There is always a small but skeptical part of the population that thinks all game shows are "rigged." The problemo is, WHY rig a game show? It's done for the purpose of delivering advertisers an audience, and that audience wants to watch a fun show, which is easy to produce without "rigging." There is no incentive for the producers to rig the game. In fact, there is a HUGE DIS-incentive. Rig it and do time.
TPIR does select contestants whom they think will produce the best TV, so some who show up have no chance of doing anything other than remaining in the audience. If that's "rigging" to you, then that's your choice. But the production company, which has a fortune at stake, takes great pains to run an honest game show.
Michael
First of all, as you point out, in the selection of the contestants. Also Barker in ways that are not even that subtle, offers hints and help to some and not others. Of course that could be just random and would be nearly impossible to prove.
I suspect the games are probably not rigged, except for the big wheel which clearly spins more easily at times than others. I really do think that one is probably influenced at least. It is also by far the most important one.