Roddy (1986–2003) Rich Fields (2004–present)
Country of origin	United States
No. of episodes	7,029 (as of March 2, 2009)
Production
Executive producer	Syd Vinnedge
Producer	Kathy Greco
Running time	60 minutes (1975–present) 30 minutes (1972–1975, occasional episodes from 1976–1994)
Original release
Network	CBS
Release	September 4, 1972 – present
Related
The Price Is Right $1,000,000 Spectacular

The Price Is Right is an American game show centered on the pricing of merchandise and grocery products to win cash and prizes. The current version of the show premiered on September 4, 1972 on CBS and was hosted by Bob Barker until his retirement on June 15, 2007. Drew Carey succeeded Barker at the beginning of Season 36 on October 15, 2007. TV Guide named The Price Is Right the "greatest game show of all time". The show is well-known for its signature line of "Come on down!" when the announcer directs newly selected contestants to Contestants' Row.

The original version of The Price Is Right aired from 1956–1965 and was hosted by Bill Cullen. While retaining some elements of the earlier generation show, the 1972 revival added many new distinctive gameplay elements, and now has the distinction of being the longest continuously running game show in North American television history, with more than 7,000 episodes aired.

The show began its 37th season on September 22, 2008 and is broadcasting exclusively in High-Definition.

Overview

The gameplay on the show includes four distinct competition elements through which nine preliminary contestants eventually are narrowed to two finalists.

One Bid

Main article: One Bid

File:Onebidseason37.jpg

Bidders in Contestants' Row awaiting the announcement of the winning bid.

One Bid is a qualifying game, played with four contestants standing at the foot of the stage ("Contestants' Row"). A prize is shown and each player gives a bid for the item. The contestant who bids closest to the actual retail price of the prize, without going over, wins it and advances on to the stage for an individual pricing game. A contestant that bids the exact price (a "Perfect Bid") also receives a cash bonus–$500 on the daytime episodes (originally $100) and $1,000 on the prime time shows. If all four contestants overbid, they all must bid again. Four initial contestants are chosen from the audience at the start of the show to play the first One Bid round; before each subsequent One Bid round, a new contestant is chosen from the audience to replace the previous winner.

Pricing games

Main article: List of The Price Is Right pricing games

Each winner of the One Bid rounds (six in all) is called onto stage to play a pricing game, to play for a prize or prizes valued at least several thousand dollars. There are currently over 60 pricing games in rotation.

Regardless of whether or not the pricing games are won, all One Bid winners advance automatically to the Showcase Showdown, which occurs twice in each show.

Showcase Showdown

Main article: Showcase Showdown

Used since the show expanded to a 60-minute format in 1975, and only in 60-minute formats, the Showcase Showdown determines which contestants will compete in the Showcases at the end of the show. There are two Showcase Showdowns in each episode, one each after the third and sixth pricing games. Each Showcase Showdown features the three contestants who played the preceding three pricing games.

Each contestant spins a large wheel which is segmented and marked with the values from five cents to a dollar, in increments of five cents. The winner of each Showdown is the contestant who spins the highest value in one spin or the total of two spins without exceeding one dollar. A total of exactly one dollar wins $1,000 and a bonus spin for a potential cash prize of either $10,000 (for landing on the $0.05 or $0.15 values) or $25,000 (for landing on the $1.00 value).

The two Showdown winners in each show compete in the Showcase following the second Showdown. In the event of a tie, a spin-off is held in which each of the tied contestants is given one spin. The contestant with the highest value advances to the Showcase.

The Showcase

Main article: The Showcase (The Price Is Right)

The two contestants, either the two highest-earning contestants (1972–75, all syndicated versions and 30-minute formats), or the Showcase Showdown winners (1975–present, daytime and 60-minute formats) are shown a large prize package. The contestant who has won more cash and prizes than the other (the "top winner") may bid on that showcase it or pass it to the other contestant (the "runner-up"). A second prize package is shown and whichever contestant has not yet bid must bid on that showcase. The contestant who bids closer to the combined "actual retail price" of the items in their showcase without going over wins that showcase. If the winning contestant has bid within $250 of the price of their showcase, they win both showcases. The "Double Showcase" bonus was introduced in 1974 for a winner whose bid was "less than $100" under the price; the threshold was raised to "$250 or less" in 1998.</ref> If both contestants bid higher than the price of their own showcases, a "double overbid" is declared and neither contestant wins the showcase.

Prizes

As of May 2007, The Price Is Right had given away more than US$800,000,000 in cash and prizes.

