Today marked Bob Barker’s final day as host of The Price Is Right, and I’m pleased to report I only teared up three times during the hour-long telecast: Once as Bob announced the first item up for bids to thunderous applause, then again as the first "new car!" of the episode was introduced, and finally, as a contestant named Philip (who’d waited in line for five days to score a spot in the studio audience) started to lose his composure as he made it on stage for an (ultimately unsuccessful) edition of "Any Number."
I’m not going to say I’m embarrassed about my mini-display of waterworks. (If you’re with me, come on down!) After all, along with Sesame Street, the Muppets, and Spectacular Bid’s Kentucky Derby, Bob Barker is responsible for some of my earliest (and fondest) TV memories; plus, he was a staple of my grade-school summer vacations and countless sick days as an adult. To me, Barker hearkens back to a different era — maybe it’s the pre-irony era? — in which you could spend more than three decades enthusiastically helping contestants master "Grocery Game" or "Plinko," yet still be the height of cool. (Come ON, at 83, the guy is still a total fox.) And on his last day of work, Barker showed the skills that have made him an enduring and beloved pop-culture icon There he was shouting, "He’s on his feet! He’s on his feet!" after burly Canadian contestant Dean took a spill sprinting to contestant’s row. And how about his farewell to contestant Melba, who almost hit her head, then fell to the ground, during her two unsuccessful turns at the Price Is Right wheel: "I want you to get off here before you get hurt!" The guy is funny, quick on his feet, and isn’t afraid of hugging. He’s gonna be damn near impossible to replace.
Anyhow, on this sappy, emotional note, I leave you with Barker’s parting words from his final show: "Now, folks, I want to thank you very, very much for inviting me into your homes for the last 50 years. I am deeply grateful. And please remember: Help control the pet population — have your pet spayed or neutered. Goodbye everyone!"
Comments (1-30) of 30 Add your comment
I love Bob Barker and he will be irreplaceable….I miss him already….
Like others, I am a child of the 70s and watched TPIR during summers and sick days. Loved it then and love it now. I probably won’t try to watch it anymore; it just won’t be the same. Good luck, Bob.
He is totally irreplaceable…as much as I love the show, I think it should end with his departure.
Although it’s pretty obvious, I didn’t realize how much of the show’s success and my personal reasons for enjoying it ALL MY LIFE were directly due to Mr. Bob Barker.
(Also, i feel stupid because, even though i knew this article was most likely about his leaving the show, when I saw the words “Farewell, Bob Barker” I thought he’d passed away.)
Anyway, thank you Bob Barker.
Slezak, I just teared up reading your recap, I can only imagine the waterworks had I caught his final performance *sniff*
This was one of the best things about skipping school as a child. I love The Price Is Right. I adore Bob Barker. He made Happy Gilmore a better movie. We’ll miss you Bob!
I love Bob Barker, love his show, and love his charm. If he’s ever in DC, Mr. Barker’s welcome to come over any time for some pork chops and Karate movies.
And no one’s ever going to be able to make winning a brand new car sound as exciting or as fun as Mr. Barker did. My only shame’s to have never made a live taping of the Price is Right.
For those who missed it (or just want to see it again) the final Price is Right is airing again tonight on CBS right before the Daytime Emmy Awards.
Thanks for the info Melissa…i’ll be sure to check that out, or at least tape it.
I remember playing TPIR with my sisters at home while watching it during the Summer. We would get excited as we were told to “come on down!”…I have always wanted to play Plinko.
The Price Is Right is one of a kind. I loved sitting with my mom to watch Mr. Barker. I also loved hearing, “come on down, the price is right. I will miss the show without him.
All the best to you Bob Barker.
I always enjoyed TPIR as a kid…but haven’t watched it in a really long time. I wanted to play Plinko, the Mountain Climber game (I can still hear the yodeling), and the Punch Out Game.
I also always felt bad for the contestant who got the really crappy Showdown prize…like the dining room table and hot tub as compared to a trip to Paris and a brand new car. This just never seemed fair.
My friend told me that his mom actually got called down to contestant’s row and she was one of the first four called. Well, after it was all said and done, she never won a bid and never got to make it up on stage. Bummer. Can you imagine?
I used to watch The Price is Right everyday during the summer when I was at my grandma’s house. I could always smell her cooking me lunch when it was on. She passed away this year and Barker retiring is like losing one more connection to her. I’m pretty sure when I watch Bob sign off tonight, I’ll be crying too.
Growing up as a kid in Connecticut, I often faked being sick just to stay home and watch TPIR. When I headed West to settle in LA, the first thing I did was go with some friends to a taping. It was a total 100% American experience and loved every second of it from meeting people all over the country to the quick interview right before you head into the studio, it was so surreal and lovely. The best part of it all was that Bob Parker was completely cool off-camera, he cracked some joke to me and had the entire audience falling down in laughter…America will definitely miss you BOB!
Have a great retirement, Bob!
