It's starting. Bob Barker's got less than a month's worth of The Price is Right tapings left, and his tribute special is supposed to air on May 17. So now we're starting to see Barker pop up in magazines and newspapers, doing what are essentially exit interviews. In this month's Esquire, for instance, Bob is the subject of the magazine's "What I Learned" page (no link yet), giving his recipe for a vegan enchilada bake and saying, "I'm still sexually active. Just not as active as I once was. I think Viagra does help. You should try it. It might surprise you. And your friend."Ooookaaay then. A little tamer is The Washington Post's examination of 'The Cult of Bob Barker,' written by the paper's pop culture expert, Hank Stuever.
In the article, Stuever not only talks to Bob and TPiR producer Roger Dobkowitz, but he sits in for a taping, describing audience members that range from old ladies with oxygen tanks to screaming, jumping college kids. He also mentions the generic Barker's Beauties we see these days (both articles touch on the sexual harassment suits filed against Bob by Dian Parkinson and others, but only briefly), and discusses Bob's day, from his morning lifting weights and using the elliptical machine to his 1PM entrance on stage.
Finally, Stuever mentions that some contestants have recently gone public to talk about how amazed they were that they had to pay taxes on their winnings (well, duh! That's my sophisticated editorial response to that), but that none of them had any bad will towards the show or Bob.
I am not looking forward to seeing what TPiR is going to be like without Bob. Even if they get a host that doesn't irritate the hell out of me -- and John O'Hurley is not on that list -- TPiR and Barker are so intertwined at this point that anyone who follows Bob will suffer in his shadow.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
5-09-2007 @ 1:15PM
Richard Ott said...
(Ahem!) Anyone who follows Bob Barker will suffer in his
shadow? I wouldn't say that. I'll admit that Tom Kennedy
had a lot of learning to do, even as his version of TPIR
lasted a year and a half. So, Doug Davidson wasn't such
a smart idea as host, especially in his own vision of what
the studio should've looked like in 2000. Ricki Lake did
Bob proud on Gameshow Marathon's version, minus the
additional rules in Hole In One she overlooked, and in
1972, Dennis James made a great fill-in host for Bob
Barker who was injured during early tapings of the first
year on The (New) Price Is Right. Long story short, you
can find out who the next host of The Price Is Right is
when Bob unveils him on the final Price Is Right $1 million
Spectacular on Thursday May 17'th at 8:00pm. If this new
host does well enough after his first time out, then we'll
see who's shadow he'll suffer in, and it won't be Bob
Barker's. To think, The Price Is Right has gone through
several fill-in announcers, too, and even with Rich Feilds,
nobody has complained. Rich got his start announcing
for The Arsenio Hall Show, and now that he's doing TPIR,
it's as if the late Johnny Olsen & Rod Roddy never left us.
RICK.
Reply
5-09-2007 @ 2:02PM
TomB said...
One of the best things about Bob Barker is that we really didn't know that much about him. He doesn't do interviews or go on Letterman, etc. Hearing him talk about sex is a little unnerving.
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5-09-2007 @ 2:06PM
Dave said...
I thought he was neutered...
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5-09-2007 @ 10:56PM
Ryan W said...
I will miss Bob Barker tremendously and am grateful I was able to meet him on the show two years ago. Now that my "disclosure" is out of the way, I must disagree with the first comment that implies there will be no shadow after Bob's departure. Announcers and other hosts are not "star(s) of the Price is Right"; which is how Bob is introduced. Also these non-stars have not had the longevity that Bob has had with TPIR. Bob Barker has become so ingrained in the national psyche that there will ALWAYS be a shadow, but there will be a different light shining upon the new host. I think the best analogy to assuming TPIR hosting duties is when Johnny Carson retired and Jay Leno took his place. I enjoy watching the Tonight Show now and loved it when Carson was host, but the show is definitely different and alas, so will be the Price is Right when Bob signs off one final time with his signature, "Have your pets spayed or neutered. Goodbye everybody."
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5-09-2007 @ 3:16PM
InL.A said...
Yeah - Eeeew!
