Barkerisms: Why not bid on Bob's pants, too? Edition

And we have even more fun from Studio 33!

"You know, you're a problem. You're a problem, Mildred!" - Bob, after he had trouble hearing Mildred's bid

"Could he buy just one from the hostess set? Maybe? He can't? Sorry, I did all I could to help you!" - Bob, on Dustin's $356 remaining credit limit in Credit Card

"She's falling apart on The Price Is Right!" - Bob, after Melinda's bracelet fell off

"Now, just try to stay on your feet over there!" - Bob, after Melinda "spun herself to the ground" during her second spin

"She should've been playing Least Expensive today!" - Bob, after Barbara picked the least expensive prize in Most Expensive

"Don gave me a great putter during one of the commercials. Now, let me assure you that had nothing to do with his name getting called!" - Bob, after Don was called on down

"I'm not hurrying her because she's acting as thought she's overcome with seeing me! And, as long as she acts like that, she can take as long as she wants!" - Bob, after Jolene kept patting her chest and complimenting Bob instead of bidding

Bob: "What were you bidding on?!"
Jolene: "You!"
(And why don't more contestants try to bid on Bob?!)

"Jordan, why did you ever change your mind? Nobody would've ever noticed. You could've just gone right on and played a game!" - Bob, after Jordan got called, walked up on stage, shook Bob's hand then went down to Contestant's Row

"You've come out from New Jersey, and now you're $1,100 in debt in California!" - Bob, after Josette finished Buy Or Sell with -$1,100

"Now, I really want William to win, since he has gone through so much trouble to be here with us today. William lives... 20 miles from our studio! And here here is now with us on stage!" - Bob, on William's lengthy journey

"Would one of the nurses come up and look at this, please?!" - Bob, after Connie broke a nail

"My greatest concern is that perhaps in your excitement you have broken another nail!" - Bob, after Connie found out she could win a car

"And the actual retail price is... I bet you don't win with that $100, Katelyn" - Bob, on Katelyn's insanely low bid

"Ladies and gentlemen, I think that after putting the effort that Shane put in getting into that shot, we should have a hand for her!" - Bob, after Shane had to run over to model the sofa up for bids

This week's Barkerism of the Week not had Bob picking on Rich, but even got Rich on camera!

"I have been talking with the audience during that commercial, and a mathematician pointed out to me that we have played one, two, three, four games without having a winner on The Price Is Right. Now, I think that is disgusting, don't you?! Aren't there any winners out there?! I know what the problem is... Rich Fields has been calling the wrong names! Let's all boo Rich! Boo! Boo!" - Bob, scapegoating Rich for the string of losses

Barkerisms: 35th Season premiere/147,517 reasons to watch edition!

Here they come! The Barkerisms from Premiere Week! And with the season premiere being such a special show (for more than one reason), I'll even include a few significant, non-Barkerism lines from the show that kicked off TPIR's 35th season.

"Here it comes! From the Bob Barker Studio at CBS in Hollywood! The first show of our record-breaking 35th year on CBS! It's the fabulous sixty minute Price Is Right!" - Rich, opening up the 35 season premiere

"And now, here is the star of The Price Is Right, a man who is celebrating his fiftieth year in television: Bob Barker!" - Rich, introducing The Man himself

"Welcome to the first show of the thirty fifth year on CBS for The Price Is Right!" - Bob, kicking off this historic day

Michael: "Can I take any out of my pocket?"
Bob: "You can't take any out of your pocket, no, and I can't loan you any!"
- Michael and Bob while playing Lucky $even during the season premiere

"During that commercial, I was talking with Roger Dobkowitz, our producer. I said 'Why didn't you tell me about that confetti?' Because that came as a complete surprise to me. He said 'I didn't have anything to do with the confetti!'. I said 'Where did it come from?' He says there is a member of the audience who ran down there. There he is! He's still throwing that confetti around! Look at that! That's where the confetti came from! We're celebrating here, but I thought I knew all the things we were doing to celebrate, but he added a new one on me! Thank you for your investment in the production of the show today!" - Bob, on the mysterious confetti-thrower at the season premiere (and, yes, Maddy took a handful of it home with her!)