Slezak is the best entertainment reviewer EVER!!! Reading his prose is like seeing the show live….
Slezak – I teared up just reading your blog item. I was not allowed to watch TV on sick days (my parents are part evil), but I always would break the rules for Price is Right. I actually have engineering like theories on how to win at Plinko, but my fave forever will be the Mountainclimber. That hooky german music rules. When will that get mixed into a rap song?. Jay Z are you listening???
Summer won’t be the same without Bobby Barker. I too remember staying home and making TPIR a staple in my t.v watching schedule.
Ep Sato…you might want to serve something other than pork chops, Bob’s a veggie!
I’ve been to a live taping and I must say that Bob Barker was a great host when the cameras were on but during the breaks he was just as quick witted as on the air. But with a little bit more of an edge. I remember he made a point of needling one guy who couldn’t get out of contestants row the whole show — very funny stuff.
It’s the end of an era.
I’ve just watched the episode from today and I can officially say that my dog is looking at me funny because I was crying the whole time. I am going to miss Bob so much. I hope he enjoys his retirement but I won’t.
I realize that Mr. Barker is part of the childhood of several generations of children–most often sitting at home sick, eating chicken soup and watching people play cheesy games. And we will all miss him.
He has been there, day in and day out, for 35 of my 36 years.
Sick days, whether I was sick or not, Bob and his beauties were there.
When I was out of school, working graveyard, Bob was there when I got home, my “Carson” to fall asleep to.
When I was married and dealing with kids, there was an hour with Bob and the games I knew and loved.
And these past few years, recuperating from multiple surgeries, Bob was still there, a comfortable friend.
Bob, thank you for being there and enjoy the retirement. But know you will be missed.
This show is a game show giant. Three generations of my family watched.
My question is, in this world of botox and lipo, has Barker ever been digitally enhanced? At 83 he looks pretty good. What’s his secret?
“Help control the pet population”? WTF???
Like everyone else’s coments here, I have many of the same childhood memories of watching The Price is Right during my summer breaks/sickdays when I was young. But my favorite Price is Right memories of late were during my time working at a local tv station. My job was to load all the new commercial tapes into the stations servers. The tapes came in around 10:30 in the morning to the sales dept. and I would go upstairs to pick them up. But nothing got handled until after 11am because we would all stop what we were doing to watch the showcase showdown. It was a daily ritual that was more important than getting our work done. A real testament to the popularity of Bob Barker and the Price is Right.
I just turned 40 and the show has been around as long as I can remember. I already feel sad to see him go but it is a well deserved retirement and I wish Bob the best and hope his retirement lasts as long (or longer) as his run on the show.
P.S. Bob, you ruled in Happy Gilmore!!
I hadn’t watched The Price Is Right in years… which I guess means I haven’t had a sick day in that time.
The only thing missing was the game with the yodeling guy climbing up the mountain.
And that woman Denise just knocked it out of the park. I’m surprised she didn’t win both showcases.
Farewell, Bob. Thanks for it all.
Apparently you’ve NEVER watched TPIR!!
I have watched The Price Is Right since 1972. I love the show as it is the 1 hour out of the day that I forget about everything! Its fun to watch and it is the fastest moving hour of the day! I did attend Bob Barker’s last show which was taped on June 6, 2007. My parents and i were number 53,54,55 in line. Our ticket numbers just happened to be the same as our wristband number and the number on our actual tickets! Wow! Anyway, Bob will be missed as he is unique and has certainly helped to make The Price Is Right what it is today. It was in 1981 when I send to Bob Barker an invitation to my high school graduation. In return, Bob sent to me a hand written letter on his stationery with the nicest words to congratulate me on my graduation. I still have the letter and the local CBS affiliate KPHO in Phoenix interviewed me on June 15, 2007 when I shared the letter with the viewing audience. – gary email: hundleyg@yahoo.com
http://www.funtravelagent.com
http://www.funtravelagent.biz
Bob, your last words touched my heart…I will miss you so much! Thank you for everything you have done for your fans. No one can ever replace you. PLEASE don’t let O’Donnell take over the show!!!!
About Mr. Drew Carey. Question being that I feel that you are not the right person for the replacement for Mr. Bob Barker. You can entertain as a comic and actor very well. You are not the person to replace Mr. Bob Barker. I know I am the only one that can carry on with this position. Just give me a chance. Let me prove myself to you and the producers. I will meet with Mr Carey if you like. The producers if they like. I would enjoy meeting with Mr. Bob Barker even though I believe he likes his private life at his home to be left at his home. Give me one week or one day. I will even do it without rehersal. I enjoy the whole excitement of the entire show. I will not let you down. I just turned fifty four. I can give a good twenty more plus years of being a gentleman to the show. I enjoy the public and the entire reactions of such. Give me a chance. I will be able to be myself and to perform the duties required in order to host the show. If not.Iwillbowout. Givethemmyheart+smile.Sayinggby