Sale of the Century/Funny

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.



Jim Perry (1983-89)

  • 1980s: Announcer Jay Stewart (who also modeled on occasion) once wore fruit and what appeared to be whipped cream on an immense hat. Jim, walking over, dipped his finger into the cream and took a lick...but discovered that it was actually shaving cream.
  • 1980s: On one episode, Jim was getting ready to introduce the contestants when the lights went out on the set. Without missing a beat, he said something to the effect of "And now we'll introduce (lights go out) the man who will pay for our electric bill, then we'll get the hell out of here." [1]
  • April 1985 (nighttime): An Instant Bargain offered to Alice Conkwright was a trip to Hawaii (normally priced at $2,176, but available for $17), which got three great moments:
    • The five models, who held cards meant to spell out "H-A-W-A-II", were in fact spelling out MAAH=.
    • Despite having a $45 lead, and never having been to Hawaii before, Alice refused as Jim laid down cash on her podium — $100, then $300. Following a "Going once...going twice...", he stopped himself and laid down another $200 for a total of $500. Her last refusal drove him to tears, which required a commercial break.
    • When the show returned from commercial, Jim (having regained his composure) began wondering "If I had offered her $19,200....$19,300....."
  • April 8, 1985 (nighttime): On Alice's last episode (begins about 12 minutes in), her last Instant Bargain was a $1,590 Mexican cruise for $15. Before even giving her a chance to say "no", Jim frantically dug out all the cash in his pockets — a staggering $2,000 — and put it in crumples on Alice's podium.

Jim: Let me ask my Greek Chorus over here... (makes conductor gestures at the audience)
Audience: TAKE THE BARGAIN!

    • After Alice refused, Jim nonchalantly said "Of course, she never buys," and started to walk off before realizing he had left the $2,000 on Alice's podium, then ran back yelling "Gimme my money!"
  • 1980s: At the end of another Instant Bargain, Summer couldn't get off the turntable quickly enough. When the Sale Surprise bell rang, she had to hand Jim the envelope from behind the Fame Game board.


Tony Barber (Australia, 1980-91)

  • May 13, 1981: As Victoria Nicholls (the then-hostess) is describing a make-up table for the Gift Shop, she asks a nearby stagehand to get the powder for her. He then comes in carrying two giant powder applicators and whacks Victoria with them, completely covering her face in powder.
  • October 17, 1983: Tony has a Freudian Slip...

"Which article of clothing does a Cockney call his 'Dirty Dicky'?" (realizes his mistake) "Let me put that another way--in rhyming slang, what does a Cockney call his 'Dicky Dirt'?"

  • June 25, 1984: In perhaps the show's most famous blooper, Tony Barber is hit on the head by the lowering safe as the Cash Jackpot[2] is introduced.
  • August 1985: During the "Australia vs. USA Challenge" Finals, Alice Conkwright (representing the USA) buzzes in early on this question, leading to Tony cracking up.

Tony: "In the familiar tale from Arabian Knights..." (Alice buzzes in) "USA, Alice."
Alice: "Sinbad the Sailor" (buzzer)
Tony: "No." (loses it after reading the rest of the question) "What did Aladdin rub in order to summon the Genie?"

  • April 15, 1986: Tony loses it again in another international tournament, this one being the UK/Australia "Ashes", when a British player asks for the poofter[3] Boy George in the Fame Game. Even The Announcer, Pete Smith, chuckles a bit during the prize description. (Just so you know, the offensive word was bleeped in broadcast.)
  • November 14, 1986: Tony, wearing a golf cap, offers to lower the price to $5 on a set of golf clubs in the Gift Shop if he could hit a golf ball through the giant Shopping door. He does, so why is it here? Because it sounds he breaks something when he makes the shot.
  • March 2, 1987: Tony and two of the male models pretend to be the Three Amigos in a Gift Shop segment.

Tony: Whenever there is injustice...
Model #1: ...whenever there is misery...
Model #2: ...whenever there is hatefulness...
Tony: There you will find us, for we are the Three...Amigos!


Glenn Ridge (Australia, 1991-2001)

  • June 29, 1993: Heat 1 of the Comedy Special.
    • This particular episode was the focus of a Late Show sketch where former "Sale" host Tony Barber assisted some of Jane's Late Show colleagues in an attempt to help her win via a hidden earpiece. She ultimately lost, and she angrily gave them the board game she got for participating.


Nicholas Parsons (UK, 1972-83)

  • January 8, 1973: Host Nicholas Parsons harking around prizes to a contestant named Elisabeth. Normally this wouldn't be odd, except he was basically yelling at a woman who didn't have enough money to buy anything.

"Would you like to own a mink coat, Elisabeth? WOULD YOU LIKE TO OWN A MINK COAT, ELISABETH?!"

  1. ↑ (Normally, Jim introduced the returning champion at the start of the program and Summer Bartholomew introduced the two challengers.)
  2. ↑ ($66,000)
  3. ↑ (British/Australian slang for "homosexual", considered to be offensive.)
Retrieved from "https://allthetropes.org/wiki/Sale_of_the_Century/Funny?oldid=1685655"