Hokie competes on iconic gameshow
Afton Sykes grew up watching “The Price is Right” game show with her grandmother.
Late last year, the pair's dream of watching America’s oldest game show live came true. Not only were they in the show’s audience, but Sykes competed for prizes.
Sykes, who double majored in property management and residential design at Virginia Tech and graduated in May, is featured on the Feb. 20 show. The episode was filmed on Dec. 14, 2023 in Los Angeles. For the show, contestants can win prizes by guessing the price of certain items.
Sykes wore a custom designed Virginia Tech t-shirt so that she would stand out during the show’s interview process.
She shared the process of being selected as a contestant and how the experience changed her perspective.
How did you get the opportunity to be a contestant on “The Price is Right?” What was the filming process like?
My Mimi [grandmother] and I have always wanted to go [to the show], and the tickets are actually free. I went online one day at Thanksgiving, I looked, and I was like, 'Oh my gosh, they have tickets available for December.' So, I went ahead and got them. Then, we booked the flight out to California and our hotels.
Once we got in line and signed paperwork, we were put in a random building close to the studio. You get your name tags. When we got to the interview, they brought 10 people into a room and asked questions. Our questions were - what do you do for a living and where are you from? Obviously, I said I was a Virginia Tech student. The people they like the most during the interview are the ones they pick to be on the show, but you don’t know until you get called down [during the show].
We were filming for about three hours, so it was a lot longer than what you see on the show. We sat in the studio through the entire filming process. We couldn’t have our phones.
Why did you want to attend a live filming of "The Price is Right?"
I grew up watching it with [my grandmother]. We would get up and have coffee together. It was a dream come true for us to both be there. I didn’t realize you had to be 18 to be a contestant on the show. We were going to take this trip after my senior year of high school, but then COVID-19 happened, and she ended up having a radical rib resection. So, it all worked out better that it ended up being my college senior trip, instead of high school. We had been waiting for that day for a long time.
Why did you throw up a VT sign at the wheel and wear a Virginia Tech shirt?
I wanted to let everybody know where I was from because Drew [show host] didn’t ask me. I had Virginia Tech on my shirt to let everybody know I am a Hokie, and I am proud of it. My grandma’s shirt was a little bit different than mine, but each had symbols that symbolized us. We designed them before we went. A lot of people on the show have unique shirts because it helps you get noticed when you are called up. The point of [the shirts] was that we were from Virginia going to California.
What game did you play, and what did you win?
I won a commercial watercooler, a hair straightener, $4.99 worth of Teddy Grahams, a seat cushion, and six pieces of luggage. The luggage was from me getting on stage and all the other prizes were from the rat race game that I played. The big prize for the game was the car, but I had a 3/5 chance of winning. All three of my rats came in last. I was proud of myself and how well I did with the game. I’m just sad that luck wasn’t completely in my favor.
Did the experience change your perception of the show?
The heaviness of the wheel was unexpected. I thought it would be much lighter, but I’m not a really strong person anyway. The studio was smaller, and I didn’t realize how much of it was filmed in one little spot. I always envisioned it from what they show on TV and the different sections. When I watch it now, I can completely see what’s happening behind the scenes. I just know the anticipation and feeling of how nervous people are, because you don’t come off as seeming that way when you are playing the game and filming, but it happens.
If you had the opportunity, would you go back to watch the show live again?
If I were to go back, I couldn’t be a contestant for 10 years because you have to wait to be a contestant again, but I could be in the audience. I would love to go back with my grandmother because I really do think they would pick her. She has an amazing personality. I hope one day we’ll be able to do that. I’m so thankful I was able to do it and that my Mimi gifted it to me.
Written by Brooke Van Beuren, a communications intern for the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences
