(S36E01)*
*It's not like we're going to review every episode this season. Do you think we're insane?
Drew Carey's new career should be hosting the premiere of any new network game show that comes down the pike. That's because he has the Luck of the Irish on these shows. On the premiere of his primetime game show Power of 10 the first contestant on the first show won one million dollars. On the 36th season premiere of The Price is Right, which Drew Carey is now hosting after the retirement of legendary host Bob Barker, everyone won.
I mean perfect show here. Six games, six winners. Two $1000 dollar winners at the Showcase Showdown (one each segment). I was actually shocked there weren't double winners at the Showcase. If this is the way TPIR is going to be under Drew's reign audience lines for the show will swing around the block several times and Fermantle Media will probably go broke.
Then again, while perfect games will draw in the audience members, the host of TPIR will be the one who draws in the viewers and the advertisers. Will Drew be that host? Will he be able to fill the shoes of Mr. Barker. Well, no. As I've mentioned before no one is going to be able to do that. However, given some time, I think he will the person that keeps TPIR running for many years to come.
There was no doubt that Drew was nervous during this premiere episode. He was very fidgety even from the introduction of the first game. He was also all business, getting right to the point when introducing the games and getting the contestants to do their thing. This is quite unlike the Drew we've scene on Power of 10 or even Whose Line is it Anyway?
On Power Drew is much more relaxed with himself and the contestants, bantering back-and-forth with them as the game progresses. However, Power is Drew's game show and he has been able to mold it towards his personality. TPIR has a huge history and I think that Drew just didn't want to tread too heavily on what Bob Barker created over 35 seasons. Doing so may have jarred both contestants and viewers to the point of second-guessing the choice of Drew as host. So, he played it safe this time around.
That doesn't mean he was acting like an unfeeling robot. You could definitely see hints of Drew's personality come out with the contestants. And, when they won their games he was genuinely happy that they did win. I think that we'll see more of that from Drew as he begins to get comfortable with his new hosting gig.
Other than Drew, nothing much has changed on The Price is Right. The set is pretty much the same, except there's a new paint and design scheme everywhere that gives the studio a bit of a retro feel (just like the revised logo does). And the contestants . . . well, they're still as hyper-emotional as ever. That wouldn't change even if the host of TPIR was a two-headed, human-eating monster from Ceti Alpha Five (or is it Ceti Alpha Six? I always get them confused).
So, in conclusion, don't take Drew's initial premiere as host of The Price is Right as what you will see in future weeks. Once he gets used to the gig you'll probably see a more relaxed host who really seems to enjoy what he is doing.
Giveaways reminder: Office, Eli Stone, Supernatural, South Park
Giveaway Thursday: Tickets to the New York Television Festival ... all of it!
I miss the media-friendly John McCain - VIDEOS
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
10-15-2007 @ 1:29PM
Jen said...
Does he use the same skinny mic that Barker used?
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10-15-2007 @ 2:21PM
Dan said...
Ceti Alpha Six exploded and caused the atmosphere of Ceti Alpha Five to be very hostile. Only Khan's genetically engineered intellect saved a handful of his followers...
I thought EVERYONE knew that....
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10-15-2007 @ 2:48PM
Zoheir El-Eita said...
Yes he does use the skinny mic, when he first walked on you see the lapel pin mic, and i thought oooohh nooo but then he was handed the mic.
I thought he did a good job but the real problem with TPIR is the nevitable audience, and that takes time to :
1.expect the unexpected, especially with older woman that just won
2. crowd control and timing
3.getting the crowd to feel part of the game and part of the show
That is why he was given a couple of trial shows and he is good but TPIR is a different animal
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10-15-2007 @ 2:48PM
SilentGuy said...
Not sure where I saw this, but apparently this was not the first show taped for this season - I believe they ran this one to get the season off on the right foot. Drew still uses the skinny microphone, but there is no cord on it like Barker's used to have.
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10-15-2007 @ 3:16PM
Vivek said...
He was veryyyyy nervous. He not only used the skinny mike but he also got bob's tagline about the pets in at the end too.
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10-15-2007 @ 3:38PM
MacGuffin said...
I never watch TPIR, but I Tivo'd it and watched it over lunch.
I like the new set but what amazes me is how white trash this show is. It definitely skews to a VERY downmarket (i.e. uneducated/hick) audience.
Just by watching the commercials which were all for medical products for the aged, its seems like the target audience must be people who live in trailers in Kentucky. Trailer-trash in Arkansas and Mississippi aren't even in the demos.
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10-15-2007 @ 4:22PM
Chris said...
I wasn't impressed at all. I know it's only one show so far but he just isn't a good game show host. But I guess since he's "funny" and a "nice guy" everybody thinks he'll be good enough to host TPIR. I predict 5 years from now he won't be the host.
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10-15-2007 @ 5:07PM
Andrew said...
Wow MacGuffin what an ignorant comment. Did you have to insult 75% of America? The show is on at 10:00am in the morning, the perfect time for commercials targeted at retired people.
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10-15-2007 @ 5:22PM
tricia said...
People feel that they can say whatever they want to on these boards, because of the anonymous nature of the internet. Macguffin would be very surprised at how urban and technologically savvy people in Mississippi and Arkansas actually are. But, if that keeps him from coming down here, well then hallelujah!! We certainly don't need him and he won't be missed!!
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10-15-2007 @ 6:35PM
Elf said...
