TVSquad

I swear to God, I think the contestants on the show are dumber than they used to be. I've never seen as many overbids on the Showcase, for instance, than I've seen this year; there seems to be at least two or three overbids a week.

Reply

I assume that the audience wranglers pretty overtly encourage the audience to do just that in case they get picked. Audience wranglers can be really pushy. I once attended a Letterman taping, and the wranglers were so pushy about everyone screaming, laughing and clapping orgasmically that it took all the fun out of the experience.

Reply

There's a big filter at the door: The smart ones are filtered out to Jeopardy, the next-to-smart and a few dumb are sent to Wheel of Fortune, and the rest are shuffled into TPIR.

People get excited because the "C'mon down!" music is like a Pavlov's bell for big breasted women.

Reply

I was a contestant on TPiR and it's just exciting to be there. I forget how many are in the audience but the odds aren't too bad you'll get called up (9 contestants out of 200 or 300?) but they handpick you from the interviews you do before you go in anyway. But if you've never been, it's hard to understand - the atmosphere is electric, people are just plain excited. It's fun to watch people win money, but it was even more fun with Bob Barker being there - he talks to you during the breaks while they set up, etc. It's a unique experience. Plus for those of us who are young and grew up watching it, you get the added nostalgia, and the excitement of being on TV...it's incredible.

(I picked my own numbers on Pass The Buck - except I saw my friend suggested #2, and I'm glad I picked it because it won me an extra $5,000 :D)

Reply

You guys don't realize it, but this entire page so far, from the post to the comment, is incredibly patronizing, narrow-minded and elitist.
You probably don't know anyone who makes 20k/year and has to save for a few of those to buy a new sofa.
"In fact, I don't think that a car is even such a great prize to win." That's amazing, I'm guessing you don't have a 10-year loan with still 6 years on it to repay.
And then Joel (who probably forgot that whether it's in the comments or a post of his own, everything he types on this blog he does as a TV Squad blogger) proceeds to tell us how dumb those people are. I don't want to use the R word, but we're not very far from it.

Are people smarter on Jeopardy? Sure, that's the nature of the game. But to pass judgement on how excited people are at the prospect of winning the most valuable thing they ever owned isn't appropriate.

Now, I'm myself a Hollywood player, so the only thing I'm accusing you of is not getting out in the world a little more.

Reply

ok I take out the part of my comment about Joel's post. His judgement was made based on how people perform on the show itself - I didn't realize.
Sorry, wish I could edit my post.

Reply

Dude, you don't get it. TPiR is a party. It's fun. For a lot of us, it's a dream to be on the show. If I were called up on stage I would not be responsible for my actions.

You're not a fan. We get it. Move along and let the rest of us enjoy it.

Reply

i agree with Pinwiz. i can't believe this is an actual post.

Reply

And why do contestants on Wheel of Fortune continue to buy vowels when they already clearly know the answer to the puzzle?

It's because the contestants do get swept up in the frenzied excitement and the atmosphere. Knowing you're on TV makes many people forget to censor their behavior as they would in other daily situations.

It's funny because last night my son asked me why people get so loud and crazy on WoF but are very calm on Jeopardy, and I just explained it's the nature of the game. Plus yelling at someone "come on, you can get it" when they're trying to come up with the question in Potent Potables for $1600 isn't exactly helpful to the contestant.

Reply

One thing to add, with all the people shouting numbers at you, if you're on the end of Contestant Row, there is no way to hear what the guy on the other end bid and you can't see what they bid, which makes it very difficult.

I know if I ever got called down to Contestant Row, I'd be going nuts too because it feel you're being given the chance of a lifetime and you're going to be on TV! I mean if you were about to buy a Scratcher ticket in a convenience store, I understand why you might not jump up and down, but if you're about to buy it in front of 150 people being filmed for National Television, don't tell me you wouldn't at least be a little excited?!

Reply

It's just the excitement of winning a prize or getting to win a prize on The Price Is Right. A car is one thing, but a living room--that means something right there! You can put that right in your home immediately! I love it when they win the Broyhill room those expensive $6500 or $7600 dining rooms from Pulaski Furniture in Virginia. I say, don't lose on that! Those producers go to all expense to display those beautiful prizes. Gracious, I'd be jumping up and down if I was a contestant on that show and win those prizes or money. They go to great lengths with those prizes, even the cars. I go crazy when a Cadillac or a Lincoln or a Corvette is won! Or any other car! You don't see that kind of emotion and excitement on newer shows like Deal or No Deal, where they only get to win money.

Reply

Another trend or pattern I've seen this season--when on the living room/bedroom/dining room showcases , they'll bid a bloated $30,000 or $35,000 when there isn't that much in the showcase! When it turns out that it's $18,000 or $20,000 they cover their face in disappointment. They need to look at what they're bidding and stop thinking that they're on Wheel of Fortune (with their own extravagant prizes) or something! It's like they bid something out there for outrageousness. Wheel of Fortune's down the street, go play on that show!

Reply