Bob's Final Days

For as long as I can remember, "The Price is Right" has been one of my favorite television shows, largely due to the charisma of its host of 35 years, Bob Barker. Last October, Bob announced that he would retire and he taped his 6,586th and final show on June 6. It will air this Friday, once during the program's usual morning time slot and again during prime time.

Bob has been a broadcast television celebrity for 50 years, a feat that is unlikely to be replicated in an era where both the mainstream media and the definition of celebrity are far more segmented. The concept of a game show host who can be "all things to all people" may soon be an antiquated notion. It comes as no surprise that CBS is having a hard time finding a new host to replace Bob and that he has offered to come back as a "temporary" host in the fall if the issue isn't resolved. After all, who could fill his shoes?

In this post, I wanted to define Bob's essence and why it speaks to me and so many other people in this country. Alas, a few hours ago, an article was published at newsday.com that articulates my thoughts perfectly. Bob is the television version of comfort food, as we could always depend on him and the retro, never-changing set of "The Price is Right" to be there for us every weekday morning. I certainly did.

My earliest memories of the show come from my pre-school days. My father, who worked long hours and wasn't around much, quit his job and was home during the time he was looking for a new job. My sister and I spent many daytime hours with him watching game shows, including "The Price is Right." Once I was in school, I was often sick due to allergy and sinus problems, and I always made sure to watch Bob on the days I stayed home. Most recently, I have been lucky enough to have Fridays "off." In my last 2 years at USC, I didn't have classes or go to work on Fridays, and for almost 6 years I've worked 10 hours a day on the other 4 weekdays. Therefore I was able to watch the show every Friday and Bob provided a sense of continuity and stability in ever-changing times.

I've lived in Los Angeles for almost 10 years and wish that I had caught a taping at CBS Television City at Beverly and Fairfax and seen Bob in person. A couple years ago, my father came to town and hoped we could catch a taping. I obtained "tickets" but learned that admittance was not guaranteed. We would still have to camp out for several hours before the show in order for a shot at getting in the studio, and neither one of us wanted to endure the wait. I have no regrets, as I can cling to televised memories.

Congratulations Bob. Whether you come back on a "temporary" basis or not, you will be missed. The following video expresses the essence of Bob and "The Price is Right" at its best.



Links

After taping last show, Barker offers to fill in as 'Price' host: Fellow blogger and "The Price is Right" fan Steven Swain reports the news.

Oprah vs. Bob: In case you don't know who the REAL icon of daytime TV is.