One Bid prizes generally range in value from $400 to $3,000 in the daytime show. The prizes offered in pricing games vary significantly, ranging from about $4,000 (Clock Game or Credit Card) to the more rare prizes worth $50,000 or more (Plinko, Triple Play, or Golden Road). Showcases typically award a prize package worth between $15,000 and $40,000 in most daytime episodes, resulting in the typical top prize for a person who wins both a pricing game and a showcase to be around $30,000 to $50,000. Ceremonial episodes, such as a major Season Premiere or Finale, or a milestone episode (such as the "5,000th" and "6,000th" episode), will have an increased budget similar to levels for the prime time series.

Many of the show's prizes and grocery items are provided through product placement.

From 1991–2008, almost all automobiles offered on the show were made by companies based in the United States, specifically the Big Three automobile manufacturers (although cars made by these companies' foreign subsidiaries were also offered). The move was made by then-executive producer Barker as a sign of patriotism during the first Iraq war in 1991.

Since Barker's retirement, cars made by foreign companies have been offered, most notably Hondas. Through product placement, certain episodes feature Honda as the exclusive automobile manufacturer for vehicles offered on that episode. It should be noted American Honda is based in Ohio, the home state of both Carey and Fields. BMW (MINI), Daimler AG (Smart), Porsche (Porsche and Audi), Volkswagen, and Toyota have also provided cars on the show since the ban was lifted.

Carey's libertarian views have influenced the show to lift other Barker-imposed prohibitions such as references to leather seats in furniture, automobiles, high-end handbags, displaying simulated meat props on barbecue grills and restrictions on meat-based grocery products used in pricing games. The show has also offered couture clothing and accessories since Carey became host, featuring designers such as Coach Inc., Louis Vuitton and Limited Brands in an attempt to attract a younger demographic.

In 2008, a year's supply of Papa John's Pizza–including versions with meat–were offered as a prize on a Showcase. As part of the product placement deal, Los Angeles-based employees came into the studio to deliver a slice of pizza to the audience, models, staff, announcer, contestants and host. This deal was inspired by the Season 36 wrap party, where host Carey ordered 45 pizzas from a Cleveland-area pizzeria for the event.

Winnings Records

The record for winnings (cash and/or prizes) on the daytime show is held by Vickyann Sadowski. On September 18, 2006, the premiere of Season 35, Sadowski won a Dodge Caravan playing Push Over, $1,000 in cash in the second Showcase Showdown and by winning both showcases also won a Dodge Viper in her showcase and a Saturn Sky Roadster in her opponent's. Her total winnings for the episode were $147,517. That total is also the largest single-day daytime winnings total in the history of American network television.

Cast and crew

Hosts

Bob Barker (1972–2007)

File:Carey tpir.jpg

Drew Carey assumed hosting duties for the show in 2007 following Barker's retirement.

Bob Barker began hosting The Price Is Right in 1972 and completed 35-year tenure in 2007. Barker was hired as host while still hosting the long-running stunt comedy show Truth or Consequences. His retirement coincided with his 50th year as a television host. His final show aired on Friday, June 15, 2007 and was repeated in prime time, leading into the network's coverage of the Daytime Emmy Awards. In addition to hosting, Barker also served as executive producer from 1988 until his retirement, was responsible for creating several of the show's pricing games and launching the prime time spin-off. Barker had significant creative control over the series, particularly after 2000.

Reruns of the Barker version ran throughout the summer until his June 15 final episode was once again aired on October 12, 2007.

After he became a noted animal rights advocate in the early 1980s, Barker signed off of each broadcast with a public-service message to "help control the pet population; have [your] pets spayed or neutered". Carey continued the tradition upon becoming the new host.

Officials at Hatchette Book Group stated Barker is scheduled to make a guest appearance on the show in 2009 to promote his new autobiography, Priceless Memories, set to be released in April.

Drew Carey (2007–Present)

Template:Wikinewspar2 On October 31, 2006, Barker announced that he would retire from the show at the end of the season. In March 2007, CBS and FremantleMedia began a search for the next host of the show. Drew Carey was chosen and made the announcement of his selection was made during a July 23, 2007 interview on the Late Show with David Letterman Carey's first show aired October 15, 2007. Carey has continued Barker's tagline of "have your pet spayed or neutered" at the close of each episode. He also has stated on air that he has a five-year contract with his hosting duties.

Substitute hosts

In the history of the show, there has been only one substitute host. Dennis James, then hosting the syndicated nighttime version of the show (see below), filled in for an ill Bob Barker on the four episodes taped on December 2, 1974; the programs aired on December 24-27.

Since then, if the host becomes ill and cannot host, that episode's taping is simply postponed.

Announcers

The Price Is Right has had three permanent announcers over the course of its run on CBS: Johnny Olson (1972–1985); Rod Roddy (1986–2003); and Rich Fields (2004–present). Several announcers have substituted on the show over the years, most prominently including Gene Wood (1985), Burton Richardson (2001–2004, 2006) and Randy West (2003). They traditionally enjoyed greater exposure than the typical television announcer, frequently appearing on-camera throughout the show and in Showcase skits.

