The Price Is Right may not have been all fun and games for a long period of time.
During the Wednesday, March 18, premiere of Dirty Rotten Scandals: The Price Is Right, several former models came forward to share their experiences working on Bob Barker’s game show.
“I wanted to wait until Bob was gone because I knew he would jump in and deny everything,” Holly Hallstrom shared on E!’s two-part documentary. “But I was there. I heard what was said. … For years, Bob Barker controlled the story. But that ends today.”
Before Barker’s death in August 2023 at the age of 99, the TV personality held the mic and served as host of The Price Is Right from 1972 until 2007. (Drew Carey currently hosts the show, which still airs new episodes on CBS.)
In Dirty Rotten Scandals: The Price Is Right, several models — previously referred to as “Barker’s Beauties” — painted a picture of a set that featured everything from alleged affairs to alleged sexual harassment.
Keep reading to see some of the biggest claims made in the shocking documentary:
‘The Price Is Right’ Model’s Boob Job AskAccording to Holly Hallstrom, producers wanted to put models in bathing suits “every opportunity they got.”
“They liked to remind us that we were replacements so that we would never feel secure,” Hallstrom claimed. “The producers would call us every week and say, ‘We would like to use you this week,’ like, we were weekly contract players when actually, we were a huge part of the show.”
At one point, Hallstrom alleged that producer Frank Wayne — who died in 1988 — came to her and said, “We really need a model who can fill out a bathing suit. I would advise you to use your hiatus wisely.”
What did that mean?
“Meaning I had to go get breast implants, and I had to pay for it myself,” Hallstrom claimed. “They could do that back then.”
‘The Price Is Right’ Model Gets InjuredIn the documentary, stage manager Robert Cisneros recalled a story of being backstage when the announcer started asking contestants to come on down.
As cameras began to move, Cisneros claimed that “a guy whipped his camera and [model] Janice [Pennington] happened to be standing right there. There’s a ledge and a 3-foot job. … She went over. People started screaming.”
According to Cisneros, Bob Barker said the show must go on and filming continued quickly after the frightening injury.
‘The Price Is Right’ Model Alleges RacismAs the first permanent Black model on The Price Is Right, Kathleen Bradley claimed that she heard — and saw — a lot on set.
“One of the ladies on the production team brought to my attention that inside a production meeting, when the models weren’t in there, they would use the N word,” Bradley claimed on Dirty Rotten Secrets. “I think people should know the truth — the good, the bad and the ugly.”
In a separate part of the documentary, Holly Hallstrom claimed she was told: “Bob has always said that Black men are the most diseased people on earth.”
‘The Price Is Right’ 10-Second Rule
After some models expressed concern about their treatment on the set of The Price Is Right, CBS initiated a 10-second rule where people couldn’t stare at models for longer than 10 seconds.
“There was no one monitoring how long the guys were staring at the models,” Holly Hallstrom claimed when confirming the rule. “It was a joke. It was an appeasement. They did things that made it look like they were taking action so you will stop complaining and go away.”
Bob Barker Has an Alleged Affair With ‘The Price Is Right’ ModelAt the end of part one of Dirty Rotten Secrets, Bob Barker’s romantic relationship with model Dian Parkinson was explored at length.
“Dian confided in me. ‘Did you know I’m seeing Bob Barker?’ I was really kind of surprised because Bob also had a girlfriend,” Kathleen Bradley shared. “As time went on, people were noticing how close Bob and Dian were. … It didn’t really stay private for very long.”
The relationship caused friction amongst the models because Parkinson was considered “top dog.” According to Dirty Rotten Scandal producers, “many attempts were made to contact Dian Parkinson for comment, but her whereabouts remain a mystery.”
‘The Price Is Right’ Model’s Weight StruggleHolly Hallstrom recalled a moment when Bob Barker came to her dressing room and said that her weight “was a problem.”
Hallstrom explained that she was on a prescription medication, which was likely causing the temporary weight gain. According to Hallstrom, Barker said, “Well, just do whatever it takes to lose the weight.”
After the fact, Hallstrom claimed she was “cut out at least 50 percent of the show.” She was later let go from the show.
‘The Price Is Right’ Model’s Off Timing
During her time as one of The Price Is Right’s models, Claudia Jordan recalled always attending meetings at the correct time. For some reason, however, the clock in the meetings would always show her late.
“I found out from a security guard that as soon as I walked in the lot, they were supposed to report to [a producer] when I arrived,” Jordan claimed. “A security guard said, ‘I think [the producer] set the clocks forward so you would look like you’re late,’ and it only got worse.”
Jordan claimed that same producer inappropriately touched her. She also alleged that Barker sided with the male coworker.
“Once that happened, I knew Bob was the enemy,” Claudia shared. “He does not have my back.”
In the two-part documentary, Claudia Jordan recalled the moment she had enough and decided to make a grand exit.
“At the end of every show, a model goes out and has the microphone and gets to say hello to the audience,” Claudia recalled. “I got the microphone and said, ‘I just want to say something. I can’t do this anymore. …. I’m going to miss this, but this is my last day.’”
The next day, she found the same lawyer who worked on Holly Hallstrom’s lawsuit and filed her own suit. (Bob Barker previously sued Hallstrom for libel and slander but dropped the case 48 hours before trial. Hallstrom later countersued for wrongful termination and malicious prosecution. According to the doc, she won her case.)
Jordan sued for sexual harassment and racial discrimination in 2004. According to Jordan, “the production company settled with me out of court.”
