Unlike some of The Price is Right's most ardent fans -- and anyone who's visited a certain fan site know how how anal those fans can be -- I like the job Drew Carey's been doing as the show's host. He's a personable guy whose gentle but somewhat snarky sense of humor brings the show somewhat closer to 21st century sensibilities than it had been under Bob Barker. Yes, his attempts at bringing humor to certain parts of the show and his somewhat uneven levels of enthusiasm have been problematic. But overall, he's doing a good job.One thing I've noticed about Drew lately is that he's finally dropping the "high school vice principal" look he's had since he started doing stand-up in the eighties. No more round glasses and crew cut; he now sports fashionable black frames and has grown out his hair a bit. Heck, sometimes he doesn't even wear a tie, as the picture above shows.
Good for Drew. I mean, the "fifties guy" gimmick was a good way for his stand-up to get noticed and even translated well to his down-and-out Drew character on The Drew Carey Show. But he doesn't need it anymore; in fact, the look was probably starting to become incongruous with a show that's now giving away iPods and hybrid cars.
And the good thing is that the look still buys Drew some anonymity; all he has to do is pop in some contacts and grow his hair a little longer and no one would recognize him. When I interviewed him last summer at the TCAs, he wasn't wearing glasses. If I wasn't at a CBS party at the time, I probably wouldn't have even taken a second look. Not a bad way to be a celebrity, huh?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2-12-2009 @ 2:36PM
Ryan said...
If I remember right I think he got eye corrective surgery sometime during his TV show run. But still wears the glasses (with no prescription) for his identity.
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2-12-2009 @ 3:12PM
Elf said...
Wait a second, next thing I know you're going to tell me is that Groucho Marx had perfect vision when he made all those movies...
Seriously, having caught Drew more times lately than I'd have ever wanted to, due to an untimely layoff, I think he's doing a great job. I think he mumbles a bit too much at times but he's certainly loosened up and improved his rapport with the contestants.
But what I don't like is that the audience is quickly becoming the old Let's Make a Deal audience. There are no full-out costumes yet, but every other contestant has a t-shirt with Drew's pitcure, or his name, or something just stupidly attnetion-grabbing.
2-12-2009 @ 3:52PM
John darc said...
I'm pretty sure Bob Barker's fans did the same thing. Yes, Drew isn't at Bob's tenure level yet, but still.
2-12-2009 @ 2:36PM
Matthew said...
When I had my laser eye surgery done in Los Angeles, Drew was on a video they showed all the patients, saying how the procedure was a success for him. He doesn't even need the glasses! It's just a gimmick.
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2-12-2009 @ 3:30PM
Joel Keller said...
True, Drew didn't need the glasses after LASIX. Apparently, though, he now needs bifocals, especially to read the prices on stage. So he's back to the glasses again.
http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2007-10-07-carey-price_N.htm
2-12-2009 @ 3:45PM
david said...
LASIX surgery doesn't necessarily mean no glasses. In my case I went from needing trifocals to needing reading classes. I don't necessarily need glasses while using the computer but for long stretches they reduce eye strain so I now have bifocals. I knew what to expect going in and wound up with great distance vision and improved middle and close-up vision.
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2-12-2009 @ 4:23PM
Clayton said...
I like him... Moreso than Bob!
http://makeasitcom.com
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2-12-2009 @ 4:47PM
Chizzle from Showbizzle said...
Boy do I miss Bob Barker.
chizzle Showbizzle
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2-12-2009 @ 6:00PM
Darsh said...
I think Drew's doing a great job as the new host. I especially like when he takes jabs at some of the ridiculous prizes they give away, like a replica 50's gas pump for your livingroom. Or the sponsors aimed at the elderly.
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3-18-2009 @ 2:12AM
Preston said...
I think that he's not wearing ties on some shows, because maybe, he can't stand wearing ties. I like that he got black frames because the round glasses were becoming annoying. And he's getting better at hosting and getting interactive with the contestants this season instead of being cold and disconnected from them during the first season. As for one of the earlier comments, I wish that some contestants would stop wearing Drew-type shirts or anything with Drew's face or likeness on them. It's too attention grabbing and flashy. As if a plain, ordinary shirt doesn't matter to them.
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