Other substitute announcers include Bob Hilton (1985), Rich Jeffries (1986), Paul Boland (2002), Daniel Rosen (2004), Jim Thornton (2004), Roger Rose (2004), Don Bishop (2004) and Art Sanders (2004). Most of these were one-week auditions to replace either Olson (in the 1980s) or Roddy (in the early 2000s).

Models

Main article: Barker's Beauties

To help display its many prizes, the show has featured several models that were known during Barker's time on the show as "Barker's Beauties". Some of the long-tenured Barker's Beauties included Kathleen Bradley (1990–2000), Holly Hallstrom (1977–1995), Dian Parkinson (1975–1993) and Janice Pennington (1972–2000). Pennington and Bradley were fired from the program in 2000, allegedly for testifying on behalf of Hallstrom in a wrongful-termination lawsuit against Barker and the show. Following the departures of Nikki Ziering, Heather Kozar and Claudia Jordan in the 2000s, producers decided to use a rotating cast of models (up to ten) until the middle of Season 37, after which the show reverted to five regular models: Rachel Reynolds, Brandi Sherwood, Lanisha Cole, Amber Lancaster and Gwendolyn Osborne-Smith.

Current host Drew Carey does not use a collective name for the models, but refers to them by name, hoping that the models will be able to use the show as a "springboard" to further their careers.

Production staff

The highly successful game show production team of Mark Goodson and Bill Todman was responsible for producing the original as well as the revival versions of the game show. Goodson–Todman staffer Bob Stewart is credited with creating the original version of The Price Is Right.

Roger Dobkowitz was the program's producer from 1984 until 2008, having worked with the program as a production staffer since the current version's debut after graduating from San Francisco State University in 1972. Occasionally, Dobkowitz appeared on camera when answering a question posed by the host, usually relating to the show's history or records. FremantleMedia fired Dobkowitz from the show at the end of season 36. Variety reported that it was unclear whether Dobkowitz was retiring or was fired.

Kathy Greco, often nicknamed "Fingers" by Bob Barker, has been with the show since 1975 is the current producer of the show. Stan Blits (who joined the show in 1980), Sue MacIntyre and Adam Sandler (not to be confused with the actor) are the three co-producers.

Frank Wayne, a Goodson–Todman staffer since the 1950s, was the original executive producer of the show's current version; Barker assumed that role after Wayne's death in 1988. Previous producers have included Jay Wolpert, Barbara Hunter and Phil Wayne Rossi (Frank Wayne's son). R. Brian DiPirro was named the show's new director in January 2009; Marc Breslow, Paul Alter and Bart Eskander each served long stints previously as director. Andrew Felsher and Fred Witten have directed episodes strictly on a fill-in basis.

Aside from Barker, the show's production staff remained intact after Carey became host. FremantleMedia executive Syd Vinnedge was named the program's new executive producer, with Michael G. Richards becoming co-executive producer after Dobkowitz's departure. Richards was a candidate to replace Barker as host in 2007, before Carey was ultimately chosen.

Production information

Audience and contestant selection

Many audience members arrive early on the day of a taping. Most have already received tickets for that day's show, although some hope to get same-day tickets. Audience members are then given the iconic name tags with a temporary identification number, which is also written on the person's ticket. Audience members are eventually brought through in groups of twelve for brief interviews with the production staff. A Social Security Number (or some national I.D. number for non-U.S. audience members) is required to be submitted. Contrary to popular belief, contestant names are not chosen at random; rather, the interviews determine possible selections for the nine contestants per taping from among the pool of approximately 325 audience members.

With few exceptions, anyone at least 18 years old who attends a taping of the show has the potential to become a contestant on The Price Is Right. Those ineligible include current candidates for political office, employees of CBS Corporation or its affiliates, RTL Group, or any firm involved in offering prizes for the show. Contestants who have appeared on a different game show within the previous year, or either two other game shows or any version of The Price Is Right itself within the past ten years are also ineligible. The show’s staff alerts potential contestants–in person, on the show's Web site and on the tickets themselves–to dress in "street clothes" and to not wear costumes, such as those used to attract attention on Let's Make a Deal, another show that featured contestants selected from the audience. Those who have attended tapings in June 2008 noted producers have disallowed audience members from wearing fake eyeglasses designed to look similar to those worn by host Drew Carey. Instead, contestants will often wear shirts with hand-decorated slogans, often with Drew Carey references. Members of the armed forces will often wear their uniforms, a tradition on many game shows. (Both Barker, a Navy veteran, and Carey, a former Marine Corps Reservist, served in the armed forces).

In addition, the show discourages contestants from wearing green shirts because some game props and trip prizes use Chroma key effects, which can blend into a contestant's shirt. The show began using this effect for trips as a result of switching to 1080i in 2008.

