Lunchbox had one big mission: to get on The Price Is Right. He flew to Los Angeles, waited in long lines, sat through three tapings, and cheered louder than anyone, hoping to hear those magic words: “Come on down!” But after three full days, the dream didn’t quite go as planned. Lunchbox never got called to play.
The silver lining? He’ll still appear as an extra in an upcoming episode (or two) this spring. He’s already adding it to his “TV resume,” though Bobby quickly reminded him that being part of the crowd doesn’t exactly count as an IMDb credit. Lunchbox disagreed, pointing out he was once an extra on Friday Night Lights, which totally counts in his book. A listener named Zach called in from Wisconsin to ask if Lunchbox had a specific game he wanted to play. No hesitation: Plinko. “That’s the one I’ve loved since I was a kid,” he said. He also mentioned the “Mountain Man” game (a.k.a. the Yodely Guy), though he wasn’t sure if it’s still around. He didn’t see anyone play Plinko while he was there, but he did see the “Punch-A-Bunch” game in action, which he thought was “so fun.”
Then came another caller, Gail from North Carolina, who had also been to a taping. She had a theory: contestants are more likely to be picked if they come with friends or family. Producers love those reaction shots in the crowd. Lunchbox admitted most people there were with others, but he didn’t think that was the deciding factor, just a coincidence.
When the conversation shifted to his time in Los Angeles, Lunchbox had plenty to say. First up: the traffic. “It’s stupid,” he said. He also claimed he spotted Mark Wahlberg’s house on Mulholland Drive, because it had a big “W” on the gate. The rest of the studio wasn’t convinced. It could’ve been Denzel Washington. Or Henry Winkler. Or literally anyone else with a “W” in their name. Still, Lunchbox insisted he saw Wahlberg’s mansion, complete with private security, palm-lined streets, and “$32 million vibes.” He also explored Beverly Hills, enjoyed “the best Mexican food ever,” and even went on a self-declared “Margarita Tour,” tasting his way through several LA spots. Despite not getting on the show, he came back with stories, a possible cameo, and plenty of confidence that his dream isn’t over. But that’s not where the story ends.
Bobby shared a clip of Lunchbox talking to his wife after returning home. He asked her how she felt about the whole experience, and she was surprisingly supportive. “I’m not embarrassed,” she said. “You tried your best and that’s all you can ask for.” Lunchbox, however, didn’t love hearing the “you tried your best” line, it reminded him of something you tell your kids when they strike out in T-ball.
That led Bobby to a new idea: what if someone else from the show tried next? Specifically… Amy. Amy immediately said no. “This just feels so wrong,” she said. “It would be awkward if I actually got on!” Lunchbox didn’t disagree. “It would hurt,” he admitted. “If she got called up, that would sting.” Bobby tried to convince her by saying it would be funny to keep sending people from the show until someone finally makes it on. If Amy couldn’t do it, maybe Eddie could try next.
Lunchbox still feels The Price Is Right dream isn’t dead yet, and now, the rest of the team might just get involved in round two. So stay tuned. Someone from the show will hear “Come on down!” one day. It just might take a few more trips to California to make it happen.