Lovely tribute! The genius of the show’s conceit was its universality. It’s for budget-minded working people and homemakers who depend on knowing the price of everything—which is practically everyone. From plums to appliances, I felt like I was both learning something and participating in a shared experience. It felt authentically American: everyone had a fair chance. Somehow our greedy thirst for More and Better wasn’t exploited. Rather, through Barker, it was celebrated because we, the viewers and contestants, deserved to win from time to time—no matter who we were or where we came from. He genuinely rooted for all of us.