Occasionally shows are taped with special audience restrictions. For Memorial Day in 1991, an episode was taped with an audience composed entirely of those who had served in the Armed Forces. Similar prime time episodes were taped in 2002 honoring each branch of the United States military and a sixth episode honoring policemen and firefighters.

For an episode taped September 10, 2008, the audience was again composed entirely of those who had served in the Armed Forces. That episode was slated to air in daytime on November 11, 2008 (Veteran's Day), but the airing was moved to November 14 as a CBS prime time episode. The show, however, contained a unique rule where all One Bids would feature a contestant from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines. When a contestant won their way on stage they would be replaced by a member of the same branch of service. The show also featured a live military band playing the winning contestant's service song. The traditional nametags also contained the contestant's (or their family member's) service branch. Most civilian attendees were retired or disabled veterans, or family members of military. Audience members were grouped by branch of service.

An episode taped January 5, 2009 featured couples competing as teams. The episode aired February 13, 2009 (the Friday before Valentine's Day). A second episode to be taped March 25 will feature couples expecting children.

The third taped episode (show #0013D) had to be replaced (by show #0013D(R)) as a contestant was related to a CBS employee and therefore ineligible to be on the show. The other contestants who appeared on that episode were awarded their prizes, but the episode was never aired. There have been similar instances over the years of ineligible contestants appearing on stage but were not edited out of the final broadcast since it was discovered in post-production. Standards and Practices guidelines for game shows state that if an ineligible contestant wins a One Bid, and the other contestants on Contestant's Row at the time do not win a subsequent One Bid, they are not considered to have made an appearance on the show and are immediately eligible again once the error has been discovered.

Taping

The program is usually produced in about an hour. Two episodes are usually taped each day and there are normally three taping days per week. The program is taped in advance of its air date. For example, the show broadcast on February 28, 2008 was taped the preceding January 16. As with many other shows that start production in the summer, the lead time varies during the season, from nine days to 50 weeks. The audience is entertained by the announcer before taping begins. After the taping session, there is a drawing for a door prize.

Some shows are taped "out of order" so that a specific episode will air after other episodes have aired. Notably, the Christmas Week shows are taped in December outside of the regular rotation and are usually taped in early December.

Production company

The current version of the series was originally a Mark Goodson–Bill Todman production in association with CBS. After Todman died in 1979, the unit became known as simply Mark Goodson Productions and was announced as such on The Price Is Right from 1984–2007. Today, the series is produced by FremantleMedia and copyrighted by The Price is Right Productions, Inc., a joint venture of RTL Group and CBS.

For the sake of tradition and through special permission from RTL's subsidiary FremantleMedia, the show continued to use the Mark Goodson Productions name, logo and announcement at the end of each episode until Barker's retirement, even after FremantleMedia purchased and merged with the Goodson company. The show is now credited as a FremantleMedia production (with CBS as a silent partner).

Set features

File:Thepriceisright.dt price firepol 009.jpg

Backstage photo: Bob Barker standing onstage with Contestants' Row in front of him and the Turntable platform behind him.

Except for the 2002 Las Vegas special, The Price Is Right has been taped at Studio 33 in CBS Television City for its entire run. The studio, which is also used for other television productions, was renamed the Bob Barker Studio in the host's honor on the ceremonial 5,000th episode in 1998. Since Carey became host, there has been talk of the show traveling in the future.

Contestants' Row is placed at the front of the audience, with the scoring displays located on the edge of the stage deck. On stage are three sets of large, paneled, sliding doors as well as a platform with a rotating wall (the Turntable). Pricing games and prizes are typically placed in these areas. There are also a "Giant Price Tag" prop, a large fly curtain and other covers used to conceal prizes, games and other staging elements.

The announcer sits at a podium stage left, while the production crew is in an area stage right. In 2008, a new announcer's podium was constructed that blended into the set, as it is visible on HDTV broadcasts when the camera (especially the jib) runs around it. This change is consistent as part of the show's improvements for HDTV.

The set had remained almost unchanged throughout Barker's tenure, although the turntable walls have consistently changed. Until those changes, older shows could be rerun without seeming dated. In 2002, the turntable walls were changed featuring a Hollywood mural and the Big Doors received a new design. The turntable mural was removed midway through the season, but various murals were continuously used for prime time episodes until 2004. For 2006, the Big Doors were repainted with a new design.

An overhaul of the set was made in 2007, when Carey took over as host. The predominant earth tone colors were brightened to project a modern look, although the set props largely remained as they were for Barker's shows.

Further changes to the set were added late in Season 36, as June 2008 tapings were the first taped after the transition to full HDTV broadcasts. The production crew is now concealed behind doors that may be closed to prevent this area of the stage from being seen in the 16:9 broadcasts.

