TVSquad

Drew Carey and company recently wrapped up shooting Season 36 of The Price is Right -- Drew had pizzas delivered to the studio from his favorite place in Cleveland -- but when the crew comes back to tape Season 37 in a few weeks, they're going to be faced with a number of changes.

The first change is that Roger Dobkowitz, who's been the producer of the show since it started its run, won't be there. According to Golden-Road.net, a TPiR message board, Fremantle Media let Dobkowitz go after Season 36 wrapped up; a replacement has yet to be named.

But there may be other changes afoot, namely with the look and format of the show, whose ratings declined 15% in the first season after Bob Barker's retirement. Rumors are swirling that the changes will include new pricing games and a video wall, all the way up to a rumor -- published on a TVGuide.com fan blog but later pulled -- that the show will be completely overhauled to make it look more like Fremantle's money-making machine, American Idol (or their new money-making machine, Million Dollar Password).

(S19E20) "Applause is an addiction, like heroin or checking your e-mail." -- Sideshow Mel

Well, another season of The Simpsons has come to an end. As with the last few seasons some stuff was good, some was okay, and the rest should have gone back to the Writers' Room for further revision ("Treehouse of Horror", anyone?). Most of the weak stuff landed in the first half of the season for some reason -- maybe everyone was tired from the completion of The Simpsons Movie. The second half picked up steam, thanks to some solid episodes featuring Lisa and Bart.

Luckily, The Simpsons ended on a strong note with the Lisa-centric season finale. Once again going back to the on-going theme of how success can corrupt Lisa, we were treated to an episode featuring her turn to work with the famous Krusty the Clown. I say 'her turn' because older brother Bart had worked for Krusty in the past. And, like Bart, Lisa usurped Krusty's fame to become the star of the show.

You would think Krusty would have learned his lesson.

If anyone thought Bob Barker was going to miss being on stage at The Price is Right, then they'd be wrong. At least if you listen to Bob; he not only thinks he left "at just the right time," but is keeping himself extremely busy.

Barker spoke to the Long Beach, CA Press-Telegram recently, and he explained that "I enjoyed the show right up to the last minute of the last show. But, I don't miss it so much that I want to go back and do it again. I think I'm going to be very happy in retirement." He's currently working with various animal-rights organizations and is writing an autobiography, which he expects to be out late this year (ah, the publishing world moves quickly when they have to, know what I mean?).

Jason's post earlier today about The Price Is Right reminded me of something I've been thinking about for years: what are the best and worst prizes you can win on the show?

This is all personal opinion, of course. Where I might frown or shrug at a prize I might win another person will scream and jump down about. But I think there are certainly some prizes we can all agree are pretty lame. Below are the six that come to mind. Five of them you'll probably agree with, but I bet several of you will have a problem with number six.

While CBS pulled Bob Barker up from daytime into the prime time spotlight a few times the past few years, they've yet to do so since Drew Carey took over as host of The Price is Right this season. But that's all about to change. For six weeks, starting February 22, CBS is shifting Ghost Whisperer back an hour so they can squeeze in all new episodes of The Price is Right at 8pm/7pm Central. Possibly to avoid double-Drew confusion, The Power of 10, also hosted by Carey, has been pulled from the schedule effective immediately, though it will likely return in the summer.

We've talked a lot here at TV Squad about how Drew is doing on TPiR this year and, while the jury may still be out, I think he's settled into a nice groove. No, he's not Bob Barker but do we really want someone who would go up there and act just like Bob did? They kept all the crazy games that make the show a classic, so I say let Drew be himself, and we'll get used to it. And if you haven't given him a try, here's a chance to curl up at home on a Friday night and see for yourself.

About three months ago -- October 15th, 2007, to be exact -- the face of daytime television changed, and some say not good. It was the day that the first Drew Carey-hosted The Price is Right aired on CBS' daytime schedule. Reviews of that first performance (which was actually the seventh show taped) were mixed. Some said that the first show was good, but there were obviously things that Drew needed to improve on. Others didn't even give him the benefit of the doubt and were already calling for his replacement. Still others used the word "disgusting" in expressing their opinion of Carey as a host and a person.

Well, about 92 days have passed since that initial show and Drew is still the host of TPIR. People are still filling the audience, bidding on items, playing games, and spinning the Showcase Showdown wheel. The question then is if Drew has improved since he first took the microphone? In my opinion, yes. But, he still has a little bit to go.

