User:Daniel Benfield/Price Is Right 1970s Syndicated Video Archive

While The Price Is Right is most well-known for its CBS era that's still going strong even over 40 years later, not many know about the concurrent syndicated runs. A shame, too, since all three are worth seeing.

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 ©1972-80/1985-86/1994-95 Mark Goodson-Bill Todman Productions/FremantleMedia and associated entities.

The Original Series (1972-80)
Syndicated, Weekly: September 10, 1972 - September 13, 1980 (300 episodes + 1 unaired, taped August 27, 1972 - March 12, 1980)

The first, most influential (on the show's early footing), and yet most obscure of the three syndicated versions, primarily because it's never seen the light of repeats...which in turn is probably because something like five episodes didn't have a fur.

This version loved to experiment with the games, and even used a couple before the daytime show did (Double Bullseye, Most Expensive, and both formats of One Right Price). Oddly, despite both being added to the daytime show during the run, the nighttime series never used the Double Showcase Rule (introduced in March-April 1974) or the Perfect Bid bonus for Contestant's Row (introduced in April-May 1977).

A huge thanks to Scott Robinson for the game lineups, a lot of general info, and tapedates for the entire 301-episode run.

Dennis James
Episodes taped August 27, 1972 - March 1, 1977 (195 episodes + 1 unaired)

For at least Dennis' run as host, the opening spiel was simply "A fortune in fabulous prizes may go to these people tonight, if they know when The Price Is Right!"

Note that all .mov links are audio-only and require Quicktime. Big thanks to Jim Shea (J-Shea) for uploading said files, although I recommend having a Quicktime extension on your browser since otherwise they'll likely just download to your hard drive.


 * Taped 2/16/72 (Pitchfilm with Dennis and Mark Goodson outlining plans for the New show, then only intended for syndication; an early Take Two and "Cut Price" {an early Ten Chances} are shown, followed by clips of Dennis hosting Let's Make A Deal; has slate!)
 * [Has no fur coats!]

Season 1 (1972-73)

The game lineup for the first season consisted of Any Number, Bonus Game, Clock Game, Double Bullseye, Double Prices/Double Double Prices, Five Price Tags, Grocery Game, Most Expensive, One Right Price, and Range Game.

This said, One Right Price was ousted after the seventh show, Double Bullseye and Double Prices after the eighth, Five Price Tags after the 17th, and Range Game was only played once (and with a $200 rangefinder, covering one-third of the $600 scale, at that!).

For three playings very early in the season, Double Prices was played as Double Double Prices, essentially playing the game twice in a row; the contestant could win the first prize, the second prize, both, or neither.

The original One Right Price consisted of Dennis revealing a price, and the contestant having to pick which of three displayed prizes had the same price. A correct match awarded only that prize. It was only played twice, both times using three fur coats.

For its first six playings, Clock Game had a $1,000 bonus for winning with at least two seconds left on the clock, adding a "shadow" to the final two seconds to emphasize this. Interestingly, this version of Clock Game appears on the cover of the First Edition home game.


 * Taped 8/27/72 (#002N: Any Number, Bonus Game, One Right Price {debut!}; studio master, montage including slate, intro, and One Right Price)
 * [Has fur coats in Game #3.]
 * Taped 9/4/72 (#006N: Grocery Game, Any Number, DOUBLE DOUBLE PRICES {final playing!}; studio master with slate, has TVPMM watermarks throughout, but still watchable)
 * [Has no fur coats! Spiegel catalog shown at 22:59 is the Fall/Winter 1972 one.]

Season 2 (1973-74)

Added Lucky Seven to the rotation, and removed Double Bullseye, Double Prices, Five Price Tags, and One Right Price. Range Game was now played with its standard $150 rangefinder.

1973
 * Taped 7/10/73 (#042N: Bonus Game, Any Number, Clock Game {Part 3, Part 4}; has some odd music before the Showcases, likely from a local station)
 * [Listed as "1973 (7) tape mistracking" by J-Shea.]
 * Taped 8/12/73 (#045N: Any Number, Grocery Game {well, that was quick...}, Most Expensive {Part 3}; first segment missing)
 * [Listed as "1973 (6)" by J-Shea.]
 * Taped 8/26/73 (#046N: Bonus Game, Any Number, Clock Game {Part 3, Part 4})
 * [Listed as "1973 (5)" by J-Shea.]
 * Taped 8/26/73 (#047N: Any Number, Grocery Game, Most Expensive {Part 3, Part 4}; various portions missing, including most of Act 2)
 * [Listed as "August 1973 excerpts" by J-Shea.]


 * Taped 9/16/73 (#050N: Bonus Game, Any Number, Clock Game; final segment only)
 * [Listed as "1973 (2)" by J-Shea.]
 * Taped 9/16/73 (#051N: Any Number, Grocery Game {she doesn't know how to play it?}, Most Expensive {Part 3, Part 4})
 * [Listed as "1974 (12)" by J-Shea.]


 * Taped 12/11/73 (#062N: Any Number, Bonus Game, Clock Game {Part 3, Part 4})
 * [Listed as "1974 (13)" by J-Shea.]

1974
 * Taped 1/8/74 (#064N: Lucky Seven, Bonus Game, Most Expensive {Part 3, Part 4})
 * [Listed as "1974 (4)" by J-Shea.]
 * Taped 1/8/74 (#065N: Grocery Game, Any Number, Clock Game {Part 3, Part 4}; nothing quiet about this episode, which even offers a pony as a One-Bid prize!)
 * [Listed as "1974 (11)" by J-Shea.]


 * Taped 2/9/74 (#070N: Lucky Seven, Most Expensive, Bonus Game {Part 3, Part 4}; has an odd Showcase #1 involving an elephant, where Dennis steps in to correct Johnny)
 * [Listed as "1974 (1)" by J-Shea.]
 * Taped 3/3/74 (#075N: Grocery Game, Any Number, Most Expensive {Part 3, Part 4})
 * [Listed as "April 9, 1974" by J-Shea.]

Season 3 (1974-75)

Added Money Game and Shell Game to the rotation, along with restoring Five Price Tags after a 91-episode absence. Double Prices also made a return appearance on the fourth-to-last show of the season after a 100+-episode absence...only to get kicked out again afterward. :P

Speaking of Shell Game, the daytime show had it replace Bonus Game in the rotation about a month before this nighttime season began taping...but the nighttime show kept it in the rotation.

It was during this season that Dennis filled in for Bob on the daytime Price: specifically, the December 24-27, 1974 shows. Footage from those shows are listed here for the sake of completeness.

1974
 * Taped 7/28/74 (#079N/Season Premiere: Any Number, Shell Game, Range Game {Part 3}, with Dennis telling a winner they're over when they aren't!; first segment missing)
 * [Listed as "January 7, 1975" by J-Shea.]
 * Taped 7/28/74 (#080N: Lucky Seven, Most Expensive, Grocery Game {Part 3, Part 4})
 * [Listed as "September 2, 1975" by J-Shea.]
 * Taped 8/17/74 (#087N: Any Number, Bonus Game, Range Game {Part 3, Part 4}, with the rare Puppy Pong as a One-Bid prize – and somebody bids $10 on it!)
 * [Listed as "July 15, 1975" by J-Shea.]


 * Taped 9/30/74 (#089N: Clock Game, Money Game, Bonus Game {Part 3, Part 4})
 * [Listed as "1974 (8)" by J-Shea.]
 * Taped 9/30/74 (#090N: Shell Game, Any Number, Range Game {Part 3, Part 4})
 * [Listed as "December 17, 1974" by J-Shea.]


 * Taped 10/14/74 (#091N: Grocery Game, Money Game, Most Expensive {Part 3, Part 4}, with a long third One-Bid round)
 * [Listed as "December 24, 1974" by J-Shea.]
 * Taped 10/14/74 (#092N: Lucky Seven {well, that was quick...}, Shell Game, Range Game {Part 3, Part 4}, with a huge winner)
 * [Listed as "January 14, 1975" by J-Shea.]
 * Taped 10/28/74 (#094N: Lucky Seven, Most Expensive, Grocery Game {Part 3, Part 4})
 * [Listed as "August 19, 1975" by J-Shea.]
 * Taped 10/28/74 (#096N: Clock Game, Money Game, Bonus Game {Part 3, Part 4})
 * [Listed as "1974 (3)" by J-Shea.]


 * Taped 11/11/74 (#097N: Lucky Seven, Shell Game, Most Expensive {Part 3, Part 4})
 * [Listed as "March 18, 1975" by J-Shea.]
 * Taped 11/11/74 (#098N: Grocery Game, Money Game, Clock Game {Part 3, Part 4})
 * [Listed as "March 25, 1975" by J-Shea.]
 * Taped 11/11/74 (#099N: Any Number, Bonus Game, Range Game {Part 3, Part 4}, with the main theme running out during the credits)
 * [Listed as "January 21, 1975" by J-Shea.]


 * December 25, 1974 (#1213D: Grocery Game, Any Number, Most Expensive {taped 12/2/74}, with Dennis filling in for Bob!; taped from GSN!)
 * [Has no fur coats!]


 * Taped 12/9/74 (#100N!: Lucky Seven, Grocery Game, Most Expensive {Part 3, Part 4}, with the main theme starting at the wrong spot during the intro)
 * [Listed as "April 1, 1975" by J-Shea.]
 * Taped 12/9/74 (#101N: Shell Game, Money Game, Range Game {Part 3}; first segment missing)
 * [Listed as "April 8, 1975" by J-Shea.]

1975
 * Taped 1/21/75 (#106N: Lucky Seven, Grocery Game, Most Expensive {Part 3, Part 4})
 * [Listed as "February 11, 1975" by J-Shea.]
 * Taped 1/21/75 (#108N: Five Price Tags, Range Game, Any Number {Part 3, Part 4})
 * [Listed as "February 25, 1975" by J-Shea. Five Price Tags' first playing since #017N!]


 * Taped 2/3/75 (#110N: Grocery Game, Money Game, Clock Game {Part 3, Part 4}, with a pretty poor Clock Game playing)
 * [Listed as "March 11, 1975" by J-Shea.]
 * Taped 2/3/75 (#111N: Any Number, Shell Game, Range Game {Part 3, Part 4}, with someone very nearly bidding $100,000 on a Showcase!)
 * [Listed as "April 29, 1975" by J-Shea.]


 * Taped 3/3/75 (#113N: Five Price Tags, Grocery Game, Money Game {Part 3, Part 4})
 * [Listed as "May 20, 1975" by J-Shea.]
 * Taped 3/3/75 (#114N: Shell Game, Any Number, Double Prices {Part 3, Part 4}, with the last nighttime use of Double Prices until Season 6)
 * [Listed as "May 27, 1975" by J-Shea.]
 * Taped 3/31/75 (#117N/Season Finale: Shell Game, Any Number, Most Expensive {Part 3, Part 4})
 * [Listed as "May 13, 1975" by J-Shea. Dennis plugs the home game (presumably the 2nd Edition one) at the start of Act 2.]

Season 4 (1975-76)

Added One Right Price (the regular version) and Race Game to the rotation, along with removing Double Prices for the rest of Dennis' run as host.

The first two taping days of this season (July 20-21, 1975) are interesting: these six episodes were the first taped with the "rainbow" set (daytime Price had taped far enough ahead that it was on break until the August 2 tapings), but the new set was incomplete – the border of the Giant Price Tag was still brown and, more noticeably, the original Contestant's Row displays were still there. This interesting "transitional" phase remained under the radar for the next 40 years, and can be seen below on #122N.

Sometime between #125N and #140N, Dennis began plugging the 2nd Edition board game again, this time at the start of Act 3.

"Walking" probably replaced the original opening and "come on down" cues on #151N (taped 2/15/76). This is based on the tapedate of the "Patricia Bernard's in the bathroom" daytime show (#1812D, taped 1/20/76 and aired 2/17) and the belief that "Walking" replaced the aforementioned cues in daytime two shows later (#1814D).

1975
 * Taped 7/20/75 (#118N/Season Premiere: Lucky Seven, Most Expensive, Shell Game {Part 3, Part 4}, although it's not exactly a good start to the season... {alternate copy... thing, first segment missing})
 * [Listed as "September 16, 1975" and "Fall 1975 (2)" by J-Shea, respectively.]
 * Taped 7/20/75 (#119N: One Right Price {return, taped before its first daytime use!}, Grocery Game, Money Game {Part 3, Part 4})
 * [Listed as "Fall 1975 (9)" by J-Shea.]


 * Taped 7/21/75 (#122N: Any Number, Grocery Game, One Right Price {2nd nighttime playing!}; taped from KNBC in October 1975)
 * [From Dennis' personal collection, as he had the foresight to record a bunch of his Price episodes from their KNBC airings. (He also did the same for most if not all of Seasons 1-3, albeit onto a now-obscure tape format.) Has a fur coat in Showcase #2; Spiegel catalog shown at 22:12 is the Fall/Winter 1975 one.]
 * Taped 7/21/75 (#123N: Five Price Tags, Clock Game, Most Expensive; last segment only)
 * [Listed as "Fall 1975 (8)" by J-Shea. Last episode with the original Contestant's Row displays!]


 * Taped 8/11/75 (#125N: One Right Price, Any Number, Grocery Game {Part 3, Part 4}; studio master with bizarre slate!)
 * [Has a fur coat in Game #1 and Showcase #2.]
 * Taped 8/18/75 (#128N: Lucky Seven, Grocery Game, One Right Price {Part 3, Part 4}; first few seconds of second segment missing)
 * [Listed as "October 28, 1975" by J-Shea.]


 * Taped 11/23/75 (#140N: Lucky Seven {...wow}, Grocery Game {heartbreaking!}, Range Game {Part 3, Part 4})
 * [Listed as "Fall 1975 (1)" by J-Shea.]

1976
 * Taped 2/15/76 (#152N: Lucky Seven, Shell Game, One Right Price; Pamela wins a plane, clips of which appeared in a Season 5 promo, the show's 40th-Anniversary Special, and the official YouTube account; original? broadcast, begins at Showcase #2, "shaky-cam" upload)
 * [No fur coats in the available footage.]

Season 5 (1976-77)

Added Cliff Hangers, Danger Price, Dice Game, Hurdles, and 3 Strikes to the rotation, although aside from Cliff Hangers they only got between 2-4 playings each. While Danger Price also lasted past this season, it was only played a grand total of eleven times.

Oddly, when Hurdles was played (which amounted to a grand total of twice), the hurdler had no product attached – just a price.

On #160N (taped 8/15/76), Most Expensive had an unusual staging: it was played on the Turntable for a fur coat, a watch, and a diamond ring, all worn by Janice. The pricetag for the fur was on a stand next to her, while the prices of the other two items were on smaller tags inside the coat's pockets.

By #167N, Dennis began plugging the 3rd Edition board game at the top of Act 3, which he continued to do for the rest of the season.

1976
 * Taped 9/14/76 (#167N: Five Price Tags, Race Game, Range Game; taped from KNBC in December 1976, with a partial commercial)
 * [From Dennis' personal collection; partial commercial is Christmas-related. Anitra is still present. Has a fur coat in Showcase #1.]
 * Taped 11/2/76 (#177N: One Right Price {for two cars!}, CLIFF HANGERS, Lucky Seven {the only time it was played last on this version!}; taped from KNBC, begins just after last contestant calldown)
 * [From Dennis' personal collection. Has a fur coat in Showcase #1.]


 * Taped 12/19/76 (#182N: Lucky Seven, CLIFF HANGERS, One Right Price {for two trips!}, with Johnny appearing in Showcase #2!; taped from KNBC in March 1977)
 * [From Dennis' personal collection. Has a fur coat in Showcase #2.]
 * Taped 12/19/76 (#183N: Grocery Game, Any Number, Most Expensive; taped from KNBC in March 1977, with a station ID!)
 * [From Dennis' personal collection. Has a fur coat in Showcase #1.]

1977
 * 1977 (KIRO promo)


 * Taped 1/16/77 (#186N: Any Number, Grocery Game {for a car, and an interesting playing overall}, Most Expensive; taped from KNBC, Act 2 only)
 * [From Dennis' personal collection, specifically as part of a presentation reel. By this point, Holly is present on the nighttime show. No fur coats in the available footage.]
 * Taped 3/1/77 (#193N/Dennis' 3rd-to-last: Money Game, Grocery Game, Clock Game; studio master with slate, TVPMM watermarks present throughout {alternate copy, no slate or watermarks, lower quality})
 * [Dennis plugs the board game at the start of Act 2. Has a fur coat in Showcase #2.]

Uncertain placement

Info I can determine from the available footage is listed. No fur coats are present in either clip.


 * 1974? (Clip seen on Game Show Moments Gone Bananas where a contestant makes Dennis trip on the Turntable steps!)
 * [The red stripe is present just inside the wall border on both sides of the spinning Turntable panel, which was added on the September 19, 1973 daytime show (#0553D, taped 8/19/73). The Turntable carpet is still brown, however, putting this before the March 27, 1975 daytime show (when it became green). As such, it's somewhere between #048N (taped 8/26/73) and about #112N (taped 3/3/75).]
 * 1976? (Clip seen on Game Show Moments Gone Bananas of a really loud Clock Game player who has a bit of difficulty with "higher" and "lower")
 * [Has the rainbow set, putting it somewhere between #126N (taped 8/11/75) and #188N (taped 2/1/77).]

Bob Barker
Episodes taped August 14, 1977 - March 12, 1980 (105 episodes)

The show began airing primarily on CBS stations, and each season was cut down from 39 episodes to 35.

By the end of Season 8, the intro was altered: twinkling multicolored scrolling lights were superimposed on the camera, and the opening spiel was extended to start with "Right now, an audience is sparkling with excitement, because a fortune in fabulous prizes may be theirs tonight, if they know when The Price Is Right!" The logo used on the daytime show from Seasons 31-34 kinda resembled the one seen in this intro.

Season 6 (1977-78)

Restored Double Prices to the rotation, but removed Dice Game, Hurdles, and 3 Strikes.

On #215N (taped 10/26/77), Clock Game added a third prize, presumably to test the idea. It went back to two prizes on #218N (taped 11/22/77), but permanently became a three-prizer on #223N (taped 12/21/77).

Season 7 (1978-79)

Added Golden Road and Take Two to the rotation.

On #259N (taped 1/9/79), the idea of Most Expensive being played for a fur coat, watch, and ring was tried again; while it was done behind Door #2, it used the standard staging for fur coats rather than the game's set: Dian, Holly, and an unknown third model (not Janice) held the tags, which read "FUR", "RING", and "WATCH" respectively.

Season 8 (1979-80)

The final season added Give or Keep, Squeeze Play, and Temptation...although for whatever reason, Give or Keep was only played once, on the third-to-last episode.

Early in the season, and definitely by #272N (taped 8/15/79), the version of "Walking" used during the opening was changed from the 1976 iteration to the style which would remain through Barker's last daytime show in 2007. On the daytime show, it changed sometime between October 4 and 11, 1979; I know the latter show was taped 8/14/79.

On #300N, One Right Price was staged with its prizes (in this case, a boat and a three-wheeled electric car) behind Door #2 and Door #3 respectively, with the game's props out in front between them. This setup returned for the game's playing on March 18, 1992, which used two trips.


 * 1980 (Promo, using an intro from about this period)
 * Taped 3/12/80 (#300N!/Finale: Money Game, Cliff Hangers, One Right Price {with the aforementioned setup}; studio master with slate!)
 * [Has one last fur coat, in Showcase #1.]

Tom Kennedy (1985-86)
Syndicated, Daily: September 9, 1985 - May 30 [September 5], 1986 (170 episodes, taped March, 1985 - late February or early March, 1986)

This version, still called The Nighttime Price Is Right, was pitched for Prime Access slots but from what I can tell tended to get post-Midnight ones...probably because by this point, Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy! were ruling in syndication.

Needless to say, this run was also affected by Johnny Olson's death, although since this version had started taping in March they had enough to go into the new year without problem. As such, the below is divided by announcer: Johnny Olson (taped March-October? 1985), Gene Wood (October-November? 1985), and Rod Roddy (seemingly only February 1986).

Granted, there's other dividers along the way, but that's the major one. And boy, were there a lot of changes made during this period...

One other thing to note is that the fee plugs were an odd case on this version: they were either not edited in until shortly before being sent out by the distributor, and/or were replaced during the repeat periods (the show had four weeks of repeats during the season, then repeats throughout Summer '86). As a result, some Johnny-era shows had Gene or Rod doing these plugs, while some Gene-era shows had Rod doing them; I've noted who does the fee plugs in each listing below, where available.

While as with the previous nighttime series, there was no Double Showcase rule, the Perfect Bid bonus for Contestant's Row was in fact present in this version. Originally, it was the then-standard daytime award of $100, which was increased to $500 by the end of the May '85 tapings.

This is the only nighttime version that GSN has aired, and even then I don't think they aired the whole run (although by all indication, if they didn't they got pretty close).

Oh, and as an interesting aside, the syndicator for this version was a group known as the Television Program Source, which may seem obscure, but in fact was a division of Columbia Pictures Television. So this, and the following year's Card Sharks were in fact for all intents and purposes the only two Goodson shows ever syndicated by Columbia (the third would've been the aborted 1987 Match Game).

Johnny Olson
When the show began taping, the opening sequence mirrored the daytime show, using the light border and opening titles (in this case, "ALL NEW" twice and "TOM KENNEDY" twice). Johnny's spiel was a slightly modified version of the one used at the tail end of the previous nighttime series: "Here it is, all-new! And this audience is sparkling with excitement because a fortune in fabulous prizes may be theirs, if they know when The Price Is Right!"

About a month into taping, this was changed to the style used for the rest of the series: shots of all three Doors filled with prizes (they had about six or seven variations, most of them panning shots, although I don't think they had any set pattern of usage), as Johnny says "Here it is, all-new! A show sparkling with excitement because a fortune in fabulous prizes may be won tonight, if The Price Is Right!"


 * August? 1985 (WTVF debut promo)

Original intro/spiel
 * September 1985 (Lucky Seven, Grocery Game, Danger Price {taped 3?/85}, with Tom getting a standing ovation!; taped from GSN {alternate copy, large "MRC" logo in bottom-right corner throughout})
 * [Possibly the first taped show. Grocery Game still has its old set, and the Perfect Bid bonus is still $100. Gene does the fee plugs.]
 * Taped 3/85 (Money Game, Pick A Pair, Race Game {for season tickets to the Los Angeles sports teams}; taped from GSN {alternate copy})
 * [Pick A Pair still has its orange set. Rod does the fee plugs.]


 * Taped 3/ or 4/85 (Money Game, Most Expensive, Shell Game {Part 3}; taped from GSN)
 * [Gene does the fee plugs.]
 * Taped 3/ or 4/85 (Switcheroo {with a pretty rare event}, Danger Price, Range Game; taped from GSN {alternate copy, video turns B/W at points in first segment})
 * [Switcheroo still has its old set (thick vertical lines throughout). Rod does the fee plugs.]
 * Taped 3/ or 4/85 (Plinko, Race Game, Double Prices {for a car!}; taped from GSN)
 * [Rod does the fee plugs. One comment claims this was taped 5/85, which I doubt greatly.]
 * September 1985 (Lucky Seven, Plinko, One Right Price {for two trips!}, with Tom making a reference to The Young & The Restless {taped 3/ or 4/85}; original broadcast with a Ticket Plug, begins during intro {"-zes, if they know when..."}, kinda-low audio, video messes up a few times, ends late in sponsor list)
 * [Johnny does the fee plugs.]

Second intro/spiel
 * Taped 4/85 (Double Prices {for a car!}, Plinko, Danger Price; taped from GSN)
 * [Still has the blue audience seats. Danger Price still has its old set (it debuted, minus the red backdrops, by Johnny's last tapings of this version; see here). Johnny does the fee plugs.]


 * Taped 4/85 (Any Number, Take Two, Grand Game; taped from GSN, video is a bit bright)
 * [Has the blue audience seats, but the "onstage player" ones aren't shown. Johnny does the fee plugs, including one for the Sears Wish Book '85.]

Audience seats begin to change from blue to red
 * Taped 4/85 (Squeeze Play {for a car!}, Race Game, Grand Game; taped from GSN)
 * [Now has red seats for onstage players, but blue seats elsewhere. Johnny does the fee plugs.]
 * Taped 4/85 (Clock Game, Plinko, Double Prices; taped from GSN)
 * [Red "onstage contestant" seats, blue elsewhere. Rod does the fee plugs.]
 * Taped 4/85 (Includes Range Game; taped from KNBC, intro, first IUFB description, Range Game prize description, and first part of second? segment only)
 * [Red "onstage contestant" seats, blue elsewhere.]
 * Taped 4/85 (Shell Game, One Away {four-digit}, One Right Price; taped from GSN)
 * [Red seats throughout, which also applies to all of the below. Johnny does the fee plugs.]


 * September 9, 1985 (Premiere: Safe Crackers {for a car!}, Plinko, One Right Price {taped 5/85}; taped from WNBC, with Johnny doing the fee plugs)
 * [Safe Crackers still has its old set. Interestingly, this episode also circulates from a GSN airing with Gene doing the fee plugs, making me suspect that at least some of their master copies were the "repeat masters".]
 * Taped 5/85 (Lucky Seven, Secret X, Squeeze Play; taped from GSN)
 * [Johnny does the fee plugs.]
 * Taped 5/85 (Punch-A-Bunch {with a pretty rare event}, Money Game, Most Expensive {for three trips!}; taped from GSN {alternate copy})
 * [Punch-A-Bunch has the yellow slips by this point (originally white); Most Expensive still has its The Price Is Right tags. Gene does the fee plugs.]
 * Taped 5/85 (Any Number, Grand Game, One Right Price {Parts 3, 4, and 5}; taped from GSN {alternate copy, video is a bit blurry, brief audio dropouts at times})
 * [Black curtains around the audience. By this point, the Perfect Bid bonus has been upped to $500. Rod does the fee plugs.]
 * Taped 5/85 (3 Strikes {four-digit}, Grand Game, Clock Game; taped from GSN)
 * [Rod does the fee plugs.]


 * Taped 6/85 (Money Game, Plinko, Most Expensive; taped from GSN)
 * [By this point, Most Expensive has its "1-2-3" pricetags. Rod does the fee plugs.]
 * Taped 6/27/85 (Range Game {for a car!}, Grand Game, Race Game {major problems with the prop!}, with Johnny playing General Patton in the Showcase; taped from GSN, video is a bit bright, video issues for first 10 seconds or so)
 * [Contestant's Row is still pink, and Grand Game still has no "Ten Thousand" graphic. Rod does the fee plugs, one of which is for My Little Pony: The Movie (released 6/20/86).]

Contestant's Row changes from pink to green
 * Taped 8/85 (Lucky Seven, Clock Game, Secret X; taped from GSN)
 * [Rod does the fee plugs.]
 * January 10, 1986 (Safe Crackers, One Away {four-digit}, Grocery Game {taped 8/85}; taped from KYW with commercials, ends during fee plugs)
 * [Safe Crackers and Grocery Game have their current sets! Rod does the fee plugs.]

Uncertain placement
 * Taped 1985 (Golden Road {for a Ferrari!}, ?, ?; taped from GSN, first game only)
 * [Red seats throughout.]
 * November 25?, 1985 (Close of an episode with Johnny announcing, but Gene doing the fee plugs; taped from WTVJ)
 * November 28, 1985 (Close of an episode with Johnny announcing, but Gene doing the fee plugs; possibly taped from WTVJ)
 * [Red seats.]

Gene Wood

 * Taped 10/85 (Punch-A-Bunch, 3 Strikes, Most Expensive; third IUFB has an appearance by the Tugboat, with an unnoticed incident where its life preserver falls off; taped from GSN)
 * [3 Strikes still does not have a "NO" graphic. Rod does the fee plugs.]
 * Taped 10/85 (Golden Road, Hi-Lo, Double Prices {at the Giant Price Tag}, with Gene signing off at the wrong point!; taped from GSN)
 * [Golden Road still has its "staggery" sign (with what looks like paint lines below a few letters). Rod does the fee plugs.]


 * Taped 10/85 (Golden Road, Grocery Game, Double Prices {at Door #3}; taped from GSN)
 * [Golden Road still has its "staggery" sign. Rod does the fee plugs.]
 * Taped 10/85 (Lucky Seven, Race Game, Grand Game; taped from GSN)
 * [By this point, Grand Game has added its "Ten Thousand" graphic but has not yet expanded it to include "Dollars". Rod does the fee plugs.]
 * Taped 10/85 (Grocery Game, One Away {four-digit}, Take Two; taped from GSN, begins during intro {"-ew! A show sparkling with excitement!"}, video is a bit bright and pixely)
 * [Rod does the fee plugs.]


 * Taped 10/ or 11/85 (?, Squeeze Play {for a car!}, ?; second segment only)

Rod Roddy
By this point in taping (or at least all the below shows have it), the opening titles change from blue to red. This seems to mirror the daytime show, which was experimenting with red opening titles around this point.

I'm not sure when the series wrapped taping. I know that #N0335 (165) was taped 2/26/86, so based on that I'd say very late February or early March. Apparently, ratings were solid enough to warrant a renewal (Tom would later say that he would've stayed on as host if it'd been renewed), but for whatever reason things didn't come together.

On the other hand, it at least got a full season, unlike the next syndie attempt...


 * Early 1986 (Punch-A-Bunch, Any Number, Double Prices; has some bits of commercials, plus a Ticket Plug!)
 * [During Punch-A-Bunch, Tom makes reference to a one-punch $10,000 win where "I almost passed out".]


 * Taped 2/86 (Switcheroo, Range Game, Take Two; taped from GSN)
 * [By this point, Switcheroo has updated its board to allow for five-digit cars.]
 * Taped 2/86 (Race Game, Money Game, Safe Crackers; taped from GSN)
 * Taped 2/86 (Deluxe Dice Game, Danger Price, Cliff Hangers {Part 3}; taped from GSN, intro briefly messed up {alternate copy of last two segments, quality is a bit better})
 * [One YouTube comment claims this aired April 15.]


 * May 30, 1986 (Finale: Golden Road, Cliff Hangers, Double Prices; has a Ticket Plug and full credit roll!)
 * [By this point, Golden Road's sign has been cleaned up, a look that would remain until the sign's complete overhaul much later on.]
 * [After walking out, Tom says "They have the same feeling I do, welcome to The Nighttime Pri--you get the same feeling I do, this is going to be a very special show, huh? (audience cheers) Just have that feeling." He says "special show" a couple more times later on, and the Showcases are "Clues To Help You Know When [Season] Has Arrived", using Winter and Summer respectively (possibly referring to the tapedate and when this would air). The events after Tom signs off, which I've never seen in any other episode of any version, leads me to believe they knew (or at least suspected) it was the end.]

Doug Davidson (1994-95)
Syndicated, Daily: September 12, 1994 - January 27, 1995 (80 episodes, taped July? 1994 - January 1995)

Called The New Price Is Right to avoid the timeslot issues of its predecessor, and instead got confusion over whether the daytime show had been canned or Jonathan Goodson had replaced the "old" cast. One of those who noted the confusion of others was Barker, who isn't exactly the most trustworthy guy...not to mention that he had a slight smirk when he hinted that this version had been canned.

Jay Wolpert, who had produced Price from 1972-78, returned as producer for this version...and as a result the Showcases returned to their more plot-based form prevalent during most of his original tenure. Roger Dobkowitz wasn't involved with this one, for better or worse.

Of the two Showcase Showdown formats used on this version, I prefer the Big Wheel (aka "the backup because we don't have enough old clips researched") since it feels a lot more fair to the players...although I'll admit the idea of spinning from most to least winnings feels a bit off. Other than "The Price WAS Right", Contestant's Row wasn't used.

In the end, aside from the near-total overhaul and aforementioned confusion, TNPIR '94 never really got a foothold due to wall-to-wall coverage of the OJ Simpson trial, and was booted off at midseason. Still, several elements unique to this version (see below for a few) were later adapted on the daytime Price and/or nighttime specials.

On a personal note, this was the first version of Price I ever saw, airing around 3:00 AM on WDZL (then an independent station, although it had PTEN affiliation). I vaguely remember my mother and I getting up to watch the show, although for whatever reason I never taped any episodes (or if I did, they got lost somewhere along the way). For years, I had only vague memories of this version outside about two clips from tpir.tv (long since closed down) until a great guy named J.M. Vargas sent me three episodes in late 2005...and to my surprise, the last of said shows (specifically, the 9/19/94 episode) had WDZL's logo pop up in the bottom-right corner.

Maybe that's why I like this version so much, or maybe it's because of its uniqueness and fresh approach to a format whose daytime series hadn't really changed much in years...not to mention that they didn't have to deal with Barker.

Major changes for this version

From what I can tell, at least, and not including the format or set.


 * Magic # used a special staging with the Double Prices podium. For at least its first playing of this run, it used the daytime staging. Vlcsnap-2011-08-20-20h25m21s241.png
 * At least once, Plinko used a layout with three $0 spaces, two $5,000 spaces, and the other amounts raised. This was discarded in favor of one mostly identical to daytime, albeit with $2,500 replacing $100. The pricing, however, involved $100+ small prizes with the higher-lower guessing method. Also, since there was no Turntable, the Plinko sign was positioned at the back of the audience, as it had on the daytime show for at least 1983.
 * Choosing products during Hole In One had two methods during the run: the daytime style (order the products, after which the prices are checked), and one where the item's price was revealed immediately after it was picked. The $500 bonus was retained.
 * At least once, Punch-A-Bunch had players punch out their holes one at a time rather than all at once.


 * 3 Strikes ditched the luxury cars, giving the first number for free, and could have said number repeat. At least twice, there was a gag of putting an object (such as a mummy hand or rubber chicken) into the bag prior to the game, which Doug would pull out while explaining the rules.
 * Barker's Markers was renamed Make Your Mark, with a new sign covering the daytime logo.
 * Games normally played at the Turntable (with two exceptions; see below) were done at center stage. As a result of this, Shell Game didn't use its sign, although its $500 bonus was retained. Tnp_47.jpg
 * Squeeze Play was played either at center stage (as it had been until sometime in Season 10) or in front of the Video Wall. The former setup had the prop between Doors 1/2 or 2/3, presumably depending on the prize offered.
 * Clock Game used the Video Wall rather than its own prop, although the graphical setup for home viewers had two styles: one resembling a peace sign (contestant at top-left, timer at top-right, prize and price at bottom), the other using a horizontally-flipped version of the Range Game split-screen layout (contestant on left half of screen with timer superimposed, price at top-right, prize at bottom-right). Some episodes used four-digit prices with a $1,000 range provided, while others used three-digit prizes and awarded a third prize as a bonus for winning the game.


 * Grocery products were nonexistent: Golden Road started with a small prize or fishbowl of cash, while Hole In One and Grand Game used small prizes.
 * Ten Chances wasn't altered, but had something pretty amazing happen despite this version running so briefly: it was played perfectly (won in the minimum of three chances) twice. (There might have been a third such win, based on ATGS posts, but I can't confirm.)

Misc./Uncertain Placement

 * September (or so) 1994 (WTKR promo for tomorrow's episode, airing at the reasonable time of 4:00 PM)
 * September (or so) 1994 (WKEF promo for the show, airing at the reasonable time of 5:30 PM)


 * 1994 (Compilation of clips, uploaded by Doug himself)
 * 1994 (? {unknown car game}, Rochelle? {Magic #}, Stephanie {Secret X}; taped from WRAL, begins just before first price reveal of second game, somewhat bright video, ends during credits)
 * [Magic # uses its normal Davidson staging; The Price WAS Right has its logo and intro. May be October 18.]

Big Wheel used (all of these have the first intro, with Doug introduced as "the host of The New Price Is Right")
 * September 14, 1994 (Teresa {Clock Game}, Anthony {Temptation}, Michelle {Squeeze Play}; taped from WAVE)
 * [Clock Game has the "two squares and rectangle" overlay (nothing behind the timer) and two prizes offered; Squeeze Play is played between Doors 2 and 3.]
 * October 12, 1994 (Patricia {Plinko}, Jennifer {Safe Crackers}, Ronald {Lucky $even}, with a full credit roll; audio issues throughout, opening montage and fee plugs missing)
 * [Plinko has its mostly-daytime layout.]

Original Intro
Originally, Doug was introduced as "the host of The Price Is Right". This was amended to "The New Price Is Right" very early in taping, although the old intro returned for a few shows.

"The Price WAS Right" started off with no logo or intro. One was added by #0015N, itself after the above change. Shortly after that, Showcase winners began getting the clangs and whoops normally associated with big wins; previously, it was the standard dings.
 * September 23, 1994 (Penny {Lucky $even}, Christopher {CREDIT CARD}, Beverly {Safe Crackers}; grainy video)
 * September 26, 1994 (Craig {Safe Crackers}, Roya {Hole In One}, Emma {Switch?}; Safe Crackers prize description and entirety of other two games' gameplay missing)
 * [I think Hole In One uses the daytime method for picking items.]
 * September 28, 1994 (Kemiye {SuperBall}, Gregory {Squeeze Play}, Ondrea {Danger Price}; taped from WRAL)
 * September 30, 1994 (Trisha {3 Strikes}, Peggy {Shell Game}, David {Switch?})
 * [3 Strikes' "item in the bag" gag is a rubber chicken.]


 * October 7, 1994 (Terrence {Hole In One}, Cheryl {Squeeze Play}, Carla {Swap Meet}; taped from WCYB)
 * [Hole In One uses the daytime method for picking items; Squeeze Play is played between Doors 1 and 2.]
 * October 17, 1994 (Roman {Safe Crackers}, Joan {Temptation}, Karen {Swap Meet}, with the Big Wheel used)

Doug now introduced as "the host of The New Price Is Right"
 * September 12, 1994 (Premiere: Ugochi {Money Game}, Jeffery {Race Game}, Katherine {Magic #} {Part 3, Part 4})
 * [Magic # has its daytime staging.]
 * September 22, 1994 (Tracy {Plinko}, Patricia {Ten Chances}, Brett {Most Expensive}, with an amazing second game)
 * [Plinko has its "three zeroes" layout.]

Logo and intro added to "The Price WAS Right" (early episodes following the change still use the dings for Showcase winners)

Yes, I know some of these look a bit out of order (which I don't normally do), but there is a reason for it. Unfortunately, since it'd out-and-out spoil stuff if I had the reason visible on the front end, they're only visible on the back end.


 * September 13, 1994 (#0015N {taped 7/24/94}: Joselito {Hole In One}, Tereasa {Switch?}, Sharon {Safe Crackers}; taped from WRAL {alternate copy of some portions from the studio master, including the slate!})
 * [Hole In One uses the daytime method for picking items.]


 * September 15, 1994 (Sharon {Any Number}, Lloyd {Shell Game}, Shannon {Most Expensive})
 * [Squeeze Play is played between Doors 1 and 2; Hole In One uses the daytime method for picking items.]
 * September 21, 1994 (Zurgell {Lucky $even}, Daniel {Magic #}, Rachael {Plinko}; taped from WRAL)
 * [Doug introduced as "the host of The Price Is Right". Plinko has its mostly-daytime layout.]
 * September 27, 1994 (Nadine {Cliff Hangers}, Jason {Dice Game}, Misty {Danger Price}, with the Big Wheel used; taped from WAVE, with commercials)
 * September 29, 1994 (David {Hole In One}, Elbert {Clock Game}, Krista {Squeeze Play}, with David stopping in Contestant's Row, Doug's daughter making an appearance, an unorthodox Squeeze Play setup {does 7-3-9-9-5 look right to you?}, and the Big Wheel used)
 * [Hole In One uses the daytime method for picking items; Clock Game has the "two squares and rectangle" overlay (with a purple diamond behind the timer) and offers a bonus prize; Squeeze Play is played at the Video Wall.]


 * October 31, 1994 (Lisa {Any Number}, Stanley {Switch?}, Glenda {Shell Game}, with a Halloween Showcase; has commercials)


 * November 7, 1994 (Marjorie {Any Number}, Nina {Plinko}, Michael {Swap Meet}, with Marjorie stopping in Contestant's Row; taped from WCYB)
 * [Plinko has its mostly-daytime layout.]
 * November 10, 1994 (Kelly {Shell Game}, Jason {3 Strikes}, Cristina {Switch?}, with a rare incident in The Price WAS Right; first segment, The Price WAS Right, and Showcase only)


 * October 4, 1994 (Carol {Safe Crackers}, Keith {3 Strikes; GREAT contestant!}, RolaAn {MAKE YOUR MARK})
 * [By all indication, this was Make Your Mark's only appearance on this version. 3 Strikes has no "item in the bag" gag.]
 * October 25, 1994 (Lisa {Squeeze Play}, Kevin {Hole In One}, Carol {Danger Price}, with the "Echo-Echo-Echo" Showcase; taped from WAVE)
 * November 1, 1994 (John {Ten Chances}, Cheri {Grand Game}, Stacy {Switch?}, with Doug entering from the back of the audience and an amazing first game; likely taped from WTXF, given the closing voiceover {referencing a "Fox 29"} and the fact that WTXF was still owned by Paramount Stations at this point {this version of Price was distributed by Paramount Domestic Television})

Second Intro
A shortened version, cutting out most of the behind-the-scenes, 1993 pilot, and non-TNPIR '94 clips. Also, whereas the first intro ended with the dollar sign appearing and the logo's words forming themselves out of various generic prizes, the second intro ended with the logo already formed.

All below episodes use The Price WAS Right. I have no idea if the Big Wheel was used during this part of the run.


 * November 8, 1994 (Wendy {SuperBall}, Robert {Safe Crackers}, Julie {Switch?}, with Doug seemingly completely forgetting about the SuperBall)
 * November-December 1994 (Avinelle {Plinko}, Billy {Temptation}, Elizabeth {Most Expensive}, with Doug entering from the Video Wall; taped from WCYB)
 * [Plinko has its mostly-daytime layout.]


 * Early December 1994 (Cherry {Golden Road}, John {Secret X}, Beth {Magic #}, with Lauralee Bell in the Showcase; taped from WUAB, with commercials)
 * [Magic # uses its normal Davidson staging. One promo is for a contest with a deadline of December 16.]
 * December 1994 (Finale?: John {One Away}, Barbara {Danger Price}, Jolie {Grand Game}, with an "after-party" Showcase seemingly hinting at the show's demise)
 * [Doug introduced as "the host of The Price Is Right".]