Magic Number (pricing game)

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Host Drew Carey explaining the rules of "Magic #" to a contestant.

Magic # is a pricing game on the American television game show The Price Is Right. Debuting on the Season 21 premiere on September 14, 1992, it is played for two prizes, each worth at least $1,000.

[edit] Gameplay

Two prizes are shown, and the contestant is told which is the lower-priced prize, and which is the higher-priced prize. To win both prizes the contestant must then find a "magic number", a number which falls between the prices of both prizes, manipulated using a lever on the prop. If the number chosen is in between the prices of the two prizes (or equal to either price), the contestant wins both prizes.

[edit] History

On 1994's syndicated The New Price is Right, Doug Davidson referred to the lever as the "leever", the display as either the "geezmo" or the "geezmo thingy", and the game itself (jokingly) as "Magic Pound Sign". Magic # only used its normal reveal for its first playing of that version (the September 12 premiere). After this, the prices were revealed on the Double Prices podium.

For the first several years of Magic #'s existence, the game's computer automatically rounded the magic number to the nearest ten every time the lever was released. This was never intended, and was corrected once the producers realized it was happening.

v • d • e The Price Is Right U.S. Versions Current series • 1956–65 original series • 1994–95 syndicated series The Price Is Right $1,000,000 Spectacular • The Price Is Right Live! International versions Australia • United Kingdom • Other international versions Major elements One Bid • Pricing Games • Showcase Showdown • The Showcase Hosts (U.S.) Bob Barker • Drew Carey • Bill Cullen • Doug Davidson • Dennis James • Tom Kennedy Others on-air (U.S.) Rich Fields • Johnny Olson • Rod Roddy • Burton Richardson • Models Production Staff (U.S.) Frank Wayne • Mark Goodson • Bill Todman • Jay Wolpert • Roger Dobkowitz • Syd Vinnedge • Mike Richards • Sherell Paris (production assistant) • Marc Breslow (director) Notable Int'l Hosts Leslie Crowther • Larry Emdur • Bruce Forsyth • Marco Antonio Regil • Gigi Sabani • Ian Turpie • Carlo Boszhard • Iva Zanicchi • Joaquin Prat • Vincent Lagaf Pricing Games v • d • e Active pricing games Any Number • Balance Game • Barker's Bargain Bar • Bonkers • Bonus Game • Bullseye • Card Game • Check Game • Check-Out • Cliff Hangers • Clock Game • Coming or Going • Cover Up • Credit Card • Danger Price • Dice Game • Double Prices • Eazy az 1 2 3 • Five Price Tags • Flip Flop • Freeze Frame • Gas Money • Golden Road • Grand Game • Grocery Game • ½ Off • Hi Lo • Hole in One • It's in the Bag • Let 'em Roll • Line em Up • Lucky $even • Magic # • Make Your Move • Master Key • Money Game • More or Less • Most Expensive • Now....or Then • One Away • 1 Right Price • 1 Wrong Price • Pass the Buck • Pathfinder • Pick-a-Number • Pick-a-Pair • Plinko • Pocket ¢hange • Punch a Bunch • Push Over • Race Game • Range Game • Safe Crackers • Secret "X" • Shell Game • Shopping Spree • Side by Side • Spelling Bee • Squeeze Play • Stack the Deck • Step Up • Swap Meet • Switch? • Switcheroo • Take Two • Temptation • Ten Chances • That's Too Much! • 3 Strikes • Triple Play • 2 for the Price of 1 v • d • e Retired pricing games Add 'em Up • Balance Game (1980s) • Bullseye (1972) • Bump • Buy or Sell • Clearance Sale • Double Bullseye • Double Digits • Finish Line • Fortune Hunter • Gallery Game • Give or Keep • Hit Me • Hurdles • It's Optional • Joker • Make Your Mark • Mystery Price • On the Nose • On the Spot • Penny Ante • The Phone Home Game • Poker Game • Professor Price • Shower Game • Split Decision • Super Ball!! • $uper $aver • Telephone Game • Time Is Money • Trader Bob • Walk of Fame v • d • e Pricing games played on international versions 3 in a Row • Time-Play (British Clock Game) • Australia and Philippine format: Showcase Playoff / The Showcase • Penalty!