"I love you! I do! I tell you, she says she loves me, and I told her I love her. I love her, and all of us on this stage love all of you, because without you... Without you, and people just like you there at home watching our show, we would never have lasted 34 years on CBS!" - Bob, thanking all of us for our role in helping this show last 34 years

Adam: "I love you!"
Bob: "I love you, too, Adam! This studio is filled with love!"
- Bob and Adam, right after Adam gets called down to Contestant's Row (And as someone who was in that studio that day, believe me, it was filled with love)

Adam: "Bob, can I say I've loved your show forever, for as long as I can remember. And I want to say hi to my girlfriend Stephanie and my little brother Brandon, and..." *turns around to show off the back of his shirt
Bob: "Adam... This Is Your Life!"
- Bob and Adam, during the last One-Bid

"Poor Carolyn, all she's won is three cars!" - Bob, during the second Showcase Showdown

"But, if you are the winner, and you're $250 or less away from the retail price of your own showcase, we will give you both showcases! And the way things have gone today, it would not surprise me one bit to have it happen!" - Bob, explaining the rules of the Showcases during the season premiere (just a few minutes before Vickyann did just that to win a daytime record $147,517 in cash and prizes)

"I've never had a contestant make MORE BIDDING! than Shawn does!" - Bob, on Shawn's over the top antics while bidding

Mariel: "Why me?!"
Bob: "Because you didn't get anything right over there!"
- Bob, on why Mariel was left with 8 boxes in 1/2 Off

Bob: "I just found out something interesting that I must pursue. We have all of the Beverly Hills Police Department over here! Now, in Contestant's Row, I have Shawn. But you don't work there, you're a volunteer? Are all of you volunteers?"
Shawn: "We have everything. Forensics specialists, police officers."
Bob: "You have a forensics expert? Over there? And who's the police officer? Oh, several of them are. But, let me point out that during the commercial, I was presented with a shirt from the Beverly Hills Police Department, and it's a Get Out Of Jail shirt, should I be arrested in Beverly Hills. But the thing that concerns me is that my Get out Of Jail shirt is from a volunteer, not from anyone with any authority! So, I am going to continue to behave myself in Beverly Hills!"
- Bob, who obviously doesn't have any plans to become an outlaw now

Bob: "Who told you to keep going? You asked someone."
Jennifer: "A couple of those dudes over there!"
Bob: "Do you know those dudes over there?"
Jennifer: "No."
Bob: "What makes you think those dudes know what's going on?"
Jennifer: "Go on!"
Bob: "Okay. Simply because a couple dudes in the audience told her to. And now you have $100. Now, wait just a moment. Is there anything you'd like to say to those dudes?"
Jennifer: "Tell me what to do and get it right this time!"
Bob: "The same dudes?! I'd find myself some different dudes!"
- Bob and Jennifer (who had $500 and gave it back) during the playing on Punchboard (and showing the audience doesn't always know best

"Hello, welcome to the stage! Now, I suppose you think that during the commercial, when I told you that you look so good for 80 years old, that you pass for 65, I suppose you think you can just come up on stage and playing a pricing game and win a wonderful prize, ignoring the fact that you never stopped in Contestant's Row? Well, it's not going to work. Get off this stage! Get down where you belong!" - Bob, after Marylinn thought "Come on down!" means "Come on up on stage!"

"She spun the wheel without checking with those two dudes!" - Bob, after Jennifer chose to spin again

"I can't believe you! During the commercial break, the contestants down here sit in these sits. Well, Marylinn gets up and tries to get up on stage again! Cory from Iowa State had to grab her and keep her down there! Now, you stay down there until we tell you to come up here!" - Bob, after Marylinn tries to sneak up yet again!

"Right down here! Don't try that!" - Bob, as Jeannie started heading toward the stairs after she was picked

Bob: "You'll either be a winner, or you won't..."
Dale: "Please!"
Bob: "I hate it when contestants beg! Just take it! Take it like a 60 year old woman!"

"Now, you had that wrong, so you should not get your $4,000, but I am giving you the $4,000. It's coming out of my salary. All of you people who are affected by this emotionally, just send me money, here in Hollywood!" - Bob, after he blew the reveal on It's In The Bag

Bob: "That's an interesting way to play the game."
Brandy: "It's how my grandmother told me to play the game."
Bob: "Your grandmother told you to do that? Well, you're going to be in trouble if you're off by $500!"
- Bob, on Brandy's playing of Clock Game (where she counted from $750 to $766 by $1 each on the first prize)

Great stuff. But the Barkerism Of The Week from Kickoff Week goes to Dr. Bob, once again dishing out psychological insights...

Bob: "Today's Dale's 60th birthday! I just happen to have a lovely little birthday present behind... What?"
Dale: "I hope it's big!"
Bob: "Some women are never satisfied with anything!"
- Bob and Dale, on her potential "birthday present" (which turned out to be a new van)

Greatest. Episode. EVER!

After an eighteen day wait, the rest of America finally got to watch what I first witnessed. Believe me, biting my tongue about this for nearly three weeks was painful, as you are about to see.

