Thursday, August 31, 2006

SPECIAL REPORT: "Price is Right" 35th Season Premiere/34th Season Wrap Party

Alright, gang. Here's the scoop. As a member of the Price staff, albeit a relatively new and unpaid one, I was invited to attend the Wrap Party after the 35th Season Premiere taped today. Here's what went down.

First, at the taping, I finally met all of Barker's Beauties: Shane, Brandi, Gwendolyn, Rachel, and Gabrielle. I was able to get a picture with them during rehearsal and after the show. Today's show was very photo opportunity worthy, being the season premiere and all. The show airs September 18. MAKE SURE YOU WATCH IT ALL THE WAY TO THE END OF THE SHOW!!

Then came the party. I walked to the party from Television City (not all that far...just up the street) with Gabrielle, Shane, and Brandi. Yeah, I rolled into the party with Barker's Beauties. How awesome is that! So, I got into the bar line and ordered a Cherry Coke (hey, I can't help it...I don't drink all that much). I went over to a table, got some food in the buffet line, and dined with announcer Rich Fields (my new homeboy, by the way). After the food and some awesome conversation, I got my picture taken with Bob before he made a speech thanking everyone for their work. Well, I got a spot standing right close to Bob (front row, yeah).

After talking with Fremantle liaison Syd Vinnedge and thanking him for his work ("whatever he did"), Syd said, "We feel the love." So, Bob got everyone there to say "We feel the love" in unison, with me kicking in a "Hallelujah" directly after...which got Bob's attention. Then, he pointed me out and commended me on a "splendid job" and encouraged me to keep up the good work!

So, after coming back down to Earth, I remained at the party, mainly talking with the other office staff, but having the absolute best time of my life! I finally left the restaurant at 9:30 and grabbed a cab back to the apartment.

Friday, August 25, 2006

Fridays at "Price." In a word: Fun!

As you Price fans out there know, the show doesn't tape on Fridays. Instead, Real Time with Bill Maher tapes in Studio 33. So, what is there to do on Friday? Well, today was kinda interesting.

Next week is the big 34th Season Wrap Party. About 300 people are invited to attend this star-studded event, including none other than yours truly. At the party, the guests will be presented with a "Swag Bag" full of "35 YEARS" PiR stuff...a baseball cap, beach towel and frisbee. The office manager, Tiffany, and I stuffed all 300 of those bags today. Took us 5 hours, but it was so much fun. She and I did nothing but talk and joke in between phone calls, tote bags, and Pizza Hut pizza & "Quepapas." Right around 4, the office was empty, the tote bags filled the War Room, and Tiff and I were both beat. So, I headed out with an invite to go to the Santa Monica Pier this Sunday. Sounds like fun. I may go. Not sure yet.

So far, this internship has been the MOST fun I've ever had at any job. Monday should prove to be fun as well, with two tapings and very little office time.

Look for a special report Thursday night/Friday morning regarding the 35th Season Premiere and the Wrap Party!

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

SPECIAL REPORT: "Price" Internship, Day 1

Well gang, you've waited for the news of how the first day went. So, here it is.

I reported to CBS at 10:35 this morning (with an 11 AM appointment time). I was sent to the other side of the lot to the "Price is Right Bungalow" to meet with Roger and the rest of the gang. Before you ask, yes, the "Price" offices ARE in a bungalow...a little house nestled into the corner of the Television City lot.

I met with producer Roger Dobkowitz to discuss interning, my duties, and assorted other things to be done around the office. He told me that Price is one of the few shows that have their interns actually WORK, instead of cleaning out coffee pots, et al. What was on tap today? Not a whole lot, since Tuesday's the light day around the office. I did get to meet everyone in the office...Roger, Stan, Sue, Scott, Tiffany, Vanessa, Jeff, Bente, Gina, Kathy, and Karen...all 11 people on the Price office staff.

After that, I was taken into the "War Room." This boardroom is where a week's worth of shows' prizes are planned out on a corkboard that takes up almost all the available wall space. We started the process at 11:40, and kept going till about 1, when the gang was headed over to the studio for rehearsal. BUT, before rehearsal, I needed to do one seriously important thing...get my CBS ID Badge. It's basically a photo ID the size, shape, and consistency of a credit card. Even though it's small, it carries a hell of a wallop. Following the ID badge, Roger gave me a quick tour of the studio, including a stop in Bob's dressing room! I GOT TO TALK TO BOB!!

Back in studio, I was able to sit and watch the entire rehearsal of today's show, from back to front. For a while, I sat in the audience in the same seat in which I was sitting when I was called as a contestant. After that, I moved to stage level and sat at the Producer's Table to watch the rest of rehearsal.

Once rehearsal was over, they started herding the audience into the studio. I ducked back into the wings to help Stan and Scott select today's contestants (well, not so much help as handle the signed contestant cards). Once all 9 were selected, the names were given to Jeff to put on cue cards for the first four, and given to Rich to call for the day. I stood back stage next to the sound effects booth and talked with my friend Scott for practically the whole show.

Following taping, Roger sent me with the unused contestant cards back to the Bungalow to shred them. Before I headed back, I spoke with my friend Chuck, now Head Page at CBS Television City. After a quick "how-do-you-do," I headed for the Bungalow. Before I got there, I passed Rich in the parking lot. He said to me, "So, I hear you're an intern now!" I said, "Yeah, it's official. Badge and all." He said, "All the free pencils you want, right?" I said, "Yep." He said, "Congratulations!" I thanked him and headed for the office.

Back in the Bungalow and back to the War Room to finish planning the week of shows, which took an additional hour. Didn't really seem like an hour, seeing as how it really was enjoyable for me. After all that was done, I hopped a bus back to the apartment. Tomorrow, I get to watch the show from the Control Room!

For those of you that wished me good luck and offered words of encouragement, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. You were all with me when I went in today, and I will keep you with me thru the whole span of the internship.

Saturday, August 19, 2006

SPECIAL REPORT: Family Feud

I just returned home after witnessing what I would call television gold.

Family Feud, going into its 8th season in its current incarnation, and 30th year on television, is now under the leadership of John O'Hurley, as well as the continuing announcing of Burton Richardson. Here is my full report after watching three episodes.

THE SET
For those of you that have seen the photo of the new set online, it doesn't do it justice at all. The board has gone back to the original large oval shape with two side spires for the scoreboards. The main survey portion remains a projector screen with 8 (for Rounds 1 & 2) or 6 (for Round 3 on) answer slots. The score displays are now monitors that display the scores in a sort of Times New Roman like font. The "Face-Off" podium has gone back to the days of Dawson, with the classic rectangle shape and the four mini-squares in the corners. The lights are a grid of little light bulbs with a white border, all of which illuminate on a Face-Off buzz in. The contestant tables, again, go back to the original shape, although they are now back lit, with color changing lights. The families also stand in front of their name rear-projected on an archway screen that covers their POSING ROOM! Yes, the families once again pose in the "Family Portrait" style normal to the Dawson/Combs era.

An interesting little wrinkle is a new audience setup. The audience no longer sits only in front of the stage. There are now two additional audience areas on either side of the board, facing out. It's like Family Feud in the round!

THE NEW HOST
What can be said about John O'Hurley that hasn't already been said? He adds so much class to this show that hasn't been there in recent history. It's like watching a true master at work, albeit a bit nervous (at least from what I could tell from the audience). He runs the show with grace, dignity, and a bit of speed and pinache. It was a breath of fresh air after seeing Richard Karn and Louie Anderson have the Feud and not do it justice. O'Hurley makes me want to watch Feud again.

For those interested, I was in the audience for three episodes...#017, #018, and #019. Check the Feud website for the airdates of these episodes. I'm in the audience just offstage from the end of the right-hand family's bench. I won't reveal any details about who won what and how many times...you'll just have to watch for yourself.

Friday, August 18, 2006

The Countdown Is On...

Friday night...August 18...7:38 PM Pacific Time.

In less than 96 hours, life will change forever. Tuesday is the day...11 AM is the time...CBS Television City is the place. I'm buggin' out about this, if you haven't already figured that out. I can still remember when I received my first letter from the show on December 12th (oddly enough, Bob Barker's birthday...good omen, yes?) and saw that this opportunity was available. Well, in 3 days, I'm going to cash in my chips and hit the ground running.

As for new and interesting news: I just got back into L.A. last night from a two week home stand. I enjoyed my time at home, and it turned out to be very productive for me. I was able to finish not only the Scrabble software for next year's Game Show Congress, but the display software for this year's "OU Price is Right" event. I know, I'm a nerd.

Tomorrow, the California Contingency (all the guys from the Congress that live in So Cal, now including yours truly) is going to see an episode of Family Feud under the new leadership of John O'Hurley. Judging by early reports of his hosting and the pics of the new set, this should kick a large amount of butt.

This weekend also marks the last weekend at home for all of my Res Life friends from OU. Guys and gals, have fun getting back to campus and going thru orientation. I wish I could be there with you again this year, but I have something that has to be taken care of. Some of you will receive phone calls from me after my first day of work.

That's about all I know for right now. Look for a special post TUESDAY NIGHT with a recap of my first day of work at The Price is Right.