5/21/2007
Why didn’t I apply for the job to replace Bob Barker as host of “the Price is Right?” Couldn’t you see that- I mean, I’ve run enough VINCENT Price movies in my career that you’d think that would give me an edge. Am I not a beloved personality like Mr. Barker? (When I write “Mr. Barker”-it reminds me of a German and Russian language teacher with that name back when I was attending Maine East High School…he never asked any students if Rice-a-Roni was cheaper than an economy sized bottle of Aleve, though) Back to the subject- couldn’t I just as easily remind viewers to have their rubber chickens spayed or neutered? Couldn’t I get just as chummy with the “Barker Beauties?” Of course, we’d have to rename them- “Sven’s Stunners” or “Goolie’s Gallies”…
Nobody seems to bring up the sinister side of Bob Barker, though…how many diminutive mountain climbers has he cruelly sent to their doom, marching (and yodeling) relentlessly up the mountain, knowing full well that soon , thanks to a faulty bid, they’d be hurling themselves over a cliff, never to be seen or heard from again? And exactly why does he seem to take such great delight in having the audience boo and jeer at any contestant in the Showcase Showdown who doesn’t spin the wheel completely around? And that whole movie bit where he pounds the tar out of Adam Sandler…did you ever look closely at Battlin’ Bob’s eyes? That’ll rattle your Plinko chips…
In all seriousness, though- what a long career! I remember seeing barker back when he hosted the “Truth or Consequences” TV show- back in the days when TV game show legend Bill Cullen used to host the original “Price is Right”- does anybody but me remember Bill playing with various wind-up or battery-powered toys each week on the nighttime one hour “Price is Right” while the announcer read some sort of sponsorship or legal mumbo-jumbo? Anyway, eventually, Bob Barker inherited the hosting job, and he’s held onto it like a tick on a terrier. We’ve watched his hair shift from mousy brown to Steve Martin grey to Perry white (I threw that in for Superman fans)…and seen his audience grow to include ages from college kids to grandmas and retired servicemen! And, quite honestly- can anybody watch an episode of “Price is Right” without playing along- or hooting at the stupidity of some of the players?! Plus- Bob was always just smooth as ever, even as he aged gracefully, and there were occasional flubs. The guy has earned his retirement- and , a copy of the home game and some lovely parting gifts.
Nobody seems to bring up the sinister side of Bob Barker, though…how many diminutive mountain climbers has he cruelly sent to their doom, marching (and yodeling) relentlessly up the mountain, knowing full well that soon , thanks to a faulty bid, they’d be hurling themselves over a cliff, never to be seen or heard from again? And exactly why does he seem to take such great delight in having the audience boo and jeer at any contestant in the Showcase Showdown who doesn’t spin the wheel completely around? And that whole movie bit where he pounds the tar out of Adam Sandler…did you ever look closely at Battlin’ Bob’s eyes? That’ll rattle your Plinko chips…
In all seriousness, though- what a long career! I remember seeing barker back when he hosted the “Truth or Consequences” TV show- back in the days when TV game show legend Bill Cullen used to host the original “Price is Right”- does anybody but me remember Bill playing with various wind-up or battery-powered toys each week on the nighttime one hour “Price is Right” while the announcer read some sort of sponsorship or legal mumbo-jumbo? Anyway, eventually, Bob Barker inherited the hosting job, and he’s held onto it like a tick on a terrier. We’ve watched his hair shift from mousy brown to Steve Martin grey to Perry white (I threw that in for Superman fans)…and seen his audience grow to include ages from college kids to grandmas and retired servicemen! And, quite honestly- can anybody watch an episode of “Price is Right” without playing along- or hooting at the stupidity of some of the players?! Plus- Bob was always just smooth as ever, even as he aged gracefully, and there were occasional flubs. The guy has earned his retirement- and , a copy of the home game and some lovely parting gifts.
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