Post by FrankieV on Oct 21, 2004 15:48:16 GMT -5
On June 17, 1996 I was lucky enough to be called to “COME ON DOWN” by the late Rod Roddy. My family and I arrived at the studio at 4:00 A.M. in the morning. Since it was on a first come first serve basis I wanted to get there nice and early. To my surprise there were already 75 people a head of us. From 4:00 A.M. to around 8:00 A.M you pretty much just sit there talking to the people around you making new friends (which I found out later that would make my appearance on the show even better) and just taking in all what is going on. At around 8:00 A.M. a page came out and we go over the rules,
the paper work and you receive you name tag and a number. Once you receive that you are told to go on a break but be back around 11:00 A.M. and line up on the other side of the building in the same order that you received your number. There the excitement gets stronger. With my group we all where singing, dancing
high five each other, and laughing. At about 12:00-12:30 they start taking you into groups of I believe 10 on to the other side of the building where you meet the producer of the show. I was the first person auditioned in my group and I was asked the typical question of, WHERE YOU FROM? WHAT DO YOU DO?
WHATS IS YOUR NAME? Then they got to my father (who wasn’t too happy that I dragged him out of the hotel at 3:30 in the morning to be there) and they
asked him SO SAL WHY ARE YOU HERE? And his answer was “IM ONLY HERE FOR MY SON.” That was his interview. Then our group was moved to
another part while the auditions where being conducted. Once everyone was done it was time to go into studio 33. As I walked in I was like a kid in a
candy store. I couldn’t believe I was there. I even touched the multi-color curtain in the back. The set was much smaller then I pictured. But I was there.
We sat in the center of the studio last row right in front of that little stage in the back. Once everyone was seated Rod Roddy came out and did his warm up.
He made us laugh, stretch, and even rub the person next to us backs. I been to many television tapings and he was one of the best warm ups I seen.
When he is done he takes his seat and the show is about to begin. The music is playing the people are cheering and you cant here anything that Rod is saying.
The first person is called to “COME ON DOWN”. It sounded like my name but I wasn’t sure. I looked up on stage and there was my name on a cue card.
I jumped to my feet screaming in disbelief. I was the first person called on the show that day. I JUMPED (not ran) to contestant row still screaming. I took
The last spot in contestant row so I can bid last on the item up for bid. The other contestants where called and I hugged each one of them. Then Bob Barker came out form door number 2. I so couldn’t believe that he was in front of me. I watch this show ever since I was born. My mother said that I used to sit in my high chair at an early age and when the PRICE IS RIGHT was on I just sat there watching. Bob then called for “THE FIRST ITEM UP FOR BID” which was a picket fence bed. The first contestant bid 850, the second 500 the third 550 then me. I did what I hate for people to do but I knew I had to do it. I bid 851. Bob then read the “ACTUAL RETAIL PRICE” 1414. I knew I won with out him telling me. The audience went crazy ( I made friends with a lot of people while standing on line) I was right back to my jumping and screaming. I jumped so high my feet went over the readouts in contestant row. I jump up on stage (come to thing of it I don’t think I ever walked anywhere on that set I only jumped) and meet Bob at door number 2. Bob read my shirt (THINGS TO DO SPAY AND NUETURE YOUR PETS AND WATCH THE PRICE IS RIGHT) then the doors opened up. And there they where standing in front of me Jan, Kathleen, and Shante. My game was MOST EXSPENSIVE and I was playing for a fireplace, table and chair set and a room divider. I picked number 3 the room divider (it was silk and hand painted) but it turned out to be number 2 the table and chair set. So I lost my game then told Bob it was ok because I still have the BIG WHEEL. At that time they took me to a seat that is in the corner of the studio right behind the producers. I asked for FINGERS and I meet her. They also gave me paper work and release forms to fill out. And I got to see the rest of the show from there. It was now time to spin the BIG WHEEL. The large curtain is down so you don’t see it being set up. But, when they raised it I couldn’t believe I was standing next too it. We get back on air and I am the first spinner (since I was the only one to loose a game). The wheel was heavy but it was also lighter then I thought it would be. (if you can understand what I mean ) The wheel starts