The set used for prime time specials during Season 36 (sans the black floor) was adopted for daytime episodes taped in Season 37. A new plasma screen was installed in January 2009 in the back of the studio to show graphics for trip destinations (since trip skins were eliminated early in Season 37 and replaced by chroma key). When not involved in prizes, it shows the show logo with a background similar to the turntable wall.

Broadcast history

The most recognized incarnation of the show premiered September 4, 1972 on CBS with Bob Barker as host. The show was first called The New Price Is Right to distinguish itself from the earlier Bill Cullen version (1956–1965), but it proved so popular in its own right that, within a year, the producers decided to drop the word "New".

During the week of September 8, 1975, CBS experimented with a one-hour version of the show in order to celebrate its third anniversary.

The show has since remained virtually unchanged. New pricing games are generally added each year, while games that have become unpopular or confusing are removed. In addition, prizes and pricing games have kept pace with inflation, resulting in some of the original pricing games that were designed for four-digit cars to be adjusted to allow for five-digit prizes. Apart from minor aesthetics, the current show otherwise maintains a nearly identical appearance to a show produced in the 1970s.

In Season 36, CBS began broadcasting each episode on the Innertube video on demand service available at CBS.com.

In Season 36, the show also began a transition to high definition, first with the prime time series, then taping (but not broadcasting) the last 12 episodes of the season in high definition. The show began broadcasting exclusively in high definition with the start of the 37th season.

1972 pitch film

On February 11, 1972, Mark Goodson and Dennis James taped a pitch film for The New Price Is Right, which was intended at this point to run only in syndication. The pitch featured a description of the show's mechanics as well as two segments where Goodson played two possible pricing games.

At this point in time, the format and gameplay elements of what eventually became The New Price Is Right were still being discussed within the production company and did not include many elements of what eventually became core principles of the show.

Because James had not hosted a game show in which pricing items was a core element, in addition to the segments mentioned above, a clip of James substitute hosting an episode of Let's Make a Deal from late 1971 or early 1972 was also included. The clip featured a married couple playing a game in which they needed to correctly price grocery items.

Syndicated productions

The Price Is Right
Dennis James hosting Episode #125-N (taped August 11, 1975) of the first syndicated version of Price.
Created by	Bob Stewart
Developed by	Mark Goodson Bill Todman
Presented by	Dennis James (1972–1977) Bob Barker (1977–1980) Tom Kennedy (1985–1986)
Country of origin	United States
No. of episodes	300 (1972–1980) 170 (1985–1986)
Production
Producers	Mark Goodson Bill Todman Frank Wayne Kathy Greco
Running time	30 minutes (with commercials)
Original release
Network	Syndicated
Release	September 10, 1972 – September 13, 1980 (Weekly Syndication) September 9, 1985– May 30, 1986 (Daily Syndication)

Three syndicated versions of The Price Is Right have aired, with the first two being carbon copies of their daytime counterparts, specifically designed for nighttime audiences. Those first two were referred to on-air as The Nighttime Price Is Right.

1972–1980

The first syndicated episode aired September 10, 1972 (six days after the daytime show premiered) and continued to air weekly until September 13, 1980. It was distributed by Viacom Enterprises, which started as the syndication arm of CBS, and was hosted by Dennis James until 1977 and then by Bob Barker. James, a figure from the early days of TV, was originally intended to host both the network and syndicated versions of the program, but CBS executives preferred Barker for the daytime show. Because Barker was still hosting the syndicated version of Truth or Consequences, and because broadcast custom of the time meant that a person could not host two syndicated programs at the same time, he could not host a syndicated version of The Price Is Right.

For the entire first season (the nighttime and daytime shows were both called "The New Price Is Right" at this point) the only differences between the two versions were:

• The show's introduction ("tonight" instead of "today").
• The host (James versus Barker).
• An African-American model named Harriet; She appeared on several early episodes of the nighttime show and is believed to have not appeared on the daytime series.
• An increased budget. Showcase values on the nighttime show were sometimes worth double or triple the values seen on the daytime show.
• A few rule differences, all of them taking advantage of the larger budget. To account for less commercial time, Double Prices was played for two prizes instead of one.

This version retained the 1972 half-hour format for its entire run and did not add the daytime show's Showcase Showdown or Double Showcase rule. From the first episode of the second season through the end of the fifth, James was introduced as "the star of The Nighttime Price Is Right" and the consolation prizes were announced during the credits.

In most of the U.S., stations carried the syndicated Price as one of five (or in certain markets, seven) different programs aired every night of the week in one of the available time slots created by the 1971 FCC Prime Time Access Rule. Usually the time slots were one of the two half-hours between 7–8 PM in the Eastern and Pacific time zones and 6–7 PM in the Central Time Zone (Mountain Time Zone stations' practices varied).

After production wrapped for the fifth nighttime season in 1977, James' contract expired and was not renewed. Barker, whose Truth or Consequences was taped two years ahead and had production shut down in 1975, took over the nighttime version as well. From that point onward, the two versions were almost identical outside of the half hour versus hour-long formats.