If you have not yet watched this episode, there are MAJOR spoilers in this post. You may want to wait and watch it yourself first.

If you have seen it, or don't plan to, read away and enjoy!

"HERE IT COMES! From the Bob Barker Studio at CBS in Hollywood! The first show of our record-breaking 35th year on CBS! It's the fabulous sixth minute Price Is Right!"

IUFB/PG #1: And with those words, we're off. After Kimala, Maria, Michael and William become the first four lucky people to get called on down to Contestant's Row, Bob makes his entrance through door #2 - greeted with a thunderous ovation (one, sadly, that TV just couldn't capture. You HAD to be there!)

And the first item up for bids in this landmark show? How about a $3,960 trip to Cancun!
Michael wins his way up on stage, and get to play Lucky $even... For a Cadillac CTS!

You can not imagine the electricity in the place when the car was reveal. Why? For those who don't watch, the cars played for in L$ are pushed out on stage. So imagine the thrill at watching that thing roll on out!

Michael's first guess was a 5, and lost $3 of his $7 when the door opened to reveal a 2.

His guess on the third number was a 7. The door opened to, sadly, reveal a 3 - costing Michael his last $4 and starting off season 35 with a kick to the gut.

OUCH!

Or, as Bob put it: "What a terrible way to start the 35th year on CBS!"

IUFB/PG #2: After the commercial break, Rich calls Carolyn on down to join the fun. The next item up for bids is a fitness bicycle, with a retail price of $1,999. Maria wins her way up on stage.

How do you top kicking off the season with Lucky $even for a Cadillac? How about 3 Strikes for a Corvette!

3 Strikes has always been one of my favorite games. It's played for expensive cars, and the gameplay is very exciting!

We watch as Bob puts the five numbers into the bag: The 0, the 1, the 3, the 5, and the 9. Then, of course, that evil red strike...

We're all thinking the price is $53,190. Of course, it isn't just about knowledge in this game. You need some luck as well.

Maria's first draw? The 0. She wisely chooses to put it fifth, which is correct.

Her second draw? The 9. She guesses third, and is once again correct.

Third pick? The 5. She goes with the obvious choice - first - and is rewarded by being correct yet again.

Fourth pick? The 3. She guesses second, and sure enough, it's second.

Four down, 1 to go - literally!

At this point, the audience is chanting "1! 1! 1! 1!" - which Mike and I started, of course. :P

Damn! The strike! Strike one...

1! 1! 1! 1!

No! Strike two!

Now it's nervous time in the Bob Barker Studio. We go from looking like we may have an exacta, and now are worried about a heartbreaking loss.

1! 1! 1! 1! 1!

And she draws.... the 1! WE HAVE OUR FIRST WINNER OF SEASON 35! A $53,910 Corvette, and the audience is going nuts!

I still love 3 Stikes, but that aged me FIVE YEARS! From looking like she was on her way to a clean sweep, to a full count? It's not nice to scary Maddy so!

IUFB/PG #3: Next to join our party is Vickyann. Next up for bids is a grandfather clock, valued at $3,285! Kimala wins her way up on stage, just in time to hear everyone's favorite words....

Yep, Kimala, you're about to play Plinko!

Oh, boy.

The first time I saw Plinko in person, I watched in horror as Andrew got all five chips - and put four of them into $0 and won a total of $500.

So, needless to say, I was a little nervous about this one.

Kimala also got all five chips, and all we could do at that point was cross our fingers and hope for the best.

Chip #1? $0!

Oh, no. Not again.. NOT TODAY!

Chip #2 brought more excitement... And $10,000! The Maddy Plinko curse is over! Break up The Maddy!

The third chip found it's way into $1,000, for a total of $11,000.

The fourth chip landed for another $100.

And the final chip dropped into $500, for a total of $11,600 - a HUGE improvement over my first experience with Plinko.

Showcase Showdown #1: Time to roll out the big wheel, because it's Showcase Showdown time! Michael, Kimala and Maria will be spinning for a spot in the Showcases, and perhaps even some cash.

Michael leads us off, getting a mere 45 cents in his first spin. His second spin is a suspensful one that stops of 25, giving him 70 cents total.

Next up is Kimala. Her first spin goes for only 30 cents, and she must spin again. Her second stop on 40, giving her a tie with Michael - and a spinoff if Maria doesn't beat them.

However, you can quickly forget those ideas. Maria gets 85 cents in her first spin, moving onto the Showcases at the end of the show.

IUFB/PG #4: Elissa becomes the next lucky audience member to be announced by Rich, and makes her way to Contestant's Row. Now we are bidding on a hot tub, valued at $3,495!