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5-15-2007 @ 2:38PM
bennie williams said...
bob barker is a legend in his own time
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5-15-2007 @ 10:23AM
bennie williams said...
bob barker is a legend in his own time
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5-15-2007 @ 10:36AM
Roseanne Posson said...
I just wonder what Bob Barker will do. He is so active, I know he will not sit in front of the TV watching the TPIR. He will be missed on that show and I wish him much longevity. He certainly does take care of himself physically and mentally. I love TPIR and am glad it will still be on the air and regardless of who takes it over, it will still certainly be watched by many viewers. Bob has been an ICON on TPIR. I love him.
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5-15-2007 @ 10:43AM
rj said...
Oh please! We don't want to know about an old lecher's endorsement of Viagra. EWWWWWW! He just lost the last bit of class I had credited him with. Frankly, it is time he goes away. "Casting a big shadow", must be said tongue in cheek for a multiplicity of reasons. Again, ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!
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5-15-2007 @ 10:59AM
Deborah said...
Dang...the man looks good for his age, and in his age group, he rocks. He defies the statement, "Can't teach an old dog new tricks!"
Go for the blue, Bob! More power to him, and whatever floats his boat. From the posts I am reading, we aren't even close yet to his age, but we will be one day, and you'll want to float your boat *wink*
Just because someone is "older" doesn't mean they need to curl up and wait to die. I plan on rocking it out, keep on learning, and oh yes, I LOVE the fact we can have the otpion of plastic surgery if we want it. I am in my 40s and my daughter loves it when we go shopping.
LIVE LIFE, don't live to die. Good grief that is what society and what a lot of you here have labeled older people; OLD. Which then in America means = useless. Puleaaassseeee. Limited thinking is, useless.
Just my opinion~
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5-15-2007 @ 11:28AM
mary costner said...
Bob will be muched Missed!!!,,,,,TPIR,,,WONT BE THE SAME,,,NO MATTER WHO THEY GET TO MC THE SHOW,,,ITS NOT GOING TO BE THE SAME SHOW,,,ANYMORE,,,
BOB DO YOU REALLY HAVE TO GO???? I WILL MISS YOU SOOO MUCH!!
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5-15-2007 @ 11:42AM
anna said...
LEGEND? Only in his own egocentric mind!
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5-15-2007 @ 11:44AM
susan adkins said...
You came on the air when I was 2 years old and my family watched you all the time. To this day we still watch you and looking forward to seeing your last show. You will be missed by all.
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5-15-2007 @ 11:48AM
Jason said...
Remember folks, have your hosts spade or neutered.
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5-15-2007 @ 11:57AM
jane said...
I won't miss him at all, I hate TPIR.
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5-15-2007 @ 12:39PM
JACKIE said...
I GUESS THE VIAGRA IS HIS EXCUSE FOR ALL THE MANY SEXUAL HARRESSMENT COMPLAINTS AGAINST BOB BARKER
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5-15-2007 @ 12:47PM
Wiserone said...
So, if I recall, wasn't good OLD Bob brought up on sexual harassment charges from one of the models on his show? Yeah, he skirted around and got out of that legal mess with her and he claimed she came on to him instead! What a crock now in finding out that good OLD Bobbie likes to STILL get it on. Just go off in the sunset Bob and don't keep us informed of your picadillo's. Ewwwww!
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5-15-2007 @ 12:45PM
Wiserone said...
So, if I recall, wasn't good OLD Bob brought up on sexual harassment charges from one of the models on his show? Yeah, he skirted around and got out of that legal mess with her and he claimed she came on to him instead! What a crock now in finding out that good OLD Bobbie likes to STILL get it on. Just go off in the sunset Bob and don't keep us informed of your picadillo's. Ewwwww!
Reply
5-15-2007 @ 12:52PM
Jim McAneny said...
Bob Barker uses Viagra? What for? Who is he kidding, himself or us?? Maybe he takes it so he won't pee on his shoes.
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5-15-2007 @ 1:14PM
ike said...
It's about time. I hope the new host doesn't do the same crap dragging on and on to build suspense. Tell them if they won the damn prize already!
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