User:Daniel Benfield/Price Is Right Seasons 9-14 Video Archive

Not much to say, except The Price is Right kept on doing what it'd already been doing.

While I'd occasionally thought about doing this one, the seed was really planted when Dom Falance suggested it in April 2017. My biggest hurdle was (and is) GSN's airings of this period, most noticeably when it comes to 1983, so inclusions will be handled on a case-by-case basis.

While I eventually hope to add everything GSN aired, here's what will be included regardless:
 * Game debuts and finales.
 * Season Premieres and Finales.
 * Anything regarding the Home Viewer Showcase.
 * Shows with the set decorated for Christmas.
 * Any appearances of Super Ball!!, The Phone Home Game, or Walk of Fame.
 * Anything they aired from the 1984 portion of Season 12 (GSN only got up to February 9 before Price disappeared from the schedule in 2000).
 * Anything from Seasons 13-14, which GSN avoided for the most part.
 * Any episodes also available (in whole or part) from an original broadcast, repeat airing, or master copy.

Big thanks to Golden-Road.net and The Price Is Right Summaries for much of the info and placement below. Note that the airdates shown are per the episode numbers; any reschedulings done by CBS are noted.

LEGAL STUFF SO I DON'T GET SUED: I'm only linking to these videos, none of which were uploaded by me, for the purposes of research and as a public record. Footage ©1980-86 Mark Goodson(-Bill Todman) Productions/FremantleMedia and associated entities.

Season 9 (1980-81)
August 25, 1980 - June 12 [September 4], 1981

Three pricing games debut this year: Now....and Then (only played six times this season), Hit Me, and Super Ball!! (which will be referred to as "SuperBall" on this page in supplementary notes). Listings with Now....and Then will include the "Then" date where available, mainly because I find it interesting.

Of note, per this post and a few later ones in that thread, Now....and Then was one of three inflation-based games that were pitched at the same meeting, the others being a similar idea by Sam Governale and a format by Imie Camelli called "Inflationary Spiral".

1980

 * August 28, 1980 (#3754D: Clock Game, Take Two, Punch-A-Bunch, Most Expensive, Bullseye, Card Game; taped from GSN, with commercials)
 * [One of the models on this episode is Lisa Parkes.]
 * September 15, 1980 (#3781D: Range Game, Poker Game, Punch-A-Bunch, One Right Price, Ten Chances, Grocery Game {for a FUR COAT!})
 * October 22, 1980 (#3833D: Golden Road, Range Game {for a FUR COAT!}, Bullseye, Squeeze Play, Bonus Game, Any Number; begins during first calldown)
 * November 3, 1980 (#3851D: Switcheroo, Double Prices, Take Two, Clock Game, Hurdles, Any Number)
 * [Has a FUR COAT in Showcase #1.]

1981

 * February 3, 1981 (#3982D: Danger Price, Hole in One, Clock Game, Squeeze Play, Super Ball!! {debut!}, Money Game; taped from GSN, with commercials {alternate copy; most of segment 6 only})
 * [Originally, the small prize labels in SuperBall showed the name of the item ("VACUUM", for example) in the same color scheme as the choices.]


 * March 16, 1981 (#4041D: Shell Game {for a FUR COAT!}, Ten Chances, Squeeze Play, Danger Price, Money Game, Bullseye)
 * April 22, 1981 (#4093D: Danger Price, Hole In One, Barker's Bargain Bar, Clock Game, Card Game, Give or Keep; taped from WNAC {now WHDH}, with commercials)
 * [Has a FUR COAT in Showcase #2.]
 * April 23, 1981 (#4094D: Golden Road, Shell Game, Double Prices, Poker Game, Ten Chances, Grocery Game; studio master with slate!)
 * [Has a FUR COAT in Showcase #1.]
 * April? 1981 (Game 3 {Grand Game} and Showcase Showdown #1 only)
 * [Per the uploader, this aired in "April about 3 or 4 days after Ronald Reagan had had that assassination attempt made against him." In case that ends up not holding up, the Contestant's Row displays are red-green-orange-blue, and the red dot is present for Big Wheel spinners.]
 * [In any case, by this point Grand Game's price labels now use the same color scheme as the target price.]

Season 10 (1981-82)
September 7, 1981 - June 11 [September 3], 1982

Three more games debut this season: Blank Check, Check-Out, and Pick a Pair.

