Okemos woman wins car, $1,000 on ‘The Price Is Right’ TV show

OKEMOS – Vicki Pursley is grateful for her daughter-in-law because without her, she wouldn’t have experienced being on the TV show “The Price Is Right”, won a car, $1,000 and more.

Pursley, an Okemos resident, visited her son and daughter-in-law in California for Thanksgiving. While there, her daughter-in-law invited her to a taping of the show where Pursley was chosen as a contestant.

“I never knew what it felt like to have adrenaline pumping through you,” Pursley said. “Now I know.”

“The Price Is Right” is a daytime TV game show and the longest-running game show in TV history. It is on its 50th season and airs on CBS. 

Pursley, a retired Hiawatha Elementary School teacher, has been watching “The Price Is Right” since its Bob Barker days, she said.

Pursley and her daughter-in-law, Pauline Pursley, took COVID-19 tests the Sunday after Thanksgiving and that Monday went to the studio. They filled out paperwork, were split into groups and interviewed individually, and eventually she and her daughter-in-law were seated in the audience, right behind the contestants’ row.

And then Pursley was chosen to participate.

Her heart rate increased and she forgot everything the organizers told her, she said.

Pursley participated in the 10 Chances game where the contestant is given 10 chances to write down the prices of a two-digit prize, a three-digit prize and a car. Through this game and her time on the show Pursley won a Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid hatchback, a smart fridge, a phone, a wine bottle opener and $1,000, she said.