Author Topic: TPiR Feburary 9th ratings (top 25 markets) (Read 25488 times)

MikeK · « **Reply #15 on:** February 15, 2009, 12:15:08 AM »

Are we assuming that the extravagant prizes weren't offered to TPiR for free, or at least at a heavily reduced price?

[quote name=\'Fedya\' post=\'208182\' date=\'Feb 14 2009, 09:04 PM\']A $5K wicker lounger?

Perhaps the producers were budgeting in the hope that the prize was going to be declined. You could probably buy a decent wicker lounger (or one in a material you prefer) for less than you'd pay in taxes on the TPIR schlock.[/quote]
It's time for this image's Invision debut.

TLEberle · « **Reply #16 on:** February 15, 2009, 12:19:18 AM »

Applause.

/Does this overtake the absurdity of the $16,000 internet fridge?

MikeK · « **Reply #17 on:** February 15, 2009, 12:30:17 AM »

[quote name=\'TLEberle\' post=\'208198\' date=\'Feb 15 2009, 12:19 AM\']/Does this overtake the absurdity of the $16,000 internet fridge?[/quote]
It was $16,000 AUS, so it's a *little* less absurd. In American bucks, it's still a $10,000+ refrigerator.

Another candidate for this category came from Temptation as well, in the form of an almost $33,000 AUS bed.

Casey Buck · « **Reply #18 on:** February 15, 2009, 12:39:09 AM »

[quote name=\'TLEberle\' post=\'208198\' date=\'Feb 15 2009, 12:19 AM\']/Does this overtake the absurdity of the $16,000 internet fridge?[/quote]What about the $10,000 fish bowl from the High Rollers finale? That would be worth about $25,000 today.

Steve Gavazzi · « **Reply #19 on:** February 15, 2009, 02:41:52 AM »

[quote name=\'MikeK\' post=\'208197\' date=\'Feb 15 2009, 12:15 AM\']Are we assuming that the extravagant prizes weren't offered to TPiR for free, or at least at a heavily reduced price?[/quote]
If there's no logo graphic with the prize, it wasn't sponsored, and the cost came entirely out of the show's budget. I could be wrong, but I don't recall most of these prizes having such a graphic.

I think any discussion of the effect this has on the budget can be filed under "We Thought This Through Farther Than the Show Did."

Craig Karlberg · « **Reply #20 on:** February 15, 2009, 04:37:38 AM »

Then the question is, would you rather have a $5K+ wicker lounger or a near $4K pinball machine? For me, I'd take the machine in a heartbeat over the lounger because I'm a casual gamer. So I would decline the lounger if I won it, but kept the machine. That meant I had to win momey on the wheel just to even compensate for the taxes on that machine. If no money, I have no choice BUT to sell it just to pay whatever taxes that would incurr on that prize.

NickS · « **Reply #21 on:** February 15, 2009, 09:44:25 AM »

This discussion (the *actual* discussion) brings up a good point that I wish more people playing game shows for prizes would understand: you're going to get a W-9 if you win over $600... so game-show'er beware.

Matt Ottinger · « **Reply #22 on:** February 15, 2009, 11:03:32 AM »

This isn't nearly in the same sphere as a $19K wine fridge, but I was watching the show the other day and saw them offer a trip to Dollywood, Dolly Parton's amusement complex in Pigeon Forge, TN. I'm very familiar with the area. An unlimited "gold pass" for the entire season at Dollywood is something like $150, and the biggest, best and nicest hotels in the area charge less (sometimes MUCH less) than $100 a night for their rooms. So even rounding up (WAY up) at full retail prices, a couple is set for the week for about a thousand bucks. Add another thousand for airfare, and you might approach $2K. The show said the trip cost more than four thousand dollars. Where do they come up with those numbers, and why would Dollywood want to come across as looking like such an expensive place to visit??

tyshaun1 · « **Reply #23 on:** February 15, 2009, 12:39:29 PM »

[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'208215\' date=\'Feb 15 2009, 11:03 AM\']
This isn't nearly in the same sphere as a $19K wine fridge, but I was watching the show the other day and saw them offer a trip to Dollywood, Dolly Parton's amusement complex in Pigeon Forge, TN. I'm very familiar with the area. An unlimited "gold pass" for the entire season at Dollywood is something like $150, and the biggest, best and nicest hotels in the area charge less (sometimes MUCH less) than $100 a night for their rooms. So even rounding up (WAY up) at full retail prices, a couple is set for the week for about a thousand bucks. Add another thousand for airfare, and you might approach $2K. The show said the trip cost more than four thousand dollars. Where do they come up with those numbers, and why would Dollywood want to come across as looking like such an expensive place to visit??
[/quote]
Maybe there was a night with Dolly Parton included with the prize?

