A big ‘Deal’ for a Canonsburg couple on daytime game show
Like a lot of folks, Joe and Patty Rice of Canonsburg made a trip to sunnier climes this summer, in their case California.
Unlike a lot of other folks, the Rices had to be very circumspect about the highlight of their journey.
The reason? They were contestants on an episode of “Let’s Make a Deal” that was taped in August and will finally air at 10 a.m. Friday on KDKA-TV.
By 11 a.m., the friends and neighbors of the Rices will finally be able to know if the couple won a valuable prize on the long-running game show or were “zonked” by choosing an item of lesser value.
“We’re not allowed to say anything,” Patty said earlier this week.
“Let’s Make a Deal,” which has been on the air in one form or another since 1963, encourages members of the studio audience to get dressed up in outlandish costumes, and the Rices followed suit. Once they arrived in California, where they were helping their son, Tyler, relocate so he can be part of a start-up company, Patty made playing card costumes for her, her husband, Tyler and their other son, Josh, from poster board – Joe was a King, Patty was a Queen, Tyler was an Ace and Josh was a Jack.
“We put a little thought into it,” Patty said. A fan of game shows, she was interested in seeing a live taping of one while they were on the West Coast. Through a link on the program’s website, she got tickets about a month before their trip, and she talked a couple of times on the phone with “Let’s Make a Deal” representatives.
“They do a little bit of an interview with you,” Joe said.
The costumes were sufficiently eye-catching, and the Rices seemed enthusiastic and lively enough that they were called down to the stage. Patty said they were shocked once they heard their names.
From there, the Rices had to stay mum on the outcome. But “the atmosphere is very fun to be in,” Patty said. “Everyone is very outgoing.”
“They move very quickly,” Joe said. “They keep the energy high.”
Needless to say, the Rices have set their DVR.
“We’ll be recording that,” Joe said. “It’ll be one for the history books.”