Backstage at The Price Is Right: Memoirs of A Barker Beauty (22 page)

Chapter 34

Sweet Michelle

I
t was fun jaunting to the CBS commissary between shows to grab a quick meal to bring back to my dressing room before we began the next rehearsal. There was always a chance that I could run into a famous actor from one of the top CBS TV shows. No matter how long I had been on the Hollywood scene, and even though I had come into contact with a multitude of famous people, it was still a thrill to meet yet another well-known actor, face to face. When time allotted, I managed to sneak over to the studios directly across the hall and visit the soap opera stars on
The Young and the Restless (Y&R)
and
The Bold and the Beautiful (B&B)
. It was during this time that I made friends with many of the soap stars from
Y&R
, such as Kristoff St. John, Victoria Rowell, Shemar Moore, Eileen Davidson, Kate Linder, Eric Braeden, and my very favorite, Jeanne Cooper, who portrays the fabulous and indomitable Mrs. Chancellor. There was something magical about visiting the opulent interior sets at
Y&R,
made famous for so many years by these sensational seasoned actors. Their inherent ability to bring it all together and make each character come to life made me feel like I was a longtime acquaintance and an upstanding citizen of Genoa City, Wisconsin.

Keeping up with
Y
&
R
and all the characters was one of my favorite pastimes. As soon as I arrived to work and got to my dressing room, I would immediately turn the TV on and tap into the live feed across the hall at Studios 41 and 43 to see what was going on. The rehearsals were as exciting to watch as was the actual taping of the show.

In the summer of 1998, I received a call from one of my dearest and longtime sister-friends, Phynjuar (pronounced Penwah), informing me that her daughter, Michelle Thomas, was just hired to play the role of Callie Rogers Stark, an aspiring singer, who would eventually become the love interest of Malcolm Winters, portrayed by Shemar Moore, on
The Young and the Restless
. I was ecstatic to hear the great news, not only because Michelle would be performing on my all-time favorite soap, but also because she would be working in proximity to me. Michelle’s mother, Phynjuar
,
is a gifted actor, comedienne, music producer, music historian, radio personality, and acting coach. She’s a phenomenal artist, young in spirit, with a heart of gold and a bubbly personality to top it off. She was the primary guiding force behind her daughter’s successful career. On the other hand, Michelle’s father, alto saxophonist Dennis “DT” Thomas, had achieved success as a founding member of the world-famous R&B group, Kool & the Gang. It is no wonder that Michelle was so talented and developed such keen performing skills at an early age. She had inherited remarkable traits from both her mother and father.

When Michelle first came to live in Los Angeles, we would occasionally run into each other at special celebrity events or at the same restaurant while she was out with her longtime boyfriend and soul mate, actor Malcolm Jamal Warner. After she got situated in her dressing room at
Y&R,
she came over to visit me at Studio 33. It was such a delight seeing her so happy and full of life, doing what she loved to do best. We hugged for the longest time and giggled uncontrollably like children.

Michelle would refer to me as “Auntie Kathy,” and I would boast to everyone backstage at
TPIR
about my talented niece. We were so proud of each other’s success and accomplishments as we both had advanced to another level in our careers. Michelle was so charismatic and pleasant, and her big Cheshire Cat grin was infectious. She was a seasoned musical performer and accomplished actress at a young age. In 1988, she’d made her television acting debut at age sixteen on
The Cosby Show,
portraying Justine, the girlfriend of Theo, played by Malcolm Jamal Warner. That was just the beginning for Michelle, as she went on to appear on various television shows as well as feature films.

Michelle was perhaps best known for her role on the long-running ABC hit comedy series,
Family Matters,
as Myra Monkhouse, the sweet, quirky, and loyal girlfriend of Steve Urkel (portrayed by Jaleel White)
.
Michelle taped fifty-five episodes of
Family Matters
from 1993 until July 1998.

During breaks or any down time between taping the shows, I had all of the models and anyone from the production staff that was in the Green Room watch Michelle’s rehearsals and tapings on the live feed monitor. I remember the first time Michelle sang on
Y&R
in a nightclub scene. She sang the classic Billie Holiday song “Good Morning Heartache.” She appeared somewhat nervous and her voice quivered during the rehearsals, but when it came time for the actual taping, she delivered her performance with the utmost conviction. I was somewhat anxious as I watched her sing in her role as Callie for the first time. I felt like a nervous stage mother, watching her child perform at a beauty pageant, making sure she hit each note precisely.

