Ugly enough for New York
Pedersen's couch selected as contest finalist
The ugly couch is heading to New York.
Sarah Pedersen, Baxter, learned Thursday that her submission in the 2004 Ugly Couch Contest -- a long, plush yellow couch with olive green and brown floral cushions found in The Writing Center at Gustavus Adolphus College -- is a top three finalist in the annual contest sponsored by Sure Fit, a company that sells, among other things, couch slipcovers.
Pedersen, 19, is a 2003 Brainerd High School graduate and will be a sophomore at Gustavus this fall.
She and the couch won an all-expense paid two-night, three-day stay in New York City and both will appear on the "Live with Regis & Kelly" television show. On that television program, audience members will vote between the three top ugly couches to name a grand prize winner. The grand prize winner will receive $5,000 cash and several Sure Fit products. Pedersen said the company representative who called her Thursday didn't know when the trip will be or when the show will air but it is expected to be sometime within the first few weeks of September.
"I'm really excited," said Pedersen, of her trip to New York City. "I usually don't win things so it's cool I actually won something."
The Sure Fit company will pick up the couch at Gustavus and have it shipped to NYC to appear on the "Live with Regis & Kelly" show.
Internet users voted for their favorite ugly couch on the Sure Fit Web site. Voting ended at 11 p.m. Wednesday on the Web site. Pedersen's couch was one of 10 couches selected as semi-finalists in the contest. Pedersen said a friend checked the Web site just before voting ended and she believes the couch was in third place with about 1,800 total votes.
JODIE TWEED can be reached at jodie.tweed@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5858.