The Price Is Right controversy

Young Drachma · 12-17-2008, 11:38 PM

Quote:

A contestant on "The Price is Right" beat the odds this week to guess the price of his Showcase Showdown EXACTLY right. It was the first time in almost 30 years that that happened. If one is within $100 without going over, you win both of the showcases, which he did and then took home over $56,000 in prizes.

Well, come to find out, there is a message board where fans of the game (I'm thinking they're the Immersniks of this game show) will memorize the prices of things and the guy who did it admits to it in that thread and someone details what happened here.

I didn't realize folks still watched the show, much less that there are fan sites with people trying to hack the game like folks hack FOF.

Ok, then again...maybe I'm not surprised.

EagleFan · 12-18-2008, 12:13 AM

lol, weird, just weird.

Not in response to this clip but I have to say, Drew Carey sucks big time at hosting that show. He is way too dry to be a game show host. He worked okay in Who's Line because of the energy of the other people on the show but on his own it just doesn't work.

sabotai · 12-18-2008, 12:19 AM

Reminds me of when someone did something similar for the game show Press Your Luck. He memorized the pattern of of the lights.

thealmighty · 12-18-2008, 12:27 AM

Reminds me how much Drew Carey sucks as a gameshow host.

Scoobz0202 · 12-18-2008, 12:33 AM

I read that they stopped shit for about 20 minutes because they knew he hit a perfect bid. Drew Carey knew he hit it before announcing, and knew it was because of an audience member, therefore, he wasn't happy.

Still shitty of him though. The game is made with audience participation being a part of the game.

thealmighty · 12-18-2008, 12:34 AM

nondola...

maybe I should read the whole thread next time.

Axxon · 12-18-2008, 12:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thealmighty

nondola...

maybe I should read the whole thread next time.

Shit, do we have to start marking all our non consecutive posts now?

Damn, why didn't I get the memo.

Oh yeah, nondola...

thealmighty · 12-18-2008, 12:41 AM

Pumpy said it would make me look really cool.

molson · 12-18-2008, 12:51 AM

I didn't read the entire message board but how were the prices "memorized?" Do they use the same prizes for every show? That's pretty stupid.

Pumpy Tudors · 12-18-2008, 01:03 AM

how did i get involved

Matthean · 12-18-2008, 01:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by molson

I didn't read the entire message board but how were the prices "memorized?" Do they use the same prizes for every show?

The prizes are on a rotation. The board members on the forum even said the showcases were ripe for being picked right since the prizes had been shown numerous times. Some of the forum members even admit that they know certain tendencies like the final number in Ford vehicles, or the last numbers in computers, etc. Ted, the forum member who gave the numbers to the guy, even said he had his numbers down enough that it made him screw up for an earlier part of the show where the contestant followed his advice as well, but the numbers were off from their normal pattern.

PackerFanatic · 12-18-2008, 09:13 AM

Haha, without knowing the story, you would think Drew just sucks.

Oh wait...

I do love Drew Carey, but you can't compete with Bob Barker. Not even close.

PackerFanatic · 12-18-2008, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sabotai

Reminds me of when someone did something similar for the game show Press Your Luck. He memorized the pattern of of the lights.

And this was a neat story too - I read an article on this somewhere.

Hurst2112 · 12-18-2008, 09:46 AM

Wasn't Billy Murray doing a movie about the Press Your Luck guy? That was years ago and I don't think it made it to production.

Young Drachma · 12-18-2008, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PackerFanatic

Haha, without knowing the story, you would think Drew just sucks.

Oh wait...

I do love Drew Carey, but you can't compete with Bob Barker. Not even close.

Agreed. I think most people would be crazy to want that job to begin with, given that following Bob Barker is just an impossible situation.

I've seen the show a few times or watched clips of it and I have to say, that Drew -- other than obviously still learning the games -- does a decent job. I don't really know if I can think of anyone would've been a better fit, who would've effectively wanted to make it their career for a while.

And that show doesn't lend itself to someone double dipping into a variety of other career exploits. I don't think he'll last more than a few years, but...really, maybe that's where CBS ought to send Katie Couric.

lol

Mizzou B-ball fan · 12-18-2008, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PackerFanatic

And this was a neat story too - I read an article on this somewhere.

There's actually a Wiki page on the Press Your Luck guy, Michael Larson. It's an interesting and terribly sad story. It details how he won, his fight to get the money from CBS, and his eventual downfall into other investments where he lost all of the money and ended up divorced. He died at age 49.......