Michelle was thrilled with her role as Callie because she finally got a chance to portray a sexy, sophisticated woman, showing people that there was more to her than just the juvenile Myra Monkhouse or Justine from her previous TV series roles.

Sometime in mid-November, I noticed that Michelle had not appeared on
Y&R
for a few weeks and became a little concerned, but I assumed it was her character’s time out. The soap operas have a special rotation for their characters and storylines.
TPIR
had taken a few weeks off from production for the Thanksgiving holiday and resumed taping around the first week of December. It was then that Michelle had finally returned to the set of
Y&R
. She paid me a visit backstage and said that she had to have emergency stomach surgery, but that she was feeling much better. I was glad to see her looking well and back at work, so I didn’t press her for more details on her surgery. We talked briefly before we were both called to be on stage.

“Don’t worry, Auntie Kathy. I’ll be fine,” she said. She gave me a big hug, a kiss, and flashed her famous bright white smile to reassure me that she was okay. I was so proud of her, and I enjoyed going over to watch her perform on
Y&R
during my breaks. Plus, it gave me an excuse for being over there with all the fine hunks.

About a week later, as was my usual regimen, I turned on the TV to see what was happening on
Y&R
immediately after entering my dressing room.
Y&R
taped at least five days in advance, sometimes, as many as fourteen days, thus giving me a chance to share the juicy details with my mom and brother Scotty, who were also avid fans. During what should have been Michelle’s scene with Shemar Moore, the voice-over announcer stated, “Due to sudden illness, the role of Callie Rogers Stark will now be played by Siena Goines.” I stood there frozen as my heart sank to my stomach. I immediately called Phynjuar to find out what was going on.

Phynjuar sadly explained, “Michelle is not doing well. She has a rare form of stomach cancer and won’t be returning to
Y&R
.”

When I heard those words from Phynjuar, tears started streaming down my face as I became motionless and silent. I knew something was terribly wrong with Michelle for her not to be returning to
Y&R
.

Phynjuar continued, “Michelle was first diagnosed in August 1997 with intra-abdominal desmoplastic small round cell tumor, a rare soft tissue sarcoma. Michelle didn’t want anyone to know. She had surgery back then to have a lemon-sized tumor successfully removed from her abdomen. We thought that was the end of it; however, another tumor grew back, and she went in for surgery again in October.”

Michelle was a lifelong vegan and a health fanatic, who never smoked or drank alcohol. How, then, could this have happened to such a sweet, young, vibrant little darling? I prayed for God to deliver a miracle and to bless and heal our sweet Michelle. I was shocked, saddened, and in denial about the possibility of losing her at such an early time in her life. My heart went out, especially to Phynjuar. Michelle was her only daughter. They were extremely close, as close as any mother and daughter could ever be
.
Phynjuar had put her own professional career on hold to train and guide Michelle.

I cried so hard in my dressing room that when it came time to rehearse, I looked like someone had punched me in both eyes. I shared the tragic news with the people on the set who were familiar with her and knew of our close relationship. They, too, could not believe it.

Tragically, on December 22, 1998, the young, beautiful, and talented Michelle passed away at the age of twenty-nine. Little did I know that the time we talked, hugged and giggled, while meeting backstage at CBS, would be our last. I was devastated upon hearing the news of her passing as were all of the
Y
&R
cast members, production staff, and crew.

Michelle’s faithful fans set up various memorial websites in honor of Michelle, while Michelle’s family posted a beautiful tribute on YouTube to share with all who loved her.

Y&R
dedicated the January 18, 1999 show to Michelle’s honor and memory. After Michelle’s death, going over to visit my friends on Y&R was never the same.

Chapter 35

Season 28,

Off with a Bang

A
fter a nice, relaxing summer vacation with my family, it was time to return to work. Taping usually resumed on Labor Day, which always falls on a Monday. No BBQ or end-of-summer family picnics for us. By the time we finished working and tried to catch the tail end of a family BBQ, the food was generally gone.

