The Price is Right!!! Come on down!!

First, I don't have my computer back, so I can't post any images yet....but hopefully tomorrow I should have it.
So, have I got a story to share with you....
My oldest daughter Jona decided that to celebrate her birthday she wanted to go to a taping of The Price is Right. We had tickets for November 4th for the 1:00 and the 4:00 taping. I stayed in Las Vegas and drove to LA with my youngest daughter Cassie, while my oldest daughter drove to LA with my sister DeeDee.
We arrived in LA in the afternoon and had booked a room at the Farmer's Daughter Hotel which is located right across from the CBS studios. We knew from previous experience that you had to be in line early in the morning for a number for the best seating in the audience, also they overbook the shows so in the event it is way overbooked then you want one of the first numbers so that you can attend the taping. All large groups have priority and get first seating.
So we all had an early dinner and went to bed early and asked for a 3:45 a.m. wakeup call. (Let me tell you there are only three times in my life when I will get up before the sun.....fishing, a good sale and ok...The Price is Right)
So after a very restless night and very little sleep (it's kinda like the night before Christmas as a kid....you look at the alarm clock about 50 times to make sure that you don't oversleep) we all got up before the wakeup call and were surprised to find that it was raining outside. So we went to the Hotel lobby and asked if they had any umbrellas...knowing that we would be standing outside...the gentleman at the desk asked what the heck we were doing so early in the morning and we told him we were headed to the line for the Price is Right numbers....he then led us to the front of the hotel and pointed across the street..."See those people standing there? That is the line....you don't need to be out here this early. I will watch the line for you...go back to your room, go back to sleep or have coffee and I will call you when you need to get back in line". So keeping the umbrellas he loaned us we went back to our room and waited. I don't think any of us went back to sleep but we had coffee, read or watched tv. Then at 5:30 he called and said "it's time".
So we headed across the street to get into line. It was hard to tell but I think there were about 20 people in line. The rain had let up so we didn't need the umbrellas, but it was still pitch dark. While we were waiting in line a transformer blew out across the street which caused a little excitement with everyone.
After about an hour they started handing out the numbers and we were instructed to return to the studio at 10:00.
We walked across the street and had breakfast at a local restaurant then headed back to the hotel to check out of our room and have the front desk hold our luggage.
We headed back to the studio for a long day of waiting.
Taping for the show was to begin at 1:00...and from 10:00 to 1:00 you go thru a series of providing your identification, filling out release forms, having your picture taken....then the all important question from the show's producter, Stan.
Stan usually takes a group of 6 or so, before they enter the studio and asks a question or two and this how they choose the contestants for the audience. He asked us "Where are you from and what do you do for a living"? Although they don't tell you anything...you know they are looking for personality and enthusiasm.
After answering the question they then lead everyone into the studio.
First the studio is much smaller than what you expect. And it seems very "old school" and rather drab (that is until they turn on the studio lights). Once everyone is seated then they play music and encourage everyone to dance and get ready for the show. Rich Fields (the annoucer)then comes out answers any questions anyone has, explains a little bit about the show (like where to enter the stage in the event you are called) and they explain that because the show and audience are so loud, if your name is called you may not hear it, so there will be a young man standing on stage with large cue cards that will show the contestants names as they are called.
So the show got going....everyone is excited and dancing around (some of us more than other....) then they began the show with Drew Carey coming out.
I have previouly posted in my blog before about attending a taping of the show back in April, and I have attended two tapings of the Ellen DeGeneres show.....but Drew Carey is the nicest host and he mingles and talks to the audience members during the commercial breaks. He truly wants everyone to win and they encourage you before the show that if you are called on stage, you can hug and kiss Drew and if you win a prize, to play with the prize, sit in it.....they want you to be EXCITED!!
The show was awesome....I don't remember much from the first taping, because the second taping is so much more memorable (more to follow on that). But they asked if you are staying for the second taping you need to exit the studio, you are given another number, name tag and then directly to Stan (the producer) for another question....then the show is to begin taping at 4:00.
So we went thru the process....but before we did...my daughter Cassie who had to work that night at midnight in Vegas, thought that she wouldn't attend the last taping since she had a long drive...but her sister talked her into staying, since it was her birthday.
Stan's question this time was.....What do you like to do for fun? My sister said" I like to bake goodies for my son's who are in the service". Cassie said "I love to play my guitar hero...I am addicted to it". Jona said: "I like to chase my two little monkeys around...ages 4 and 2". And I said...I like to take her 2 monkeys feed them lots of candy and chocolate and send them home".
Then we were led into the studo for the taping...........
OOPS, WOULDN'T YOU KNOW...I AM RUNNING OUT OF ROOM HERE.......HEE HEE
STAY TUNED FOR PART 2 OF THE STORY TOMORROW!!!!