Q+A: Rob Wilson, the Price Is Right's First Male Model

Photo courtesy of ThePriceIsRight.com

Rob Wilson, of Grafton, Mass., has been making game show history as the first male model on The Price is Right. Wilson won an online contest to appear on the show for a week, and before his first episode even aired last Monday, producers asked him to stay on more permanently. It’s a glass ceiling that has won him headlines around the country, (and a weird molestation attempt from an Access Hollywood host.) We called up the former East Coast guy to chat about his roots, the Lakers, and the perils of being a gender minority on set.

BM: So congrats, I hear you’ve got some good news from The Price is Right.
RW: Yeah thank you so much. I appreciate it. It’s gonna be month to month, and we’ll see what happens with the ratings.

BM: You grew up in Massachusetts.
RW: Yep. I graduated from Grafton High.

BM: How long did you stick around?
RW: I moved to New York right out of high school, came back and lived for a couple years in Massachusetts. And I moved to L.A. about three years go in March.

BM: Is your family still around?
RW: Yeah, my whole family is in Boston. My mom lives in Framingham.

BM: How does LA compare? Ever coming back?
RW: I come back every once and a while. But yeah, it’s polar opposites. I love it here. This is definitely my home, but I also love going back to my roots.

BM: Must be tough during Lakers-Celtics times.
RW: Oh my god. I wear my “Beat LA” shirt for every game.

BM: So your first episodes of The Price Is Right are airing this week. What’s that like? Do you feel more famous already?
RW: They started airing on Monday. Uh, I definitely feel more famous. It’s been pretty amazing.

BM: As the only male model, what is it like sharing your dressing room with a bunch of women?
RW: Well pretty much we all have our own dressing rooms. They treat us pretty well. But we have a common area. Within that common area is one bathroom. So I always have to make sure I put the seat down.

BM: Is there anything the producers have asked you to do differently from the typical female models?
RW: Obviously as a male I’m not going to be doing the same motions and movements as the girls. I’ve definitely added a bit of masculinity to the prizes. So it’s a different vibe. I’m not trying to replicate what they’re doing.

BM: What’s the prize you’ve been most envious of?
RW: I had my own showcase, and they gave away a trip to Boston, Fiji, and a Harley. I think trip to Fiji would be pretty amazing.

(Editor’s note: Though Boston was an option there, we do not begrudge his preference for Fiji.)