Anyone watching “The Price Is Right” at 11 a.m. Tuesday on CBS, locally WSBT Channel 22, saw Jessica Hardy win three international trips in the showcase showdown. The trips will take her to Cancun, Mexico; Pompeii; and China. Alan and Diana Kado, part-time North Webster residents, went to Los Angeles for vacation in February to visit their son, Brent Kado, and his wife, Jessica Hardy. Hardy taught improvisational comedy at the North Webster Community Center over the last few years. As part of their vacation plans, the Kados ordered four tickets to see a taping of “The Price Is Right” while they were in California. The taping of the show was Feb. 10, but the episode didn’t air until Tuesday. In the first round, four people were called up to the stage to be contestants. After the first game, host Drew Carey had the next contestant called up to the stage. Hardy’s name was announced. Hardy was the last contestant in Tuesday’s episode to make it up to the stage. She was the lowest bidder without going over on the price of a new smoker. Actual price was $649, and Hardy bid $601. “I had no clue how much that was. I listened to the audience,” Hardy said in a telephone interview after the episode aired. On the stage, Hardy played the game “Push Over” for a chance to win a vacation to Savannah, Ga. She didn’t win that game, but got to spin the wheel later for a chance to be on the “Showcase Showdown.” She made it to the Showcase by getting 90 cents in two spins, while the other two contestants either went over $1 or under 90 cents. The first showcase was the three trips, which contestant Kyle passed on to Hardy. His showcase included a motorscooter, computer and sailboat, but Kyle overbid. Hardy bid $25,000 on her showcase and the actual price was $28,528, so Hardy won by having the closest bid without going over the actual price. Hardy said she doesn’t know when she will be able to take her trips because the contract she signed stated the travel agency will contact her after the show airs. The agency has until July to contact her. “I think I have a year to use them,” she said. “Each trip is for two people and I have to be one of the people.” Hardy stated she is looking forward to the Pompeii trip because she wanted to go to Europe this year anyway. The Kados hosted a viewing party of the episode Tuesday at the Concord Mall, Dunlap. Watching the game show on television, Hardy said she could tell what moments were edited out, but it was very “joyful and fun” to be on the show. “It was so much fun to watch. Nothing seemed weird or came across weird at all. It was so much fun,” she said.
