I'm not sure if Joe wishes to do a recap for tonight's GSM -- Joe, feel free to edit this inital post. Otherwise, let the discussion start! I'll be back tomorrow to post my thoughts.
Marc
(Thanks, Marc. I had a meeting to attend to tonight, but I indicated elsewhere I'd do a recap so here goes...)
GAME$HOW MARATHON - LEG 1: THE PRICE IS RIGHT
Hosted by Ricki Lake
Participants (in order of calldown):
PAIGE DAVIS ("Trading Spaces")
KATHY NAJIMY ("King Of The Hill")
TIM MEADOWS ("Saturday Night Live")
LANCE BASS ('NSYNC)
BRANDE RODERICK ("Baywatch")
LESLIE NIELSEN ("Police Squad", "Airplane")
Announcer/Narrator: Rich Fields
Models for the night: Lanisha Cole, Rachel Reynolds and Shane Stirling
(Look closely at the credits! Finally, some well-earned respect around the office!)
First, the overall rules: Tonight's leg, TPiR, will consist of three pricing games,
followed by the Showdown, and then the Showcases. The Showcase winner will advance to
the G$M semifinals, and their winnings will be awarded to a home viewer who correctly
answered a TPiR-related trivia question (see cbs.com). The remaining five return
tomorrow for the second leg. Because there are some rule modifications those will be
disclosed where applicable.
The set itself is a slightly smaller version of the big doors and turntable area.
"Contestants' Row" is actually a four-person podium with the actual bid displays.
Audience seating is stadium-style.
A number of celebrities are "in the audience" to give the impression that they may be
called to play (though the actual roster has been long known). Among them: Betty
White, George Foreman, Kathy Griffin, Bruce Vilanch, and Adam Carrolla - some of which
will be around for Match Game. (Actually, I believe this part of things was added in
post)
The show opens with a montage of clips from Price's past, a goodly lot from the Janice
and Anitra era, a juicy bit of Cullen, a few fallers at the wheel, and the usual
gotta-haves: tube top lady, fainting lady, chasing lady AND, o' course, Vanna.
Then, Rich launches into the opening calldown (with a reference to "CBS
Television City", yet) and out comes Ricki as the G$M set peels away to reveal
the recreation of the Price doors. From there, a little chat with the First
Four and it's on to the first Item of the night. We pick things up there...
First Four lineup: left to right
Handoff: Lanisha
1 Funtek USA Spaceball Trampoline Game (R&S)
DAVIS 800 NAJIMY 1500 MEADOWS 1100 BASS 1201 ($2695)
Kathy Najimy, playing for Girls' Best Friend, plays HOLE IN ONE for a Cadillac XLR
(L)($77,295)
(2) (Life Savers) Roll Candy (single) $ .85
(5) (Santa Fe) Salsa 2.69
(6) (Simple Green) All Purpose Cleaner 5.39
(1) (Tide) Detergent >8.99<
(4) Theragesic Gel 3.99
(3) Citracal Supplement
Kathy's Putt from Line 4: pushed right. LOSS
Note that ths was "old school" Hole In One as Kathy was not given a
second putt. Further, Ricki didn't take the customary "Inspiration Putt."
BTW: Whose idea was it to dress Rachel and Shane as school girls? Hideous.
I imagine they were both glad to get out of those outfits pronto.
Meanwhile, a running gag: Brande is called on down, and Adam looks a
bit p-d-o-d.
2 Ridgeway Baker Street Grandfather Clock (R)
+Davis *4000 RODERICK 3000 +Meadows 3500 +Bass 3800 ($4725)
Paige Davis, playing for Donate Life, prepare thyself. IT'S $100,000 PL!NKO!!!
Free Chip (6) 100L
(Pro Pots) Slow Cooker 7/2 2 $12 * (5) 500R
(Presto) Salad Shooter 2/6 2 46
250 pc Poker Chip Set 3/0 0 50 * (4) 1000R Total
Dell DJ Diddy MP3 Player 5/9 9 99 * (2) 500L $2100 LOSS
Added incentive to win the last item: every member of the audience walks
away with one of those MP3 players, courtesy of the house. Paige "fainted"
when she heard that news.
Running Gag, part two: Leslie gets called, a "disgusted" Carolla bolts.
3 highbrowfurniture.com Bubble Chair (L)
NIELSEN 500 Roderick 2600 +Meadows 1500 +Bass 501 ($2795)
Brande Roderick, playing for the City of Hope, plays RACE GAME
1st 2nd 3rd Prices
Roland HPI7 Digital Piano 6495 2999 >6495< WIN
Broyhill Sofa 2999 6495 2999 ($1125)
Cotton Candy Cart 1125 1408 >1408< WIN
Bowflex TC5300 Treadclimber 1408 1125 1125 ( 2999)
RIGHT [1] [1] [2]
TIME LEFT :35 :10 :00 LOSS
They shot the game action with the steadicam, and it seems to work quite nicely.
Too bad it's not in the budget for real TPiR (or, maybe we're better off for it!). As
to the chair, what if they had hoisted the chair with Lanisha still in it?
SHOWDOWN
The Procedure: usual rules except the top score advances, the others go
into round 2 - unless two people tie with the top score. (Ricki originally
said "top two advance", which I thought would be the rule in the first place).
$ 2,695 Najimy 35 + 20 .55 Through to Showcase Round
7,056 Davis 5 + 5 .10
10,698 Roderick 55 stay .55 Through to Showcase Round
SHOWCASE ROUND
Brande has the honor. Winner advances to the G$M semifinals.
SC1-Roderick WHAT'S IN AND WHAT'S OUT
BID $25,000 O.W. Lee Patio Set (R)
PRICE 43,668 Bull Power Cube BBQ Island (S)
DIFF -18,668 Jacuzzi J365 Hot Tub (L)
TOTAL $54,366 Sea-Doo Sportster Boat (R)
Trip to Sydney, Australia (6n; Last Minute Travel.com)(S)
SC2-Najimy TIME MACHINE
BID $81,000 Deutsch Wurlitzer One More Time CD Jukebox (S)
PRICE 62,160 (Namco) Ms. Pac Man/Galaga Video Arcade Game (L)
DIFF OVER 1966 Ford Mustang (V8, AT, Mirror, 8-Track)(R)
2006 Ford Mustang GT (Std., AT, Interior, AirBag, Stereo)
Tonight's Pricing Games (not that it really matters): 0 for 3
Total Winnings: $64,117
Leg 2 Tomorrow: - LET'S MAKE A DEAL with Brandi Sherwood as Carol Merrill
and Rich Fields as Jay Stewart. From here results will be posted to "Out In Left Field".