This was Season 28, which was going to be another intriguing and challenging season. Before we began our summer hiatus, Chantel had informed us that she would not be returning to the show in the fall. She was getting married to her Prince Charming, Randy Beck, and she wanted to settle down and start a family. Randy was a multi-millionaire entrepreneur involved in the music industry. How fortunate for Chantel to have found the man of her dreams. Chantel and Randy had an exquisite wedding in November at the perfect little church in Rancho Mirage. Immediately following the wedding ceremony, the guests proceeded to the reception at the luxurious Ritz-Carlton Hotel, located on a 650-foot bluff overlooking world-famous Palm Springs Valley. Many of the
Price
staff and cast were in attendance for their nuptials. Prior to getting hitched, they had already moved in together and set up their love nest in their beautiful Laguna Beach home that was literally 200 yards from the ocean and just happened to be two doors away from wild boy, party animal, Dennis Rodman’s home. Chantel kept us informed about the wild parties that were going on at Rodman’s place, most of which would make a grown man blush.

The new model search to replace Chantel had taken place over the summer break. Janice and I were relieved to know that we were not needed as vital parts of the process to discover the newest Barker Beauty.

On the first day back to work, Janice and I were introduced to the lovely,
young
, blonde model Nikki Schieler Ziering. Nikki had been eagerly waiting to begin her new job on
TPIR
before Janice and I arrived to work
.
Her call time was two hours earlier than normal, so Sherrell and the wardrobe stylist, Robin, could get her fitted and acclimated to the set. Much to our surprise, Chantel was also on the set. The producers came up with an idea to allow Chantel to say goodbye to the audience and her fans while handing the torch over to Nikki on the same show. How thoughtful and respectful to give Chantel her royal send-off in this manner—something poor Holly never got a chance to do!

Nikki was the wife of actor Ian Ziering from the hit TV series
Beverly Hills 90210
. Aside from Nikki being a super blonde hottie, there was no doubt that the producers were impressed with the fact that she was married to such a high-profile actor and her last name would be well recognized; therefore, creating good press to help boost the ratings.
TPIR
had always prided itself on the longevity of the show, its illustrious host, and the familiar faces and bodies of the Beauties. The constant replacement of new models was not good for the show. But
TPIR
was still the mecca for many who dreamed of becoming instantly rich from playing Plinko and similar games or who were lucky enough to take home “a new carrrr
.”

Nikki was born in Brea, California and began modeling while still a student at Sonora High School. Nikki’s showbiz potential was discovered by a modeling agent when she was working as a dental hygienist. Like most of the other models, she had appeared in swimsuit and fashion catalogs and was a spokes model for numerous ad campaigns. Not since Dian Parkinson had any of the permanent Barker Beauties been involved with
Playboy Magazine
, until now. Nikki had appeared on the August 1997 cover of
Playboy Magazine
as a biker babe. She sensuously straddled a silver and black motorcycle, wearing black boots, black leather chaps, with her ass out, and a black leather midriff crisscross laced top, with cleavage for days. She was named Playmate of the Month, but didn’t appear nude inside
that
particular issue. The producers still wanted a model who could represent the wholesome girl next door type, but who had a combination of sexuality and innocence. That was Nikki.

After two weeks of work and twelve new shows in the can, we were notified that our taping schedule would be altered. Instead of having one week off, we would be down for two weeks. Barker was going to Washington, D.C. to speak to a congressional subcommittee regarding the proposed Captive Elephant Prevention Accident Act. The central issue before the subcommittee was whether captive elephants were so dangerous that they posed an unacceptable risk to their trainers and the public and should, therefore, no longer be used in traveling circuses or for giving rides to the public.

On September 16
th
, I received a phone call from Sherrell, telling me that Barker was admitted to a hospital in Washington, D.C. to clear a blocked artery, but was in stable condition. While on the phone with Sherrell, I simultaneously watched the same report on the CBS evening news. After I hung up with Sherrell, my phone was ringing off the hook from family and friends to see if I had heard the disturbing news about Barker and, if so, if I had any updates on his condition.

