Ever since I was a small child I remember watching game shows and loving them. Most of the shows sitting on my TiVos to be watched are game shows. I can’t seem to get enough of them. However, I’ve never been a contestant on one (although I tried out for Who Wants to be a Millionaire, but didn’t make it) and I’ve never been to a taping of a nationally televised game show. Since I was going to be in LA I checked the taping schedules of different games shows to see if I could remedy any of this – and thus we come to day 2’s adventures!

I got up quite early (PST, but about my regular time EST) so I could leave in time to get to The Price is Right! I got going a little bit later than I had planned, but for something this important, I had built in some extra time into the schedule, so I got there in plenty of time. As I was parking I noticed 2 other people parking that were wearing shirts that made me realize they were heading there too. So I went and talked to them a bit and walked over to the studio together and got in line. While in line I talked to them and some other people around me. I know this is not normal for me, but when it is something this exciting and I know I need to be more sociable to bring out the “game show contestant” qualities in me, I get it going.

Going to a taping of The Price is Right, is about a lot of waiting. First we waited in line outside the studio entrance until they started letting people in around 8 am. I was number 72 of around 300. Once inside the studio lot we waited in line and filled out our release forms. Also, while in this line the CBS Pages came through to write out our name tags and collect our forms. Then we had our individual pictures taken for use by the production crew. Also had pictures taken as souvenirs – which I paid for, figured this might be a once in a lifetime experience, so it was worth the $20 for a keepsake. After this, we waited in another line again. Once this line got moving, we moved in groups of about 30-40 where a producer did a quick interview of everyone in line, just a question or two each, and then on to the next line. It is this few seconds talking with the producer that they use to determine who gets to “Come On Down!” I felt I did good and was excited (didn’t have to force it, I mean, I was at The Price is Right!) Throughout the morning I kept not believing it was real and was so excited! It was then through security and into another line! All of the areas have benches to sit on while waiting, so you don’t have to stand the whole time. In this line they played an episode of TPiR on the monitors and then a “tips” video about how to behave in the studio, it was quite funny actually because they said things like to make sure to come down in a calm and dignified manner, and then showed clips of people coming down all crazy.

Then – it was finally time to go into the studio. Once inside they tell you where to sit (just to make sure they can keep groups together, fill in the seats, and whatnot). As pretty much everyone says when they go to a TV studio, they are a lot smaller than they appear on TV. I was still in a complete state of disbelief at this point that I was in the actual studio where The Price is Right is recorded. As the last people came in, George Gray came out and talked to us a little bit about how things were going to happen, etc. Then before you know it – the show has started taping. The lights come up, the music starts, and …..

THIS SECTION HAS BEEN CLASSIFIED SINCE THE SHOW DOES NOT AIR UNTIL FEBRUARY 25, 2015. TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENS, YOU’LL NEED TO WATCH THE EPISODE.

And just like that – before you know it – the show has been taped. A few observations. When people say it is loud in the studio – they aren’t kidding. Most of what you hear on TV, you can’t hear in the studio, Drew’s talking with the contestants, their Hello’s to people at home, etc. They are all drowned out in the studio by the loudness of the audience. Also, the time flies – absolutely flies and the whole experience is one big blur at the end. They do rerecord a few bits here and there as needed for if something wasn’t perfect, but it is pretty much real time live-to-tape. It was then out of the studio to get to my next adventure for the day, and I was hoping I could make it as I was running a bit late and it was already going to be a tight timeline.

I drove quickly (well as quickly as you can in city traffic) to Culver City to get to the Sony Studios for a taping of Wheel of Fortune. I was there later than I should have been, but got there before they took the studio audience in. I missed a step of checking in at a table (there was no sign that I saw to do so, and no one said anything, but then again I was late), but it all worked out and soon we were walking to the WoF studio. We get inside and along the way there are little displays and pictures of history, including one of the old trilons when Vanna had to work real hard actually turning letters. Again, the studio is a lot smaller than it appears on TV – it is amazing how with the proper set dressings and camera shots they can make the area look a lot larger. While they were getting the set ready, Jim Thornton came and talked to the audience, asking questions, sharing information, making jokes, etc. It was really neat watching them get the set ready. Then the taping began.

Again, can’t report anything about the actual games. It was neat watching them change the wheel configuration between rounds. It was a Disney themed week they were recording, so we all get a mouse ears hat, and they only recorded 2 episodes with this audience, since they only did a total of 5 episodes today, instead of their normal 6. Between the games Jim again asked trivia questions and gave out prizes. I won a t-shirt from when Wheel was in San Francisco in 2004. I won it because I knew the correct answer to who the original hostess was on Wheel. Jim was quite impressed that I knew the correct answer – which of course you all know is Susan Stafford. Also, during the 2nd game when some of the audience was petering out from applauding and I kept going full strength, one of the staff in charge of the audience game me a “blinky pin”. It is a Wheel of Fortune pin that has lights that flash like the wheel is spinning – kinda neat! I can say that the QuizBusters audiences are better behaved that this audience was. People behind me kept talking and almost giving answers out, very distracting. Also, when they’d talk when Jim was entertaining the audience, it was annoying, since I wanted to listen to Jim! Again, before you knew it, the tapings were over and I was headed back to my car. The two episodes I was at are scheduled to air on Thursday and Friday, March 5 and 6, although you won’t see me in the audience as I was seated off to the side more as I was at the end of the line as I arrived later than everyone else.

As I start driving, I realized I’m quite hungry as I hadn’t had a full meal since breakfast and only a few quick snacks in the car on the way to Wheel. I see a Burger King and Subway and pull in there. I decide to check Google to see if there is anything else close by that sounds better, and I find a Qdoba not too far away. I find it, and as I go inside I then realize it is part of the large Westfield Culver City mall. Before eating I walk around a bit just to see what is around. I had a nice relaxing dinner which also helped the traffic die down a little bit before heading back to my hotel.

So thus ends Day 2’s adventures. As I sit here typing this – it is all still such a blur and feels like just a fictional story to me and not something that really happened. If I didn’t have the keepsakes from it – I might not believe it happened. The dream that has come true for me today has no where nearly sunk in yet. Not sure when it all will fully hit me, but wow. I’m so glad I decided to come a day early so I could have this completely awesome day – I made one of my dreams come true, and maybe the 2nd one – but you’ll have to watch The Price is Right on February 25 to find out!