“Here it comes, from the Bob Barker Studio at CBS in Hollywood, it’s The Price Is Right! Amelia Jaskiewicz come on down! John Sturgis come on down! Carey Sisson come on down! Christopher Saroka come on down! You are the first four contestants on The Price Is Right! And now, here’s your host, Drew Carey.”
The Colony resident Carey Carista Sisson, 52, was ecstatic to make it onto the stage. She and her partner, Brad Gerleman, 49, visited Burbank, California, to attend the Aug. 4 taping of the show. The episode aired at 10 a.m. Oct. 10 on CBS.
The Price Is Right began in 1956 as a television game show hosted by Bill Cullen. A new version was created in 1972, which Bob Barker hosted until 2007, when Drew Carey took over.
Four contestants compete to win cash and prizes by correctly guessing merchandise prices. The contestant who bids closest to the retail price — without going over — wins the item and gets to play a mini game for the chance to win more substantial prizes.
Once The Colony couple was selected for the audience, show staff interviewed everyone in groups, 20 to 25 at a time, to find contestants who would shine on camera.
Sisson has worked as a sexual health educator since 1998. She works from home — as does Gerleman, a graphic designer.
“I said I’m the little fairy; I sprinkle happy dust on everybody. I could see an assistant writing things down while I was talking, trying to be discreet,” she said.
Producers liked her personality, she said, but she also mentioned another edge. Gerleman had worn a bright yellow shirt that said “Carey + Carey = The Price Is Right.”
After the interviews and nearly five hours in line, they made it to the theater. Ushers began to seat them when someone approached and directed them to other seats. Sisson said the show’s producers strategically place guests when they know they are going to call on them. Then, the cameras are ready to show winners climbing over everybody to get on stage.
The contestants spin a large wheel once and then optionally a second time. The contestant with the total score closest to $1 without going over competes for the showcases. One contestant could win a large showcase of prizes at the end of the show by predicting the total price of a showcase item.
Sisson won jewelry but did not win her game. Fortunately, everybody has the chance to win at the end “at the big wheel” for the Showcase Showdown.
Sisson spun the highest number of the contestants — 90 cents. Her showcase included a shopping spree, a hot tub and a power boat. To win the prizes, she had to guess the price of the powerboat correctly. She said that in her years of watching, the showcases are usually worth no more than $30,000. She missed it by $16,000.
“I missed it big-time,” she said. “We knew we were going to get on. I wasn’t concentrated on winning because I’m not really interested in paying 40 percent taxes. It was the idea of getting on there, and it was a lot of fun.”
So she walked away with only the jewelry. Even so, she was thrilled to say “hello” to her girls on the air.
Sisson was in the audience when Bob Barker hosted the show about 12 years ago. Her daughters were toddlers. She didn’t get onstage because, as a young mother, she wasn’t exciting enough for TV, she said. But, over the years, The Price Is Right has become their favorite show. The family will make the trek to Burbank once again when her daughter turns 18.
“We’ve been watching it since they were born,” she said. “It will be fun for them.”
Lewisville/Flower Mound editor Adam Schrader can be reached at 214-773-8188 and on Twitter at @schrader_adam.
On Twitter: @schrader_adam
