Double Prices
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Double Prices is a pricing game on the American television game show The Price Is Right. It is played for a four-digit prize worth more than $2,000; it has also been played for a car on nighttime specials, and occasionally on the daytime show.
Having debuted on the show's first episode on September 4, 1972, Double Prices is one of Price's original five pricing games. Double Prices was the last game to be won during Bob Barker's tenure as host.
[edit] Gameplay
The contestant is shown a prize and two possible prices. Selecting the correct one wins the prize.
The game is the antithesis of another pricing game, 1 Right Price, in which there are two prizes for one price.
[edit] History and behind the scenes
Early in the 1970s syndicated TPIR, contestants played for two prizes, one at a time, with two possible prices for each prize. A contestant would win either or both prizes they successfully priced.
Double Prices was the first game to be lost during Bob Barker's tenure as host, as well as the last game to be won.
According to TPIR producer Roger Dobkowitz, Double Prices has been played more often than any other pricing game (but by a slim margin). Its brief play usually makes up for time spent on games with more complicated rules.
Double Prices has the most inconsistent staging of any pricing game. It was originally played at center stage, behind the Giant Price Tag. Starting in the late '70s, it would occasionally be played behind Door #3. Sometime during the '90s, it began to be staged almost exclusively at Door #2; this held true until May or June of 2003, when the game began to occasionally use its original staging again. On one occasion, the prize was behind one of the Big Doors, and the game podium was positioned on center stage. Double Prices and 1 Right Price shared their first three sets before each eventually received its own props.
In an attempt to spice up the game, Drew Carey has the contestant hold his hand and say a "magic word" (i.e. "alakazam!") as he presses the button that reveals the correct price. He has since used this reveal style on other games with a push-button reveal.