slowing down and stops right on the peg of 95 cents. Once again the jumping and the screaming started. The other two contestants do not beat me and I am in the SHOWCASE (again more jumping and screaming along with the audience) they take me back to my seat and I sit there until the showcase where they bring me back up on stage and go over the rules of the SHOWCASE. The taping continues and he introduces the first person and then me. When he said my name the audience went crazy. Clapping and yelling my name. Bob then talks to me for a little bit asking how I think everything is in person since I have been watching it all on television my whole life. I told him, “the set look very small” he replies with that it was the biggest set in game show history. He then asked if he looked small. I said to him. No you look very tall, young good looking you’re the man Bob you’re the man. He and the audience laugh and the showcase is shown. The first showcase was 2 cell phones, a camper and a ford explorer (to this day I don’t know why she didn’t pass that showcase to me). My showcase was a game room, a bar, air hockey table, pinball machine and a trip to Monte Carlo. After having much problems coming up with a bid (you can’t see the audience when you are up there so you don’t know what they are saying) I gave up and said $10,000. Pretty much knowing I lost but really didn’t care because I just went there to be there not to win. Plus the woman next to me could win a truck. We came back from commercial and Bob revealed the actual retail price of my showcase and I knew I lost right away. Bob then turned to me and said, “it was a pleasure meeting you, good luck to you”. Then someone waved me off camera and brought me to a room just behind the studio audience by the exit on the right. I then received some papers about the prizes I won and said goodbye to the other contestants. Little did I know that the WHOLE studio audience was waiting for me to hug or shake my hand. Even the producers came up to me and told me I was a great contestant with a lot of energy. And that I received more air time then any other contestant in Price history. Once the show aired on September 19 I was stopped everywhere. The mall, the supermarket, even by people that worked in the same building I did that I didn’t even know. This has always been a great memory for me and I always show it to people when they come to my house. Its usually one of the first things they asked to see when they get here.
I also have pictures of me on the show if anyone is interested. Todd if you dont mind posting them ill email them to you with the family feud letters. Sorry for making you do it but not sure how to do it or have a site to post them on first.
Also if anyone is interested i auditioned for the PYRAMID with Donny Osmond but didnt make it and also HOLLYWOOD SQUARES and did make it but the show was canceld. So if anyone wants to know that audition process too let me know. :-)
the paper work and you receive you name tag and a number. Once you receive that you are told to go on a break but be back around 11:00 A.M. and line up on the other side of the building in the same order that you received your number. There the excitement gets stronger. With my group we all where singing, dancing
high five each other, and laughing. At about 12:00-12:30 they start taking you into groups of I believe 10 on to the other side of the building where you meet the producer of the show. I was the first person auditioned in my group and I was asked the typical question of, WHERE YOU FROM? WHAT DO YOU DO?
WHATS IS YOUR NAME? Then they got to my father (who wasn’t too happy that I dragged him out of the hotel at 3:30 in the morning to be there) and they
asked him SO SAL WHY ARE YOU HERE? And his answer was “IM ONLY HERE FOR MY SON.” That was his interview. Then our group was moved to
another part while the auditions where being conducted. Once everyone was done it was time to go into studio 33. As I walked in I was like a kid in a
candy store. I couldn’t believe I was there. I even touched the multi-color curtain in the back. The set was much smaller then I pictured. But I was there.
We sat in the center of the studio last row right in front of that little stage in the back. Once everyone was seated Rod Roddy came out and did his warm up.
He made us laugh, stretch, and even rub the person next to us backs. I been to many television tapings and he was one of the best warm ups I seen.
When he is done he takes his seat and the show is about to begin. The music is playing the people are cheering and you cant here anything that Rod is saying.
The first person is called to “COME ON DOWN”. It sounded like my name but I wasn’t sure. I looked up on stage and there was my name on a cue card.
