“Price Is Right” plans to hire its first male model–then get rid of him after a week
Models Lanisha Cole, Manuela Arbelaez, host Drew Carey and model Rachel Reynolds appear onstage at the taping of the 39th season premiere of ‘The Price is Right’ at Television City on August 9, 2010 in Los Angeles, California.
Popular game show "The Price Is Right" is hosting a new competition: casting its first male model. In a press release, CBS announced that the show's producers will look for potential game show studs, and then host a competition on YouTube.
"Male model hopefuls will be interviewed and judged by the show's female models and show producers on qualities such as their verbal skills, posing and ability to properly showcase a product," CBS announced, according to UPI. "Contestants who are selected to move on will participate in a series of challenges designed to reveal who has the best on-camera presence and modeling skills," The final winner will be chosen by YouTube viewers.
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The gender-reversal seems to be an attempt to placate critics who accuse the show of demeaning its female models. Last September, former "Price is Right" model Lanisha Cole even sued, alleging that she was sexually harassed by the show's producers. While the show's male hosts (Bob Barker and then Drew Carey) are the stars, the show's female models have long complained of bullying and sexism, Time reported.
Only, the new job sounds more like a token male model gig than an actual male model gig: he'll only have the job for one week.
"The winner, who will be chosen by viewers, will get a one-week stint on the show," CBS said. With a job like that, he'll be able to afford a week's worth of groceries!