Refusing to Come On Down when called?

[COINBOYNYC]

If you're called to Come On Down but choose not go to Contestants' Row, are you considered ineligible to be considered as a contestant in the future just as if you had come on down?

I know, it seems like a silly question.  But it's not.

One of my pet peeves about TPIR is that the last person called to Come On Down only gets one chance to come up on stage, and that's it forever.  Even if some FFBC-bound drunken fratboy outbids you by one dollar, as far as your status as a contestant is concerned, that's it for the rest of your life.  I don't think that's fair, but those are the rules, so be it.

So I was wondering: if a contestant hears his name, but realizes it's the ninth and final game and decides he'd prefer to take his chances repeating the whole process from the beginning on a future taping, would that be okay?

Or is it a case of - when Rich calls, it's now or never?

[MSTieScott]

Scott, who's out in the line during the contestant interviews, is also in the studio during the taping, and once a name is called, if the person doesn't immediately jump up, he'll look for them in the audience. So if you were in the audience and refused to stand up, he'd find you and point you out. And if you still refused to come on down... good luck getting picked again after the staff sees your lack of cooperation.

If you refuse, would they have to use physical force to get you down to the row?

[MrDeePay]

I'm pretty sure that if your name called to come on down (unless your name was misread/called or something), your TPIR eligibility has been used up.

[Marc]

ilovesuperball wrote:
If you refuse, would they have to use physical force to get you down to the row?

No tact from me here – this has to be one of the stupidest things that I have read on this site in a very long time.

Ilovesuperball, going forward I ask that you put a little more thought into your posts.

My apologies, Marc. I thought that was dumb too. Just wonderin'.

[BuddyTom]

There's nothing you can do about being called late in the show; if a frat boy one-ups you, enjoy your CNAOS prizes. But just going to taping doesn't mean that you have to have an interview to be called. If you feel you're not in top form and you'd tank your game, you can always just... not try.

[joechopchop]

Almost sounds like a Duff thread, doesn't it?

[LaurenC09]

Haha, now be nice, joe. I think that even if you didn't want to go down, and your name was called you would have some kind of a reaction that would allow the camera crew to pick you out anyway. And if you were with people, they would all be jumping up and down and you can't really hide when that happens.

But isn't it an honor just be in the audience, let alone being picked to come on down?!

[junkaholic95]

I would just like to say that this thread is getting nowhere in quite a hurry.  Personally, my feeling is this.  If you went through the whole process just to get inside, I don't think your gonna care whether you're first, last or in between.  You'll be happy just to get your chance no matter how futile it may seem.  There have been a fair share of lucky stiffs who seemed to have no chance of making it before.

[tomxconn]

One of my pet peeves about TPIR is that the last person called to Come On Down only gets one chance to come up on stage, and that's it forever...I don't think that's fair, but those are the rules, so be it.

Yep, I know that feeling all too well.  As I had 5 times before, when the moment came for person #9 to be called, I hoped I wouldn't be called, so I could come back another time.  But when Rod called me, all within one second, I cringed (NO!), then decided "whatever happens happens; might as well be a ham."  So I let it all out, in case I didn't win.

Disappointing yes, but what can you do?  Someone has to go 9th.  It's happened to hundreds of other folks over the years.  But as I kept telling friends...better to come on down & lose than never come on down at all.  Still one of the most electrifying single minutes of my life, and some really fun times I had at CBS with folks from all over the U.S.

[Madonna]

All I can say is if someone ever got called on down and refused to head to Contestant's Row, I would find myself shaking my head over that for a long time. And, if it ever happened while I was in the studio, you can bet I'd start screaming "I'll take their place!"

Tom, I can definitely agree that ninth would not be my ideal spot to be picked - nor anyone else's.. But, believe me, I would be just as happy getting picked ninth as first.. It's something I've dreamed of doing for nearly 28 years.

Getting picked first for me would be like if I had gotten a hug and an autograph from Madge last June.

Getting pick ninth would be like what I did get on June 3: A wave and eye contact. Not quite the moment of all-time, but still pretty damned amazing and electrifying - something I'd never forget.

Believe me, I'd have no complaints.

And, believe me, under no circumstances would I refuse to head on down to Contestant's Row if Rich ever shouted out my name. I don't care if I broke both legs jumping up and down. I'd crawl. I'd have have some carry me. But, you can bet I'd get there...

So, forgive me for scratching my head a little over this thread. Why on Earth would someone refuse such an honor is beyond me.

[garffreak]

I would have much rather been called 9th than never get called at all.  I can't believe that some people would deny their chance to be on the show just because of a lesser chance of winning something big.  Sad.

[GameShowDude]

Here's a fair way to pick the order of the contestants being called.  At the contestant cattle call all of the contestant wannabes take a short test.  The person with the highest grade gets to be the first to come on down, the one with the next-highest grade second, and so on.

[FlipFlopper7769]

A test??!! No that wouldn't really work for TPiR. For one thing, people come to the show to have fun, not to go back to school again! Plus you would have to grade each and every test instead of looking back at a few people from the interviews. I doubt that after waiting all night people will wait even longer while the producers grade tests