My review of the last episode I saw in person:
I loved everything about the last episode. I wanted to work it so badly and be inside one last time with Bob. I just wish I could have been working the entire day as well. I remember getting there very early for the afternoon shift. This was one episode I wasn't planning on missing. It was around 7am I got in, and hung out with my fellow co-workers at the Grove a while and watched the news in the lounge to see coverage of the line.
I went outside around 10am to just check to see what the crowd was like, and to my surprise, they were not crazy. This was Bob's last show! Everyone was just sitting on the benches and there was a TV outside, ready to show what was happening inside the studio once they started recording.
Around 11:30 I went outside and saw Henry Winkler "The Fonz" talking to press. I had already seen him twice before, and he loves that the Price Is Right audience requests to sing "Happy Days" all the time. I walked away from the media and set the producer's chairs up for Stan. I killed my fingers. The backs of the chairs are getting so old. I bet they are over 35 years old! They were so tough to slip on for some reason. The fans in line knew me from the Monday show, so I had to act fast and get over to them. It took me about 15 minutes to set the chairs up because the backs wouldn't fit.
From 11:45 to 12:00 I entertained probably numbers 1-20 and 51-70, as they were closest to the interviewer chairs. I think Elijah, who was the last called down, sang Family Matters when I tried to get everyone to do a sing-along. The news was interviewing people further down, probably around number 30 or so, but that didn't stop me from entertaining the most devoted fans who were there for days and several wanted to hear me out there since they knew my videos online.
When Stan came out I watched as everyone interviewed, and I predicted several who got to come on down. I even remember talking to Denise for a minute before she interviewed, when one of my fellow co-workers made me cover for him and send the audience to Stan. She was very happy to be there.
After the interviews I had to go over to the security holding area where the press was filming everyone. I chanted "Bob! Bob! Bob!" as everyone went along with me. The press was smiling. I was so sure they'd use the clips somewhere, but I haven't seen them yet. This was the only time I got to know everyone in line, by cheering with them those few seconds.
Inside the studio all the Pages were dancing and getting the audience to go crazy for the last show. We all held the sign up for the airdate, and I took my place by Rich. I went crazy when he started his announcing and just kept jumping up and down before Bob came out. The confetti was a surprise, but I had previosuly thought about it happening days before. We all chanted "Bob! Bob! Bob!" right into when Rich announced the TV up for bids. Then the audience's applause died out around 20 seconds into the description, but it was the longest applause for Bob I've ever seen in person.
I gave Bob a letter that someone wanted to give him as a gift, Bob called me a young gentleman for the last time, when someone wanted autographs of him, and I recall Rich telling me to stay glued to the stage because my head kept getting in the shots. I think it was because I was so jumpy so that the audience could follow me. Of course, I don't move around like Jeff onstage, but because I was so jumpy in one spot, the camera kept getting my head a lot in shots.
After the first showcase showdown, a fellow co-worker wanted to switch with me and go by Rich and I'd take his spot in the back. I was a bit disappointed, as nobody was really clapping for the 2nd half of the show in the front of the studio. Everyone wanted me up there, so I clapped like crazy in the back, especially when Dean got called down. That made it on TV. However, he fell and curled up. Everyone in the back was shocked, and I grabbed onto the railing, afraid he was really hurt. I was thinking we had to call the EMT.
I switched back to my position during the 2nd showcase showdown, and stayed there until the end of the show. I was surprised I didn't cry. A lot of fans weren't teary. I thought they'd all be very sad. Everyone overall handled Bob's last episode pretty well, the crew onstage were pretty sad though, since they worked with Bob for so many years. Of course when I left I was sad, and that morning I was as well.
The only thing I didn't like about the last episode was The Grocery Game. I really wanted to see Hole In One played for the very last time on the show. I think they played it on the Monday show that week, and I was upset because I knew they weren't gonna have it on the last episode since it already was on that week. But I kept thinking "Maybe for the last episode they will make an acception." I was wrong. The Grocery game even broke down. It's too bad they didn't give Melva the trailer. Usually in the past, Bob gave away prizes if games didn't work, but they fixed it in a few minutes time. It would have made me feel better about Grocery Game had they included the malfunction on the air and Bob offering her the prize. The last episode had a little of everything that has happened over the years (falls, laughs, et.) but the malfunction being included and the offering of the prize would have reflected how Bob did that several times over the past 35 years.
After the show I drew the door prize! Rich knows me by name now, and that was it. I went outside and consoled a fellow fan/friend who was sad, and congratulated Denise on being the final person to win the showcase with Bob Barker as host on The Price Is Right. She hugged me and then I left for the day with my fellow co-workers.
Games:
Lucky 7: Easy win! All the numbers were so close to 5. Almost every contestant chooses a few 5's here and there, especially for the last 3 numbers of the car. I was glad they played it. It is probably one of the most played car games aside from Money Game, which I really was hoping was not part of the last episode. I was glad Denise won the car.
Plinko: If they had used any other cash game it would have not worked. For Bob's last episode they needed to use the most popular cash game on the show. Even though 1,500 was all the woman won, it was better than getting all 0's.
Range Game: At first I didn't like the idea of them playing it on the last episode, then I remembered Bob's line about once you stop it they can't start it for 37 hours. That made me feel better about them playing it. I was happy for Francisco when he won the boat.
Showcase Showdown 1: I knew 2 of the 3 from the line. I didn't talk to Francisco until after the show, but when he interviewed he was memorable with his ty-dye shirt. Denise I knew before she interviewed. I was happy when she got a $1.00 on the wheel. It's too bad she didn't get another.
Double Prices: Wow! Immidiately after taking his tumble, Dean wins a car! Double Prices is not the most exciting game, but I know a lot of fans wanted to see it, as it was one of Bob's first 3 games ever played on the show.
Grocery Game: This was the worst part of the entire episode. Bob should have given Melva the trailer and they should have included the malfunction on TV. It would have made the episode a lot more memorable.
Any Number: Well, it was a chance, that's all it was. I was rooting for Philip to win the car so badly. That would have also made the last episode memorable. I bet Bob would have said "You waited in line for 5 days and you won a car!"
Showcase Showdown 2: It couldn't have gone any better than it did. Dean pulled his socks up, Melva took a little fall (too bad she didn't take her shoes off...several women in the past have done so when they spun), and Philip made it to the final showcase round!
Showcases: Two of my favorite contestants of the day in the showcase. The prizes were awesome, and both Philip and Denise were close in their bids without going over or under that much. These were tricky to price, as they were more than the normal showcases.
Overall rating for the episode: It's in the 9's. The Grocery Game really threw things off for me.
