While researching something else, I came across a list of these incidents that tell us of the times contestants were chided by Bob Barker for trying to have an unfair advantage at winning (cheating?)...it is from Wikipedia so take it with a grain of salt, I am sure MrIggles can back this information up on its authenticity:

In the history of the show, there have only been five known incidents in which a player's actions have resulted in an unfair advantage:

On October 6, 1986, a contestant playing Shell Game, rather than placing her chip beside a shell, tried to put a chip under one of the shells, revealing that the ball was not beneath it. Though she attempted to follow up honestly by placing the chip next to the shell, as she intended, host Bob Barker chided her for placing the chip where she knew the ball was not, and allowed her to move the chip. She subsequently won enough chips to mark each of the shells except the one she had already revealed.

In 1988, a contestant playing 3 Strikes began to pull the third strike out of the bag, then put it back, hoping no one would notice. Barker did notice, and he chided her for it. She ended up pulling the third strike all the way out on a later draw.

A similar incident occurred on February 28, 1992, when a contestant was down to two discs; a strike and the last number. She drew a chip out of the bag, then quickly put it back in before anyone else could see what it was. She then drew the number and won.

On December 1, 1992, a contestant playing Pathfinder briefly touched his foot to an adjacent number. The number lit up, as it was thought the contestant was going to move there. After a bit of chiding from Bob, the game proceeded as normal.

On April 4, 2005, a contestant playing Flip Flop, rather than flipping the price panels, pressed the button on the game board that reveals the correct price. With the price revealed the game result was moot, and Barker awarded the contestant the prize, with apparent or mock disdain.

_______________________


I am sure there are many instances on game shows where contestants either tried to cheat or made an error that gave them an unfair advantage.

While researching something else, I came across a list of these incidents that tell us of the times contestants were chided by Bob Barker for trying to have an unfair advantage at winning (cheating?)...it is from Wikipedia so take it with a grain of salt, I am sure MrIggles can back this information up on its authenticity:

In the history of the show, there have only been five known incidents in which a player's actions have resulted in an unfair advantage:

On October 6, 1986, a contestant playing Shell Game, rather than placing her chip beside a shell, tried to put a chip under one of the shells, revealing that the ball was not beneath it. Though she attempted to follow up honestly by placing the chip next to the shell, as she intended, host Bob Barker chided her for placing the chip where she knew the ball was not, and allowed her to move the chip. She subsequently won enough chips to mark each of the shells except the one she had already revealed.

In 1988, a contestant playing 3 Strikes began to pull the third strike out of the bag, then put it back, hoping no one would notice. Barker did notice, and he chided her for it. She ended up pulling the third strike all the way out on a later draw.

A similar incident occurred on February 28, 1992, when a contestant was down to two discs; a strike and the last number. She drew a chip out of the bag, then quickly put it back in before anyone else could see what it was. She then drew the number and won.

On December 1, 1992, a contestant playing Pathfinder briefly touched his foot to an adjacent number. The number lit up, as it was thought the contestant was going to move there. After a bit of chiding from Bob, the game proceeded as normal.

On April 4, 2005, a contestant playing Flip Flop, rather than flipping the price panels, pressed the button on the game board that reveals the correct price. With the price revealed the game result was moot, and Barker awarded the contestant the prize, with apparent or mock disdain.

_______________________


I am sure there are many instances on game shows where contestants either tried to cheat or made an error that gave them an unfair advantage.


Irene, off the top of my head I can confirm the flip flop incident, as well as the pathfinder incident, but I think the date is way off on the pathfinder one. . Let me look into it. I can also confirm the one three strikes incident, it was obvious as all heck what the girl was trying to do. You could actually see the red of the strike in her hand. & her looking down at it ...lol

I often wondered if a contestant could feel the x on the chip while their hand was in there but when I was last at the show i felt the chips & they all feel the same!!!

Awesome facts about TPIR. Thanks for posting the info.

Irene, off the top of my head I can confirm the flip flop incident, as well as the pathfinder incident, but I think the date is way off on the pathfinder one. . Let me look into it. I can also confirm the one three strikes incident, it was obvious as all heck what the girl was trying to do. You could actually see the red of the strike in her hand....lol

Wow! What are the chances of us posting at the same time? :lol:

Wow! What are the chances of us posting at the same time? :lol:


1 in a million? lol

Irene, off the top of my head I can confirm the flip flop incident, as well as the pathfinder incident, but I think the date is way off on the pathfinder one. . Let me look into it. I can also confirm the one three strikes incident, it was obvious as all heck what the girl was trying to do. You could actually see the red of the strike in her hand. & her looking down at it ...lol

I often wondered if a contestant could feel the x on the chip while their hand was in there but when I was last at the show i felt the chips & they all feel the same!!!
As for the Three X's game, I recall a contestant who was taking her time pulling the chips out and she commented she was "feeling" the chips. I had for the longest time wondered if you could in fact feel the differences. I think there may have been a time when you could feel the "X" and probably they worked on that. What do you think? Or are the games tested so thoroughly that they may have noticed that BEFORE the game became an official game of the show?

