The Price is Right is Wrong?
May 15, 2008 by Peggy
I happened to watch The Price is Right Million Dollar Spectacular last night. I watched this show some when I was a kid, but the only reason I watched it last night was because the husband was working late. So, I sat there with my bowl of meatless chili and cornbread. (I made up the recipe, and it turned out well!)
The Price is Right was disturbing to me. How could someone be that excited over winning some furniture or a car? I have to believe it’s partly for show. Perhaps they were instructed to be extra excited.
As the evening wore on, models dressed in evening gowns rung up prices of tomato sauce or put on a goofy smile to display Showcase #1. It’s amazing how little the show has changed. Maybe what has changed is my perception.
I watched closely as the first contestant in the Showcase Showdown passed on the “Earth-friendly” showdown. She was super excited about the chance to win a Chevy Suburban earlier, but didn’t care for the earth-friendly showcase. It was a bit strange anyway: a greenhouse and gardening tools, a Segway and not one, but TWO hybrid cars. You gotta get around I guess.
She ultimately won the second showcase with another car and a lot more stuff. The more stuff, the more in love she was. Everywhere, stuff that’s so wonderful. And everyone wants all this stuff. To me, it seemed like church for the worship of possessions.
When will all the longing for stuff stop? And is the new host Drew Carey capable of showing enthusiasm?
Warhol Dollar Sign image via flickr.
Hi, I just discovered your site, and added it to my RSS feed. After posting to my own blog this morning about our nation using the amount of stuff that we buy as an indicator of our economic health, I went to my RSS feed and saw your post about this.
I don’t know how to answer your question, When will all the longing for stuff stop. But I know I’m trying to stop it in my family, and maybe that is the answer. It will stop when one family at a time realizes that it’s harmful to their family, to their community, to their country, and to the environment.
Keep up the good work educating your family and others.
If you’d like to view my post on the stuff topic, it can be viewed at http://www.alittlegreenereveryday.com/
We watched that last night too. It was a little disturbing about all the stuff that they gave away. I couldn’t help but wonder what happens to all the furniture that is replaced by the new stuff. Do they just throw it away? Nobody on that show seemed eco-conscience. And with the eco-friendly showcase I didn’t think it was that eco-friendly. I mean TWO cars. Why not just one? That lady irritated me. The show has definitely changed, and I don’t like Drew as a host. I miss Bob Barker in the early 90’s.
Yay, I thought I might find a lot of angry Price is Right fans commenting. ; )
Robin, welcome to Tree Hugging Family. I read your post and will comment over there. I’ve thought about how living simply would affect our economy as well. Thanks for adding us to your feed!
Kamber, half the time I’m guessing people sell their prizes. I wouldn’t want someone picking out my bedroom furniture for me anyway. It all seems a big ad — the whole show. The earth-friendly showcase started out nicely enough with the greenhouse, but the two hybrids were overkill. I guess it all depends on what prizes the show receives. An eco-vacation package may have been better.
Sure, I always have an opinion.
I didn’t watch the show because we don’t watch television, nor do we have the time with our outdoor activities. However, we do what we can not for the “environment”, but because it’s what God calls us to do. Taking care of this land He has made us responsible for starts with reducing what we think we have to have to survive. That’s a given and also natural for those who try their best to remember what His plan is, and it’s not gluttony. We have cut out so much, we are now able, in good conscience, to add back some little perks that make life a little sweeter. But just 1 at a time. I indulged my sons deep, 2 year desire for Heely’s for his 6th birthday. Lightly used, from eBay of course, and they are his ONLY gift. He will treasure them I’m sure. Reusable bags, making our own gifts to give, actually cooking for my family (of course I always have though), driving diesel (still trying to find a bio-diesel station though), sharing in our raw milk co-op, brown bagging it everywhere… every little thing helps. Home schooling sure helps keep them from the commercial way of public/private schools. We are able to focus on what’s truly important, and it’s not the latest and greatest stuff. Thanks for your website, it’s encouraging to us “crunchy cons.” 
Kirsten, You have such a wonderful way of looking at this. I’ve often wondered why many churches don’t focus more on the environment. I think a shift is starting though.
Hope you find that bio-diesel soon.
I think one reason is there are many preachers that teach abundance is God’s way of rewarding the faithful. This is a prime example of religion getting in the way of the Truth. The blessings God has given us have been in our times of need, not in times of plenty. It’s really liberating to have a fat paycheck and to decide, no we’re not going out to eat. We’re getting a video from the library (FREE!) and making homemade pizza and playing Scrabble. Again, I don’t necessarily focus on what’s right for the “environment”, but what’s right for our souls, our children and our future. Saving, reusing, reducing… All important because it’s what the Bible teaches. Our life is, above all of creation, what’s to be honored. We are, after all, the ones who received the breath of life, neither the fish nor the apes. We remember though, we cannot count a single creation as insignificant. We have been called.
Thank you for the chance to share.