Of course he has to use a mic because there's no other way we'd hear the contestants speaking. It's a lot loss instrusive with the long skinny mic, otherwise he'd practically have his hand to the contestant's faces. So the skinny mic is not only retro-stylish, it's exceedingly practical.
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10-15-2007 @ 6:39PM
Thomas Cummins said...
He seemed like he was just going through the motions and it was just his first episode. I miss Bob already.
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10-15-2007 @ 9:59PM
Pablo said...
Drew Carey is a talentless, Fat slob and CBS could and will do a lot better in finding a "REAL" host. He is a digusting example of what little thought process goes into daytime TV nowdays with the show's producers.
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10-15-2007 @ 11:39PM
Eludium-Q36 said...
Pablo, yes, but their first choice was an equally rotund and polarizing Rosie Odonnell. Their second choice was sportscaster Dan Patrick, and then Drew. Bob Barker would be spinning in his ... oops, not dead yet. I never watch TPiR either, but this was such a big deal I had to Tivo it.
And boy, what a mess it was. Drew is a just a fat slob superficial disgrace. The contestants are either on crack or speed or both. Did you see that one idiot chick doing a splayed cartwheel ?! WTF ?! And all the nutjobs that made it on stage won their silly little pricing contests for their low-end vehicles, and of six people spinning the Big Wheel to get into the showcase two of 'em hit $1.00 ! When the h*ll does that ever happen ?! Nope, this show was rigged for winning, no disappointments here. Everyone's a winner, no one goes home with $36 in kitchen products.
Maybe when I turn 98 I'll be able to appreciate this show but for now it's most heinous. And Drew Carey, this guy just cannot last more than three seasons or he'll have a psychotic break. Seriously, he's a fish out of water on that show. But I tell you who would be the best and most demographic-appropriate host and he frees up from his current job in January '09 ... that's right, "W" ! ;-)
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10-16-2007 @ 8:27AM
Ryan said...
I think Drew did a fantastic job. There was no doubt in my mind he was nervous.. as he was filling some mighty big shoes. I don't think he did that bad of a job. In the end the show will continue to be very successful. Who knows.. Drew may leave the show on its 70th anniversary!
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10-16-2007 @ 9:17AM
Michael said...
I don't know what show you guys were watching but I laughed my ASS off yesterday! First of all, put yourself in Drew's shoes for a second. Those people up there are FREAKING CRAZY!!! Talk about improv - there's no way Drew can expect any winning contestant to come up to the stage and act normal in any way. I think he did a great job with the show given what there is to work with there. Once he gets in the groove of dealing with all the crazies every day, I think we'll see the real Drew start coming out a little more. Right now, all he has to do is maintain some semblance of order on the stage when the contestants start doing what they do best.
I loved the first guy winning the Jeep. The doors opened up to reveal it and he was off like a shot to go sit in it. The look on that model's face was priceless. I can't say I ever laughed as hard at Bob Barker's TPIR as I did yesterday.
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10-16-2007 @ 9:59AM
mmb5 said...
It was the 7th show taped -- the first of his second week. They're going to be way out of order for the first month or so since the amount of pricing games Drew knew at the beginning was limited.
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10-16-2007 @ 10:41AM
PN said...
I liked's the first show with Drew Carey on The Price Is Right. He was nervous the first half, but got more comfortable the second half. He's a fun host and interacted very well with the contestants. One other change I noticed--the new theme music. It's not like the original song that they played for 35 years. It sounds like it was done by keyboardists and a new band. Or on a computer, the way they record songs now. And they had newer music on other parts of the show. Also, Fremantle Media produces the show. The all familiar Mark Goodson production logo isn't on there this time. I guess they ended their partnership when Bob Barker left the show. I feel that it will still be a daytime hit with Drew Carey on it.
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10-16-2007 @ 10:53AM
PN said...
I thought that MacGuffin's comments were ridiculous. I think that the show reaches a cross section of people around America. There are some contestants that dress a little sloppy, but that's their expression.
One thing that show need to improve on-- when they place boats or sailboats in their showcases. They're so placed to the point of distracting the contestant where he/she will bid some very conservative bid and miss off by $20,000 off the price of the showcase. I saw too many embarassments last season (2006-2007) and I don't want to see that anymore. Those boats are $37,000-38,000 and these contestants bid some safe $17,000 on it? It comes off as completely disturbing sometimes! Just wanted to vent that out!
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10-16-2007 @ 11:24AM
np said...
The show reaches all audiences, that's why it has been on for so many years. It is one of the few shows you can watch when the kids are home from school. It appeals to all demographics. It's a harmless show fun show. I for one hope it stays on for a long time.
Don't be a snob MacGuffin.
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10-16-2007 @ 12:24PM
Grand Rapids_Trent said...
The first show was "OK" I guess. I dont remember as many shows in the past where there were so many idiots on one show alone IE: nutcase broad doing the screwed up cartwheel, and that idiot that went and sat in the Jeep, (plus he wasnt too bright). As for the comment about Price Is Right appealing to hicks and trailer trash.....thats nonsense. I too think that it appeals to a cross section of people. I have heard it said that Drew Carrey was chosen to appeal to a "younger audience", well......seems to me there has never been a lack of college kids that were enamored with Bob Barker.
Bob will always be missed, he was smooth, he could be funny, he seemed to appeal to all ages. I hope Drew will come into his own on the show as he gets more comfortable.....but the first 2 shows......seemed a bit stiff...and sort of just went through the motions. I will still watch.
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