Sarah's couch deemed not ugly enough
Sarah Pedersen, Baxter, didn't win $5,000 for having the ugliest couch in America, but the Gustavus Adolphus sophomore did appear on the "Live with Regis & Kelly" television show Wednesday.
Pedersen, 19, entered a yellow and green couch from her college in the 2004 Ugly Couch Contest sponsored by the Sure Fit Co. The ugly couch was one of three ugly couch finalists shipped to New York City for the national television appearance Wednesday. Audience members voted for the grand prize winner, who received $5,000 cash. A red couch from St. Louis, Mo., received the most audience votes.
Pedersen, who received a free stay in New York, appeared on "Live With Regis & Kelly" along with the couch. Kelly Ripa joked about Pedersen's couch, telling co-host Regis Philbin not to touch the couch because it had been at the college. She said forensic lamps were needed to uncover what was on it.
Pedersen, unfazed by the loss or Ripa's insulting comments about the couch, said after the show Wednesday she and her dad, Pastor Darrell Pedersen, were having a great time in New York City. They were given free tickets to see the Broadway play "The Lion King" Wednesday night. Pedersen said she was able to meet musical artist Lenny Kravitz, who also appeared on the show.
"My life is now complete. During the commercial break, Kelly hugged me," Pedersen said jokingly.
Pedersen returns to college in St. Peter Thursday. It's unknown when the couch will be shipped back to the college.