By Dan FletcherThe Daily Northwestern
It was a night of firsts for “The Price Is Right.”
A take-off of the popular game show was held Wednesday night in McCormick Auditorium as a Special Olympics fundraiser. Although this was only the second year the group hosted the event, they reported that the show made Northwestern – and television – history.
The audience of more than 250 people was told it was the first time that the winning contestant has ever guessed the exact price of his showcase, or the prize at the end of the show. Medill junior Kurt Soller earned that distinction, along with a trip in London and tickets to a White Sox game as his prize.
“I came to support my friends and I didn’t expect to win,” said Soller, a PLAY staffer. “It’s crazy.”
Soller said he would share the prizes with his friends.
“I just got back from study abroad and now I can go out and have crazy fun that I didn’t have the money for,” he said.
The crowd was also informed that it was the first time that a contestant has been heckled by the crowd. Weinberg junior Brian McCabe drew the crowd’s ire after he changed his guess at the last minute to beat a fellow contestant.
“It was a unique experience,” he said. “I’m having fun despite it.”
The show had a few first-time departures from its typical format. Instead of being asked pricing questions, the four contestants competing to get on stage were asked Special Olympics trivia.
The famed “Price Is Right” wheel had to be spun on the ground because the crew could not get it to stand up.
But altogether, the nearly 90-minute show was a great success, said Emilie Hsieh, one of the special events coordinators for Special Olympics.
“I’m really happy about how it turned out,” the McCormick sophomore said. “The crowd got really into it and they walked away with great prizes.”
The prizes were donated mostly by local Evanston businesses and included spa treatments, dinners and gift certificates.
Hsieh said the money raised would benefit the special-needs athletes competing at the organization’s spring track and field competition, which is scheduled for May 12 at Evanston Township High School.
The production was staffed by a number of the show’s enthusiasts. Weinberg junior Dean Malec filled in as show host Bob Barker for the evening, a role he said fulfilled a lifetime dream.
“I’ve watched the show ever since I was a little kid,” Malec said. “Even then I wanted to be a game show host.”
Malec said he had to audition in front of Special Olympics executives to earn his part.
McCormick sophomore Stephen Wylie was the show’s announcer and impromptu historian. He said it is a role he fits well – he has nearly 500 episodes of the show cataloged on video tape.
“It’s a lifelong fascination of mine. My mom taped shows for me when I was in kindergarten, and I still have those episodes,” he said.
Nearly everyone involved said they hope the show returns for a third year.
“Hopefully, it’ll be back,” Hsieh said. “We’ve already put so much work into it.”
And NU’s Bob Barker, a sprightly 21, said he’d forgo retirement.
“I’d love to host it again,” Malec said. “It benefits such a great cause.”
Reach Dan Fletcher at [email protected].