Michael Larson - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

And here's a 1994 interview of Larsen.....

http://www.xanfan.com/pressyourluck/larson.htm

kingnebwsu · 12-18-2008, 10:51 AM

It's funny, because his brother was/is a teacher where I went to high school. I didn't find this out until years later.

Maple Leafs · 12-18-2008, 11:13 AM

Even if you knew the exact prices, why would you guess exactly? Wouldn't it be smarter to give your self a $50 cushion, just in case?

Mustang · 12-18-2008, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maple Leafs

Even if you knew the exact prices, why would you guess exactly? Wouldn't it be smarter to give your self a $50 cushion, just in case?

Ego

Young Drachma · 12-18-2008, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maple Leafs

Even if you knew the exact prices, why would you guess exactly? Wouldn't it be smarter to give your self a $50 cushion, just in case?

Well in this guy's case, he was just being fed the information...and so, he probably didn't want to screw up.

What sucks is, that lady next to him was pretty close herself and would normally have won, so she totally got ripped off. What a day to go to the showcase.

Maple Leafs · 12-18-2008, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dark Cloud

Well in this guy's case, he was just being fed the information...and so, he probably didn't want to screw up.

Yeah, I see that now. I thought the guy who won was the memorizer, but it was just somebody in the audience who he happened to listen to.

The audience guy says he actually realized an exact bid was a bad idea and tried to get the contestant to switch to a round number, but it was too late.

Mizzou B-ball fan · 12-18-2008, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dark Cloud

Well in this guy's case, he was just being fed the information...and so, he probably didn't want to screw up.

What sucks is, that lady next to him was pretty close herself and would normally have won, so she totally got ripped off. What a day to go to the showcase.

A girl I went to college with had a rough experience on the Price Is Right. She spun the wheel first in her portion of the show and hit $1.00. Unfortunately, the last lady to spin also hit $1.00 and so they had a spin-off. She lost the spin-off. Tough way to lose since hitting $1.00 is usually an automatic win.

PackerFanatic · 12-18-2008, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

There's actually a Wiki page on the Press Your Luck guy, Michael Larson. It's an interesting and terribly sad story. It details how he won, his fight to get the money from CBS, and his eventual downfall into other investments where he lost all of the money and ended up divorced. He died at age 49.......

Michael Larson - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

And here's a 1994 interview of Larsen.....

SuperShow 8000: The Michael Larson Sweep

Actually I am pretty sure that is where I read it (the Wiki)

Young Drachma · 12-18-2008, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

A girl I went to college with had a rough experience on the Price Is Right. She spun the wheel first in her portion of the show and hit $1.00. Unfortunately, the last lady to spin also hit $1.00 and so they had a spin-off. She lost the spin-off. Tough way to lose since hitting $1.00 is usually an automatic win.

That totally sucks. Must be a glitch in the wheel when that happened, because really, two spins of $1.00 in a row? No way. Bob probably was there when they built that wheel and could tell you where it was gonna land before it landed. lol

Bad-example · 12-18-2008, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dark Cloud

That totally sucks. Must be a glitch in the wheel when that happened, because really, two spins of $1.00 in a row? No way.

If you spin $1.00 and lose in spin-off, maybe Price is Right not your game.

MJ4H · 12-18-2008, 03:49 PM

Toddzilla · 12-18-2008, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bad-example

If you spin $1.00 and lose in spin-off, maybe Price is Right not your game.

EPIC

CU Tiger · 12-18-2008, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bad-example

If you spin $1.00 and lose in spin-off, maybe Price is Right not your game.

No you spin again and hope for $2.00

Young Drachma · 12-18-2008, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bad-example

If you spin $1.00 and lose in spin-off, maybe Price is Right not your game.

Win.

Karlifornia · 12-18-2008, 06:49 PM

lol.....took me a second to get it

stevew · 12-18-2008, 08:19 PM

Good work

kcchief19 · 12-18-2008, 10:08 PM

I'm calling bullshit. Granted, it's been a while since I've watch TPIR but how frequently do they include the same prize from the Showcase in a game where the "retail price" is reported? And wouldn't those prices change from time to time? They can't be the exact same price every time given price changes for travel and whatnot.

Plus, the guy claims to have helped other people win but hasn't hit the exacta before. It sounds like this guy is just a game show stalker who researched prices enough to probably get him with a few hundred dollars on most occasions and this time just got lucky that he hit and that the contestant heard him over the screaming of the rest of the morons in the audience.

