‘The Price Is Right’ Fans Say This Change Is Making the Show ‘Unwatchable’
What To Know
- Some fans of The Price Is Right believe the “come on down” dances by new contestants have become overly exaggerated.
- Producers actively encourage audience members to perform energetic dances when called, even showing example clips as inspiration.
- Longtime viewers argue that these forced displays feel disingenuous compared to the genuine excitement of earlier eras.
It’s a well-known fact that when it comes to The Price Is Right, producers are in search of people with big, bubbly personalities while interviewing potential contestants from the live audience. But is there such a thing as too much enthusiasm? Some fans seem to think so, especially when it comes to the big “come on down” moment when a player is plucked from the crowd to join Bidder’s Row.
In fact, long-term viewers have noticed how contestants running towards the stage have become more and more over-the top, a change seemingly encouraged by the show’s bosses. Now some viewers say their reactions look “tacky and stupid,” and are making the show “unwatchable.’
On the Reddit fan page for the game show, one poster suggested that it’s time to put an end to new players “danc[ing] down the aisle like it’s Soul Train.”
“Come on down” dances are certainly a hallmark of the show — and it’s not just dances people do, either. In the past, we’ve famously seen people do everything from rolling down and doing a split halfway to crowd surfing to the stage.
In response to the fan’s note about it, then, several commenters pointed out that the players are encouraged to strut their stuff on the way down to the front.
“My friend was just at a taping recently and said that they literally tell you to do this,” one person wrote.
“They actually show waiting audience members a clip of a guy doing this from an old episode to use as example of what they are looking for in contestants,” added someone else.
Still, even though it’s encouraged, some TPIR watchers agreed that it’s gotten out of hand.
“It looks tacky and stupid,” said another commenter.
“It’s ridiculous,” wrote someone else.
“The show has gotten unwatchable for me lately,” added another. It never used to be this extreme in terms of over-the-top contestants.They really need to tone it back a few notches. It’s almost cringey.”
“I mean yeah, you want contestants with some personality but they should be likeable and relatable not maniacal,” said one fan in agreement with the original poster. “I understand that it’s something the producers encourage, but I really can’t fathom why. It’s not especially interesting TV compared to the actual games/contestants actually on stage/Drew doing his thing,” another added.
One fan wrote that the tradition has become “disingenuous” nowadays, adding, “Back in Bob’s day, when people acted like that, it was genuine – because everyone is different, and each of them showed excitement in their own way. Now, it feels like a bunch of TikTok tryhards trying to outdo each other, and I miss the reactions of genuine shock when somebody heard their name called. I much prefer it when you never know who you’re gonna get when you hear the words ‘Come on down!’ That unpredictability is better TV than this forced fake stuff.” Another agreed and called it “unwatchable” and “extreme,” adding, “They really need to tone it back a few notches. It’s almost cringey.”
The Price Is Right‘s “Come on down!” tradition began in the 1972 edition of The Price Is Right with then-announcer Johnny Olson (hosted by Bob Barker). It was then carried on by Rod Roddy, beginning in 1986 when he became the announcer and issued “call downs.”
“Barker later reflected on the show’s use of the phrase in 2007, saying, “‘Come on down’ was three words in a script, and the late Johnny Olson, with his delivery, he started what has become [a catchphrase]… And now, wherever I go, ‘Hey Bob, come on down!'”
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P
I agree, hate this come on down screaming. People bouncing up and down like a cheerleader. This started this in 2020 during covid. Tone it down. Please
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O
I agree. I watch the old price is right with Bob Barker and it was so much nicer when people were called. They just ran down and stood in their spot. Didn't act like lunatics. I don't watch watch it anymore now days. Just stupid watching people. Looks like they are auditioning for something.
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O
woke at it,s worst !
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O
I think the way the contestants act is completely ridiculous. Drew ain’t no battery either. He has completely ridiculous too.. no way these people are acting on. The price is right now has made me literally not wanna watch the show anymore and I have been watching the show for years.. why can’t we just watch normal price is right show without everybody acting stupid and go back the way it used to be when Bob Barker was the host.i mean you can get excited and stuff but y’all just taking it too far.. I have been wanting to complain about this myself and now that I see something wrote up about it. I am complaining come on please y’all don’t run a good show that’s been on for years.. I don’t have to act that way to get the Publix attention with the way y’all doing things now on this show y’all are running the show.
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O
Actually, the big problem is that producers are idiots. They need to put the pot away and just go to work.
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P
Tired of the craziness, It workef the way they were doing it and people loved it. I agree I have said for a while it's getting out of hand
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O
I don’t like it so much that I now DVR the show so I can fast forward through it.
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B
Drew Carey was not a good pick for mc. He is like a broken record.Same old routine with him. Bob kept it interesting by interacting with the contestants and making it fun to watch. They need someone like Wayne Brady.
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R
Cheesy. When the MC and the girls have to dress up to be characters come on now it’s a game show. It’s about the contestants not about the people that work there.
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J
I just turned off T.P.I.R. because I couldn’t take this anymore. I’ve been a loyal fan since I was a kid in the 70’s. It’s absolutely ridiculous. It’s contrived and not spontaneous. It’s ruined the show.
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N
It's to the point where I'm waiting for people to start foaming at the mouth when they run down the aisle. It's so fake. Nobody acts like that in real life.
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L
That is what I do.
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L
I record the show and zoom through the audience picks to miss the ridiculous dancing and such.
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