Sometime between December 28 (#4331D) and April 9 (#4475D), Money Game moves from center stage (behind the Giant Price Tag) to the Turntable.

1981, Continued

 * September 18, 1981 (#4185D: Shell Game {for a FUR COAT!} [followed by some order of Golden Road, Take Two, Clock Game, Hole In One, and Double Prices]; taped from WNEV {rerun summer 1982}; Intro, IUFB #1, & Act 1 only)
 * October 2, 1981 (#4205D: Hit Me [followed by some order of Safe Crackers, Temptation, Double Prices, Ten Chances, and Shell Game] {taped 6/24/81}; studio master/slate, edited intro {with the call down of the fourth contestant only} followed by Bob's monologue, IUFB #1 {starts with the third contestant bidding}, act 1, Showcase Showdown #1, and the showcases {#1 is edited very jarringly}; ends during credits)

Season 11 (1982-83)
September 6, 1982 - July 1 [August 19]/August 22-26 [September 9], 1983

Just two games debut this year: Plinko (easily the mascot pricing game for quite a while), and Master Key.

1982, Continued

 * September 24, 1982 (#4595D: [Some order of Super Ball!!, Dice Game, One Right Price, Double Prices, and Card Game], then Hi-Lo {taped 6/21/82}; last four segments {and a clip of some preceding portion} only, ends during credits)
 * [A blog post about the focus of this video is here, which also shows a local newspaper clipping about her appearance (hence the tapedate). At this point, the front side of the spinning Turntable panel is still a solid red.]


 * September 29, 1982 (#4603D: Shell Game, One Right Price, Temptation, Poker Game, Bullseye, Dice Game; taped from GSN {alternate copy; act 5, portion of Showcase Showdown #2, Showcases, and Closing Credits})

1983

 * March-April 1983 (Starts at the call down of the fourth contestant, followed by the first three IUFB's, Hole In One, and Showcase Showdown #1 {first spin only})
 * [As "Hole in One" is the third pricing game played, this is from no earlier than #4844D and no later than #4875D.]
 * March 25, 1983 (#4855D: Lucky Seven, Clock Game, Pick a Pair, One Right Price, Master Key {debut!}, Range Game {taped 2/16/83}; studio master, slate and Master Key only)


 * April 27, 1983 (#4903D: Switcheroo, Barker's Bargain Bar, Clock Game, Take Two, Grand Game, Card Game; taped from GSN)
 * [This exact pricing game lineup would later be used on April 6, 2017 {#7894K} as part of the "Throwback Thursday" edition of "Socially Awesome Week". By that point, however, the second pricing game was re-named "Bargain Game".]
 * April 28, 1983 (#4904D: Lucky Seven, Race Game, Hi-Lo, Blank Check, Five Price Tags, Squeeze Play {taped 3/16/83}; studio master, slate and partial intro only)
 * June 1, 1983 (#4953D: Safe Crackers, Plinko, Barker's Bargain Bar, Danger Price, Hit Me, Any Number; Act 2 and Showcase Showdown #1 only; original broadcast)

Season 12 (1983-84)
September 12, 1983 - June 22 [September 7], 1984

Three games debut this season: The Phone Home Game, Walk of Fame, and Balance Game.

The Phone Home Game goes on hiatus each season in favor of the Home Viewer Showcase. This year, the hiatus lasts from October 31 through January 25.

On November 1 (#5062D), the Dice Game board changes from white with a gray backing at the bottom of the board to yellow with a red backing.

Following the December 7 episode (#5113D), Holly left the show to pursue an acting career. This didn't pan out, though, and she returned in late February or early March.

1983, Continued

 * November 8, 1983 (#5072D: Lucky Seven, Hit Me, Squeeze Play, 3 Strikes, Punch-A-Bunch, Blank Check; begins with Johnny introducing Bob, followed by the playing of game 4, and then the second showcase showdown)

1984

 * January 5, 1984 (#5144D: Blank Check, Plinko, Most Expensive, Range Game, Ten Chances, Pick-A-Pair; taped from GSN, with commercials)
 * [One of the models present on this episode (as well as the next one) is Chanel {last name unknown}.]
 * [This episode marks the first time that the "Plinko" sign was introduced on the turntable.]
 * January 6, 1984 (#5145D: Temptation, Shell Game, Double Prices, Race Game, Money Game, Grand Game; taped from GSN, with commercials)
 * February 21, 1984 (#5212D: Money Game, Cliff Hangers, Clock Game; taped from WEYI with most commercials, first few seconds missing due to a local promo)
 * [At this point, Holly is still absent. Also at this point, the show is still credited to Goodson-Todman.]