Earlier that year, in June, the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences had presented Barker with the Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award, the most prestigious annual award in television. Barker received this award for his outstanding contribution and many years in the field of daytime television. The producers of
TPIR
, Pearson Television, along with The Mark Goodson Organization, took out a full-page ad in
Variety
to congratulate Barker for this prestigious award.
Variety
is a trade magazine that provides a daily wrap-up of worldwide entertainment news. The magazine is printed 260 times a year and is a must-read for showbiz professionals as well as civilians who want to read the gospel about show business. The entire
Price
staff, cast, producers, and director, as well as Mark Goodson’s children, Jill, Jonathan, and Marjorie, were all named in the ad, which read simply in large capital letters, “
TIMELESS
” above Barker’s photo. Below, it read, “
PRICELESS.”
Barker also took out his own full-page ad, with a photo of him embracing his dog and a photo of the Lifetime Achievement Emmy statue, with a caption that stated,
“I’m sincerely grateful to everyone in my life who helped make it possible for me to receive this honor.”

Who would have imagined that three months after the 75-year-old Bob Barker had experienced one of the greatest highlights of his life, he could now, conceivably be experiencing the most devastating time of his life. Henry Bollinger, Barker’s publicist and trusted friend, reported that while Barker was in his hotel room preparing for his presentation to Congress, he began feeling a little fatigued and numb in his right arm. Bollinger feared the worst—perhaps Barker could be having a stroke—and wasted no time calling the paramedics. Barker was taken to the emergency room and later admitted to George Washington University Hospital. He was diagnosed with a partially blocked left carotid artery (a blockage in his neck). Tests showed that the artery was 85 percent blocked, putting him at risk for a stroke. Barker was immediately scheduled for surgery to remove the blockage and clear the artery in his neck, a procedure called an endarterectomy.

Bollinger kept the key contact personnel at
TPIR
and the press informed of Barker’s condition, stating, “Mr. Barker’s surgery went very well, and he is now recuperating in bed. He will need to rest and stay in the hospital for approximately seven to ten days, and then return to his home in Los Angeles to fully recover for about two to three weeks. Mr. Barker is looking forward to returning to work by mid-October.”

CBS was very concerned about Barker and urged him to take all of the time he needed to fully recover before returning to work. However, we (the cast, crew, and
TPIR
staff) were all thinking the same thing—if Barker is not around to work, where would that leave us? It was never a question about anyone temporarily standing in for Barker. It was either the star of
The Price Is Right
, Bob Barker, or no show at all,
period
. The production company was very frugal. We were very much aware of their “no work, no pay” policy, unless for a death in the family or a week or two for a serious illness. The production company assured us that the time missed during the scheduled tapings would be made up before the end of the year. The tapings were typically shot three to four weeks in advance. The newly taped shows would air as scheduled and selected reruns would air thereafter until we could resume taping. Reruns were aired over the summer break, during which time we received residual checks. Love those reruns
.

When Barker felt well enough to address reporters and the media, he admitted, “I’m disappointed not to have been able to attend the Congress meeting. I’ve been working with thousands of people across the country, trying to protect elephants from the horrors of circuses. This is a serious problem. I am looking forward to resting and returning to work. And I want to thank all of the well-wishers who sent cards, flowers, and their love during my hospital stay.”

We resumed taping on October 25
th
and had a welcome back gathering for Barker in his dressing room before we taped the first show. It was good to get back to work after five weeks of an unexpected break. But I don’t think anyone was happier to be back to work at the Bob Barker Studio than Barker himself. After Barker’s surgery and concern for his future health, the production company, along with Barker, agreed to alter the work schedule. We would now spread the tapings out from Monday through Thursday, two shows Monday and Tuesday and one show on Wednesday and Thursday.

When we taped the first show, as soon as Rod announced Barker’s name and he came through the big doors, the audience went crazy, stomping their feet and chanting, “We love Bob! We love Bob! We love Bob!” Their cheers were thunderous. Bob was overwhelmed and the models got goose pimples from the excitement and the vibrations that permeated the studio. We could barely get the first item up for bid out on stage.

The new shows began to air on November 19
th
, and Nikki’s fans were excited to see their newest favorite Barker Beauty back on track. There was a second session for the Captive Elephant Accident Prevention Act of 1999; the hearing was held before the House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Crime, and the act passed on June 13, 2000.