TV SHOW WINNERS; CAPE COUPLE $22,000 RICHER

When Robbie Ralls called home from California to tell his friends and family he won big on "The Price is Right," no one believed him.

Ralls, of Cape Girardeau, had joked before leaving on a 10-day vacation to California that he was going to win the Showcase Showdown on the popular television game show.

"I was just kidding around," Ralls said. "But then I really did win."

He won nearly $22,000 in cash and prizes, including a new car. The show featuring Ralls airs Friday on CBS.

During the vacation, Robbie Ralls and his wife, Amy, visited Planet Hollywood, Universal Studios and CBS, and decided to try to get on the "Price is Right."

The first 300 people in line get to be in the audience. The Ralls' were among that group.

As each of the 300 people go through the entrance door, they are interviewed for about 10 seconds, Ralls said.

"I just told them my name and that we were there celebrating our two-year wedding anniversary," Ralls said. "A lot of people were being goofy or had cheers. I could tell the producer didn't like that. I just stepped forward and talked to him. He came back and talked to me."

Ralls was the third person called to contestants' row as the show began. "Everyone kept 'dollaring' me," Ralls said. "I'd bid, then they would bid a dollar more."

Finally, his bid was a winner for a 35 millimeter camera.

On stage he played the switch game and chose to switch price tags on a home gym and day bed. He won.

On the Big Wheel, he spun 35 cents, then 65 cents, for $1. That earned him a $1,000 bonus and a place in the Showcase Showdown.

His showcase included a car and seven-day trips to Nashville, Tenn., the Grand Canyon and Boston. Ralls bid $17,500. The actual price was $17,700.

"It was like I was in a dream," Ralls said "Everything was really easy. I never got nervous at all."

Taping of the show took a few hours because the equipment wasn't working properly. During taping delays, Ralls had a chance to talk with the show's host, Bob Barker.

"I talked to Bob probably 45 minutes," Ralls said. "He really connected with me. He's from Springfield, Mo., and was telling me about playing basketball in 1942 here in Cape. He had his arm around me telling me all about it."

"All the women were shaking and very nervous, but for some reason I wasn't."

Ralls' wife was nervous and actually hoped that she wouldn't get picked. She did come on stage after Ralls won the showcase.

"We got to wave good-bye," he said.

The couple will pay income taxes on almost $22,000. "We will have to pay 7 percent on the total amount," he said.

But the cash he won on the Big Wheel and as part of the showcase prizes should cover the taxes.

Ralls works as a salesman at Ford Groves in Cape Girardeau. He won a red Dodge Neon. "We're going to keep it and put `Showcase' on the license," Ralls said. But his wife will drive the car.

On Friday Ralls has planned a viewing party with about 20 people during the airing of the show. That evening a larger gathering is planned at Cedar Street, and on Sunday family members will gather to watch the tape.