 * March 12, 1984 (#5241D: Golden Road, Bullseye '76, Barker's Bargain Bar, Danger Price, Five Price Tags, Clock Game; Game 2 only)
 * [Game lineup per the shots of it from about 8:44-48 (Barker's Bargain Bar is listed as "Bargain Game", per longtime practice). By this point, Holly has returned. At this point, Bullseye still looks the same as it did in late 1976.]


 * April 6, 1984 (#5275D: One Right Price, Any Number, Trader Bob, Walk of Fame, Penny Ante, Dice Game {taped 3/7/84}; studio master, slate and Walk of Fame only)

Show now credited under Mark Goodson Productions, associated logo and closing spiel changed to "A Mark Goodson Television Production" (began by 4/9/84)

Contestant's Row border becomes pink
 * May-October 1984 (Segment 3 {The Phone Home Game} and Showcase Showdown #1 only)
 * [Has the pink-bordered Contestant's Row, but the Big Wheel still has its Sportstype display.]
 * May 1984-October 1985 (Parts of first segment {ends after IUFB price reveal}, portion of IUFB #2 bidding, most of segment 3 {with Squeeze Play}, and part of Showcase Showdown #1 {mostly being fast-forwarded/rewound} only)
 * [Has orange lights in the light border and the pink Contestant's Row. Big Wheel display not shown.]

Season 13 (1984-85)
September 10, 1984 - June 14 [28]/July 1-5 [September 6], 1985

Two more games join the rotation this year, both played for cars: On the Nose and One Away.

The Phone Home Game's hiatus lasts from October 30 through January 24 this time.

As far as I know, GSN only aired six episodes from this season: September 25 (#5412D, taped 6/12), October 9 (#5432D, taped 6/25), December 17 (#5531D), December 20 (#5534D), December 21 (#5535D), and January 25 (#5575D).

1984, Continued
On the Nose debuts on September 14 with Baseball, adding Basketball on September 18 (#5402D), Football on September 29 (#5415D), Darts on October 16 (#5442D), and Tennis on November 28 (#5503D).


 * September 1984 or so (Segment 6 {with Five Price Tags} and most of last three segments only)
 * [Listed as "Summer 1984" by the uploader. Has the pink Contestant's Row and three-tiered Showcase podiums, but that's about it (the Big Wheel display is never shown during SCSD#2 due to how it goes).]


 * September 14, 1984 (#5395D: Shell Game, On The Nose {debut!}, Squeeze Play, Poker Game, Barker's Bargain Bar, Grand Game; taped from WCHS with commercials; average video quality)
 * December 17, 1984 (#5531D: Most Expensive, One Away, Balance Game '84, Poker Game, Any Number, Hi-Lo; taped from GSN!, Balance Game only)
 * [Set decorated for Christmas this week.]

1985

 * 1985 (?, ?, ?, Blank Check {inferred}, Penny Ante, Any Number; begins during Game 5, ends after Showcase Showdown #2)
 * [Has the pink Contestant's Row. Bob notes that one player in SCSD#2 won a trip to Hawaii and $1,000, suggesting Blank Check. One YouTube comment suggests either May 30 or September 16.]

Season 14 (1985-86)
September 9, 1985 - June 13 [September 5], 1986

Only one game debuts this year (Bump), with four quickly taken behind the woodshed: Trader Bob, On the Nose, Walk of Fame, and Balance Game...though in fairness, all of these could easily be chalked up to "this game is too damn hard".

The Phone Home Game's hiatus lasts from November 4 through February 3 this time.

The Lucky Seven board changes to its current style and name (Lucky $even) sometime between the October 1985 tapings and May 30, 1986 (#6145D).

By April 24 (#6094D), the show debuts Play Along, a simple postcard-based feature for viewers where one would be drawn alongside certain pricing games (known to include Any Number, Blank Check, Bump, Clock Game, Danger Price, Double Prices, Grocery Game, Master Key, One Away, One Right Price, Plinko, Poker Game, Range Game, Safe Crackers, Shell Game, Squeeze Play, and Take Two) or the first Showcase Showdown. The home viewer got whatever the contestant won, or a Play Along shirt if the contestant lost. The promotion seems to have been done irregularly (and never on any episodes with The Phone Home Game or the Home Viewer Showcase), but remained through at least March 1, 1988 (#6792D).

