About me... in 50,000 words or less :-)
Many folks have asked me lots of questions over the past 4 years since I've had this website up and running, so I figure I'll take some time to tell you a little about myself (as it relates to Price at least :) and provide a little insight into who the man is behind this keyboard.
Personal data:
Age: 27
Location: Fabulous Los Angeles, CA
How long: I've lived in the LA area since 1995. Prior to that, I grew up in the Chicago area.
Friends, Family, etc.: I have many friends (I know, it's hard to believe, but true! :), most if not all know how much of a fan of game shows I am (many call it strange, I call it a hobby :). Most of my family lives east of the Mississippi. I'm currently single, but I do have a 7 year old cat named Tigger who keeps me company while I'm home. He's well-fed ;)
You do have a real job, right? Yes I do! I work for a major Anti-Virus software company.
Those burning questions (at
least the ones I'm willing to answer on this website :-):
Were you ever on The Price is Right? Yes I was!
When? It aired October 13th, 1997 (Columbus Day). It taped on July 14th,
1997.
What game did you play? Plinko!
What did you win? $5,100 in cash, a chess set, a mop, a beard and moustache
trimmer, a water filter, and a snow blower.
How many times did you try out to be on the show before you got picked? Two.
What did you do to get on the show? I told the producer who interviewed me,
"I am thrilled to be there and I really want to win a car, and I know that this
is where I need to be! Car dealers are a waste of time, if I need a new car I
know to come to Bob! He'll take care of me!" That was it! Apparently that was
enough to get me on the show (besides my charisma and charm of course ;).
What other memorable episodes have you been to? Fortunately since the
advent of my website I've become somewhat of a known entity over at CBS, and
through people I've met I've had the rare opportunity to enjoy some truly
special moments of Price history over the years. I attended the 5,000th episode
of the Price is Right, I attended the 30th Anniversary Special in Las Vegas and
most recently I was at the 31st Season Premiere. I try to attend the premiere
shows each year, although lately I've had rotten luck of being off by one show
(you'll either see me at the last show of the prior season, or the 2nd show of
the new season. I have awful timing :). But this year I got it right. One of the
many benefits of living close to CBS Television City!
Have you been to any other game show tapings? I have been to most every
game show that has taped in Los Angeles since I moved out here, with the
exception of a few.
Other than Price, which game show(s) have you enjoyed seeing live the most?
By far the coolest had to be Winning Lines. Winning Lines was a short-lived
show that aired on CBS when every network had to get a show on to compete with
Millionaire. The set was huge, and of course seeing the legendary Dick
Clark in action was truly a treat! Russian Roulette also ranks up there as one
of the most enjoyable tapings I've ever been to. It's fun game to watch. If
there's another worth mentioning, it's Whammy! The all new Press Your Luck. Tons
of fun there too!
Do you really have all these Price is Right episodes on tape? Yes! I have
almost 300 episodes of Price is Right on tape from 1972 on through to today. I
still tape every Price episode (Tivo helps with that :)
Do you sell or trade episodes? I used to trade episodes, but I haven't in
over a year. It's really just too time-consuming. I may resume someday, you
never know.
Why don't you update your website that often? I do when I have the extra
time. If you had any idea how busy my life has been over the past 3 years, you
wouldn't ask this question. Just be happy I do when I do. :-)
Do you know others who have been on TPiR? Yes! Several people in fact.
One friend won over $77,000 in loot! Another won some lawn equipment, and
another won a sofa and a gay 90's style popcorn machine. That's the great thing
about Price - the loot you wind up with sure can be "interesting" sometimes. I
was happy I won cash. :)
Have you tried out for any other game shows? Yes! I tried out for Match
Game '98 and Winning Lines. I was to be a contestant on Winning Lines but the
day I was to be on the show I wound up being VERY sick, and I couldn't talk! So much for trying
to be on a game show that day! I was also a hot-seat contestant on Millionaire
(not the TV show, the attraction at Disney's California adventure theme park in
Anaheim.) I made it to the $64,000 question, but lost and went down to the
$32,000 level (which got me a polo shirt and a hat - hey, I was happy).
Why isn't your picture or episode on your own website? Well, if you look
REALLY carefully, there is a picture of me on my website. Come back here later
and maybe I'll feel like posting more :)
Have you ever done any work for TV? Yes! I was a Production Associate on Greed, hosted by Chuck Woolery, which aired on Fox in 2000, and can be seen in reruns on Game Show Network (my name is in the credits! :)
I'll add more questions and info as time goes by. Thanks for reading!
- Tony