SE woman on 'Price is Right'

Wins two prizes

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

MESA, Ariz. -- Georgeen Dietz of Sleepy Eye put her hometown on the national map, won some prizes and had some fun to boot earlier this month when she appeared on "The Price is Right" show on the CBS television network.

Dietz wore a sweat shirt with Sleepy Eye written on it that got the attention of show host Bob Barker. The show was taped on Feb. 3, 2003 and aired on Friday, Feb. 21 between 10-11 a.m.

She won a dishwasher after estimating its cost at $799. The actual cost of the dishwasher was $899. She won a bedroom set during the bull's eye competition of the show.

Dietz appeared quite excited during the show, which she felt might have helped her to be chosen from the audience. A freeze frame of her excited face was aired just before the show went to a commercial break.

"They really pump you up before the show," Dietz said. "Then they walk around and look for people that are excited. I was talking and laughing with a young college student that was sitting near me. I guess that was what they were looking for."

Barker noticed the words Sleepy Eye, Minnesota on Dietz' sweat shirt and asked her about it.

"How big is it?" Barker asked.

"About 4,000 people," Dietz replied.

"I bet 3,999 of them are watching you," Barker said.

"You bet," Dietz replied.

A "snowbird" that winters in Arizona, Dietz decided to take a bus trip to LA and attend the taping of the show. She attended a taping of the television show "Jeopardy" the day after "The Price is Right" was taped.

Dietz said Barbara and Alphonse Mages of New Ulm attended the show and were briefly on television.

Meanwhile, she was received lots of telephone calls Friday from friends that saw her on television without knowing about it beforehand.

Last summer, Sleepy Eye's July Fourth celebration made the national news on a major network that considered the event a classic slice of the American way of life.

Dietz talked about taking a swim in the pool and walk in the neighborhood in Mesa, Ariz. as the temperature hovered around 80 degrees F. Friday afternoon.