Ways Price is Right could handle their time crunch

[SamJ93]

The real issue with any attempt to pare the show down is that it would mess with its symmetry. The "rule of threes" is very much in force on TPiR--having three pricing games per half, with the Big Wheel neatly putting a bow on them, just feels right, and is a big reason why it's lasted so long (same reason why the set has three Big Doors even though they could easily do the show with just one). If they cut back to just four pricing games or whatever, I'm not sure that Drew getting to have longer interviews with the contestants would make up for the anemic feel that would result.

Besides that--and this is an admittedly cynical take--TPiR is a quintessential "background show" to a lot of people. In the '70s housewives half-paid attention to it while they did chores; nowadays it's on as a distraction at the doctor's office or on lunch break. These viewers aren't analyzing every single minute detail and probably don't care that three out of the six games are quickies--as long as they get a glimpse of Plinko every week, they're happy.

[chrisholland03]

I think the easiest way to save time is one showcase with both players locking in secret bids.  That would save four or five minutes, at least.  Editing out/down the hemming and hawing while listening to 180 different bids from 180 audience members saves time too.  Within $250 doesn't win both showcases, obviously, so the bonus could be $25,000, a car, or some combination of cash and transport.

Cash equivalent bonus was what I was thinking in lieu of DSW.  Would still need a solution for a tie - fastest finger?  Sub-bidding on one of the prizes?

[MikeK]

Cash equivalent bonus was what I was thinking in lieu of DSW.  Would still need a solution for a tie - fastest finger?  Sub-bidding on one of the prizes?

Bidding on one of the smaller prizes is a great throwback to the tiebreaker in home viewer showcases from the original show.

[Kevin Prather]

I think the easiest way to save time is one showcase with both players locking in secret bids.  That would save four or five minutes, at least.  Editing out/down the hemming and hawing while listening to 180 different bids from 180 audience members saves time too.  Within $250 doesn't win both showcases, obviously, so the bonus could be $25,000, a car, or some combination of cash and transport.

Cash equivalent bonus was what I was thinking in lieu of DSW.  Would still need a solution for a tie - fastest finger?  Sub-bidding on one of the prizes?

Just give them both the showcase. The current rule provides for awarding both players both showcases under the right condition, so awarding duplicate prizes is not off the table.

EDIT: This is actually a bad idea. See Mike Tennant's post below.

[Mike Tennant]

I think the easiest way to save time is one showcase with both players locking in secret bids.  That would save four or five minutes, at least.  Editing out/down the hemming and hawing while listening to 180 different bids from 180 audience members saves time too.  Within $250 doesn't win both showcases, obviously, so the bonus could be $25,000, a car, or some combination of cash and transport.

Cash equivalent bonus was what I was thinking in lieu of DSW.  Would still need a solution for a tie - fastest finger?  Sub-bidding on one of the prizes?

Just give them both the showcase. The current rule provides for awarding both players both showcases under the right condition, so awarding duplicate prizes is not off the table.

But then what's to prevent all contestants from bidding the same amount every time, thereby guaranteeing everyone who makes it to the Showcase a win? It might not happen right away, but it wouldn't take long for people to figure it out once they learned the rule.

[Mr. Matté]

Two secret bids might lead to more ties too. Right now, two separate people bidding on separate showcases, it's pretty unlikely that a tie will occur (especially if one costs say $21,500 and the other $18,437). It's more feasible for two people to secretly bid $22,000 on a single showcase.

If they do go a secret bid route, they could always just have the contestants rebid if they do end up the same and do that (and edit the tape as necessary) until different bids happen.

[TheLastResort]

Contestant #1 bids on the showcase. Contestant #2 guesses whether the ARP is higher or lower than that bid.  If #2 is right, he wins the showcase. Otherwise #1 wins it (see Card Sharks).

[wdm1219inpenna]

Another option for the secret bid showcase, if both players tie, award it to the top winner.

I admit I do like the idea of both players doing a separate bid on one of the other prizes as a tie-breaker of sorts.

