TPIR contestants and having an unfair advantage when playing games

[Ireneparalegal]

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.

[mriggles]

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

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!!!

[The Great One]

Awesome facts about TPIR. Thanks for posting the info.

[The Great One]

Originally Posted by mriggles

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?

[mriggles]

Originally Posted by The Great One

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

1 in a million? lol

[Ireneparalegal]

Originally Posted by mriggles

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?

[The Great One]

Originally Posted by mriggles

1 in a million? lol

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

[mriggles]

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

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

[Ireneparalegal]

Originally Posted by mriggles

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.

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.

[mriggles]

Originally Posted by The Great One

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 ...... based on that reaction u must have questions for me.... if so fire away.. i will be here for a bit

[mriggles]

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

I had a feeling the wheel is indeed heavy.

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!!!

[mriggles]

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

I had a feeling the wheel is indeed heavy.

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..

[Ireneparalegal]

Originally Posted by mriggles

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.

[The Great One]

Originally Posted by mriggles

luck? Thats the first time in my life someone was actually happy to see me ...... 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.

[mriggles]

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

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