This week, CBS has been holding live chats with personalities on their network, using an interface that mixes a chat room with the participant’s Twitter feed. Fans are encouraged to send in questions that the participant will answer live. This afternoon, the star of the CBS Live Chat was The Price Is Right and Let’s Make a Deal Executive Producer Mike Richards. The focus of the chat was 45 minutes of Price-centric questions, and he discussed user-submitted questions through his Twitter, @MRichTV regarding game refurbishments, new games coming to the show and preparations for taking over the reins of show. We even got a question answered about mixing the classic feel of the show with the year 2013. Check out the complete transcript of the interview below! (All remarks are included verbatim, with the exception of the removal of promotional hashtags and other Twitter “marks.”)
Mike Richards: I’m going to be answering questions live in 8 mins!
From @LMADFan29: how do you select the 6 games each show?
Mike Richards: We always look for a good mix of diff games Each game is a different amount of time so we pick what fits time wise
From @itsMIH: Are contestants randomly chosen from the audience?
Mike Richards:Our great contestant producer interviews every person in the audience and then picks.
From @dp227: when will you be doing another couples show?
Mike Richards: Not technically couples, but we will have our first family show (parents and their children) in April 18th
From @gracietoski: is it fun to be on set? do george and drew keep everyone laughing?
Mike Richards: It is an incredible environment. Drew and George never stop entertaining our crowd.I highly recommend coming to a taping.
From @JoshBishop88: Any games getting a makeover coming up?
Mike Richards: We are always improving our existing games. Card game, bonus game and grand game all getting a nip and a tuck.
From @palmercomm: Did you watch a lot of PIR eps before coming Executive Producer?
Mike Richards: I grew up watching Price. I watched just about every episode for 6 mos before I started. I ended up writing approx 60 pgs of notes preparing for my interviews and meetings.
Mike Richards: This was my favorite Price is Right prize of the year
From @CatherineMariaD: What was it like have the Lachey brothers on the show?
Mike Richards: They were great.Taller in person than I thought.Very cool that they played for a charity that Drew L worked for as a kid.
From @Tommy_Byrnes: Who is your game show hero?
Mike Richards: I have a lot n.Johnny Carson is the reason I am in TV.No one has ever been as smooth as Barker… Monty Hall is the most generous man I’ve worked with.I’m thrilled hes being honored w/ emmy’s lifetime achievement award.
From @jhuster: Hi Mike! Will you be surprising us with more remixed classic music cues? (Great job hosting The Pyramid btw!)
Mike Richards: We will! Thanks for noticing. And thanks for watching Pyramid.
From @BigJon06: With things going digital now a days, do you think you’ll every play a game on door 4 (The back plasma?)
Mike Richards: Not sure if we will use door4, its a good idea. Double Cross is our most digital game to date…Like it?
From @YodelyGuy: I’ve been wearing the same pants since 1976 – think I could get a change of wardrobe? Love working with you! Your pal, Yodely Guy
Mike Richards: Your fashion is timeless as is your theme song.
From @NrublocRetsilla: Is the Grand Game makeover including replacing the mechanical scoreboard with a digital one?
Mike Richards: Yep! Should look really cool. We are also working on check game!
From @mrbrown2195: Are we going to see any new games this season? I know, that’s a relatively tame question..
Mike Richards: Yes! We are about to start building 2…They focus on time and math.
From @ChadMosher: How is it trying to balance the “retro”/”classic” feel of Price with modernity? What do you do to try for a happy medium?
Mike Richards: Probably the toughest part of what we do.I want it to evolve but not feel like something foreign
From @Scottman82: Kathy Greco she said a few years ago on Price’s web site that Clock Game is using updated digital clock. Is that true?
Mike Richards: We have been trying to update that game for 3 years,Still don’t have the right look yet.
From @JulesSweetzer: Who has been your favorite guest from past celebrity weeks?
Mike Richards: Last year was a blur but Snoop and NPH really played the game! Next weeks celebs win a ton! 1 breaks Snoops record. Check out Nene’s tshirt, Sharon being spun & Demi L talking allergy meds .Don’t miss it
Mike Richards: Thanks for all the great questions!