Tyshaun

ChrisLambert! · « **Reply #24 on:** February 15, 2009, 12:48:34 PM »

Perhaps Dollywood has cooked up something similar to Cedar Point's $375 VIP tour?

mcsittel · « **Reply #25 on:** February 15, 2009, 01:31:16 PM »

[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'208215\' date=\'Feb 15 2009, 10:03 AM\']
This isn't nearly in the same sphere as a $19K wine fridge, but I was watching the show the other day and saw them offer a trip to Dollywood, Dolly Parton's amusement complex in Pigeon Forge, TN. I'm very familiar with the area. An unlimited "gold pass" for the entire season at Dollywood is something like $150, and the biggest, best and nicest hotels in the area charge less (sometimes MUCH less) than $100 a night for their rooms. So even rounding up (WAY up) at full retail prices, a couple is set for the week for about a thousand bucks. Add another thousand for airfare, and you might approach $2K. The show said the trip cost more than four thousand dollars. Where do they come up with those numbers, and why would Dollywood want to come across as looking like such an expensive place to visit??
[/quote]

Did they say which airport they fly into? Assuming Knoxville, did they throw in rental car to drive to Pigeon Forge? I've heard of some strange fares in/out of the smaller towns, Knoxville being one of them, from family living in TN. I doubt that covers the whole disparity in cost but maybe a portion of it?

/I got married in Pigeon Forge
//It was less than $1,000
///The clock will start with your first bid... go!
///Yes I'm still married

Matt Ottinger · « **Reply #26 on:** February 15, 2009, 01:45:32 PM »

[quote name=\'mcsittel\' post=\'208225\' date=\'Feb 15 2009, 01:31 PM\']Did they say which airport they fly into? Assuming Knoxville, did they throw in rental car to drive to Pigeon Forge? [/quote]
Yes, they specifically mentioned Knoxville as the airport destination, which makes sense since there's really no other commercial choice. I don't think they specifically mentioned a rental car (or meals, for that matter), but that goes to the core of the game itself. If expensive details like that are part of the package but not mentioned, how is anybody supposed to make anything resembling an informed guess as to the price?

TLEberle · « **Reply #27 on:** February 15, 2009, 02:47:20 PM »

I had a couple of thoughts while laughing at the Demotivational Walk-In Wine Cellar. If nothing else, it provides a link to the black-and-white days, with the wacky and gi-huge-ic prizes. And isn't that what TPIR is about, besides the nifty games and atmosphere? How interesting would it be to bid on dishwashers and recliners all the time? I don't know how many people thought "Hm, if it's a wine cellar today, what'll it be tomorrow?" but that's a fine way to build up buzz about the show. And the chances that the prize actually goes home with someone seem remote at best.

Going back to the Olde-Tyme TPIR, one of the ways that you can beat the memorizers is to throw in some quantity of something else with the IUFB or showcases. Barbecue up for bids? Add 82 jars of mustard. Wardrobe closet in the showcase? Add 24 neckties. Start offering gold in fractions of ounces. And so on.

J.R. · « **Reply #28 on:** February 15, 2009, 03:42:27 PM »

[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'208215\' date=\'Feb 15 2009, 10:03 AM\']Where do they come up with those numbers, and why would Dollywood want to come across as looking like such an expensive place to visit??[/quote]
Perhaps the prize includes spending money?

I know I've read from ex-contestants that the trip values on WOF includes $1000 in spending cash, for example.

chris319 · « **Reply #29 on:** February 15, 2009, 03:43:52 PM »

[quote name=\'Steve Gavazzi\' post=\'208205\' date=\'Feb 14 2009, 11:41 PM\']
[quote name=\'MikeK\' post=\'208197\' date=\'Feb 15 2009, 12:15 AM\']Are we assuming that the extravagant prizes weren't offered to TPiR for free, or at least at a heavily reduced price?[/quote]
If there's no logo graphic with the prize, it wasn't sponsored, and the cost came entirely out of the show's budget. I could be wrong, but I don't recall most of these prizes having such a graphic.

I think any discussion of the effect this has on the budget can be filed under "We Thought This Through Farther Than the Show Did."[/quote]
I don't know if this is a technique which has been utilized on either the CBS or NBC/ABC version of the show, but the show could start renting prizes the same as you'd rent a prop for any other TV show or motion picture. Rather than spend $19,099 on a wine fridge and keeping it in the warehouse, simply rent it for the day. The show is then out a fraction of the cost of the prize by only paying shipping and insurance to and from the manufacturer. When they're done with the prize, send it back (taking a calculated gamble that the contestant will refuse it). This is similar to what they do with trips. They tell you what the trip would consist of and cost if you took it. If the contestant refuses the prize, no tickets have been bought and no hotel rooms have been booked. With furs and other wearables they would have to send the item seen on the show back to the manufacturer unless the contestant accepted the prize and happened to be the same size as the model who wore it on the show.

Quote

Going back to the Olde-Tyme TPIR, one of the ways that you can beat the memorizers is to throw in some quantity of something else with the IUFB or showcases. Barbecue up for bids? Add 82 jars of mustard. Wardrobe closet in the showcase? Add 24 neckties. Start offering gold in fractions of ounces. And so on.

They should do that.