Federal Way woman is contestant on ‘The Price Is Right’

Emmeline Aquino, come on down! The Federal Way resident was a contestant on "The Price Is Right." The episode airs at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 20, on CBS.

Emmeline Aquino, come on down!

The Federal Way resident was a contestant on “The Price Is Right.” Her episode airs at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 20, on CBS.

Aquino and a friend recently attended a taping of the show at a Los Angeles area studio. After lining up for a pre-screening at 4 a.m. and waiting four hours, they finally joined the studio audience for a rollicking good time.

“Just being in the crowd is awesome,” she said of the show’s exciting atmosphere. “They really make it worthwhile. They make you feel like you’re in Hollywood.”

Any audience member can be chosen as a contestant with the announcer’s signature “Come on down!” As the last contestant picked for Tuesday’s show, Aquino nearly missed her shot.

“I almost left the show early,” she said, recalling how that day’s adventure began before sunrise. She had closed her eyes and dozed for a moment. Then, above all the screaming in the crowd, she heard her name being called.

Aquino grew up watching the game show and its legendary guess-the-price games like Plinko, Lucky Seven, Punch a Bunch and 3 Strikes. When her name was called, she seized the moment.

“At one point, when I realized I was running down the aisle, I thought, my goodness, after watching this throughout my childhood, it’s like a chance of a lifetime,” she said. “I kind of took my time. I strutted down the aisle.”

Aquino’s family plans to celebrate her national TV appearance.

“My mom will have it ready for a Thanksgiving viewing party,” she said.

Although she can’t discuss too many specifics about the outcome until after the show airs, Aquino added that she enjoyed meeting the host, Drew Carey.

“He was a funny man,” she said. “I really liked him.”

Watch the show

Episodes are available online at www.cbs.com/shows/the_price_is_right.