The series was canceled after 300 episodes in 1980 (the last episode was taped on March 12) after weekly syndicated game shows had fallen out of popularity in favor of daily offerings. Having a run of eight seasons, it was one of the longest-running weekly syndicated game shows of the era and the longest-running regularly-scheduled version of Price in prime time (the 1957–1964 run was seven seasons).

1985–1986

Five years later, veteran host Tom Kennedy starred in a daily version which aired from September 9, 1985 to May 30, 1986 with repeats airing until September 5. This version was faithful to the traditional half-hour format and was syndicated by The Television Program Source, now part of CBS Television Distribution.

Aside from the host, the series was the same as the 1972–1980 version. Like the previous syndicated series, this version had a slightly larger budget than its daytime counterpart and modified several games to accommodate five-digit prizes (Big Money Game, 3 Strikes +, Deluxe Dice Game, etc.). Usually, the last digit in the price was given free; when these modifications were transitioned to the daytime show, it was usually the first digit given free.

This version did not use special "nighttime-only" models, instead featuring the same three regular models as the daytime show.

The series failed to earn prime access slots as its predecessor did, due to increased competition from shows such as Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy!, and often found itself in late night slots.

This version produced 170 episodes and was the only one of the three syndicated versions to be rerun (GSN aired it in the 1990s).

The New Price Is Right

Main article: The New Price Is Right (1994)

Seven years after the cancellation of Tom Kennedy's Price is Right, the producers of the series decided to try again with a completely revamped version of the show. The show, titled The New Price is Right, taped two pilots on July 16 and 17, 1993. The first was hosted by The Young and the Restless star Doug Davidson (who would eventually host the series), while the second was emceed by Los Angeles news personality Mark Kriski.

On September 12, 1994, the series premiered and was distributed by Paramount Domestic Television (now, like Viacom Enterprises and The Television Program Source before it, part of CBS Television Distribution). This series featured several significant changes - eliminating Contestants' Row, a different format for the Showcase Showdown, a one-player Showcase, a completely different set, and a much larger budget (even when compared to the previous two syndicated versions) that gave contestants the potential to win up to five times what they could win on the daytime show.

This version was even less successful and ended its run on January 27, 1995, after only 16 weeks. Several stylistic elements of this series would later be integrated into the daytime and CBS prime time series.

CBS Prime Time Specials and Series

CBS attempted to break NBC's dominance of Thursday night prime time by The Cosby Show and Family Ties with a six-episode summer series, The Price Is Right Special, beginning in August 1986.

On August 23, 1996, CBS aired an hour-long 25th Anniversary Special, using the half-hour gameplay format and featuring a number of retrospective clips. The 30th Anniversary Special was recorded at Harrah's Rio in Las Vegas and aired on January 31, 2002. This one-time road trip enticed 5,000 potential contestants to line up for 900 available tickets, causing an incident that left one person injured.

A second prime time series was a six-show series saluting various branches of the United States armed forces, police officers and firefighters aired during the summer of 2002, as a tribute to the heroes of the terrorist attacks of 2001. During The Price Is Right Salutes series, spinning $1.00 in a bonus spin during the Showcase Showdown was worth $100,000 instead of the usual $10,000.

The success of the prime time series, which aired mostly in the summer, along with the rise of big-money "million dollar" game shows, led to CBS launching the current prime time series in 2003, The Price Is Right $1,000,000 Spectacular, which has aired 26 episodes.

Main article: The Price Is Right $1,000,000 Spectacular

In the first sixteen $1,000,000 Spectaculars, the bonus spin payoff for the Showcase Showdown was again increased, this time to $1 million. Beginning on the fourth $1,000,000 Spectacular, the winner of the Showcase (or a random audience member in case of a double overbid, which happened on one occasion) earned a million-dollar spin if there was no bonus spin during either Showcase Showdown. During these post-Showcase spins, landing on a green section did not earn any money.

The million-dollar spin was eliminated for Season 36 and was replaced with two other methods of winning the prize. One pricing game per episode was selected as a "million-dollar game" with an additional requirement that the contestant must meet in order to win the money. In the Showcase round, the double showcase win rule was adjusted to include the million dollar prize if the winning contestant came within $1,000 (later $500) of the actual retail price of their showcase.

On the prime time series, larger and more expensive prizes are generally offered than on the daytime show. Contestants' Row frequently offers prizes usually seen in pricing games, and many pricing games, including those played for money, offer larger prizes than on the daytime show. The Showcase frequently offers multiple or very expensive cars.

The 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike led CBS to commission another six-episode (and later expanded to ten episodes based on the success in the Nielsen ratings) prime time series. This prime time series massive set changes as the show was broadcast in high definition television for the first time. The set used for these shows (except for the floor) was moved to the daytime show in 2008. A contestant on the first episode won $1,000,000 with a winning Showcase bid that was less than $1,000 below his actual showcase price. Another contestant won $1,000,000 at the end of the third show. A third contestant won $1,000,000 in their pricing game on the fifth episode which aired April 4, 2008. That led to the prize indemnity insurance provider to request the million-dollar showcase range be changed from $1,000 to $500 for the second series of tapings.

Gameshow Marathon

In 2006, The Price Is Right was featured on the series Gameshow Marathon, hosted by talk show host Ricki Lake. This version combined aspects of the Barker and Davidson versions with the celebrity contestants playing only three pricing games, followed by a Showcase Showdown where the two contestants with the highest scores would go on to the Showcase. The winner of the Showcase would be entitled to a spot in Finalists Row.

This version was announced by Rich Fields and taped in Studio 46. It also marked the first Price is Right episode directed by R. Brian DiPirro, who replaced Bart Eskander as the director on the daytime show in January 2009.

Critical reaction and controversy

The program has been generally praised and remains a stalwart in television ratings over its long history. The introduction of the program ushered in a new era of game show—moving away from the knowledge-based quiz show format, creating "a noisy, carnival atmosphere that challenged cultural norms and assumptions represented in previous generations of quiz shows". Until Barker's retirement in 2007 (and for several months after Carey took over hosting duties as well), JumpTheShark.com had listed the series as one that had "never jumped" the shark, one of a limited number of shows that earned the distinction. Responses since Carey's arrival have been more divided.

Beginning in the mid-1990s, the program production company—and in some cases, Barker, as executive producer—was sued by seven women. A majority of the lawsuits involved Barker's Beauties and other staff members in cases of sexual harassment, wrongful termination and racial discrimination. Allegations of sexual harassment brought by model Dian Parkinson led to Barker calling a press conference to admit a past consensual sexual relationship with her, while denying any harassment and alleging instead that she was only angry with him for calling off the relationship. Barker was widowed in 1981 following the death of his wife, Dorothy Jo. It has also been alleged that Barker and senior staff created a hostile work environment, particularly to those who would testify for the plaintiffs suing Barker. Responding to the controversy just before his retirement, Barker told an interviewer, "They've been such a problem. I don't want to say anything about them. They're disgusting; I don't want to mention them."

All the lawsuits, except for one, were settled out of court. Barker himself lost his slander suit against Holly Hallstrom. Hallstrom countersued and ultimately received millions in settlement.

Episode status

All episodes of the daytime series and all of the prime-time specials are known to exist, as Goodson-Todman and CBS kept the tapes for later reruns (unlike the other networks, who were much more prone to wiping of daytime game shows well into the late '70s). Reruns aired on Game Show Network through the 1990s, but the agreement was not renewed in 2000 and episodes have not been seen since.

The daily version (which still airs today), the Kennedy version of the mid-'80s and The New Price Is Right of the 1990s exist in their entirety. The New Price Is Right of 1994 is one of only two versions not to be seen in reruns since its cancellation.

The 1972–1980 series is also believed to exist in its entirety. Only five episodes are known to exist among private collectors (including the finale) along with the original February 11, 1972 pitch film.

A single James-hosted episode was aired on GSN in 1997 after he died: the December 25, 1974 daytime episode, which was the second taped on a day in which he substituted for Barker. Two clips from episodes not held by private collectors (a contestant playing Clock Game who can't seem to understand "Lower" and a contestant causing James to trip on one of the Turntable steps) were used in Game Show Moments Gone Bananas, which originally aired on VH1 and later on GSN.

The Price Is Right library is held separately from other FremantleMedia programs, due in part to CBS' part ownership of the series. The 1994 New Price Is Right was, for many years, further held separately from the rest of the library, as it was owned by Paramount Domestic Television; after the reorganization of CBS Corporation and Viacom (Viacom was Paramount's parent company), this unit is now part of CBS Television Distribution. The separate ownership is part of the reason why Price is no longer shown on Game Show Network; the channel would need to pay royalties both to CBS and FremantleMedia.

CBS controls online video of Carey-hosted episodes and posts select clips on YouTube as well as full episodes on AOL Video.

Price in other media

The Price Is Right has expanded beyond television to home and casino-based games.

Board games

Nine board games have been produced. One of them was a variation of a card game, using prizes and price tags from the original version. The second was based more closely on the original version of the show.

Three games were produced during the 1970s, by Milton Bradley, with Contestants' Row, a small number of pricing games and, in the case of the third version, a spinner for the Big Wheel, albeit with the numbers in the wrong order. In the first two versions, decks of cards had various grocery items, small prizes and larger prizes. The third version simply had cards for each game that included ten sets of "right" answers, all using the same price choices. The instruction book would tell the "host" for the round what color cards would be necessary.

