The Price Is Right: Must Have Fun TV

I'd like to say that after three days, I'm getting used to the Los Angeles traffic headaches.  Nope!  It's one thing I certainly WON'T miss when I leave.  I only had one activity for the day...my appearance on The Price Is Right.  Or, rather, I was going to be one of about 300 contestants competing for a spot on the show.  I had gotten a Priority Ticket online, so I was guaranteed entry in the afternoon group.  Before heading over to CBS Television City, I dropped by the Original Farmer's Market to pick up a snack for later.  I also walked over to the adjacent The Grove shopping center, where I noticed they were doing their usual daily filming of the entertainment show, Extra.  I easily recognized co-host Mario Lopez and his equally attractive partner, Maria Menounos.  I snapped some photos of the action...I must admit, Mario is kinda cute!

When I joined the line waiting to get into the CBS studio, I struck up a conversation with three ladies standing with me.  Two were friends...one from Palm Desert, CA and the other visiting her from Bellevue, WA.  The third was on vacation from Nebraska, and like me, was there solo.  Kati, the Nebraska gal said she attended The Price Is Right a couple years ago, but wasn't chosen.  We got some valuable information from her on the registration process.

First, we were let in the gates in small groups to wait on long benches.  After filling out a couple of forms, we waited some more.  Then, our first of two photos...this one was a fun photo to purchase later as a souvenir...and more waiting.  At that time, a page came by and took our second photos of the day.  This one was for the show staff, as part of the selection process.  The most important task remained ahead...the all-important interview with the show's producer.  This would determine whether or not you would make a good Price Is Right contestant.  People went up in groups of about a dozen, and were asked a few questions.  Then, it was my turn, and the producer asked what I did for a living.  I told him...an agriculture specialist for Customs and Border Protection.  He seemed to find it somewhat interesting, but didn't ask me anything else.  At that point, I pretty much resigned myself to the fact I wasn't Price Is Right material.  Oh, well...I would still have fun watching and being a part of the excitement. 

After the mandatory bag check, we headed upstairs to the Price Is Right studio.  Myself and the other ladies decided we would go in as a group so we could sit together.  Little did I know that would make things even more interesting for me.  It didn't take too long for everyone to get seated, and for things to get warmed up by the show's announcer, George Gray.  He gave us instructions on how the show worked and what we as the audience were encouraged to do.  This was the first time I have ever found myself in front of a camera, so the whole experience was pretty thrilling for me.

Soon, it was showtime!  The lights became brighter, and when host Drew Carey took the stage, the atmosphere was electric.  The audience went wild and I found myself caught up in the group enthusiasm.  Then, right off the bat, the first contestant to "Come On Down" was my row mate Robin from Palm Desert!  At that point, I knew the camera was on her...and on me, too!  She ran down to the front of the stage, soon to be joined by three other contestants. Robin didn't win on the first round of One Bid, but she got on stage on the second.  I don't want to give anything away, since today's show won't air till April 17th, but let's just say Robin took it all the way to the end!

Even though I wasn't picked to participate on The Price Is Right, I had a lot of fun, and it was nice meeting new people.  I would love to do it again in the future.  But, I didn't go away entirely empty handed.  I ended up buying that photo that they took of me...I picked the Cliffhanger pricing game as a backdrop.  Tomorrow, me and my friend Johnny...who flew into town this evening...will attend a live TV show taping of Hot In Cleveland.  We are both looking forward to seeing Betty White...a true living legend!