When every game feels like the first one

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 29/09/2017 (3098 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Price is Right’s iconic tagline, “Come on down!” has been blasting through television sets for more than 40 years and Winnipeggers will get the chance to hear it in person. The longest-running game show in television history will bring its live tour — aptly named The Price is Right Live — to town this weekend with four shows at the Club Regent Event Centre.

Todd Newton, host of The Price is Right Live, has been with the show since the beginning, when it booked its first 10-day run in a tiny casino in Reno, Nev., nearly 16 years ago. Those 10 days turned into two weeks, which extended to a month, which parlayed into residencies at other casinos, as the early audiences of 100 expanded into crowds of 3,000.

Newton has been around to see The Price is Right Live grow and now, it’s a touring production that travels all over North America and is produced by the same team that works on the television show, with set pieces and games that are carbon copies of the ones viewers have watched on TV for more than four decades. And The Price is Right Live has doled out more than US$12 million in prizes since its inception.

Newton hopped on the phone from his Scottsdale, Ariz., home to chat with the Free Press about the intricacies of being a game-show host and what makes The Price is Right so special.

Erin Lebar: I know you’ve worked on other game shows in the past, but what is it about The Price is Right that keeps you sticking around?

Todd Newton: Well, I’m a game-show guy through and through, I was raised on game shows and hosted my first one in 1999 and immediately knew that’s what I was meant to do. So when I put in all of my efforts and all of my energy, I immediately sought out to be trained by the best and I was fortunate enough to develop an instant friendship with Bob Barker, who taught me just about everything I know about hosting game shows.

Through him, I really see the games through a different set of eyes and I’ve got this incredible appreciation and respect for it.

I also just love being on stage with people when they win a chunk of change that allows them to pay off their debts or put a child or grandchild through school, or they win a vacation they haven’t been able to take for a long time or even a refrigerator they desperately needed, not to mention a new car. I love that. There’s no better job in the world. It’s like being Santa Claus 365 days a year.

Erin: I want to talk a little bit about the art of being a game-show host, because I feel like it’s probably more difficult than a lot of people would assume it to be. You had mentioned you learned a lot from Bob Barker — what did he teach you? What are the things you have to keep in mind as a host?

Todd Newton: That’s a great question and I’m certainly one of those hosts that believes there’s a very clear distinction between hosting and, let’s say, acting. When you’re a host, I believe you’re an exaggerated, better dressed version of who you just might be walking around the mall.

And I think the key elements of being a relatable game-show host is you have to be present and you have to realize that although you may have the pleasure of doing this every night in a different city, for each and every contestant that gets up on stage with you, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime moment and for me, it’s kind of like when you become a parent, all of a sudden Christmas is really cool again and birthdays are really exciting, because you’re doing it through the eyes of your kids, you know?

So I play the games through the eyes of the contestants. I may have played Plinko 850 times, but each time feels like the first time and that’s how you have to treat it.

You also have to realize, especially with this performance, it’s not a television show, it’s a live night out at the theatre for folks and there’s one person on stage but there are also 2,500 other people in the audience so you have to keep everyone involved and engaged and you have to understand when you’re doing this show you’re not following a script, you’re in the moment and you gotta make the person at the very back of theatre feel like they’re right up front.

Also, as a host, you have to know the games better than anyone else. You have to know all the possible outcomes and you’ve got to make sure you maximize the moment and give every contestant every opportunity to win as much as they can.

And then I think as a host, you always have to make sure your suits are pressed and you have a nice tan.

Gotta have that game-show host tan.

Erin Lebar: Does it ever affect you emotionally when someone doesn’t win?

Todd: Oh yes, I can’t stand seeing someone walk offstage empty-handed. It takes the breath right out of me because I do try to get to know each contestant. Bob Barker always told me every contestant has a story. There’s a reason that they’re there.

There’s a big difference between introducing someone by saying, “OK this is Lily, she’s from Kansas City and she’s going to play Plinko,” and taking a couple moments to really get to know her, ask about her and help the audience get to know her.

Then it’s not Lily from Kansas City playing Plinko, it’s Lily who just retired from the post office and hasn’t had a vacation in 35 years and she’s going to play for a trip to Las Vegas and now everybody is on the edge of their seats, everybody wants Lily to win.

And if she doesn’t, it’s going to feel like someone just punched you in the gut.

And it’s that authentic emotion that makes game shows the only real form of reality television out there.

Erin Lebar: That’s a very interesting point, I hadn’t considered it that way.

Todd: Yeah, neither had I. I had to get the master to open my eyes to it.

Erin: I know there are probably far too many to choose from in a 16-year career with the show, but what are some of your most beloved memories from The Price is Right?

Todd Newton: Well, there have been several occasions where we’ve had men propose to their special lady on stage and fortunately we’re batting 1,000 there, they all said yes.

That’s really cool and nice to be a part of. I love being the guy that gets to stand next to a contestant when they win big because when their family rushes up on stage and they’re crying and hugging, I get to hear the things they’re saying to each other and I know it’s genuine. I really treasure those moments.

I like being part of a project that I can be proud of, that my family can be proud of and that so many people can take part in.

Other than moments like that, I think over the years on stage with Price is Right and on camera (hosting other shows), I think I’ve probably been picked up and swung around and kissed and squeezed and dropped more than just about any other game show host in history (laughs).

erin.lebar@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @NireRabel