1 in a million? lol

With this kind of luck I better play the lottery today!

As for the Three X's game, I recall a contestant who was taking her time pulling the chips out and she commented she was "feeling" the chips. I had for the longest time wondered if you could in fact feel the differences. I think there may have been a time when you could feel the "X" and probably they worked on that. What do you think? Or are the games tested so thoroughly that they may have noticed that BEFORE the game became an official game of the show?


I can tell you this Irene...Roger Dobkowitz goes over every game piece by piece by piece before the game goes into rotation & reviews each & every game reguarly & he leaves no stone unturned... I had alot of questions about games until I went out & saw them all for myself... BTW the wheel is alot heavier than you may think....lol

I can tell you this Irene...Roger Dobkowitz goes over every game piece by piece by piece before the game goes into rotation & reviews each & every game reguarly & he leaves no stone unturned... I had alot of questions about games until I went out & saw them all for myself... BTW the wheel is alot heavier than you may think....lol
I had a feeling the wheel is indeed heavy. :lol:

So I was correct, they do thoroughly go over the games.

Back in 1975 my sister's friend was a contestant on TPIR (before the big wheel) and she ended up winning BOTH showcases. I need to get my butt over on TPIR. My boyfriend is always saying that since we love Drew so much, it would make sense now for us to get tickets.

With this kind of luck I better play the lottery today!


luck? Thats the first time in my life someone was actually happy to see me :lol:...... based on that reaction u must have questions for me.... if so fire away.. i will be here for a bit

I had a feeling the wheel is indeed heavy. :lol:

So I was correct, they do thoroughly go over the games.

Back in 1975 my sister's friend was a contestant on TPIR (before the big wheel) and she ended up winning BOTH showcases. I need to get my butt over on TPIR. My boyfriend is always saying that since we love Drew so much, it would make sense now for us to get tickets.


let me know when you go... if you go in march, we may be able to meet up!!! Im going out there on business but will have a day or 2 free to catch up with my friends on the show & check out the new show & all that... If not still let me know cause I can let you know what your in for!!! :)

I had a feeling the wheel is indeed heavy. :lol:

So I was correct, they do thoroughly go over the games.

Back in 1975 my sister's friend was a contestant on TPIR (before the big wheel) and she ended up winning BOTH showcases. I need to get my butt over on TPIR. My boyfriend is always saying that since we love Drew so much, it would make sense now for us to get tickets.


Yeah the wheel is alot heavier than even I thought it was.. ;)

Yeah the wheel is alot heavier than even I thought it was.. ;)
I remember they had that little round red carpet for the contestants to stand on for the big wheel and it got bigger over time. Now they have that whole area in a red carpet. Is that as a precaution? I can't say for sure, but I think I seen a few people slip on that red round carpet or the carpet moved while they were spinning the wheel.

luck? Thats the first time in my life someone was actually happy to see me :lol:...... based on that reaction u must have questions for me.... if so fire away.. i will be here for a bit

Hey mriggles!!! You are my TPIR connection for facts about the show. I appreciate the fact that you take the time to answer my questions. I definitely will get my thoughts together and ask you many more questions very soon. I might get on your nerves after awhile. :lol:

I remember they had that little round red carpet for the contestants to stand on for the big wheel and it got bigger over time. Now they have that whole area in a red carpet. Is that as a precaution? I can't say for sure, but I think I seen a few people slip on that red round carpet or the carpet moved while they were spinning the wheel.


Fremantle media suggested that the carpet be draped over the whole area..more so for the overall look than anything else. It is a very spongy carpet...it is the kind of thing you use when u do sit ups... that type of thing

Hey mriggles!!! You are my TPIR connection for facts about the show. I appreciate the fact that you take the time to answer my questions. I definitely will get my thoughts together and ask you many more questions very soon. I might get on your nerves after awhile. :lol:


as long as you don't tell me your a NY GIANT FAN... you won't get on my nerves... if you are a giants fan...well then just don't tell me you are

Fremantle media suggested that the carpet be draped over the whole area..more so for the overall look than anyone else. It is very spongy carpet...it is the kind of thing you use when u do sit ups... that type of thing
Oh really. It appears to be so thin. I guess that is the camera making it look that way.

