Record four different dates instead of one
A viewer may say a robot was “on TV today” when the footage was recorded years earlier. Separate the episode's original air date, the date of a rerun or stream, the upload date of the clip, and the date you encountered it. These dates answer different questions and should never be collapsed into one appearance date.
Start a small timeline before identifying the product. Add the program title, season, episode number, local station or platform, and timezone if available. A live badge in a repost or screenshot may belong to the platform interface rather than the original production. Preserve the source so another person can reproduce the timeline.
- Original episode air date
- Rerun, replay, or streaming date
- Clip upload or repost date
- Viewer's watch date and location
- Evidence supporting each date on the timeline
Anchor the episode in an official guide
Use the program owner's episode guide to identify the episode associated with the footage. CBS maintains season and episode pages for The Price Is Right, including dates and game summaries. Those records help separate one episode from another but should not be treated as complete product inventories unless they explicitly claim to be.
Match more than the date. Compare host, contestants, games, set details, clothing, and running order with the original footage. Local schedules and streaming interfaces can label a replay with the day it is watched. The internal episode evidence can reveal that the content is older. Save the official listing as reviewed, because schedules and streaming catalogs can later change by region.
- Official season and episode identifier
- Original date shown by the program owner
- Episode-specific visual and spoken markers
- Schedule label shown by the viewing platform
Trace the clip back through reposts
Sort candidate uploads by publication date, then compare their opening, ending, crop, and watermark. The oldest result you find is a lead, not automatic proof of origin. Search with a clear frame to locate earlier or wider versions and inspect the publisher's page for a source credit.
A repost may combine an old robot clip with a new caption such as “KOKO on TV” or “Coco robot today.” Treat that caption as a new claim attached to older media. Product identity must come from the footage and authoritative product evidence, not from the repost date or engagement count.
- Earliest located upload and source credit
- Changes to crop, speed, audio, and captions
- Whether the repost adds a new robot name
- Link back to the original program or creator
Check the product against the historical date
If the candidate is Homebot One KOKO, compare the footage date with dated first-party Homebot One material. A current image cannot prove that the same design existed in the episode year. Ask whether Homebot One can confirm a historical prototype, event, or clip when the chronology matters.
Do not infer current availability or pricing from an older appearance. Development status, configuration, and commercial terms may change after recording. Quote the historical source for what it shows, then direct current product questions to current official information.
- Date-compatible first-party product evidence
- Prototype or design differences left unresolved
- No transfer of old price or availability into the present
- Clear distinction between footage date and review date
Use language that preserves the chronology
Write “the clip was reposted on October 5” rather than “the robot appeared on October 5” unless the episode aired then. If a rerun date is known but the original episode is not, say so. A compact timeline with citations prevents an old appearance from becoming false breaking news.
This chronology also protects a price comparison. A number in historical footage is not a current quote. Decide whether the price is right only after confirming today's scope, services, and terms. The TV memory can help identify a product; it should not replace current buying evidence.
Frequently asked questions
Is the day I watched a robot clip its air date?
Not necessarily. It may be a rerun, stream, recording, or repost. Find the official episode identifier and original air date.
Can a new social post contain an old TV segment?
Yes. Compare the footage with official episode records and earlier uploads instead of using the post date as the appearance date.
Does an episode summary list every robot or prize?
It may not. Use it to anchor the episode, then examine original footage and more detailed official records.
Can I use an old televised price as KOKO's current price?
No. Verify product identity and obtain current written scope, currency, configuration, and terms.
Sources & further reading
From Homebot One, the team building KOKO in Fremont, California.