I jumped to my feet screaming in disbelief. I was the first person called on the show that day. I JUMPED (not ran) to contestant row still screaming. I took
The last spot in contestant row so I can bid last on the item up for bid. The other contestants where called and I hugged each one of them. Then Bob Barker came out form door number 2. I so couldn’t believe that he was in front of me. I watch this show ever since I was born. My mother said that I used to sit in my high chair at an early age and when the PRICE IS RIGHT was on I just sat there watching. Bob then called for “THE FIRST ITEM UP FOR BID” which was a picket fence bed. The first contestant bid 850, the second 500 the third 550 then me. I did what I hate for people to do but I knew I had to do it. I bid 851. Bob then read the “ACTUAL RETAIL PRICE” 1414. I knew I won with out him telling me. The audience went crazy ( I made friends with a lot of people while standing on line) I was right back to my jumping and screaming. I jumped so high my feet went over the readouts in contestant row. I jump up on stage (come to thing of it I don’t think I ever walked anywhere on that set I only jumped) and meet Bob at door number 2. Bob read my shirt (THINGS TO DO SPAY AND NUETURE YOUR PETS AND WATCH THE PRICE IS RIGHT) then the doors opened up. And there they where standing in front of me Jan, Kathleen, and Shante. My game was MOST EXSPENSIVE and I was playing for a fireplace, table and chair set and a room divider. I picked number 3 the room divider (it was silk and hand painted) but it turned out to be number 2 the table and chair set. So I lost my game then told Bob it was ok because I still have the BIG WHEEL. At that time they took me to a seat that is in the corner of the studio right behind the producers. I asked for FINGERS and I meet her. They also gave me paper work and release forms to fill out. And I got to see the rest of the show from there. It was now time to spin the BIG WHEEL. The large curtain is down so you don’t see it being set up. But, when they raised it I couldn’t believe I was standing next too it. We get back on air and I am the first spinner (since I was the only one to loose a game). The wheel was heavy but it was also lighter then I thought it would be. (if you can understand what I mean ) The wheel starts slowing down and stops right on the peg of 95 cents. Once again the jumping and the screaming started. The other two contestants do not beat me and I am in the SHOWCASE (again more jumping and screaming along with the audience) they take me back to my seat and I sit there until the showcase where they bring me back up on stage and go over the rules of the SHOWCASE. The taping continues and he introduces the first person and then me. When he said my name the audience went crazy. Clapping and yelling my name. Bob then talks to me for a little bit asking how I think everything is in person since I have been watching it all on television my whole life. I told him, “the set look very small” he replies with that it was the biggest set in game show history. He then asked if he looked small. I said to him. No you look very tall, young good looking you’re the man Bob you’re the man. He and the audience laugh and the showcase is shown. The first showcase was 2 cell phones, a camper and a ford explorer (to this day I don’t know why she didn’t pass that showcase to me). My showcase was a game room, a bar, air hockey table, pinball machine and a trip to Monte Carlo. After having much problems coming up with a bid (you can’t see the audience when you are up there so you don’t know what they are saying) I gave up and said $10,000. Pretty much knowing I lost but really didn’t care because I just went there to be there not to win. Plus the woman next to me could win a truck. We came back from commercial and Bob revealed the actual retail price of my showcase and I knew I lost right away. Bob then turned to me and said, “it was a pleasure meeting you, good luck to you”. Then someone waved me off camera and brought me to a room just behind the studio audience by the exit on the right. I then received some papers about the prizes I won and said goodbye to the other contestants. Little did I know that the WHOLE studio audience was waiting for me to hug or shake my hand. Even the producers came up to me and told me I was a great contestant with a lot of energy. And that I received more air time then any other contestant in Price history. Once the show aired on September 19 I was stopped everywhere. The mall, the supermarket, even by people that worked in the same building I did that I didn’t even know. This has always been a great memory for me and I always show it to people when they come to my house. Its usually one of the first things they asked to see when they get here.
I also have pictures of me on the show if anyone is interested. Todd if you dont mind posting them ill email them to you with the family feud letters. Sorry for making you do it but not sure how to do it or have a site to post them on first.
Also if anyone is interested i auditioned for the PYRAMID with Donny Osmond but didnt make it and also HOLLYWOOD SQUARES and did make it but the show was canceld. So if anyone wants to know that audition process too let me know. :-)