The 1986 version, again by Milton Bradley, was similar in scope to the earlier version, with new prizes and more games, but lacking the Big Wheel. The instruction book refers to Contestants' Row as the "Qualifying Round" and the pricing games as "Solo Games". The book also instructs players to use items priced under $100 as Items Up for Bids. The 1998 version of the game, by Endless Games, was virtually identical to the 1986 release, with the same games, prizes and even the same prices. The only changes were that the number tiles were made of cardboard bits instead of plastic and the cars from the deck of 4-digit prizes were removed.

The 2004 edition, again by Endless Games, was a complete departure from previous home versions. Instead of different prize cards and games, the game consisted of everything you would need to play over 40 pricing games and enough materials to create all the games not technically included if the "host" wished to and knew their rules. The Big Wheel spinner was also restored, this time with the numbers in the correct order. Additionally, the prices, instead of being random numbers that could change each time the game was played, were actual prices taken from episodes of the TV show. To fit everything in the box, grocery items and prizes were listed in the instruction book and games were played on dry erase boards. A spinner would determine what game would be played next, although its use was not necessarily required if the "host" wished to build his own game lineup.

The 2008 DVD edition, also from Endless Games, featured many changes based on Season 36 and included eight new games: Half Off, More or Less, Swap Meet, Secret X, That's Too Much, Coming or Going and Hole in One. It also featured both host Drew Carey and announcer Rich Fields.

Computer and electronic games

In 1990, GameTek created a The Price Is Right computer game for the DOS and Commodore 64 platforms and other systems to fit in their line of other game show games.

A hand-held Tiger game was made in 1998 with four pricing games. A DVD game with 12 pricing games, live casino show host Todd Newton and video of prizes taken directly from the show was produced by Endless Games in 2005. with a second DVD edition (featuring current host Carey) with a new game assortment in 2008.

An online edition of the game was available from Gamesville during the early 2000s but has since been discontinued.

Mobliss provides a suite of pricing games for cellular phones. Previously, it offered Cliff Hangers and Plinko.

On March 26, 2008, Ludia Inc (in connection with Ubisoft) launched The Price Is Right video game for PC. A version for the Wii and Nintendo DS platforms was released in September 2008, while a version for the iPhone was released in November 2008. The show's announcer, Rich Fields, was the host of the computer version. The virtual set in the game resembles the set used in Seasons 31 through 34 rather than the current set. During the taping of this promotion the Plinko board was rigged so that all chips dropped landed in the highest value slot on the board. After production wrapped, the wires used to rig the board were mistakenly left in place, leading to an incident during a taping of the daytime show which had to be edited and re-shot.

Irwin Toys released an electronic tabletop version in 2008 featuring Contestants' Row, the Big Wheel, showcases and seven pricing games.

Slot machines

A series of popular video slot machines, all based on the current version of The Price Is Right, were manufactured for North American casinos by International Game Technology.

The most common machines recreate the Showcase Showdown as a bonus feature, with a wheel built into the game above the main video screen. At least four different versions of this machine exist as of 2006, each featuring additional bonus rounds based on popular pricing games: Plinko, Cliff Hangers, Punch a Bunch, and Dice Game. The Cliff Hangers game also exists as a mechanical reel slot machine, with a video screen positioned above the reels for the bonus.

In addition, a Money Game slot machine exists, albeit in limited release. This game has a potential top prize of a new car and has a different bonus round than the other The Price Is Right slot machines in service.

Another slot machine called The Price Is Right Fishing Game has been created by IGT. The game features a fishing-themed bonus and is not based on any pricing game featured on the program. IGT has also released a game called The Price Is Right Fort Knox Progressives, but there are no elements of the television program evident in its gameplay.

Live casino game

Main article: The Price Is Right Live!

After the 2002 one-off Las Vegas episode, Harrah's and RTL Group have agreed to do live licensed shows (dubbed The Price Is Right Live!) at their venues, with several performers, including Roger Lodge (Blind Date, Camouflage) and Todd Newton (Whammy! The All-New Press Your Luck, Hollywood Showdown) hosting and Randy West, Daniel Rosen, or Dave Walls announcing.

DVD episodes

A four-disc box set DVD, titled The Best of The Price Is Right, was released on March 25, 2008. The set features four episodes of the 1956–1965 Bill Cullen series, 17 episodes of the Barker daytime series from 1972–1975 and the final five episodes of the daytime series hosted by Barker.

In accordance with Barker's animal rights wishes, all episodes with fur coats as prizes (including the first three taped episodes and most of the 1970s nighttime run) cannot be aired or released on DVD - although GSN did air three episodes with furs, this was accidental.

Due to offering furs, it is unlikely that the first three taped episodes (including the show's 1972 premiere) will ever air again.

External links

• The Price Is Right FremantleMedia official website
• The Price Is Right CBS official website
• The Price Is Right Tv.com