This season is best known for Johnny Olson's passing in October; first-run episodes with Johnny air into November, with Gene Wood filling in for a few weeks before the show began doing auditions between three candidates: Rod Roddy, Rich Jefferies, and Bob Hilton. In the end, Hilton was the first choice, but per Randy West's book Johnny Olson: A Voice In Time Barker felt he looked too much like a younger host in waiting (probably remembering that he'd replaced Barker when Ralph Edwards restarted production of Truth or Consequences in 1977), and even then it seems Hilton already had a commitment to hosting Bamboozle (which is an interesting story itself, but not relevant here). As a result, Rod got the nod.

Speaking of Barker, starting around this point he seems to have begun gaining more and more control over the show, which by all indication only gets worse as time goes on, but that's for another Video Archi...

Er...

Hm.

No, actually, I think this is as far as I'll go. Seasons after this point are more plentiful on YouTube, and in all honesty I'm just not as interested in them, plus I think I've covered more than enough Price as it is. :)

1985, Continued
Contestant's Row becomes green again (began by 10/15/85)
 * November 6, 1985 (#5873D: Some order of Money Game, Double Prices, Now....and Then, Walk of Fame, Trader Bob, Dice Game; last segment only)

Post-Johnny
 * November 11, 1985 (#5881D: Grocery Game, One Right Price, "Deluxe" Dice Game, Barker's Bargain Bar, Secret X, Money Game)
 * [Gene Wood announces.]
 * November-December 1985 (Last minute or so of an episode, with an unusual disclaimer)
 * [Gene Wood announces.]

1986
While The Price Is Right Special airs in August-September, those shows were produced shortly into tapings for Season 15 and hence aren't covered here.
 * February 11, 1986 (#5992D: Barker's Bargain Bar, Super Ball!!, One Away, One Right Price, Any Number, Hi Lo; taped from WCAU with commercials)
 * [Bob Hilton announces.]

Rod Roddy becomes permanent announcer (began 2/17/86)
 * February 17, 1986 (#6001D: Master Key, One Right Price, Take Two, Clock Game, Temptation, Bullseye; average audio and video quality)
 * [Rod Roddy's first episode as permanent announcer!]
 * April 16, 1986 (#6083D: Give Or Keep, Safe Crackers, Range Game, Most Expensive, Ten Chances, Now... and Then {taped 3/10/86}; studio master with slate!)
 * April 29, 1986 (#6102D: ?, ?, ?, Squeeze Play, ?, Card Game {taped 3/18/86}; montage including most of intro, all of IUFB #1, calldowns and IUFBs of segments 2-3, all of segment 5, calldown and IUFB of segment 6, and IUFB #6 onward {CNAOS plugs missing})
 * [The other four games are Range Game, Plinko, Ten Chances, and Hi-Lo. Tapedate shown as an added graphic by the uploader, but also on a non-CBS slate used alongside an IUFB at 5:46.]


 * May 1986 (Segment 3 {Double Prices}, Showcase Showdown #1, and last two segments only {taped 4/86}; taped from WCCO)
 * [Tapedate and airdate per uploader. Double Prices has the Play Along element.]

Two Last Throwbacks (2015/2017)
September 22, 2015/April 6, 2017

The former saluted the 1980s overall: the classic intro of the era, Now....and Then making a return under its original name, Plinko using the reveal from its debut playing (as opposed to mimicing the Plinko Sign with the monitor behind the audience or by putting one on the Turntable), they used a large trip skin...lots of fun stuff.

The latter was done as Throwback Thursday of Socially Awesome Week (sorry, "@wesome", which I can't help but read as "at wesome"), with the lineup directly lifted from the 4/27/83 show (#4903D); the original versions of the main theme and "Dig We Must" used throughout as well as the 1979-2007 version of "Walking"; and every single prize cue being from the 1970s-80s music packages.


 * September 22, 2015 (#7212K: Now....and Then {9/80}, One Away, Make Your Move, 2 For the Price of 1, Master Key, Plinko)
 * [Now...and Then's "Then" date being 9/80 refers to the game's debut.]
 * April 6, 2017 (#7894K: Switcheroo, Barker's Bargain Bargain Game, Clock Game, Take Two, Grand Game, Card Game; studio master with full credits!)