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The Price Is Right Live: I Won And Almost Made History

Author Shawn Tempesta
Back in 2006, Shawn Tempesta took to the stage at Bally's and almost took down a long-held Cliffhangers record at The Price Is Right Live stage show.

I cannot tell you how excited I am that, at least for one night, The Price Is Right Live stage show is returning to the valley. December 1st at Lee’s Family Forum Plinko will plink, Cliffhangers will yodel, and I will attempt to win.

Again.

Winning The Price is Right Live Stage Show Is One Of My Greatest Achievements

The year was 2006 (I think). This was the year I moved to the valley. My friend Brian was visiting town and we are both peas in a pod. We are nerds about the same things. In particular, we love The Price Is Right.

It just so happened at that time, the then Bally’s Las Vegas (now Horseshoe) hosted The Price Is Right Live stage show pretty much nightly. On it, actual game show hosts like Jerry Springer, David Ruprecht and Marc Summers would swing into town and host for a bit.

The game is played similarly to the actual television show. Except you were tasked with being the fastest to answer a question on the big screen to get onto Contestant’s Row. If you then get closest to the actual item up for bids without going over, you’ll end up on stage.

I found myself on Contestant’s Row… an item was up for bids… and I was closest to the value. I made it! I was on stage.

Hosting that day was Todd Newton (who still hosts the The Price Is Right Live stage show version of the television show). On the stage, I would get to play one of the most legendary games in the show’s history: Cliffhangers. The yodeler game. Three items, you guess the price. For every dollar you are off, the yodeler climbs up a spot. As long as the yodeler takes 25 or less steps, you win all the prizes.

Three items were in front of me. If memory serves me correctly, it was an ice cream machine, a cordless phone and… I think a fridge?

First item, I guess: Bingo! Dead on accurate. Yodeler didn’t move. Jubilee Showroom went wild.

Second item, I guess: Yahtzee! Perfect bid. Once again, the yodeler didn’t move.

One Shot, One Opportunity To Make History

The final item was up for bids. I think it was the cordless phone. Before bidding, Todd Newton put the fear of God into me. “In the history of this game, stage show and television show, no one has won the game and not had the Yodeler move.” I must make history.

My buddy Brian was in the crowd cheering me on and shouting to help me. I knew it was in the $50 dollar range. Was it $50 or $55? I stressed. Brian knew I had won. I knew I had won. But could I be the greatest Cliffhangers player ever?

I bid $50.

It was $55.

The yodeler moved, but hey, I won everything! Of course, I didn’t need a fridge: I was a renter. I didn’t need a cordless phone: I didn’t have a home phone. Thankfully then (and hopefully now) you were able to take the cash equivalent of the prizes which was awesome! At that point, the $550 win was the biggest win I had ever had in the city.

The one thing I didn’t win? The glory of the title of Greatest Cliffhangers Player Ever. That has bugged me for nearly two decades.

December 1st. Henderson. I will get my revenge.

Shawn Tempesta is the co-host of Aimee+Shawn on 102.7 VGS in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is also an Emmy award nominated television host. As a content creator for 102.7 VGS, Shawn writes about current events, education, funny and trending stories.

Fun and Affordable Staycation Ideas

Summer always brings a bevy of vacation options, some more exotic than others. But, you don’t have to travel far or do something major to have a great vacation. There are many fun and affordable staycation ideas that can give you a memorable vacation memory by just staying close to home.

Staycation Ideas

So, what exactly is the definition of a staycation? It’s pretty self-explanatory, but according to the Oxford Dictionary, it’s “a vacation spent in one’s home country rather than abroad, or one spent at home and involving day trips to local attractions. Similarly, Merriam-Webster says it’s, “a vacation spent at home or nearby.” I think it’s a stretch to call any vacation that’s spent in your home country a staycation. That would mean that someone living in Michigan who travels to California for a vacation is really having a “staycation.” It makes much more sense to define a staycation as a vacation where you literally stay at home or do something fun in your local area. Thankfully, there are a plethora of great staycation ideas out there.

Plenty of cities have “be a tourist in your own town” activities promoted by their local city tourist bureaus, which are perfect for a staycation. Really, staycations have been around forever, but they increased in popularity during the pandemic, when people actually weren’t allowed to travel abroad. Still, even after the pandemic, the staycation is going strong. According to an international study by tourism and hospitality experts in the U.S. and China, the “staycation phenomenon” that started during the pandemic is still very popular and likely to stay as a new normal. The study, dubbed “Customer Preferences for Staycation Package Attributes,” is published online in the International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management. It researched the local staycation preferences of Chinese tourists, as well as staycation information from the U.S., Netherlands and Indonesia.

I love a good staycation. It can be stressful to plan a huge trip to squeeze into your time off. By the time you get everything packed, do all the flight stuff and get to your hotel, you might just feel like resting for the short while that you’re at your destination. What’s more, you can often find so many great places close to home that you’ve never experienced before. I’ve had so many great staycations where I ventured to a part of town or the state that I had never been before, and those are among my favorite vacation memories. In that spirit, here are some fun and affordable staycation ideas. Send me your ideas, too.

  • Netflix and Chill

    Have a vacation in your living room or bedroom. Make it a movie-watching marathon. Watch a string of your favorite guilty-pleasure movies or binge-watch a brand new series. Either way, it’ll be cozy and comfy.

    Netflix and Chill

    Getty Images / demaerre

  • Visit a Local or National Park

    If you have a state or national park nearby, use your vacation time to go adventuring. Being at a local park can offer some breathtaking scenery, especially in the summer. Have a picnic out there, too. If you don’t have a state or national park close by, try a local park.

    Visit a Local or National Park

    Getty Images / corradobarattaphotos

  • Visit a Local Museum or Art Gallery

    Nearly every town has a local museum or art gallery. Perhaps you’ve never really had the time to visit your local museum or art spot. Use your vacation time to explore those local spots, and you might find a new favorite place.

    Visit a Local Museum or Art Gallery

    Getty Images / shironosov

  • Stay at a Local Hotel, Airbnb or Bed-and-Breakfast

    If you’ve driven by that new hotel for a while and wondered what it’s like inside, why not book it for a night? You don’t have to be traveling to say at a hotel, Airbnb or local bed-and-breakfast. It can make for an exciting adventure right in your backyard.

    Stay at a Local Hotel, Airbnb or Bed-and-Breakfast

    Getty Images / Kristen-Prahl

  • Have a Party

    Using vacation time to plan a big party for friends is a good use of that time. Instead of traveling around the world, bring to world to you. Invite lots of your good friends, and spend some of the cash you would have on a vacation for your party. It’ll be the party of the year. Make that decade.

    Have a Party

    Getty Images / SeventyFour

  • Have a Spa Day

    Pamper yourself. Maybe you think having a spa day is too much of a luxury, but if you’re saving money by not taking a big trip, why not use that money for a spa day? It’s not just for ladies, either. Guys can book a spa day for a variety of services. It’ll make for a day of bliss.

    Have a Spa Day

    Getty Images / monkeybusinessimages

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