Oh really. It appears to be so thin. I guess that is the camera making it look that way.


don't get me wrong its not thick...it just feels like the type of thing you use when you exercise,,sit ups, that type of thing

Hey mriggles!!! You are my TPIR connection for facts about the show. I appreciate the fact that you take the time to answer my questions. I definitely will get my thoughts together and ask you many more questions very soon. I might get on your nerves after awhile. :lol:


like i have said many times, i like keeping price fans in the loop of what is happening with the show... :) I have been fortunate to have been backstage many times & have gotten a unique perspective of americas favorite game show!!! Im looking foward to my trip in march, it will be my first trip since bob called it a career

I saw the Shell Game incident. Personally I didn't consider that one cheating for two reasons. 1. she placed the chip under the shell, and left it there, which indicated to me, that was her choice. if she tried to move it to another shell, then that would have been cheating. 2. Had it been cheating, Bob could have easily fixed the situation by just moving around the shells, and having her pick again where her first chip should go, which he could have done since that was her first chip, but he decided against it.

I haven't seen the Pathfinder one, but I doubt the guy was cheating. He probably figured the lights wouldn't display until he physically stepped on the square, but it sounds like he was mistaken. Knowing it was the wrong square, he obviously wasn't going to step there.

The second 3 strikes one definitely sounds like cheating. I don't condone cheating, but If I was forced to allow it in one instance, I might have picked this one since it was the only time a Ferrari was offered (or was it a Porsche?) A big name car in any event.

The flip-flop incident was definitely cheating. I have seen that one as well. Bob explained the game thoroughly by telling the guy he could flip, flop or flip-flop, but said nothing about pressing the button. The guy pressed the button. Now had the contestant stood there with a "uh-oh, what do I know" look on his face, I might have believed it was a mistake, but he immediately went back and stood by Barker after he pressed it, which indicated to me he knew what he was doing. I can't blame Barker for giving him the prize, since he had to make a split decision, and better to err on the side of caution, and not risk the contestant getting mad and trying to sue the show.

They should do something with that wheel, I've seen too many old ladies fall down spinning that thing.

as long as you don't tell me your a NY GIANT FAN... you won't get on my nerves... if you are a giants fan...well then just don't tell me you are

Don't worry because I'm not a NY Giants fan. By the way, should I post questions about TPIR in your other thread?

like i have said many times, i like keeping price fans in the loop of what is happening with the show... :) I have been fortunate to have been backstage many times & have gotten a unique perspective of americas favorite game show!!! Im looking foward to my trip in march, it will be my first trip since bob called it a career

That's great news! I hope you have a good time and that you will share some info with all of us who post in the Game Shows section when you come back from your trip. I know that you can't take pictures of the set while they're filming but it would be nice if you could take pictures of the outside of the building where the show is filmed and then post them in this section. Any chance of you being able to do that?

I saw the Shell Game incident. Personally I didn't consider that one cheating for two reasons. 1. she placed the chip under the shell, and left it there, which indicated to me, that was her choice. if she tried to move it to another shell, then that would have been cheating. 2. Had it been cheating, Bob could have easily fixed the situation by just moving around the shells, and having her pick again where her first chip should go, which he could have done since that was her first chip, but he decided against it.

I haven't seen the Pathfinder one, but I doubt the guy was cheating. He probably figured the lights wouldn't display until he physically stepped on the square, but it sounds like he was mistaken. Knowing it was the wrong square, he obviously wasn't going to step there.

The second 3 strikes one definitely sounds like cheating. I don't condone cheating, but If I was forced to allow it in one instance, I might have picked this one since it was the only time a Ferrari was offered (or was it a Porsche?) A big name car in any event.

The flip-flop incident was definitely cheating. I have seen that one as well. Bob explained the game thoroughly by telling the guy he could flip, flop or flip-flop, but said nothing about pressing the button. The guy pressed the button. Now had the contestant stood there with a "uh-oh, what do I know" look on his face, I might have believed it was a mistake, but he immediately went back and stood by Barker after he pressed it, which indicated to me he knew what he was doing. I can't blame Barker for giving him the prize, since he had to make a split decision, and better to err on the side of caution, and not risk the contestant getting mad and trying to sue the show.