Quote:

For the record, I did try to get Terry to bid $23,500, as that would have still yielded a double showcase win and would not have caused any suspicions on anybody's part, but he went with the first bid I gave him instead.

.

This guy just sounds like a d-bag.

Buccaneer · 12-18-2008, 11:17 PM

This got me started down a road tonight. I read the wiki on Michael Larson, then watched the full 5-part youtube. Amazing. Then that got me into watching all of those stupid game show moments videos. Lots and lots of crazy stuff, and very addicting.

EagleFan · 12-18-2008, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buccaneer

This got me started down a road tonight. I read the wiki on Michael Larson, then watched the full 5-part youtube. Amazing. Then that got me into watching all of those stupid game show moments videos. Lots and lots of crazy stuff, and very addicting.

Game shows have changed a hell of a lot since Bucc was young. Back then it was a colloseum, some christians and a handful of lions...

Tigercat · 12-18-2008, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hurst2112

Wasn't Billy Murray doing a movie about the Press Your Luck guy? That was years ago and I don't think it made it to production.

Yup, and he was going to play him. He had an appearance on Letterman where he was all bearded up for the part. But it was all Murray's project, and he apparently couldn't find the necessary funding for it.

Neuqua · 12-19-2008, 12:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EagleFan

Game shows have changed a hell of a lot since Bucc was young. Back then it was a colloseum, some christians and a handful of lions...

Bucc being old jokes never fail to dissapoint me.

Pumpy Tudors · 12-19-2008, 12:16 AM

Game Show Network had a pretty interesting special on the Press Your Luck guy a few years ago. I wonder if they'll ever air it again.

Rizon · 12-19-2008, 02:19 PM

I don't get it. Isn't Drew Carey normally that boring?

sterlingice · 12-20-2008, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EagleFan

Game shows have changed a hell of a lot since Bucc was young. Back then it was a colloseum, some christians and a handful of lions...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neuqua

Bucc being old jokes never fail to dissapoint me.

Never fail "to disappoint"?!? You mistyped never fail to "BE AWESOME!"

SI

sterlingice · 12-20-2008, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pumpy Tudors

Game Show Network had a pretty interesting special on the Press Your Luck guy a few years ago. I wonder if they'll ever air it again.

I remember seeing that maybe a year or two ago because I hadn't heard of it before that. I used to love Press Your Luck when it was on. Whammy just isn't at all close

As an aside, I was flipping through stations a couple of months ago and saw Ken Jennings on "Are you smarter than a 5th grader?" That can't have been too much of a challenge for him- now "how many 5 year olds can you take"- that's more of a challenge to him

SI

QuikSand · 07-14-2010, 06:38 AM

Follow up in Esquire: Price Is Right Perfect Bid - How Terry Kniess Beat The Price Is Right - Esquire

Shkspr · 07-14-2010, 09:28 AM

Huh. Turns out blackjack his game after all.

Maple Leafs · 07-14-2010, 11:18 AM

So according to Terry, he knew the final showcase was worth around $23,000, and he just added on the $743 randomly.

That makes no sense. Even putting aside the luck factor, why would you add on hundreds of dollars to your bid in a game where going over by even a dollar loses you everything? For a math guy who can crush blackjack, he either forgot everything he knew about game theory or he's lying.

I liked this whole story a lot better before I read that article.

Logan · 07-14-2010, 11:24 AM

That part was fishy to me too. Especially when, I believe later on, his wife said something like "If he had just said $23,700 none of this would have happened."

If he chose 743 because it was some combination of his wife's PIN and wedding date, why would he have chosen 700?

12-18-2008, 12:27 AM	#4
thealmighty Pro Starter Join Date: May 2003 Location: heaven	Reminds me how much Drew Carey sucks as a gameshow host. __________________ Check out The Unofficial FOFC Movie Guide Here

12-18-2008, 12:34 AM	#6
thealmighty Pro Starter Join Date: May 2003 Location: heaven	nondola... maybe I should read the whole thread next time. __________________ Check out The Unofficial FOFC Movie Guide Here

12-18-2008, 12:41 AM	#8
thealmighty Pro Starter Join Date: May 2003 Location: heaven	Pumpy said it would make me look really cool. __________________ Check out The Unofficial FOFC Movie Guide Here

12-18-2008, 01:03 AM	#10
Pumpy Tudors Bounty Hunter Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Pittsburgh, PA	how did i get involved __________________ No, I am not Batman, and I will not repair your food processor.

