Although The Price Is Right is celebrated as one of the most beloved game shows, not all experiences on set are positive. For Janice Pennington, a former model on the show, a filming incident drastically altered her career trajectory.

In 1988, Janice Pennington was struck by a camera and fell into the contestants’ area, resulting in a loss of consciousness. Despite her serious injuries, the show continued filming while she was taken to the hospital. After a lengthy delay, the cameras resumed as she was being transported. Following two surgeries, Pennington was left with one shoulder shorter than the other and scars that made it impossible for her to wear swimsuits on set again.

‘The Price Is Right’ Terminated Janice Pennington

After enduring such a traumatic experience, Janice faced another challenge. In October 2000, after nearly three decades on the show with Bob Barker, Janice was unexpectedly dismissed, as reported by The LA Times.

Janice expressed disappointment, stating that despite their long partnership, Bob Barker never communicated with her after her termination. “My manager contacted Barker the next day, but he never returned our call.” There was no farewell or acknowledgment from Barker, even though Janice’s manager attempted to reach out. Barker later claimed he returned the call only after Janice agreed to a settlement that restricted her from discussing her dismissal.

Related

That Time One of the ‘Sister Wives’ Was on ‘The Price Is Right’

A ‘Sister Wives’ cast member unexpectedly debuted on a classic game show.

Both Janice Pennington and Bob Barker provided differing accounts of the events. “[Pearson Television] did not want me involved at all. On the day Janice signed the settlement, I left a message on her answering machine to explain my absence, but she did not return my call.” Barker suggested that Janice chose not to respond. However, Janice contended that their communication had dwindled significantly since the summer before her termination. Regardless of who initiated contact, the situation deteriorated rapidly. Janice Pennington was not the only woman with a strained relationship with Bob Barker who was let go fromThe Price Is Right.

Multiple Women Were Dismissed Over the Years

Another assistant on the show, Kathleen Bradley, was let go on the same day as Pennington. Interestingly, Bradley attributed their firings to Bob Barker’s influence. She believed that their terminations were a direct result of their testimonies in a wrongful termination lawsuit filed by a former colleague, Holly Hallstrom. Holly alleged she was fired due to weight gain. Bob Barker denied these claims.

Kathleen Bradley described their firings as “retaliation,” asserting that Barker dismissed them because of their testimonies in court. “He was upset because my truth and his truth conflicted. If I hadn’t had to testify, I would still be a Barker’s Beauty,” Bradley conveyed to The LA Times. Barker responded by labeling the accusations as “totally unfounded,” asserting that the decision to let them go was not his. Both Janice and Kathleen stated they received no clear reason for their dismissals and no proper farewell from Barker or Pearson. The Price Is Right is available for streaming on Paramount Plus in the US.

Source: LA Times

Collider Source: https://collider.com/the-price-is-right-janice-pennington-1988-camera-accident/ Stay up to date with new movie news, watch the latest movie trailers & get trusted reviews of upcoming movies & more from the team at Collider.