On the Friday, May 8 Mother’s Day episode of The Price is Right, a retired veteran won over $240,000 in cash and prizes making her takeaway the largest prize ever won in a single pricing game in the 54-year history of the daytime version of the CBS game show.

The contestant, “Vanesa from Virginia” bested the previous record of $210,000 in a single pricing game of Cliffhangers set over a decade ago in 2016. The moment occurred when Vanesa played “The Lion’s Share,” the new high,” the new high-stakes branded game that debuted this season through a partnership with BetMGM.

In the game, contestants have to guess the prices of grocery items to earn up to five balls. Each ball is then dropped into a wind tunnel, revealing a hidden prize amount. After each reveal, contestants face a tense decision to walk away with their current winnings or risk it all to continue.

Photo: CBS

Vanesa went for the gusto! She didn’t hesitate and pushed forward through every round, ultimately revealing the prizes for all five balls, winning $227,500 in cash and a luxury trip for two to Morocco valued at $12,650. Those impressive winning amounted to $240,150 as her daughter cheered her on from the audience.

According to BetMGM and TPIR producers, Fremantle, “The Lion’s Share” is the first custom-branded game in the show’s history, and the first new pricing game on the show since 2021. BetMGM and Fremantle sealed a multi-year deal last year that lends  The Price is Right and Family Feud intellectual property (IP) rights for slots, table games and non-traditional casino games.

The Price is Right is broadcast weekdays on CBS and streams on Paramount+* (11:00 AM-12:00 PM, ET/10:00-11:00 AM, PT). John Quinn is the executive producer. Drew Carey is the host.

So, what do you think of Vanesa from Virginia’s huge win on The Price is Right? Do you watch the show weekdays? Let us know via the comment section. But first, watch how it all happens below!

The Young and the Restless has made some key changes behind the scenes with the news on Wednesday, May 6 that Josh Griffith, who has served as the series executive producer and head writer concurrently, has decided to relinquish the production duties of his tenure, and concentrate on just crafting the tales for the citizens of Genoa City.

Sally MacDonald, the longtime Daytime Emmy-winning director of Y&R who was serving as the soap’s co-executive producer, will now be upped to the solo EP of the top-rated daytime drama series.

As first reported by Soap Central, Griffith will continue as Y&R’s head writer in the restructuring, in the position he has held since 2019 with the departure of former EP and head writer, Mal Young.  Soap Opera Digest also confirmed Griffith was stepping down as the soap’s executive producer.

Photo: JPI

In fact, it was back in August 2018, that the veteran Griffith returned to Y&R as supervising producer. Once, Mal Young departed the show, Griffith became the show’s head writer and co-executive producer with another longtime Y&R behind the scenes veteran in Tony Morina. Later in 2023, when Morina exited the soap, Josh became the sole executive producer.

Throughout his soap opera career, Griffith has written for Santa Barbara, One Life to Live, As the World Turns, General Hospital and Days of our Lives and co-created the defunct Sunset Beach.

MacDonald has been a CBS daytime vet since back in 1983 and joined The Young and the Restless in 1989 as a production supervisor, working her way up to director. The directing team at Y&R that has included MacDonald has won 8 Daytime Emmys along the way and picked up a Directors Guild of America Award.

So, what do you think of Josh Griffith stepping down as executive producer at The Young and the Restless, while keeping his position as head writer? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

Finally! The casting has been revealed as to just who would be Al Calderon’s successor in the role of Days of our Lives, Javi Hernandez. On Friday, April 30, the long-running soap opera revealed Jacob Martinez is taking on the part and he will first be seen this coming June 30th and then on all-new episodes streaming on Peacock.

As previously reported, the popular Calderon exited the soap opera last year to join the cast of the NBC primetime medical drama, Brilliant Minds as nurse Nico Silva, who in May will air the remainder of their second season. The series has been on the bubble for renewal by the network. His last episodes as Javi will also air this May on DAYS.

Since DAYS tapes ten months ahead of streaming, Martinez has been secretly ensconced in all the drama in Salem for quite some time. When viewers see the new Javi in story, we should learn what will happen in Javi’s relationship with Leo Stark played by Emmy winner, Greg Rikaart, plus his continued relationship with his relatives in the Hernandez clan. Currently, when Javi returned to Salem after taking care of his ailing father, and after the bust-up of his marriage to Leo thanks to Dimitri (Peter Porte), he claimed he had moved on with someone else while he was away from Salem.

Photo: JPI

Like Calderon before him, Martinez is a multi-talented actor and singer. Jacob’s resume is impressive having appeared in the musical In Pieces: The Musical at Joe’s Pub at The Public Theater and he was hand-picked by Joey Contreras to play the role of Grey. Other credits include: the short film, Memory Swim and the play Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage.

Martinez hails from Norfolk, Nebraska and appeared when he was very young at the Johnny Carson Theatre, and as DAYS fans know, Jacob is now working at the Days of our Lives studios, right where the “Tonight Show” is filled. In addition, Jacob Martinez is a graduate of The American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA).

Taking to his Instagram on Thursday, April 30 once the news of his casting was revealed, Martinez, expressed, “Way too many people to thank in one post, so I’ll just say THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART to each and every person who continues to pour into me and encourage me to chase my dreams. I cannot even begin to express how grateful I am. I already feel beyond blessed, supported, and loved. See you all in Salem ⏳”

Jacob Martinez appeared on Friday on the Days of our Lives Instagram account announcing his casting. You can check it out below. Deadline was the first to report the casting switch.

So, excited to learn who is the new Javi Hernandez? Please welcome Jacob Martinez to the role and be on the lookout for his debut on June 30. Comment below.

 

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