Bob inadvertently helps a contestant win both showcases! (From Reddit)

[COINBOYNYC]

This is from the "Price Is Right" forum on Reddit.

As a former CBS page, I can finally tell this story.

Like the title says, I was a page at CBS, this happened sometime in the first half of 2001.

What you didn't see most of the time on camera was that there were pages standing on either side of contestant row. Our job was to lead the audience in applause and to help contestants who needed to get on stage. The camera people were masters at making us unseen.

Halfway through one of the shows, all of the contestants bid and Bob's about to read the price and says "Whoah! Stop taping! I have the wrong price!" They do and Bob turns to cue card guy whispering "The price was just over 17,000! A little too much for a prize on contestant row!"

I heard this, as did the contestant standing stage left next to me. We were the only two people to hear it.

Sure enough, this contestant standing next to me eventually gets on stage and into the Showcase Showdown. What does he bid? Exactly $17,000. And he wins, both showcases.

I never said a word. Pages had no business stopping a taping, or reporting that Bob Barker messed up by accidentally revealing the top prize prior.

Link to original

[SteveGavazzi]

I remember when this aired...I forget the exact details, but there was definitely some indication on-air that Bob knew he had the wrong card.  There was speculation that the player in the Showcase had picked up on what number he'd started to read, but I forget whether there was any confirmation.

[Plinkoman]

It seems like I remember something like this happening in Season 29. Just went through some episodes, and sure enough, on Friday, May 4, 2001 it happened. He didn't get both Showcases, but he did win his.

http://tpirstats.com/Season29/0504.html

[TinoStar11]

Boy I was so wrong with looking up my info , lol

[Kev347]

Looks like from the recap this same contestant Cliffton also got to play Cliff Hangers..and bid $69 on the first item.

[thatvhstapeguy]

I recently traded for this episode. There is a subtle but noticeable audio edit between Bob saying "And the actual retail price is" and "805 dollars."