Well, I finally acheived my life-long dream of going to Price on March 21st, so I will share.
I arrived from KCI at LAX at 8:35 PM. The shuttle picked me up, and stopped twice to pick a couple more couples up, and we headed to CBS to drop me off first. I found out that all of us were going to Price on Wednesday, however, they were going to hotel first, then Price. One couple was from Chicago, and the other from Vancouver, who last went to Price in 1997. Both couples didn't believe that you needed to get in line hours before the suggested time. So, when we got to CBS about 10:15, they were shocked to see that I was in line about half the block back. The Chicago couple still thought that they'd be good to get to Price at 6 AM, while the Canadians said they'd check in at the Beverly Inn and meet me. So, I got in line behind a family from Spokane, and a couple from Ohio got in line behind me. The Canadians came back and said they needed sleep, so they were going to the hotel, and would maybe not go to the show until Thursday.
The family from Spokane was very nice and welcoming. Their kids went to The Grove to sleep in their car, while the husband & wife stayed in line. They offered to share their blanket with me, which I definitely accepted. While the husband fell asleep pretty easily, his wife & I could not. We practiced prices, and watched the line grow. A group from Utah came in behind the two Ohioans. The line kept growing to the end of the block, and then at about 3 AM, several parties of college kids arrived, most of whom didn't get in the show. Then, at 6 AM, the line erupted in applause, and got up and moved toward the gates. Chuck handed out priority numbers while Claudia directed everyone to come back at 7:15. I went to breakfast with the Spokane family, and saw the Canadians on the way. They got arrivals #322 and #323, while I got #108. After breakfast, we headed back to CBS.
In the promenade, we all got in order of our arrival numbers. Chuck was great warming us up, and asked us individually where we were from, and if we were celebrating anything. Following this, we were exchanging our OOAs for Priority numbers, and I became priority 105. We were then told to come back at 9:45.
At 9:45, we came back and sat down in no particular order. Chuck directed everyone numbered 1-110 to sit down in the south promenade, while everyone else sat down by the gift shop. We were filling out contestant cards, I was number 100, and Charles came around to collect the information sides of the cards. Chuck came around to give us our nametags. I said my name was Nathan, but he saw Nathaniel on my driver's license and had to put that. By this time, it was 12:00, and then Chuck came to warm us up again. This time, he told us he was a contestant on the March 7, 2005 taping and played It's in the Bag, and didn't win. By this time, it was about 12:30, and we were left to wait. About 20 standbys were turned away, and Chuck gave them all nametags. Then, at 1:15, Stan and a woman came out for interviews. I was in the second to last group of 1-110 to be interviewed. Stan said, "Hello Nate!", noticing my full name, then asked me what I go by. I said "Nate's fine." He asked me where I was from, and what I do, and I told him I tape the show everyday. He asked me my college plans, and majors. I said communications, and he said, "Well, that would work well for you, because I am communicating pretty well with you!" While heading to 33, a woman behind me told me she was convinced I'd be picked because of what she saw in the interview. Anyhow, I prepared for anything.
We were let in the studio at 2:15. When people say that the studio is smaller than it looks, they are absolutely right. The Canadians got in the studio, sitting in the first row, far left on the flat area in the middle of the audience, while I sat in the middle of the second short row to the left of the flat area. Rich warmed us up, and said that Price is the "fastest moving show in television". I knew this was code for "Price is the most cut-down game show in television history for commercials". Anyhow, we heard "one-minute!" and I looked back at a woman from Utah in the row behind me, and we high-fived. The show started, and you couldn't hear a thing. I won't spoil the show!
During the show, Jeff Thisted was getting the audience to give car-equivalent reactions to flatware and other non-expensive items. Rich was getting the audience to clap when the applause sign wasn't on, like during 3-prize games which usually didn't have applause in between the prize descriptions.
Before the showcases, we were practicing "oohs" and "ahs". Bob told us we'd better say "ah", but a few would need to say "ooh" to balance it out. He called on me to practice and said, "Stand up, red arms!" (I wore a red sweater.) He said, "Give me your best ooh!" I did. He said, "Sit down."
The show ended, and Gabby drew a number for the Price DVD game and $100. I said goodbye to the Spokanians, and I headed back to LAX for my 6:50 flight. It was an awesome experience that I'd love to do again.
The show airs April 20th.
