My understanding is that most shows offer you the chance to sell back prizes at a dramatically reduced "cash value" if you don't want the actual prize. Not sure how that works from a tax reporting standpoint.
That was awesome. I don't think that I have the discipline to delete everything from the DVR (Even Castle!) to get on TPIR. I guess I shall have to keep the day job....
Found a website, GameShowPrizes.com. That link takes to the prize winners section. They have nothing about selling prizes back. My understanding has been if you don't want a prize, then you don't claim it and don't have to pay taxes on it.
I think I've posted this here, but: My brother and my grandfather both went on and won things on TPIR in the Bob Barker days. They used what, if you watch the show, should be obvious strategies. In the queue to get into the audience and meet-and-mingle, my brother was the guy trying to fire up everybody else. He committed to being the high-energy positive-attitude cheerleader, slapping backs, high-fiving the older ladies, etc. He kept the energy up for the interview and snagged one of the Young Guy slots. Incidentally, he and I lived literally a block from the studio at that point. My grandfather got on by being the most adorable person in the entire world. He wore a t-shirt that said something like "I'm from Ewing, Nebraska [Bob Barker's home town] and I've waited 80 years to meet Bob Barker." I can't remember the exact wording. He was a shoo-in. My brother won a range/oven and inexplicably failed to trade it to the midwestern family man for the surfboard that that guy won on the same episode. What do you think of that, RONALD COASE? My grandfather won a pair of ugly oriental rugs of which I don't think he ever took possession and a trip to Mexico that I can't remember if he took. He was 80+, remember. Neither of them was given the option of selling the prizes back to the show. But the prizes weren't the point -- both of them were thrilled, in different ways, to have been on the show.
That's awesome! And very true. When I first moved out here, I worked for a while as a page over at CBS, and I staffed MANY a TPIR taping. And yes, you do have to practice writing the letters properly for nametags before they'll let you do it. Seriously, though, you can't be too crazy if you want on the show. They love that shit. I'd heard the new producers were a little more selective about choosing attractive people, but their standards sounded the same in terms of whackadoo.
"spreadsheets, custom t-shirts, extensive research, and acting like a crazy person."? It's amazing TPIR contestant row isn't always four librarians.
ReplyDeleteThis is awesome. I'm a little confused about how his gf won the prizes she did - did she trade the car in for other prizes?
ReplyDeleteMy understanding is that most shows offer you the chance to sell back prizes at a dramatically reduced "cash value" if you don't want the actual prize. Not sure how that works from a tax reporting standpoint.
ReplyDeleteThat was awesome. I don't think that I have the discipline to delete everything from the DVR (Even Castle!) to get on TPIR. I guess I shall have to keep the day job....
ReplyDeleteFound a website, GameShowPrizes.com. That link takes to the prize winners section. They have nothing about selling prizes back. My understanding has been if you don't want a prize, then you don't claim it and don't have to pay taxes on it.
ReplyDeleteI think I've posted this here, but: My brother and my grandfather both went on and won things on TPIR in the Bob Barker days. They used what, if you watch the show, should be obvious strategies. In the queue to get into the audience and meet-and-mingle, my brother was the guy trying to fire up everybody else. He committed to being the high-energy positive-attitude cheerleader, slapping backs, high-fiving the older ladies, etc. He kept the energy up for the interview and snagged one of the Young Guy slots. Incidentally, he and I lived literally a block from the studio at that point.
ReplyDeleteMy grandfather got on by being the most adorable person in the entire world. He wore a t-shirt that said something like "I'm from Ewing, Nebraska [Bob Barker's home town] and I've waited 80 years to meet Bob Barker." I can't remember the exact wording. He was a shoo-in.
My brother won a range/oven and inexplicably failed to trade it to the midwestern family man for the surfboard that that guy won on the same episode. What do you think of that, RONALD COASE? My grandfather won a pair of ugly oriental rugs of which I don't think he ever took possession and a trip to Mexico that I can't remember if he took. He was 80+, remember. Neither of them was given the option of selling the prizes back to the show. But the prizes weren't the point -- both of them were thrilled, in different ways, to have been on the show.
That's awesome! And very true. When I first moved out here, I worked for a while as a page over at CBS, and I staffed MANY a TPIR taping. And yes, you do have to practice writing the letters properly for nametags before they'll let you do it. Seriously, though, you can't be too crazy if you want on the show. They love that shit. I'd heard the new producers were a little more selective about choosing attractive people, but their standards sounded the same in terms of whackadoo.
ReplyDeleteWow. This sounds like every person I don't want to meet before 10 AM and two coffees.
ReplyDelete