Behind the Scenes of The Price Is Right

The Reference Desk

In this episode, Katie is bewitched by the favorite game show of sick children everywhere, The Price is Right.
For over 50 years, The Price is Right has ruled the early-afternoon TV lineup, with millions of viewers tuning in each day to see who will be the next to COME ON DOWN! What is it that makes the Price is Right so endearing? Maybe it’s the long, skinny microphone that looks so fun to hold. Or the games that reward you for remembering the price of Capzasin arthritis cream. Or the endlessly enthusiastic shouting from the audience about the price of said arthritis cream. From Barker’s Beauties to the drama of changing hosts after 35 years, we’re digging into all the behind-the-scenes and on-screen dynamics that have turned the Price is Right into a cultural touchstone.
All books shared in this episode can be purchased at our Bookshop!

Staff picks:

Over the Top by Jonathan Van Ness (especially the audiobook!)
Love and Other Conspiracies by Mallory Marlowe (available 8/20/24)
Living for the Dead on Hulu
Sources:
What Made Bob Barker the Perfect Host for 'The Price Is Right' | Arts & Culture| Smithsonian Magazine
Bob Barker: Biography, Game Show Host, The Price Is Right
The Price is Right (1956 – 1965, U.S. Version)
Plinko
Punch a Bunch
Cliff Hangers
This Is Where The Prizes For The Price Is Right Are Actually Stored
Sexual harassment, serial killers & cheaters: The dark side of game shows
Winning The Price Is Right: Strategies for Contestants’ Row, Plinko, and the Showcase Showdown.
Barker's Larry King Interview
Interview with Roger Dobkowitz, Part 4: “Everything You Wanted to Know About Price: The ’90s”

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