12-18-2008, 09:13 AM	#12
PackerFanatic Pro Starter Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Appleton, WI	Haha, without knowing the story, you would think Drew just sucks. Oh wait... I do love Drew Carey, but you can't compete with Bob Barker. Not even close. __________________ Commissioner of the RNFL

12-18-2008, 12:13 AM	#2
EagleFan Hall Of Famer Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Mays Landing, NJ USA	lol, weird, just weird. Not in response to this clip but I have to say, Drew Carey sucks big time at hosting that show. He is way too dry to be a game show host. He worked okay in Who's Line because of the energy of the other people on the show but on his own it just doesn't work.

12-18-2008, 12:19 AM	#3
sabotai General Manager Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: The Satellite of Love	Reminds me of when someone did something similar for the game show Press Your Luck. He memorized the pattern of of the lights.

12-18-2008, 12:33 AM	#5
Scoobz0202 Pro Rookie Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Dayton, Ohio	I read that they stopped shit for about 20 minutes because they knew he hit a perfect bid. Drew Carey knew he hit it before announcing, and knew it was because of an audience member, therefore, he wasn't happy. Still shitty of him though. The game is made with audience participation being a part of the game.

12-18-2008, 12:51 AM	#9
molson General Manager Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: The Mountains	I didn't read the entire message board but how were the prices "memorized?" Do they use the same prizes for every show? That's pretty stupid.

12-18-2008, 09:46 AM	#14
Hurst2112 College Starter Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Minneapolis	Wasn't Billy Murray doing a movie about the Press Your Luck guy? That was years ago and I don't think it made it to production. __________________ http://www.myspace.com/longliveanalog

12-18-2008, 10:51 AM	#17
kingnebwsu College Benchwarmer Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Ohio	It's funny, because his brother was/is a teacher where I went to high school. I didn't find this out until years later.

12-18-2008, 11:13 AM	#18
Maple Leafs Coordinator Join Date: Jan 2002	Even if you knew the exact prices, why would you guess exactly? Wouldn't it be smarter to give your self a $50 cushion, just in case? __________________ Down Goes Brown: Toronto Maple Leafs Humor and Analysis

12-18-2008, 03:49 PM	#26
MJ4H Coordinator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Hog Country	haha

12-18-2008, 06:49 PM	#30
Karlifornia Grizzled Veteran Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: San Jose, CA	lol.....took me a second to get it __________________ Look into the mind of a crazy man (NSFW) http://www.whitepowerupdate.wordpress.com

12-18-2008, 08:19 PM	#31
stevew Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: the yo'	Good work

12-18-2008, 11:17 PM	#33
Buccaneer Head Coach Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Colorado	This got me started down a road tonight. I read the wiki on Michael Larson, then watched the full 5-part youtube. Amazing. Then that got me into watching all of those stupid game show moments videos. Lots and lots of crazy stuff, and very addicting.

12-19-2008, 12:16 AM	#37
Pumpy Tudors Bounty Hunter Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Pittsburgh, PA	Game Show Network had a pretty interesting special on the Press Your Luck guy a few years ago. I wonder if they'll ever air it again. __________________ No, I am not Batman, and I will not repair your food processor.

07-14-2010, 06:38 AM	#41
QuikSand lolzcat Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Annapolis, Md	Follow up in Esquire: Price Is Right Perfect Bid - How Terry Kniess Beat The Price Is Right - Esquire

07-14-2010, 09:28 AM	#42
Shkspr College Benchwarmer Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Amarillo, TX	Huh. Turns out blackjack his game after all.

07-14-2010, 11:18 AM	#43
Maple Leafs Coordinator Join Date: Jan 2002	So according to Terry, he knew the final showcase was worth around $23,000, and he just added on the $743 randomly. That makes no sense. Even putting aside the luck factor, why would you add on hundreds of dollars to your bid in a game where going over by even a dollar loses you everything? For a math guy who can crush blackjack, he either forgot everything he knew about game theory or he's lying. I liked this whole story a lot better before I read that article. __________________ Down Goes Brown: Toronto Maple Leafs Humor and Analysis

07-14-2010, 11:24 AM	#44
Logan Head Coach Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: NYC	That part was fishy to me too. Especially when, I believe later on, his wife said something like "If he had just said $23,700 none of this would have happened." If he chose 743 because it was some combination of his wife's PIN and wedding date, why would he have chosen 700?

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