Patty McGraw wasn’t just a fan of The Price Is Right; she was a student of it. She trained like a prize fighter. She studied like a CPA during tax season. She could tell you the price of a 12‑pack of paper towels in 47 states. So, when George boomed, “Patty McGraw, come on down!”, she didn’t run, she glided. Like a majestic shopping‑savvy swan.
She slid into Contestants’ Row, and when Drew Carey asked, “Welcome, Patty. You ready?” She replied with so much confidence it was dripping from her lips, “I was born ready.”
The Bid Heard ’Round the World
The item up for bid was an electric bicycle. George described its features. Drew said, “Patty, you’re up first. What’s your bid?” Without turning around, asking the audience, or without any hesitation, she proclaimed, $989.95.” The crowd laughed. Drew smiled and looked at Patty with concern, “Just to the nearest dollar amount without going over, please.” “$989 then.”
The other contestants bid like normal humans. Afterwards, a bell sounded, indicating one of the contestants got the dollar amount exactly right. Patty knew it was her. Drew then announced, “The actual retail price: $989.00!” When she strutted on stage, Mr. Carey handed her $500. Patty received the money as if she had been paid back wages.
The Pricing Game: Masterpiece Theater
Her game was One Away, the car‑winning classic. The car: a cherry‑red convertible so shiny it looked like it had been waxed by angels. Patty cracked her knuckles. The audience chanted her name like she was entering a wrestling ring. She looked at the wrong price. She adjusted each number with the calm precision of a surgeon.
Drew: “Patty, do you want to ask the mighty sound effects lady if you have…” Patty, “No need.” She stepped back. She folded her arms. She said, “They’re all right.” Drew blinked not believing her confidence and beginning to wonder if she was somehow cheating. He looked over at the show’s producer as if to say, “What do I do with her? HELP.”
The sound effects lady shrugged and pressed the buttons. DING. DING. DING. DING. DING.
Five perfect dings. The audience exploded. A man in the third row fainted into a stranger’s lap. Patty didn’t celebrate. She simply whispered, “As it should be.”
The Wheel Meets Its Match
Patty approached the Big Wheel like it owed her money. She gave it a spin so smooth it looked choreographed. She didn’t even take time to say, “Hi” to anyone. It landed on $1.00. “Of course,” Drew commented. She won $1,000, and a bonus spin, and the respect of every grandmother watching at home. The other contestants’ hearts sank with hope leaking out on the stage, and sure enough, they didn’t tie Patty. Patty’s bonus spin was just as smooth and landed on $1.00 again. She won an additional $25,000. “I wouldn’t expect anything less,” Drew said as he wondered if she had built her own precise Big Wheel at home to practice spinning it as America Ninja Warriors build home gyms.
The Showcase Showdown
Her showcase included:
- A trip to Hawaii
- A dining room set
- And another car
Patty bid $35,742 without hesitation. The other contestants’ showcase was:
- New kitchen appliances
- A gaming room which included a pool table
- And a Ford pickup truck
Their bid was $41,500.
After the commercial break, Drew Carey said, “Tom, let’s start with you. You had a new kitchen, a new game room, and a pickup truck. You bid $41,500. The actual retail price: 42,353 dollars. You were only off by $853.” The audience cheered. Tom smiled for only a moment until he remembered he was up against a ringer named Patty McGraw.
Drew turned to Patty. “Patty, your showcase included a trip to Hawaii, a new dining room, and a new Hyundai Kona. Your bid was for $35,742. The actual retail price,” Drew’s mouth dropped wide open as he shook his head in disbelief. “35,742 dollars. You not only have won, but because you were within $250, you have won both showcases!”
Drew Carey dropped his microphone. The audience screamed with excitement. One woman in the audience collapsed in disbelief. Bells and whistles sounded as the stage lights flashed on and off. James O’Halleron reached inside the Kona and started honking the horn. Patty finally smiled and said, “Well… I guess I’ll need a bigger garage.”
