‘The Price is Right’ Fans Stunned by Contestant’s Wild $1 Bid in ‘Showcase’ Round
A Price is Right contestant caused quite a stir on Thursday’s (January 16) episode after making a wildly brave $1 bid during the Showcase round, only for it to pay off and win her a massive prize.
The contestant in question was Anna, who faced off against fellow contestant Amy Lee in a tricky pricing game.
Amy Lee was first up and had to guess the price of a laptop and craft suite, camping gear and painting set, and a 2024 Mazda Mazda3 S. She initially wanted to say $55,000 before the studio audience talked her down. She almost went for $35,000 but ultimately landed on $40,000.
It was then Anna’s turn to make her bid on three separate trips, including one to Mexico, another to Germany, and finally, a trip to Bali. She turned to her family in the audience for advice. “One Dollar?” she said, confirming whether that was what her family wanted her to say. She locked in her shocking $1 bid and dropped to her knees in anticipation.
“Alright, haven’t seen that in a while,” host Drew Carey said.
Per The Price is Right rules, if a player overbids, they automatically lose, so under-bidding is a known tactic. However, making such a move during the Showcase round, when high-priced items are on the table, is an incredibly bold tactic.
Thankfully for Anna, her risky play paid off, as Amy Lee’s guess of $40,000 was $11,000 over the actual price. This meant Anna won the game with her $1 bid — the actual price of the trips was $38,253, while Amy Lee’s items were worth $29,557.
Fans took to the The Price is Right Reddit page to debate Anna’s risky strategy, with some baffled by the decision and others praising her tactical thinking.
“A lady this morning bid $1 on the showcase… I initially screamed at the TV and threw my hands up. But I was thinking about it, and if the other bidder was over, she still could have won with a ridiculous $1 bid on a showcase,” wrote one Reddit user.
“Why risk going over when you suspect the other person was over on their bid,” another said.
“I was so dumbfounded when I saw it at first, but then thought about it and I guess it made sense,” the original poster added.
“It almost never happens,” said another in regards to the $1 Showcase bid. “Even Drew said it’s been a long time since someone bid $1 on the showcase. I just looked it up and it’s only happened 7 times in the past 20 years.”
Another wrote, “If you know your opponent overbid, it’s a great strategy.”
However, one commenter disagreed, saying, “It makes more sense in contestant row. It feels like spiking the ball to do it during showcase bidding. I thought it was disrespectful. The shame of overbidding is bad enough. To rub it in with a bid that will only win if your opponent has overbid is over the top.”
Others, though, said they’d have done the same, with one user writing, “When that first woman bid i said to my wife she’s way over so the other woman should bid a dollar but won’t. I was glad she did!”
“That’s bad ass honestly,” said another.
“Considering her opponent wanted to bid $55,000 on that showcase (with ONE car) before settling on $40,000, I don’t blame her,” wrote one fan.
What did you think of Anna’s bold bid? Would you have done the same? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
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Comments are closed on this story.
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B
She was absolutely right to bid $1. I would have done the same thing. The other woman was way over and if you watch the show you would know that.
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G
I think the $1 bid was strategically a great move. It was evident that the 40k bid was over. Why stress or take a chance of over bidding? Great bid!
10
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G
She was dead on to bid $1, because Amy Lee wasn't too enthusiastic about her showcase, she seemed null
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P
During the Bob Barker years it wasn't at all unheard of for a contestant in the showcase to bid $1 if they thought their opponent had overbid. And actually, Bob often complimented them for being strategic.
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O
No fan of the show should be shocked by the $1 bid. It's perfect strategy. Search "Price is Right Jose" on YT.
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P
I was a contestant on the Price is Right on Feb. 4,1983. As a showcase finalist, I realized that my opponent had overbid on her showcase, so I bid one dollar, and the show went to its final commercial. During the wait, Bob Barker questioned the wisdom of a previous contestant who tried the very same thing on an earlier show, and that it didn't work out. Well, this time it did, and I won $17,500+ worth of cash and prizes. I believe that I was the first contestant who was successful using this strategy.
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B
Would be a double win if she only had to pay taxes on the $1.00!!!!
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G
When's the last time when your on contestant row ,Something was less than $500? Also, when's the last time A showcase was less than twenty thousand dollars?
Just saying that would be my bass.My new one dollar bid.
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G
Bidding $1 on a showcase because your opponent most likely overbid on a showcase I'm surprised hasn't been done more often. Although, now that I think about it another way of getting the message across to your opponent more kindly
In this situation might be a bid of say $100, $500, or perhaps $1000. There also might possibly be a contestant in that situation who might still try to bid relatively close to the actual price of his or her own showcase in the hope of winning both showcases perhaps because of a specific prize in the opponent's showcase of his or her liking. It's possible but I don't think I would do so because you would likely risk losing your own showcase in the process when in that situation it's much easier to just win your own. So, that is my reasoning for why you don't often see a $1 bid in the showcase round on The Price is Right which again I am surprised hasn't happened more often.
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O
I probably would have bid at least $18,000. I haven’t seen a showcase that low for years.
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P
I think she was a smart cookie. I would have done it. Go girl!
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P
Absolutely bid $1. The other lady didn't have a clue about prices.
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P
JUST WIN BABY! 😘 ❤️
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O
Amy Lee seemed a little off in the show but was clearly over bidding when her friend was telling her a lower price. Anna knew she was way over so why not bid a $1 it’s not over the top or mean or spiking the ball. Today’s people seem to get hurt over anything.
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O
I think they should pick closest bid to actual price overbid or underbid.
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J
A blast from the past. I have seen the $1 bid often when Bob Barker hosted the show. An old trick that worked out for her. Congrats! Enjoy those trips you won one a $1 bid👍
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O
You should bid whatever YOU think you should bid... sometimes it works & sometimes it doesn't. It worked this time... Great strategy!
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O
It's a game. It's not illegal to bid only $1. It's not illegal to use strategy to play this game. I say go for it!!
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C
She should have bid $2
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G
I was screaming for her to bet a dollar! And she did it! (Must have heard me ..lol??) Drew didn't seem happy about, but whatever, she won!!
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P
Even if she suspected that the other contestant had over bid she still could have made a safe bid of $25000 or even $30000. I did feel it was somewhat rude!
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G
Why is it rude...the object of the game is to win...which is exactly what happened...
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O
Um, if Amy had bid $30,000, she would have overbid, also. That is NOT a winning strategy at all, Einstein...
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