My friend let me have his copy of Entertainment Weekly from a few weeks ago, which did a predictable salute to Bob. One interesting feature of the article was interviews with Roger Dobkowitz, Anitra Ford, and even Paul Levine, the champion on the first episode. Paul intimates that his mother-in-law was basically responsible for him getting picked. Pulling out the episode to watch it made sense; he may have been the least excited contestant they ever had.

Besides the cringe-worthy fact that the first item ever up for bids was a fur coat, runner-up Connie may have been one of the best contestants the show ever had. She was given to screaming at the drop of a hat and was an absolute laugh riot.

The other bizarre things about that first episode: the never-seen-again pricing game podiums, the turntable spinning completely at random throughout, and every female contestant bringing their purses everywhere they went, even on stage.

 

posted by Brad @ 10:34 PM   7 comment(s)