“The Price Is Right” was the most famous and exciting game show in the decades of the seventies and the eighties. Hosted by the greatest announcer of my generation, Mr. Bob Barker. He hosted CBS‘s The Price Is Right, the longest-running game show in North American television history, from 1972 to 2007.
He captivated the audience with the phrase “Come on Down!” “The Price Is Right—”
The phenomenon show featured a variety of games, contests, and prizes. The audience was picked to participate in basic challenges, guessing the prices of everyday retail items. The contestants were excited to get on stage after guessing the prizes, merely meeting the host, Mr. Bob Barker.
One contestant was from Poland; only Bob Barker knew this information. This surprised the contestant because her answer was, “I’m from Los Angeles!” This contestant was blown away at the response of the audience! This is the kind of impact Bob Barker had on the show back in my era. Bob Barker had another surprise on other occasions; celebrities would be located in the audience. Telly Savalas wooed the audience with his presence. These examples were the kind of shows that kept me interested in the next episodes. My children, ages 8-13, grew up watching this game show with me.
The earlier years of my watching was while working in a nursing home facility. The residents would be super-excited to get dressed, or rather be dressed, by the nursing assistants, in time to be ready at 11:00 am for the handsome host, Mr. Bob Barker. His charm filled the lobby where television set announced that famous saying, “Come on Down!” They eagerly waited for the show to begin at 11:00 am every day; Lunch followed at Noon. This was the most rewarding time of day for the elderly in that nursing facility. This is a memory I will never forget!
Drew Allison Carey, his former name, an American comedian, actor and now game show host to replace Mr. Bob Barker. Better known as Drew Carey. Both hosts used the same format; Drew Carey has impacted the younger generation in this new turn of the century. On October 15, 2007, this former stand-up comedian, and sitcom host, was hired to replace Bob Barker.
I was not impressed at first, since I was engrossed with the irreplaceable Mr. Bob Barker. The new format is an attempt to compare watching two different hosts. Even Drew Carey admitted, Mr. Bob Barker could not be replaced. Drew Carey used fairly the same dialogue. However, this is crossing into another decade of time, with the perspective relative to a newer audience and another generation introduced to this format of the show. With the new host, the format is changing. The contestants are younger, referring to their parents and grandparents who introduced them to the show as young children, like the age of my own children now 35-40 years old.
These younger contestants were eager to win prizes, come on stage for the first time; and spin the ‘Big Wheel!’ Of course, the finale is to continue to guess the grand prize and win big prizes. Even more expensive luxury cars and boats were added as prizes. More exotic vacation trips were added to places such as Aruba and Costa Rica. These trips were accompanied by paid flights, as well. However, the added upgraded prizes aroused my interest in Drew Carey. Anxiously, looking to see just what this new host had to offer the show; especially since I was moving to another city, taking on another job, and still hooked on the 11’oclock daytime game show. “The Price Is Right,” I had to ‘Come on Down!’
I grew to like Drew’s charm. The new games, and the variety of prizes; the price guessing was even more challenging at that retired age of 65. I admired the new games, such as ‘Plinko’ guessing prices, with the ability to win up to $50,000 dollars, or more. (At home on the couch). The ‘One Wrong Price’ was An Easy Quess! All the prices are right, except one, quite challenging, not easy at all! The ‘Hole in One’ was a golf game played by both hosts. Mr. Bob Barker was quite a champion in this game. He made all his putts; however, Drew Carey needed more practice. (SMILE).
The addition to the game with the old television of the seventies aroused my interest even more, since I was a previous viewer in those old days. ‘The Television Dial Game’-This game was added as an incentive to commemorate Bob Barker’s previous years of success to the show. After being excited to guess the prizes of the seventies, I am even more excited to guess, play and participate in the new shows with the new host, Drew Carey. After an entire century, I am more excited to watch the show.
In a final analysis …after watching episodes from both the seventies until now, I chose the latter years with the new host to be the most exciting! I’ve been convinced with the more explosive audiences from all over the world; celebrating the holiday seasons throughout the year, winning exotic trips, expensive cars, and thousands of dollars— This latter version of the show with Drew Carey is my choice for the modern-day version of, “Come on Down!” “The Price Is Right!”
