‘Perfect Bid’ Tells The Story of The Man Who Outsmarted ‘The Price is Right’

Growing up in the ’90s, sick days were characterized by two things: chicken noodle soup and watching The Price is Right. Since the popular game show aired in the daytime, tuning in to watch a host of contestants play Plinko, spin giant wheels, and bid on fashionable yet reasonably priced dining room decor was a rare treat. The Price is Right is woven into our cultural iconography, which is why any and all fans of the beloved series will want to check out Perfect Bid: The Contestant Who Knew Too Much.

Now streaming on Prime Video, Perfect Bid follows Price is Right superfan Ted Slauson’s highly unique relationship with the long-running series. The title of the film, which took home Best Documentary at the 2017 Orlando Film Festival, asserts that Slauson was a contestant who “knew too much.” One can infer deception from that statement, but Slauson didn’t beat the game through nefarious means, quite the opposite, in fact. He outfoxed The Price is Right thanks to the admirable combination of hard work and loyalty to the show.

As Perfect Bid details, Slauson, a Texas math teacher, began memorizing the prize amounts he’d see on The Price is Right. Since the game show would regularly reuse prizes, Slauson, who would frequently attend tapings, became an indispensable asset to contestants who were chosen to “come on down.” After helping a multitude of people take home thousands of dollars worth of merchandise, Ted’s name was finally called. But his time on the Price is Right ended, like so many who came before him, at the Big Wheel. The show had a rule that once you played the game, you were banned from future participation. Game over.

Or was it? Eventually, The Price is Right softened its eligibility requirements. After a 10-year-absence, contestants were once again able to play the game. This rule change led to the great Showcase perfect bid controversy of 2008.

Without giving too much away, the “scandal” was the result of a contestant, Terry Kniess, placing a perfect bid during a 2008 episode of The Price is Right. Slauson and Kniess differ on what happened, but the controversy surrounding the episode resulted in the game show altering their pricing methods as to eliminate product memorization. Much like the infamous Press Your Luck scandal of 1984, the show wasn’t cheated but rather outsmarted.

You gotta respect someone savvy enough to beat the casino at its own game.

The perfect bid aspect is only a small portion of the documentary. Fans of the series will not only appreciate all the interesting behind-the-scenes info about the show, but they’ll also enjoy hearing long-time Price is Right producer Roger Dobkowitz and the legend himself Bob Barker rhapsodize about their enduring affection for the venerable game show. Ultimately, that’s the biggest takeaway from Perfect Bid. The series has touched the lives of so many people. It’s an institution; a warm, familiar distraction from the rigors of everyday life.

Ted Slauson is just a guy who loved The Price is Right; he’s a “loyal friend and true.”

RELATED: This Is The Funniest ‘Price Is Right’ Reaction Of All Time

Where to stream Perfect Bid