Spring Break
Price, time right for retirement
by Mike Epstein
Arts | 5/22/07
Posted online at 1:46 AM EST on 5/22/07
/ Last updated at 8:01 PM EST on 5/22/07
After serving as the face of game show television for half a century, Bob Barker is finally getting out of the business. At 83, Barker has stopped taping episodes of The Price is Right, after being the show's host for 35 years. His last taping, a primetime "Million Dollar Spectacular" edition of the show, aired Wednesday. Barker announced last October that he would be ending his tenure on the show, with his final episode airing in mid-June.
The Million Dollar episode wasn't anything special; it simply featured vast and extravagant prizes including, if you couldn't have guessed, a one-million dollar bonus prize. Putting a daytime show in primetime could serve as massive fanfare, but it seems that in 2007, a time change isn't as exciting a trick as it used to be. Ultimately, the idea for the show, like Barker, was just ``a little too old-school for primetime. There have actually been other Million Dollar Spectaculars, making the whole event seem a little kitschy. Plus, the excitement of the amplified version of the show was diminished by the fact that newer game shows like Deal or No Deal or 1 Vs. 100 regularly boast six- and seven-figure prizes.
In addition to the special edition of the show, a giant tribute to Barker's life and achievements, "Bob Barker-A Celebration of 50 Years on Television," was aired the following night. A more fitting last hurrah for Barker, this show featured anyone they could find who had something to say about him, from the members of his crew, to contestants whose lives were affected by the show to miscellaneous celebrities with whom he's worked over the years. The show's highlight was definitely Adam Sandler's "Ode to Bob," which reminded me of the days when Sandler was funny. In reality, it was just a chance for us to get one last look at Barker lounging around, being a goofy old man. But that's fine by me, because that's the reason why I-and I assume most younger people-watch The Price is Right in the first place.
Before we dismiss Barker as simply an old-man game show host who, needless to say, is not exactly the voice of our generation, we should take time to note his achievements: His career was truly extraordinary and it's doubtful that anyone will ever have one quite like his ever again. Barker has been on television for 50 years straight. From 1956 through 1975, he hosted Truth or Consequences; a kind of '50s precursor to Nickelodeon's Double Dare. Before ending his tenure on T or C, he became the host of The Price is Right in 1972, and revived the show that had originally run in the late '50s and early '60s.
The Million Dollar episode wasn't anything special; it simply featured vast and extravagant prizes including, if you couldn't have guessed, a one-million dollar bonus prize. Putting a daytime show in primetime could serve as massive fanfare, but it seems that in 2007, a time change isn't as exciting a trick as it used to be. Ultimately, the idea for the show, like Barker, was just ``a little too old-school for primetime. There have actually been other Million Dollar Spectaculars, making the whole event seem a little kitschy. Plus, the excitement of the amplified version of the show was diminished by the fact that newer game shows like Deal or No Deal or 1 Vs. 100 regularly boast six- and seven-figure prizes.
In addition to the special edition of the show, a giant tribute to Barker's life and achievements, "Bob Barker-A Celebration of 50 Years on Television," was aired the following night. A more fitting last hurrah for Barker, this show featured anyone they could find who had something to say about him, from the members of his crew, to contestants whose lives were affected by the show to miscellaneous celebrities with whom he's worked over the years. The show's highlight was definitely Adam Sandler's "Ode to Bob," which reminded me of the days when Sandler was funny. In reality, it was just a chance for us to get one last look at Barker lounging around, being a goofy old man. But that's fine by me, because that's the reason why I-and I assume most younger people-watch The Price is Right in the first place.
Before we dismiss Barker as simply an old-man game show host who, needless to say, is not exactly the voice of our generation, we should take time to note his achievements: His career was truly extraordinary and it's doubtful that anyone will ever have one quite like his ever again. Barker has been on television for 50 years straight. From 1956 through 1975, he hosted Truth or Consequences; a kind of '50s precursor to Nickelodeon's Double Dare. Before ending his tenure on T or C, he became the host of The Price is Right in 1972, and revived the show that had originally run in the late '50s and early '60s.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Chris
posted 5/22/07 @ 9:41 AM EST
Bob Barker has not stopped taping episodes. He will continue taping through June 6, and the new episdoes will air to the end of June!!!
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