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I haven't watched "The Price Is Right" in decades, but there is one episode I probably will tune in to see. It happens on Monday, July 10th in primetime, when CBS broadcasts the final episode of the long running game show taped at the Bob Barker Studios at CBS Television City in Hollywood.
The network is moving out of the location after decades of turning out classic shows from the building, which has been sold. Among the programs that came out of the legendary Television City: All In The Family, The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, Jack Benny, Hollywood Squares, Welcome Back Kotter, The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour, The Carol Burnett Show, Merv Griffin, Mike Douglas, and two of my personal faves, Burns & Allen and The Twilight Zone.
And that's just a partial list!
The Price Is Right is among the last to leave and the special show on Monday night will celebrate the building and the studio. TPIR will return with new episodes from its new home in the fall.
Canadian TV scribe Bill Brioux remembers the studio name being mentioned in many of CBS' biggest hit shows.
"For this child of television who grew up far from LA, CBS Television City always seemed like sacred ground. Shutting down Fairfax and Beverly is like tearing down Wrigley Field or Fenway Park. It was a destination I heard about way back in Grade School – “From Television City in Hollywood – The Smothers Brothers.” The studio lot was just down the street from the old Charlie Chaplin Studio, later the home of A&M Records and later again, Jim Henson Productions. You could spot CBS stars noshing nearby at Canter’s, the old school neighbourhood deli."
Ode to the Eye as Price is Right leaves Television City Studios
List of TV show made at Television City
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Studios 31 and 33 were designed specifically as live audience studios. At Jack Benny's insistance, the audience seating area was made to be lower than the stage and camera runway. Benny was worried that audience members might standup from their seats and block or interfere with the shots from the cameras.
The audience seating area for Studio 31 was later removed, and filled in to create a larger studio area which was level with the original stage. Studio 33 kept the sunken audience seating area, although the camera runway or dolley way was removed.
The rear end of the Studio 33 camera runway was left and could accomodate two of the studio cameras with pedestals. This area was routinely used for the main or centre wide shot positions for numerous shows like Carol Burnett, Sonny and Cher, Match Game (for Match Game, it was the camera 5 position). Some of the centre front row audience seats would be removed as required for a camera position as well. This was routine for the Sonny and Cher show, and later Cher's own show sans Sonny. This allowed for the low angle wide shot during the show opens and opening song/banter. During its run in Studio 33, Price is Right would use the rear camera platform for large prize reveals. This area was reverse shot from a couple of the main stage cameras.
Last edited by Glen Warren (July 9, 2023 5:11 pm)
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I was surprised to learn Wheel of Fortune was taped in the same studio as TPIR from 1989-1995
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Bill Maher’s HBO show has been using the same studio for a number of years. As of the last report it is not following the Price Is Right to its new home and is looking for a new space.
Last edited by Tomas Barlow (July 10, 2023 3:29 pm)