That declaration up there is subjective, of course, and also comes from the minds of Esquire. However, the article that accompanies this headline is a great read. I love fascinating pop culture, behind-the-scenes stories, but only if they are well-written. Chris Jones’ piece on a Nevada man who mysteriously guessed the exact amounts during a run on Price Is Right, is very well-written. The story is not one of political importance or social activism, but it’s an engaging true-life tale that focuses on a true first for an American insitution like the TV game show. From the article:
Kathy Greco, whose job includes holding the sacred book that contains the winning prize values, was among the first to get a sick feeling in her stomach. Mike Richards had been on the job only a few weeks; just thirty-three years old, he had auditioned to replace Bob Barker before he was given the role of executive producer instead. To make room for him, Roger Dobkowitz — who had been one of the producers since 1972 and was widely considered the show’s institutional memory — had been let go. The twin losses of Barker and Dobkowitz — among other changes, including the arrival of a rotating cast of young models to replace the aging familiars — had left devoted fans of The Price Is Right feeling out of orbit. They complained bitterly in online forums, pinning much of the blame on Drew Carey. He represented change, and for Loyal Friends and True — Bob Barker’s term of affection for the show’s most obsessive fans — change was the enemy. For nearly four decades, they had found a joy and a comfort in a place that had been made just for them.
Greco had decided the fix was in. Charles Van Doren on Twenty-One; Michael Larson on Press Your Luck. There were whispers backstage that Dobkowitz had somehow exacted his revenge, spilling the show’s secrets. Then Terry and Sharon had made their Showcase bids, and Greco had looked in her prize book. That was it. She fled behind the curtain to the left of the two podiums where Terry and Sharon danced to the music being pumped into the studio, oblivious to the unfolding drama. Greco pulled the plug.
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