QotD: Survey Says

When you were younger, were there any game shows that you religiously watched and wanted to be a contestant on?

All of them, really. But The Price is Right was my favorite... so much so that I made an at-home version or two.

For TPIR, I remembered being confused over the end gifts thing: "Contestants not appearing on stage may receive..." I envisioned this is how it would go down when I was on the show:

Paul, age 8, standing in his parents' bedroom. His mom is standing over him, fixing his bow tie. He is wearing a dark grey suit with a white shirt and a red bow tie.

Mom: "What... what's this?"

Mom leans down to inspect Paul's neck. Dad enters the room.

Dad: "It looks like chicken pox!"

Mom: (gasp)

Paul: (cries)

Mom: "I guess we won't be able to go to The Price is Right after all!"

I figured at that point I was... a contestant not appearing on stage, and somehow I'd receive those gifts. Little did I know they meant the people in Contestants' Row.

At least I had chicken pox.