Wow, you know it's one special day when the prizes offered up for bids are the kinds of prizes usually offering in pricing games!

Vickyann wins her way up on stage, and gets to play Push Over for a Dodge Caravan SE.

This was a game that stumped me. I thought it would be the first choice possible ($19,460, the first five cubes). However, I read up after the taping that there is an unwritten rule that they NEVER use the first available choice in this game.

Vickyann went past that, and settled on $20,194. I was worried about her choice, but it was the only remaining choice that made any sense.

After stopping there, Bob asked the audience if we thought we had another winner - and got a mixed reaction.

Well, I'll eat crow, because Bob opened the flap to reveal... $20,194! And yet another winner, and another standing ovation!

And for those of you keeping score at home, we've reached the halfway point of our extravaganza. We have two winners in four games (three with the unofficial Plinko win). They've given away two vehicles and over $11,000 in cash.

And we still have two pricing games and the Showcases to go...

IUFB/PG #5: Adam is next to take a trip down to Contestant's Row, and next up for bids is a queen-sized bid, valued at $3,084!

William, the last of the first four contestants, gets up on stage to play Double Prices.

Double Prices is usually not one of the more exciting pricing games. They offer a prize, and show two price tags. Pick the right one, and you win. About it's only redeeming quality is that it is one of the original pricing games, dating back to the very first show.

Well, today Double Prices will be exciting, thanks to the fact that William is playing for an 18 foot skiboat!

Mike and I actually saw the prop for Double Prices rolled out during the One-Bid, and my jaw dropped. Holy shit! A prize that is either $16,112, or $18,994?!

Fortunately, there is a little rule of thumb when it comes to boats on boats on The Price Is Right: Take the length of the boat and multiply it by $1,000. So, that boat just screamed $18,994.

That was William's choice - and the correct one! We have another winner! We have another standing ovation! And during the commercial break, William had fun posing near his boat and the big doors.

IUFB/PG #6: Well, it's now time for one last contestant. And that would be Deborah...

No. I'm kidding. No luck. Margaret gets to come on down. Our last item up for bids was a drum set - and our first overbid of the year, as all four contestants were over.

The second time around, Carolyn wins that $1,080 drum set, and her way up on stage - just in time for our jaws to drop some more.

Before revealing the prizes, Bob told Carolyn that she was about to play Most Expensive. Most Expensive is another quickie game that isn't one of the more exciting games on The Price Is Right. It's played for three prizes. If the contestant picks the most expensive of the three prizes, they win all three.

When Bob said they were just about to play Most Expensive, on this show, with these prizes, I put my hand over my mouth and said "Oh my god".. Because I had a feeling what was coming next...

And imagine the thrill in the studio when door #1 opened to reveal... A new PT Cruiser!

And behind door #2... A new Jeep Wrangler SE!

And door #3... A Chevy Impala LS!

Holy shit! Three cars!

Most of the audience was thinking it was the Impala. I knew it was the Jeep. Which led to an exchange with a person in the row in front of me:

Person: "What?! Are you crazy?! It's the Impala!"
Me: "That's a $19,000 Jeep."
Person: "And that Impala is over $20,000!"
Me: "Not for an Impala LS. Those are the low-end ones. It's about $17,000."

Well, Carolyn picks the Jeep, so they'll reveal that one last...

The PT Cruiser? $16,000.

The Impala? $16,990.

At that point, the person in front of me turns around to say "Wow. I think you're right!"

So, now, time to reveal the price of the Jeep.... $19,135!

It's another winner, and over $50,000 in cars!

So that's four wins (five, counting Plinko).. That's 6 cars, a boat, and $11,600 in cash!

All that's left to go is the second Showcase Showdown, and those "Fabulous Showcases"...

Showcase Showdown #2: In the second Showdown, we have William, we have Vickyann, and we have Carolyn.

William leads us off, and posts a tough score right off the bat: 95 cents. He obviously stays, and take his chances.

However, that score didn't last very long... Vickyann gets that $1.00 in her first spin, winning $1,000 and forcing Carolyn to tie her.

That, by the way, marked the second time I've seen someone get $1.00 in person.

Carolyn's first spin goes for 40 cents. Now only the 60 will help, but it's not to be. She gets only 45 cents in the second spin.

Sadly, this taping also makes it 2 for 2 of watching a contestant get nothing in their bonus spin. Vickyann gets 40 cents, but she is moving onto the Showcases with Maria!

Showcases: Now, most people get fired up to hear Plinko is about to be played. Me? Give me those Showcases. Maybe it dates back to the fact I watched the show since 1979. Why? Back then, you only had one cash game (Punchboard), and 99% of the time they played for cars, they were cars well under $10,000.