They should do something with that wheel, I've seen too many old ladies fall down spinning that thing.
As for the Shell Game, she put the chip UNDER the shell, therefore, she knew by putting that there, the ball wasn't there. She basically lost that option when she placed the chip under there because that only told her that the ball was under one of the 3 REMAINING SHELLS.

I too have seen several old ladies fall from that wheel. MrIggles did state it is a mighty heavy wheel, I think they may have it that way so it doesn't go spinning around many many times, which can happen if it were lighter. That would mean more airtime wasted waiting for that thing to stop. :lol:

I too have seen several old ladies fall from that wheel. MrIggles did state it is a mighty heavy wheel, I think they may have it that way so it doesn't go spinning around many many times, which can happen if it were lighter. That would mean more airtime wasted waiting for that thing to stop. :lol:

The perfect solution would probably be to get a Wheel of Fortune type wheel. That way, it doesn't go around many times, and older people won't have as much trouble spinning it.

During the 'Anniversary Week' in September of 1975, they used a different big wheel for the showcase showdown (it was a week of trial 1 hour shows before TPIR permanently became 1 hour in November; the wheel we know and love premiered in November of 1975).

Here's the anniversary week Big Wheel:

http://www.tpir.tv/vintage/7/1showdown3.JPG

That's great news! I hope you have a good time and that you will share some info with all of us who post in the Game Shows section when you come back from your trip. I know that you can't take pictures of the set while they're filming but it would be nice if you could take pictures of the outside of the building where the show is filmed and then post them in this section. Any chance of you being able to do that?


Sorry bro, I have been down & out with the flu, sorry it took me so long to get back to you. I have arranged for a camera pass when I go to LA. So as long as that goes thru, i will be able to bring my camera into the studio. I will not be able to take any pictures during the actual taping, but i can grab shots of just about everything else. I am sure I will have a good story or 2 to tell.

Don't worry because I'm not a NY Giants fan. By the way, should I post questions about TPIR in your other thread?


Either or....you can always send me a private email as well.

Talk about people falling. This clip is hilarious. The guy is a hot ticket, and falls four times, lol. I love, how when contestants tell Drew that they love him, he tells them that he loves them too. :lol:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=dCYQy4Rd-nI

Talk about people falling. This clip is hilarious. The guy is a hot ticket, and falls four times, lol. I love, how when contestants tell Drew that they love him, he tells them that he loves them too. :lol:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=dCYQy4Rd-nI
:rofl: "It's so darn cute, why settle for more? That's my slogan." That's what Drew says abt the little camper prize that is up for grabs. :lol: I don't think that contestant can move around in that little camper.

Notice how that guy really gave a big, tight hug? And Drew looks comfortable giving him a hug right back. That is so nice. :D

The perfect solution would probably be to get a Wheel of Fortune type wheel. That way, it doesn't go around many times, and older people won't have as much trouble spinning it.
I agree. Something's gotta give with that wheel. I saw a few youtube clips today, and it does take a lot of people down, especially older women.

Did you notice the woman that spun the wheel last night? It appeared she was only doing it with one hand. I got a phone call at that moment and couldn't figure out what that was all abt. She seemed to be having a hard time doing it too.

Did you notice the woman that spun the wheel last night? It appeared she was only doing it with one hand. I got a phone call at that moment and couldn't figure out what that was all abt. She seemed to be having a hard time doing it too.
I saw that. It was the grandmother of eight, who as I posted somewhere else, she looked too young to have eight grandkids, lol. It could be that she has a problem in one of her hands, maybe arthritis. I have a terrible left arm in general, and it's weak. That wheel would be too much for me to handle. I think wiseguy182 had a good idea about changing it to a Wheel of Fortune type wheel. The only thing is that so many people are resistant to change. Still, that's better than having grandmothers ending up on their tushies, lol.

I saw that. It was the grandmother of eight, who as I posted somewhere else, she looked too young to have eight grandkids, lol. It could be that she has a problem in one of her hands, maybe arthritis. I have a terrible left arm in general, and it's weak. That wheel would be too much for me to handle. I think wiseguy182 had a good idea about changing it to a Wheel of Fortune type wheel. The only thing is that so many people are resistant to change. Still, that's better than having grandmothers ending up on their tushies, lol.
wiseguy did have a good idea there and I think if any changes should occur, that wheel should change, for the sake of the older crowd. I mentioned elsewhere on this thread that I have seen too many older people fall or look like they are going to take a tumble. I know with my back, I wouldn't be able to turn that wheel. :eek: