Mary Tunno was her parent’s least favorite child. She coped through winning…from the Miss Beaver County title to an even bigger dream, an appearance on The Price Is Right. In 1982, she finally heard the words she’d been waiting for, “Come on Down!” and, to everyone’s amazement, she won the Showcase.
September 24, 2026 is the 44th anniversary of the episode’s airing. Mary’s daughter, Pittsburgh author, Fran Tunno, is celebrating by sharing the episode on her website, FranTunno.com. Fran’s 2026 humorous memoir, Come on Down! A Little Story About My Italian Mom’s Big Dream highlights hilarious moments from her western Pennsylvania childhood to her mom’s 15 minutes of fame.
WATCH MARY TUNNO WIN THE SHOWCASE
As a young girl, Fran wanted the picture-perfect 1960s American mother—the spotless apron, the warm cookies, the whole package. Instead, she got Mary, the quintessential Italian American force of nature. She cooked, baked, canned, chased her children with a serving spoon, treated her light-up Jesus like her personal therapist, and never missed The Price Is Right.
Come on Down! is a celebration of Italian-American mothers, immigrant dreams, family chaos, food, laughter and the realization that people we once thought were embarrassing become those we’re most proud of. Tunno says, “I spent years wishing she was like everyone else's mom. Now I realize what a gift I was given.” The memoir includes a recipe at the end of every chapter, because Tunno says, “In an Italian home, no visit is complete unless somebody feeds you.”
ABOUT FRAN TUNNO
Fran Tunno is an Italian-American author, humor writer and former Los Angeles radio news and traffic reporter, now living in Pittsburgh. Her writing has appeared in The Huffington Post, The Los Angeles Times and The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, and her storytelling has been featured on NPR's Snap Judgment and Writers Read. She is also the creator of At Fran's Table, where food and family stories are served with a healthy dose of humor.
Come on Down! A Little Story About My Italian Mom’s Big Dream is available in paperback, audiobook, and eBook through Amazon, IngramSpark, and major booksellers.