The Showcases were the thing. That was often where we saw the big prizes. Besides, there is no thrill like seeing a contestant win both Showcases - nor the heartbreak of watching a Double Overbid.

And this being a season premiere? Believe me, I was anticipating fireworks for these Showcases...

Showcase #1 was a trip to New York City, an assortment of digital cameras, and a brand new Saturn Sky!

Mind you, I had no idea what that car was until today. I didn't recognize it, and despite sitting five feet away from Rich Fields, I couldn't hear him. So I was lost on that car, but I was thinking it looked fairly expensive, and would go for about $35,000-$40,000 alone.

Maria, who was the top winner and had the choice of Showcases, chose to bid on this. She bid $35,000, which I was thinking was a fairly decent bid.

So now Showcase #2 belongs to Vickyann.

Her showcase starts off with a JBL home theater system. Next up is a Robotron/Joust arcade game.

But, before going to the third prize, let me give you a bit of a story...

While in line, Mike and I chatted with someone named Donald. He told us that the evening before, around 5:00 pm, he was bored and looked out the window of his hotel room to see something being brought into Television City. A certain something that he believed to be very fast, and very expensive.

Well, he saw right. Because the last prize in Vickyann's showcase was a Dodge Viper!

Vickyann, after saying "hi" to a few people, gives a bid of $89,500. This was not a popular bid with the audience. People were shouting "$60,000" and "$70,000". For a Showcase with a Viper?! That car is over $80,000 by itself!

Vickyann's bid was scary. Because it could've been close - close good, or close bad. And while going over at all costs you the Showcase (as someone said during the commercial break), it's the close overbids that HURT. I mean, if someone is over by $10,000, they're over, you know it, you forget about them...

Well, it's finally time to reveal the prices of those Showcases. And the best way to do it is let Bob's own words speak for themselves...

"Maria, you have bid $35,000 on your showcase. And the actual retail price is... $33,089. You are over. And Vickyann, if you don't go over, you're a winner."

Now, at this point, it's nervous time in the Bob Barker Studio. I mean, after all the excitement, all the winning, all the fireworks, to possibly have a Double Overbid?! The horror!

On the other hand, though? This could be incredible. This could be exciting. But a double showcase win? Naw... It couldn't happen... Could it?

It's time to find out the price of Vickyann's Showcase. At this point, I'm standing there, unable to see anything. Where I was, the cameraman blocked the view of her Showcase podium, so I was stuck looking up at the monitors and hoping I can hear Bob:

"You bid $89,500 on your showcase. And Vickyann, the actual retail price of your showcase is... Eighty nine thousand...."

At this moment, I'm looking up at the monitor, thinking "Oh, god, please don't be a painful overbid."

"...Seven..."

The audience goes nuts. Now I can't even hear Bob! All I can do is look up at the monitors to see them put up the difference on the display.

239. TWO HUNDRED THIRTY-NINE DOLLARS. I stand there, point at the monitor, and scream at the top of my lungs for a few seconds before I shout "OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD! LOOK WHAT SHE JUST DID!"

"...thirty nine! YOU WIN BOTH SHOWCASES! Both showcases!"

Still unable to hear Bob, I see Vickyann's total flash up on the monitor. $147,517!

"You have won $147,517! Vickyann is the biggest winner in Price Is Right history, daytime!"

334 people are now on their feet, screaming, applauding and in an utter state of shock. A DOUBLE SHOWCASE WIN! A minivan, a Saturn Sky, a Viper, various other prizes, and $1,000 in cash! What a haul!

You can see I was not kidding when I said I sacrificed my voice for television history! I screamed! I shouted! I pumped my fists! I high-fived random strangers!

While I prefer Vin Scully's call for Kirk Gibson's home run in the 1988 World Series, the more fitting quote here was Jack Buck's: "I DON'T BELIEVE WHAT I JUST SAW!"

Thanks to heelsrule1988 on Golden-Road.net, you too can watch this historic moment. He posted Vickyann's Showcase reveal on YouTube. Click here and enjoy!

There are a list of things I have always wanted to see in person. I want to see Hole In One played. I want to see someone get $1.00 in their bonus spin (especially a Million Dollar Spectacular). I want to see Golden Road played - especially if it's won. I want to see Triple Play. I wanted to see 3 Strikes - which did happen.

And, I wanted to see a Double Showcase Win.

And not only did I get to see it unfold, but to see the biggest daytime winner in not only TPIR history, but CBS history! Vickyann's winnings shattered the previous record, held by the infamous Michael Larson - who of course memorized the patterns on Press Your Luck's big board, taking home $110,237 in 1984.

