TPIR: Bob Barker Primetime Tribute

[R!ck]

Zap2It

CBS Plans Primetime Bob Barker Showcase

April 3, 2007

After 35 years with CBS, Bob Barker exiting "The Price Is Right" this year, so the network is dedicating two hours of key May sweeps real estate to honoring him.

CBS announced Tuesday (April 3) that Barker will be the subject of a pair of primetime specials to air on Wednesday, May 16 and Thursday, May 17.

The Wednesday special will be a "Price Is Right Million Dollar Spectacular," promising bigger prizes and offering the contestants a chance to spin the while for $1 million.

The following night, CBS will run the package show "Bob Barker: A Celebration of 50 Years on Television." As one might expect, the special will be a celebration of Barker's 35 year run on "The Price Is Right"

"After 50 years in show business and 35 years on CBS, we want to give Bob a primetime sendoff befitting of an entertainment icon," says CBS Entertainment President Nina Tassler. "Audiences everywhere will enjoy playing one more primetime show with Bob and then celebrating his amazing career and the moments that made his reign on The Price is Right so memorable."

CBS is also inviting fans to make up 15-second tributes to Baker to be posted on YouTube. The best of the viewer-submitted tributes will be broadcast on the network during either the primetime specials or during the regular daytime run of "The Price Is Right."

Barker was previously best known for hosting duties on shows like "Truth and Consequences" when he began hosting "The Price Is Right" on Sept. 4, 1972. In his time as host, Barker earned 13 individual Emmys and three Emmys as one of the show's producers. He received a Daytime Television Lifetime Achievement Emmy in 1999 and was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in June 2004.

[bellcurve]

Do you think they will announce his replacement during the special?

[applcin]

Reports are the frontrunner is George Hamilton. (I just googled it.)

[bellcurve]

Good LORD are you kidding me?!

And there goes THE PRICE IS RIGHT!

[David_Vickers]

I don't know, George Hamilton might be good as host of THE PRICE IS RIGHT.

[bellcurve]

I do admit that he could be way better than the other two who were frontrunner(Mark Steines from ET and Mario Lopez).

I'm a huge Todd Newton fan, I just wished they would have picked a true game show vet to replace Bob Barker.

I just don't see George Hamilton lasting long on THE PRICE IS RIGHT.

[DaysFanJean]

TV Guide Scoop article

http://www.tvguide.com/News-Views/Entertai...aspx?idx=710996

"Price" host list narrowing

Thu Apr 05, 12:28 AM ET

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - The field of candidates to succeed Bob Barker as host of CBS' venerable game show "The Price Is Right" might be narrowing.

Sources indicated that Mark Steines, George Hamilton and Mario Lopez have emerged as top contenders, with Steines, co-host of "Entertainment Tonight," getting the strongest buzz at the moment. Tapes of "Price" auditions have been sent out and are being shown to test audiences around the country, sources said. The list also includes Todd Newton, John O'Hurley and former "Beauty and the Geek" host Mike Richards.

Representatives for CBS declined comment, as did FremantleMedia North America, which produces the long-running show. Barker said in October that he will retire in May after 35 years as host of the show. It now appears that he will tape his last show in June. The network is planning to give him a sendoff that includes a primetime special celebrating the TV veteran's career to air May 17.