"The Price is Right" - Why Do All Contestants Where Lapel Mics?

[eacalhoun]

I've been a longtime viewer of TPIR, remembering back to the early 70s when the show was "The New TPIR" (to differentiate the Bill Cullen-hosted version from the 60s), the syndicated nighttime show hosted by Dennis James, and the transition of the daytime show from 30 minutes to 1 hour. Didn't this happen when CBS ended the "Love of Life" soap which aired at 11:30am ET? But, I digress...

My question pertains to why and how long contestants on the current show have been wearing lapel mics? I did not realize this until a week ago when a female contestant stumbled while climbing the stairs toward the big turntable and Drew. The camera had a rear view of her (with Drew in the background awaiting her arrival from contestants' row) when she stumbled - her shirt flew up enough to reveal the mic transmitter clipped to the back of her jeans. When she finally reached Drew and turned around, I could see the mic clipped to the top of her shirt. From then, I've noticed that all contestants are wearing mics. How long has this been done? And, why is it necessary when the podiums in contestants' row and the showcase have hard-wired mics and Drew has a handheld mic which he can quickly pivot from his mouth to the contestant's? It would also seem that everyone in the audience (minus those who only wish to be spectators) would need to be "miked-up" prior to taking their seats - that's a lot of wireless mics to be handing out, as well as master control determining which mic to "make hot" when the "come on down" is given.



Eric

[Fred Derf]

Makes me wonder if only the contestants that will be picked are mic'd? Maybe they know ahead of time?

[teachsac]

In the past, constestants were picked outside while everyone was lined up. DOn't know if they still do that.

S~

[Scott Greczkowski]

From what I understand is the people are miced after they get to contestants row. So when they come on down they are not wearing a mic, hen they get to the podioum they are not wearing a mic, but after commercial break they are wearing a mic.

I was a big fan of the Price is right, but not so much since Drew took over. I like Drew but he seems to have no control over the contestants like Bob did. People are walking all over Drew now when no one would have did that to Bob.

[Iceberg]

I was a big fan of the Price is right, but not so much since Drew took over. I like Drew but he seems to have no control over the contestants like Bob did. People are walking all over Drew now when no one would have did that to Bob.

yup. It should be called "Make an idiot of yourself" because it seems like everyone wants to make a fool of themselves. Maybe its a contest of how many random people you hug or hi five when coming down to contestants row.
The way they edit the show now it must take them 2 hours to take a 45 minute show

[MikeD-C05]

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I like Drew. He doesn't take himself or the show that seriously. He laughs at some of the bullsh*t that goes on ,as much as I do. I must have similar sense of humor. OF course I liked his other show he had in the 90s too.