For this, I am sure CBS is grateful.

After the show, with a hoarse voice and exhausted, I got to run into Vickyann and her husband. And just like with Jeanette, I congratulated her on her record-shattering victory.

What an incredible day. What an incredible moment. Ladies and gentlemen, season 35 has kicked off in grand fashion!

And words cannot express how grateful I was there to witness it, first-hand.

Congratulations, Vickyann!

I sacrificed my voice for television history!

Yesterday, I attended my fourth taping of The Price Is Right. However, this wasn't just any taping... This was a piece of television history - the premiere episode for TPIR's 35th season!

Needless to say, spirits were high, and the energy from this crowd could've powered all of Southern California. I thought the first three tapings were energetic and passionate... NOTHING could've prepared me for this. Not only was there more energy and passion yesterday than the previous three tapings combined, but Michael and I both did our share of fueling that energy throughout the day.

We all knew this was big, but we didn't realize just how big until we saw the media attention that our little party was about to get. A crew from Entertainment Tonight Canada showed up just after 10:00 am to speak to little ol' us. Countless pictures were snapped of the audience members as they waited to enter. And when we did enter, we were greeted with a number of cameras (both still and video) up on stage.

When I attended my first taping back in November, I had spoken of the feeling of walking into a piece of history. That was magnified by about 10,000 yesterday. This truly was a celebration of 35 seasons of history, of a show that started off as a game show and has turned into a true piece of American culture.

No matter what would happen during those 60 minutes that all of America will see, I knew I was taking part in a truly unforgettable, one of a kind experience...

And I'll do my best to take you through some of it with us.

Chuck ROCKS! Poor Chuck. He seemed so happy and excited on April 27, when he posted on Golden-Road.net and told us he had just been hired to be a page at CBS, and would get to work TPIR occasionally...

I don't think ANYTHING could've prepared him for what he was about to face.

Chuck, just after 10:00 am, went through the rules and regulations with an over-the-top speech (I jokingly referred to it as "Shatner on crack"). During that speech, he touched on the fact that you must put your LEGAL first name on your contestant card, citing the example that he would put "Charles"...

However, he made the mistake of saying "Don't call me Charles!", so of course once he finished his speech, I shouted "THANK YOU, CHARLES!"

Poor Chuck. We were only getting started... Because a couple of idiots *sweet, angelic smile* at the end of the first bench started up the first "CHUCK! CHUCK! CHUCK!" chant of the day as he walked by to start collecting contestant cards. And, sure enough, a few seconds later that chant of two had turned into a chant of about 120 as everyone joined in...

Michael had his fun with Chuck's delivery of the rules, by greeting him with an equally over the top "HERE I COME TO SAAAAAAVE THE DAY!" when Chuck came by to collect his contestant card.

Chuck's response? A flat, sarcastic "Thank you, Michael."

Chuck disappeared for about 30 minutes (probably trying to get away from us), then was greeted with yet another chant when he returned. I then chimed in with "What were you doing, Chuck? Calling security on us?! Because I would if I were you!"

Oh, boy.

It carried on all day...

Chuck walked around the corner (and past me as I was out there smoking)? I start up, and next thing you know 20 other people join in... "CHUCK! CHUCK! CHUCK!"

He walks over to fire us up around noon? "CHUCK! CHUCK! CHUCK!"

He tells us about his own experience as a contestant (which aired March 31 of last year)? "CHUCK! CHUCK! CHUCK!"

He asked how many Yankees fans were here, so he could insult the Yankees? "CHUCK! CHUCK! CHUCK!"

I think (though I can't say for certain) that he decided to get us to chant something else, so he encouraged us to chant "BOB! BOB! BOB!" when Bob entered the studio that afternoon... Which worked for a while.

Because, of course, when he went over to warm up the people around the corner, he left hearing - you guessed it! - "CHUCK! CHUCK! CHUCK!"

Poor, poor Chuck...

Michael and I tried to get chants started for the other pages as well ("SA-RA! SA-RA! SA-RA!"), but these just didn't take off...

Of course, the wait in line consisted of more of the usual insanity: Cheering other potential contestants after their interviews completed, cheering people as they came around the corner after completing their interviews, cheering people as they entered and exited the restrooms, and so many high-fives it's a miracle our hands didn't fall off...

I don't think at this point Rich needed to warm us up after we entered the studio - any hotter, and we would've set Bob on fire!

Next stop: Television history! Fifteen minutes later than usual, we finally make that walk into Mecca itself - with the obligatory high-fives on the way in.