Another option would be to show a list of 10 possible showcase prices, the top winner would have the option of selecting one first or passing to the other player to select first, and giving the top winner potentially a 1 in 9 chance.

The drawback with a secret bid I realize is it would take away all of the screaming excitement of the audience participation in the live audience in screaming out different bids, but I suppose they could still do so anyway, just without the audience seeing the list of possible prices.

In all cases, the list of 10 possible prices for the showcase, at least one of the prices shown would always be guaranteed to not be over the ARP of the showcase.  Conversely, it could be where all 10 are below the ARP as well. 

[Kevin Prather]

I think the easiest way to save time is one showcase with both players locking in secret bids.  That would save four or five minutes, at least.  Editing out/down the hemming and hawing while listening to 180 different bids from 180 audience members saves time too.  Within $250 doesn't win both showcases, obviously, so the bonus could be $25,000, a car, or some combination of cash and transport.

Cash equivalent bonus was what I was thinking in lieu of DSW.  Would still need a solution for a tie - fastest finger?  Sub-bidding on one of the prizes?

Just give them both the showcase. The current rule provides for awarding both players both showcases under the right condition, so awarding duplicate prizes is not off the table.

But then what's to prevent all contestants from bidding the same amount every time, thereby guaranteeing everyone who makes it to the Showcase a win? It might not happen right away, but it wouldn't take long for people to figure it out once they learned the rule.

Yeah I realized that a little while after I posted it. Bidding on the same showcase, it does sort of remove the jeopardy if both players bid the same amount.

[BrandonFG]

Contestant #1 bids on the showcase. Contestant #2 guesses whether the ARP is higher or lower than that bid.  If #2 is right, he wins the showcase. Otherwise #1 wins it (see Card Sharks).

Only thing is, it's a big difference between guessing Higher/Lower for control of the row of cards, and guessing H/L for a chance at $20K+ in prizes. Way too little work for such a grand prize, esp. when someone obviously over/underbids by a lot.

I actually liked Kevin's idea of letting both contestants get their Showcase if there's a tie, but Mike makes a good point. How about a "DIY" Showcase where you're shown no more than four items. Each contestant can pick two or three and bid on that, under the condition that they can't pick the same three items. Whoever's closer wins.

You still only have four items described, and through editing magic the contestants make their "choices" by the time George finishes describing everything. "Jennifer, you're bidding on the Kia Soul, a trip to Rome, and a new camera. Robert, you chose the Kia, the camera, and the Macbook Pro. Lock in your bids and we'll be right back..."

[Jeremy Nelson]

I think the easiest way to save time is one showcase with both players locking in secret bids.  That would save four or five minutes, at least.  Editing out/down the hemming and hawing while listening to 180 different bids from 180 audience members saves time too.  Within $250 doesn't win both showcases, obviously, so the bonus could be $25,000, a car, or some combination of cash and transport.

Easy fixes all around for a two player showcase. If by some chance they both bid and they're under, stop tape and have them rebid while telling them they're under. I like cash equivalent to make up for no DSW.

[TimK2003]

Contestant #1 bids on the showcase. Contestant #2 guesses whether the ARP is higher or lower than that bid.  If #2 is right, he wins the showcase. Otherwise #1 wins it (see Card Sharks).

However, that guarantees that the showcase will be won each episode. I'm sure CBS/Fremantle likes to see the occasional Double Overbid to keep the budget in check -- much like how their budget loves when a contestant selects the least expensive Big Deal door on LMAD.

[TLEberle]

I would want as close to zero double overs as possible because you don’t want the last memory of the show being the Spoilers Victory sounder and nobody celebrating their new boat or trips

[Joe Mello]

I don't think this would actually save any time, but I just watched one of the specials from 1986 and was fascinated by the choice of transitioning from the 3rd game of the half straight into the Showcase Showdown without a break.

[Otm Shank]

I don't think this would actually save any time, but I just watched one of the specials from 1986 and was fascinated by the choice of transitioning from the 3rd game of the half straight into the Showcase Showdown without a break.

Complete with the walking to the Big Wheel that most of the time spatially could not happen.