Today's The Price is Right

[bellcurve]

Surprised no one has said anything about this:

Here's the thing...I really don't want to judge too quicky(I'm accused of doing that far too often), but Drew looks like he just doesn't care. And that is a bad recipe for any game show host.

But, there have been game show hosts before that don't care and the ratings haven't crippled their series or their relationship with affiliates or the producers. Louie Anderson stayed on FAMILY FEUD for a full three years before they finally cut him off and called a taxi for his drunk ass. Bigtime douche and homophobe Pat Sajak, who, in earlier episodes, was an ass but was at least comfortable bantering with contestants, can barely look at the contestants or empathize with them anymore on WHEEL OF FORTUNE.

If Drew can keep the ratings stable or even raise them, he's locked in to stay. It has to make you wonder whether or not people care about the game or care about the game, the contestants, AND the host. It may be hard to tell with PRICE, because no one has ever replaced Bob Barker in his version. There are other version of PRICE which have found very little success(Tom Kennedy version in the early '80's, Doug Davidson's embarassing '94 version) and a lot of it was gameplay related. The former didn't have a showcase showdown and the latter got rid of everything that was deemed periphreal to speed up the gameplay which was a half hour.

The set looks GREAT and the music updates sound really good. PRICE needed a really good F5.

But Drew doesn't look like he cares and that totally shows. The key to almost any game show host is that you HAVE to care. You have to give a damn. In that respect, the only really good game show host right now is Meredith Vieira from WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE. Even Anne Robinson and George Gray(of WEAKEST LINK fame) were mean, but they gave a damn about being mean.

I wonder how long his contract is for. I don't see CBS/Fremantle willing to pay out the big bucks to keep him if he can't stabilize or raise the ratings. And Drew came onto PRICE with such little fanfare...which may have been the intent of everyone at the network(to keep it from getting too hyped), but this was a recipe for disaster.

Drew could make a good PRICE host if he gave a damn. And it looks like he doesn't. I hope THE VIEW whoops Drew's ass in the ratings and demos, at least until it looks like he cares.

And the sad part is that this wasn't his first taped show...they've put them all out of order to keep people from seeing that he taped a lot of shows with the same 6 games in them so he could get used to the format.

If CBS cancels PRICE, they would be better off getting another game show in there. I, personally, love WHEEL OF FORTUNE. A moded, hourlong shopping version would be fantastic. With Todd Newton and a sexy, but fun hostess that could build a Susan Stafford/Chuck Woolery-like rapport is something that WHEEL would need if they ever get rid of Pat and Vanna.

Sorry for the long rant...another one of my passions happens to be game shows.

P.S. And a "Fremantle Media" production? The game show message boarders are gonna be all over their asses for rebranding it that at the end of the show.

[Solita]

Thank you! I was afraid to say anything but he acted as he couldn't have cared less. It was not the fun, funny and active show we are used to. I hated it. It felt like he had something better to do and it was interrupting his schedule. I hated it. (I know I said that twice.)

[Max]

I thought he was absolutely terrible. While it's unrealistic to expect anyone to be as good as Barker, it is reasonable to expect a host to have some enthusiasm. Like Solita said, Carey gave off the impression that he had better things to do than to host TPIR.

Some of Carey's mannerisms/sayings were just plain odd, such as when he kept referring to the announcer as "Rich Fields" instead of just "Rich," or when he would welcome everyone back to TPIR after every commercial break. Additionally, it completely killed the excitement when--before each car game was about to be played--Carey mumbled to the contestant "Did you drive here?"

I fully expect TPIR to be gone a year from now. Sadly, it didn't have to be this way, as I have always felt that Chuck Woolery--an experienced host with lots of charisma--would have been a perfect replacement for Bob Barker.

P.S. Carey was given this job despite the fact that he had never auditioned, which I find to be just absurd. And as Bellcurve indicated, Carey didn't know the rules to any of the pricing games before becoming host (which means that he almost certainly never watched the show).

[jcar03]

I didn't see it but I would have to give him more of a day to judge. I don't think anyone can fill the shoes of Bob Barker and I always thought they would of been better to have the show end when he left.

[Solita]

Fair is fair. I'll watch today and see if he's anymore into the groove. I don't expect him to be BB, but I'd like to see someone who acted like he cared. Chuck Woolery would have been a good choice too. 'We'll be back in 2 and 2!' Funny.

[Solita]

Okay, I watched today. I didn't want to be too hard on Drew. He did act like he was getting more into it. He's got some big shoes to fill. He had more fun this time. BB always said it was the best job because it was so much fun. Drew just needs to get his 'mojo' and have fun with it.

[Max]

Perhaps I was too quick to judge. After seeing today's episode, I can say that Drew Carey was dramatically improved.

My only fear is that there are people who only watched yesterday's episode, saw how bad he was, and will never give him another chance. Unfortunately, one never gets a second chance to make a first impression. (This being said, it would have made so much more sense to have aired today's episode as Carey's first episode, especially given the fact that the episodes are already airing out of taping order.)

[Kwing42]

he did not do bad at all for his first day.

He was nervous, hello people, this is an institution of sorts.

he will improve and do well. He was and still is the perfect choice.

[Steveo4]

I agree with the two people who mentioned Chuck Woolery. I always hoped he would get the job, but oh well. I'm in the UK for a year, so I havent been able to watch TPIR, but I'm hoping that when I'm back in the States over the holidays that I can get into the show again. After hearing some of your comments, I'm afraid that won't be the case, which is sad. I hope Drew improves.

[Matt P.]

I think that The Price is Right is going through a bit of an identity crisis. What's up with the contestants? They seem crazier and stupider than ever. (Are they passing out drugs to them before the show or did the original casting director get fired???) Plus, Drew seems like he doesn't have control over the contestants. He lets them go on and on where as Bob Barker would have a stern hand in moving the show along.

Something I thought was funny was how it was a perfect game on Monday's episode. Yeah right! How many takes did that one take to film?

[bellcurve]

Okay...I was with you until you said that.

[DevotedToAMC]

I don't think he did terrible but of course he is still no Bob Barker and won't be...I only saw last Monday's show and felt he did okay and yes it was his first day as Kwing pointed out. Chuck Woolery would have been perfect for the job or someone like Todd Newton.

I heard rumors that Mario Lopez was going to be the new host. As much as I like Lopez, I don't see him as a game show host. I'm just glad the host is not Cameron Mathison

[slapintheface]

Have you guys seen the show??? It is really funny !!! Check this out http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x38wbg_dr...inko_shortfilms

[Sundance]

I also think that Chuck Woolery would have been a good host for Price is Right. I wonder what he is up to these days? Another good host would be John O'Hurley who is currently hosting Family Fued. I thought he was great on Dancing with the Stars, and on Seinfeld.

I wish Price is Right would update or change the way they have four people bid in the beginning. It should be a typed in bid on a computer so that the contestants don't know what each other is bidding. Secondly, I don't like when they say "without going over' with a price. Someone could be one dollar over and other a lot under and still win. I guess I can do without that show. It does seem like a waste of time.