Usually upon entering the Bob Barker Studio, we enter to the lights dimmed and a fairly empty stage... Not today.

Instead, the lights are on, and we're greeted with three people with video cameras and a still photographer. And, the staff wasted no time cranking up the music and trying to get 334 people even more fired up.

It certainly worked...

People clapped, people screamed, people danced, the only thing missing from this party (at this point) were Bob, Rich and an assortment of prizes.

But at the moment, we didn't need them... We had energy. We had music.

And we had Chuck!

Yes, Chuck was in the studio, having the honor of working inside the Bob Barker Studio for this historic day...

And, sure enough, two people greeted him with "CHUCK! CHUCK! CHUCK!"... Which turned into 334 people chanting his name...

He paraded around, carrying the sign which stated the air date for this episode... "CHUCK! CHUCK! CHUCK!"...

He then did it again, and you guessed it - another chant!

Finally, they cranked up Crystal Waters' "Come On Down", briefly dimmed the lights, and out came Rich Fields to warm us up, greeted with not only a standing ovation, but you guessed it...

"RICH! RICH! RICH!"

Well, sure enough, he got us even more fired up. He drilled us on what to do upon hearing the phrase "Bob Barker" (a thunderous standing ovation and chant), and set himself up again for yet another Madgeism...

Rich: "27 years ago, I was sitting right there in the back for my first taping. It was 1979, I had just turned 18. You do the math..."

Maddy: "19!"

Rich: "Bless your little heart! Deborah, you said that? Get her name down, I need to send her a Christmas card! Deborah, what's your last name?"

Maddy: "Gibson!"

Rich: "Gibson.. Wait a minute.. That makes you Debbie Gibson!"

Maddy: "Uhh.. Yeah!"

He went through the story about his first "turn" as announcer (when Johnny let him take the microphone before the show and shout "Johnny Olson, come on down!".. The good news/bad news routine ("The bad news is, we have rules. The good news is, I just saved a bunch of money on my insurance by switching to Geico!"), and the usual drill ("Yes, you can hug." "Yes, ladies, you can kiss." "Ladies, no sloppy kisses. Guys, no kissing!")

And, now, it was finally about that time.. After hours of cheering Chuck, and Rich, and each other...

Bob has entered the building! The Man himself makes his entrance, greeted with a thunderous ovation and an equally thunderous chant of "BOB! BOB! BOB!" - one which didn't stop until the first item up for bids was revealed...

He was then greeted with yet another after the first pricing game, and his usual response of "Please, thank you. One standing ovation a day is enough for a man like me!" received the response of "No, it's not!" from Michael...

And it certainly wasn't.. Not today. Not kicking off your 35th season of The Price Is Right... And not kicking off your 50th season on television!

Bob was in prime form today, no doubt fired up as well.

During the commercial breaks, we heard requests ("Bob, can you wish my mother a happy 85th birthday?" "You tell your mother when you get home that Bob Barker said 'Happy 85th birthday!'"), we heard compliments (Thanking him for all the great years, and one who thanked him for all his animal rights work, saying the world would be a better place with more people like him - greeted with yet another "BOB! BOB! BOB!" chant), and of course... Barkerisms!

After the THIRD standing ovation of the day: "First, you're going to spoil me. Second, we still have an hour to go!" Rich replied to that by yelling "They love you, Bob!"

Boy, did he have that right... I think we tried to give him more applause that day than the previous 34 seasons COMBINED!

In response to those of us who were born AFTER The Price Is Right debuted: "Can you imagine what your parents did BEFORE The Price Is Right?" (after a pregnent pause) "They watched Truth Or Consequences!"

After a mini-group (we had no full, official groups yesterday) calling themselves "Barker's Dirty Dozen" got his attention: "There's more than a dozen of you!" (There were 13, as in a baker's dozen - or would that be a baRker's dozen?)

Another group, calling themselves "Bob's Adopted Kids" got his attention: "That's a scary sight to wake up to!"

Another mini group wearing orange shirts with the Texas flag, saying "Don't mess with Barker": "You're not a group. You're just a bunch of people in orange shirts!"

In response to the three mini groups: "So I have Bob's Dirty Dozen, Bob's Adopted Kids, and Bob's guys in orange shirts!"

Two people try to pass themselves off as a group: "You're not a group! You're just two people!"

Four others try it: "You're not a group! You're just four people who went drinking together last night!"

On why he hasn't done anymore movies: "I refuse to do any nude scenes!"

After a few people brought gifts for Bob: "If any of you are embarassed because you didn't bring a gift, money will do quite nicely!"

After one of the "Dirty Dozen" asked for a kiss: "Can't you see I'm working up here?! However, I'll meet you in the parking lot after the show!"

A man posed a trivia question to Bob (What is Quamba, and where is it). Bob and everyone on stage plays pass the question ("Uhh, you take this one, Rich." "No, this is yours, Marty!"). Bob finally suggests it's a beer, Rich thinks is tequilia. Once they're given the answer (a town in Minnesota with 89 people), Bob slaps his thigh and yells "Damn! I knew that! Wait, are you sure it's 89 people? I could've sworn there were only 88!"

After the second person asked for a handshake "If I shook everyone's hand, I'd be here all night! I may as well run for office at this point!" (But, yes, he shook her hand)

(The first person to ask for a handshake was a handicapped person who walked with a cane. Bob said "Of course!", shook his hand, then he walked over to get a hug from Rich - and was warmly applauded by the audience.)

Bob also made the mistake of trying to share the applause by urging us to give a round of applause to the staff there at CBS. This led to - you guessed it - one last chant of "CHUCK! CHUCK! CHUCK!".

At this point, Chuck must've either felt 15 feet tall, or looking to crawl into a hole and bury himself!

Another person asked Bob how they could get Rich's job: "You can't. Rich is staying with me forever!" (I was sitting right near Rich, and looked over to see him shaking his finger at the person who asked)

Poor Roger Dobkowitz even got it during the show. Why? Because someone in the audience kept running up and throwing confetti throughout the show, and did so right after Bob entered... Bob thought (at first) that it was cooked up by Roger, and said "I thought you told me everything you were going to do!", which inspired a two person chant of "DOB! DOB! DOB!"

Roger was looking right over at us, and then wasn't seen for a few more minutes after that. We must've scared him off..

What can I say but I did it! I stopped The Dob!

But, we got two great ones...

"Bob, what's your secret to looking so young and being so healthy?"
"What's my secret, you ask? Booze!"
(Audience erupts, and yet another "BOB! BOB! BOB!" chant begins)
"You're only doing that because you're a bunch of drunks! I was joking!" (he then went on to say it's his diet and exercise)

But, you can't have a historic, monumental episode of The Price Is Right without THE Barkerism, the one that started it all...

"Bob, speaking of movies, can we hear a line from Happy Gilmore?"

"That would not be appropriate! I can't say that here! There are women here! See Fingers Greco over there? I don't think she should hear that!" *audience cheers some more, egging him on* "And we have the vice president of CBS Daytime over here too!" (Sorry, I didn't catch her name) "Okay, I'll ask her if I should say it..." *audience erupts again* "Don't do that! Don't try to sway her!"

"Okay.. These young people over here want me to say 'The price is right, bitch!'" *audience goes nuts, drowns out the rest of what Bob says, as he is greeted with yet another chant*

And not only that, but Bob is now aware of the whole concept of Barkerisms!

Michael raised his hand at one point to ask a question, and this was the exchange that took place:

Michael: "We get a kick out of all the jokes and stories you tell during the commercial breaks - in fact, we refer to them as Barkerisms. Have you ever considered taping them, releasing them on DVD, and giving the proceeds to animal rights organizations?"

Bob: You know, that is a great idea! Thank you!"

Michael: "Just a second. Bob? Actually, that wasn't my idea. It's her idea!" *pointing at me*

Bob *looking at me*: "It is a great idea. Thank you!"

Talk about high praise! Wow...

Just an unbelievable day, with a surreal ending... After the show wrapped up, Bob walked up (greeted with one last standing ovation), thanked everyone, and asked for us to give a round of applause to "the best announcer in the business, Rich Fields" - with Bob surrounded by nearly a dozen cameras and microphones from the various media agencies here to cover this piece of history.

Rich, of course, got more than applause, as he too got a standing O, and one last chant as he and Bob briefly hugged.

What a day!

As for the show itself, a contestant... No. I can't tell you. I can't share what happened. I won't play the spoiler. All I will say is if you are a fan of The Price Is Right, you MUST watch this episode, which will air September 18. You won't want to miss this! Consider this Must See TV! Watch it! Tape it! Tivo it! Just make sure you watch!

No, I wasn't picked. My involvement with this historic day consisted of cheering, screaming, chanting and watching everything in person.

Oh, yes... And getting an autograph.

After the show, I walked up to Rich Fields, shook hands, and then got him to sign the back of my contestant card. So, now I have a neon pink card, with a giant "044" on it (how fitting as a lifelong Reggie Jackson fan), signed by Rich Fields. :)

But you know what? I wouldn't have missed it for anything...

Except maybe a date with Madonna.

Here's to 35 amazing seasons, and here's hoping for 35 more!