The year 2007 was definitely one of great change for television. The award-winning The Sopranos faded to black on HBO, Rosie O'Donnell left yenta-talk show The View to the relief of many, and there was nary a mention about Joey. Well, at least no mention except from me, that is.

However, none of those events paled in comparison than to what took place June 15th on the CBS television network. That's the day when Bob Barker took his microphone, his spayed and neutered pets, and his sexual harassment suits and left the hosting job of The Price is Right after 35 years. And, as he kissed his last contestant and waved his last good-bye, fans of the show thought a replacement host would never be found.

Here's another way that Drew Carey is different from Bob Barker: Carey defends the use of medical marijuana.

Of course, I have no idea what Bob Barker's thoughts are on the subject, but I guess I just can't imagine Barker speaking out in favor of it the way he speaks out in favor of spaying and neutering animals. As for Carey, he's actually made an online pitch for medical marijuana, but surprisingly, it hasn't caused much controversy at all (though I haven't heard anything about it other than online). It's part of a series of videos Carey has made for The Reason Foundation, which is described as a libertarian-minded think tank.

All I know is that I'll never watch The Clock Game on The Price Is Right the same way again. When Carey keeps saying "higher, higher!" over and over again, it's going to take on a whole new meaning.

Have you guys been watching The Price is Right with Drew Carey? I missed yesterday's episode, but did tune in just in time to catch this gem today.

Apparently Drew Carey's star power makes people go just as nuts as Bob Barker's did. On today's episode, a woman went ballistic when she found out she was playing Plinko. Sure, that's usually how contestants react to Plinko. But, this woman kept saying, "I have to go to the bathroom!" and (ahem) holding herself. Naturally, Drew pretty much loses it.

This has got to be one of the best TPIR clips ever. Video is after the jump:

(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.

Monday is the big day for Drew Carey. He'll debut as the new host of The Price is Right. You can check out the new look in this video on YouTube (the video was taken down, try this one instead). It shows the new set and Drew doing some of his hosting duties.

What I like about the new look of TPIR is how it still looks like it's in the 1970s. The set basically looks the same, except for a new paint job. The colors have gone from primary to pastels, but the designs and graphics are still totally retro. It's all quite psychedelic.

I don't know about you guys, but I have TPIR programmed on my TiVo. I loved watching with Bob Barker, and even though I'm not totally thrilled about Drew Carey, I'm definitely going to give the guy a chance. Barker seemed like a squeaky clean guy, while Drew's more of a, well, Dirty Jokes and Beer kind of fellow.

Hey, Brigitte here with TV Squad Daily. I'll be covering the TV stories I find interesting each day, Monday through Friday, in this video blog.

Today on TV Squad Daily:

• Drew Carey is on top of the world. So was Humpty Dumpty.
  
• Does endorsing donuts make Rachael Ray an evil person?
  
• Will Smith wants to make the movie Hitch into a TV sitcom. (Oops! Okay, so in the video I said "Switch" instead of Hitch. And great, now that song is going to be in my head all weekend.)
  

The video's embedded below, or you can subscribe to this podcast via our feed. Plus, you can also download the file directly.

According to this article on CNN, Drew Carey is getting married for the first time. The 49 year old comedian is the current host of The Price Is Right (replacing the immortal Bob Barker; Drew's episodes start Monday) and The Power of 10, as well as a former sit-com star of The Drew Carey Show and host of the American version of Whose Line Is It Anyway?

It warms my heart when I learn that a nerdy-looking guy like Carey can find love later in his life. His wife-to-be, Nicole Jaracz, is a culinary student graduate and doesn't seem to be involved in show business judging by the article. This can only be a good thing.

The fact that last week's Power of Veto contest in the Big Brother 8 house was suspiciously similar to The Power of Ten wasn't just a coincidence. Houseguests Amber Siyavus (also listed as Amber Tomcavage elsewhere) and Daniele Donato left the Big Brother house Sunday night for the first time in nine weeks, heading to New York City to appear on Drew Carey's new hit game show.

Drew Carey and The Price is Right will premiere on October 15th on CBS. Just like Bob Barker's final episode, Drew Carey's inaugural episode will include some pretty spendy prizes. While the network isn't saying exactly what will be won, it does say that contestants will have a chance to win "some of the most expensive cars" ever on the game show.

Carey began filming the 36th season of The Price is Right on August 15th. He had a slight mishap when he got his arm wrenched in one of the games, but now it sounds like smooth sailing for Carey. The Price is Right continues filming through October and apparently free tickets are still available, if you're going to be in the Los Angeles area. CBS has now made tickets available on this website.