‘The Price Is Right Fans’ Go Wild as They Spot Familiar Face in Audience

Fans did a double-take! Wheel of Fortune announcer Jim Thornton appeared on an episode of The Price Is Right, and fans spotted him right away. Find out if he got to “Come on down!” and play a game for a prize.

On May 14, Thornton was seen sitting on the left side of the audience, a few rows back. He had on a Hawaiian shirt, jeans, and glasses. The announcer sat next to a younger man. It is not clear if that was his son, Sam, or if he came by himself to the game show.

Thornton was first seen in the audience during the second item up for bid. Once the contestant won, the camera zoomed in on her walking to the stage. Behind her was Thornton, clapping in the audience.

He never made it to Bidder’s Row or to the stage to play, but The Price Is Right host Drew Carey made a subtle shoutout to him during the first Showcase Showdown.

As the final contestant spun the wheel, Carey looked over to Thornton and said, “Ryan Seacrest is going to be here next year, reading the numbers like a pro.”

Seacrest is the host of Wheel of Fortune. Although Carey was joking, the contestant gasped and applauded for Seacrest. Thornton was seen all throughout the rest of the episode in crowd shots.

Fans noticed Thornton right away and took to social media to react to it. “Noticed something that the current Wheel of Fortune announcer, Jim Thornton, was in the audience,” a Facebook user said in the group TPIR Fans, with a picture of the announcer.

Paramount+/The Price Is Right

“I think that would explain why Drew was making references to Wheel of Fortune during the first Showcase Showdown!” a fan replied.

“No way!” said another.

“This is awesome,” a fourth added.

“Great announcer,” a fan commented.

In January, Thornton and TPIR announcer George Gray presented together at the SOVAS Voice Arts awards. They both became announcers on their game shows in 2011. Because of their friendship, it is not clear if Thornton was in the audience to actually play or just to observe.

Did you see Thornton in the audience? What was your reaction? Let us know in the comments.

The Price Is Right, weekdays, 11a/10c, CBS, stream next day on Paramount+