Base employee wins big on TV game show

George Morris, left, and his wife Tanya are joined by their friends Elliott Roggers and Nancy Roggers on The Price is Right set at CBS Television Studios in Los Angeles. They attended a taping of the show on March 5 with Morris earning a spot in Contestant’s Row and on the main stage.

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~

A Queen’s Harbour Master employee waited two months to hear the words “George Morris, c’mon down” echo from his television set.

Last Thursday, friends and family gathered around the TV with Chief Petty Officer (Retired) George Morris to watch his appearance on The Price Is Right and win $9,400 (U.S.) in cash and prizes.

The live show took place March 5 after Morris, his wife Tanya and two friends applied and received tickets to the show. They travelled to Los Angeles as part of a vacation. Morris eventually earned himself a spot in Contestant’s Row after passing a screening test from the show’s judges. He and the other contestants were interviewed by the show’s production staff prior to the taping but had no idea when or if their name would be called.

“I have some hearing difficulties, so I had no idea my name was called. My wife and friends were jumping around, saying ‘it’s you, they called your name’,” said Morris, 55. “After I realized they had called my name I was taken aback and thought ‘Oh my Gosh, this is really happening! They actually called my name’ and from that point on the nervousness was gone and off to Contestant’s Row I went. Like a typical Canadian, I was in it to win it.”

He would eventually find himself on stage after successfully bidding on a collection women’s watches valued at $1,400. He bid $1 over the highest bid to win the jewelry and to earn his ticket on stage alongside host Drew Carey.

“I was already nervous when I was in the audience and heard my name being called, but now it was getting even more exciting,” Morris recalls.

He won $8,000 after playing a game that required him to match five grocery items with the correct price tag.

With his appearance already a financial victory – minus 37 per cent in federal taxes – it was now Morris’ turn to spin the big wheel. The contestant that spins the wheel and comes closest to a dollar without going over qualifies to compete in the Showcase segment of the show, where they can win more money and prizes.

But Morris was eliminated in the spin-off against the show’s other contestants after registering 60 cents.

Despite not making the cut for the Showcase portion, Morris says he was pumped by simply having a chance to compete in the iconic game show, which first aired on network television in 1956. Morris grew up in Sept-Îles, Quebec. Like many kids of his generation, he spent hours in front of the family Zenith watching former host Bob Barker work his quizmaster magic on the popular late morning game show that features contestants vying for cash and prizes by guessing the prices of popular merchandise.

He and his wife had also attended the show in 2001 but were passed over by the show’s judges for Contestant’s Row. He learned from that experience and came prepared for the full day at CBS Television Studios. He went to sleep early the night before the show and was among the first to line up outside the studio ahead of the taping.

“It was just such a cool experience and definitely on my bucket list,” said Morris. “Everyone seems to be really excited when I tell them I was on the show.”

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