Price is Right ratings and concerns (spoiler alert for 11-14 show)

[jsu5381m]

Just curious, how are Price is Right's ratings doing now compared to this time last year? I do wonder if Price is Right is really starting to jump the shark? First off, Drew has been messing up on gameplay (like Double Prices earlier this week) and does not seem to care about the smaller prizes. The biggest jump the shark has been the corny showcases this year. Does anyone know if Drew is writing them? I realize that Rod Roddy used to do corny showcases sometimes, but they were at least funny and tasteful. These Drew Shocases are downright ridiculous.

For example, on today's showcase, the models and Rich had a pie fight. It started off like a normal showcase, but then a model threw a pie at a model, and things went downhill from there. These pies came out of the blue and had nothing to do with the showcase. Then Drew got pied at the end of the show. I like pie fights, but this was just well odd.

Basically, how are ratings doing for TPIR this year and do you expect TPIR to be cancelled soon with these noticible changes in the show's format?

 

[kyscott]

I like Drew and all, but I just don't think he works in this kinda format. It's almost like he's trying to turn it into another "Drew Carey Show" or something.

 

[DToTheJ]

For example, on today's showcase, the models and Rich had a pie fight. It started off like a normal showcase, but then a model threw a pie at a model, and things went downhill from there. These pies came out of the blue and had nothing to do with the showcase. Then Drew got pied at the end of the show. I like pie fights, but this was just well odd.

Basically, how are ratings doing for TPIR this year and do you expect TPIR to be cancelled soon with these noticible changes in the show's format?

I think if they wanted to get bigger ratings, the models should have been sporting a different kind of pie.

A pie fight on a TPIR episode on, say, Thanksgiving or the day before, I can see that. Maybe they're getting into the holiday spirit early like a lot of radio stations are.

 

[MarcB]

There's talk on The Price is Right Board on Sitcoms Online that The View now has higher ratings that Price is Right. I refuse to watch the show. I can't stand Drew.

 

[imhomerjay]

ABC said The View was the top ranked daytime show recently, so it certainly beat Price. Regardless, I am enjoying the updates to Price very much; it has a renewed energy overall. I don't see there being a need to compare Bob to Drew--they're different styles, and it's quite possible to enjoy both.

 

[Tim from Springfield IL]

For example, on today's showcase, the models and Rich had a pie fight. It started off like a normal showcase, but then a model threw a pie at a model, and things went downhill from there. These pies came out of the blue and had nothing to do with the showcase. Then Drew got pied at the end of the show. I like pie fights, but this was just well odd.

Basically, how are ratings doing for TPIR this year and do you expect TPIR to be cancelled soon with these noticible changes in the show's format?

I think if they wanted to get bigger ratings, the models should have been sporting a different kind of pie.

A pie fight on a TPIR episode on, say, Thanksgiving or the day before, I can see that. Maybe they're getting into the holiday spirit early like a lot of radio stations are.

Although I don't watch his show, don't they always do something similar (likely a full-blown food fight) on Jerry Springer on the day before Thanksgiving?

 

[retrothoughts]

I like Drew and all, but I just don't think he works in this kinda format. It's almost like he's trying to turn it into another "Drew Carey Show" or something.

This situation makes me want to ask, in a play on the title of one of Drew's other shows, "Whose 'Price' Is It Anyway?"

 

[4dude]

I refuse to watch the show. I can't stand Drew.

I agree... The show ended when Mr. Barker left..

 

[ansky212]

TPIR should have been taken off the air the day Bob Barker left.

 

[johnnyu]

I have never watched TPIR nor have I ever watched the View. I don't even know what it's about. I think it is about four broads gabbing or something.

 

[johnnya2k6]

ABC said The View was the top ranked daytime show recently, so it certainly beat Price. Regardless, I am enjoying the updates to Price very much; it has a renewed energy overall. I don't see there being a need to compare Bob to Drew--they're different styles, and it's quite possible to enjoy both.

I agree. I know Bob Barker made TPIR, but he seemed kinda slow as he was getting up there in age.

With Roger Dobkowitz gone and "Fingers" Greco promoted to producer, the show is more livlier than it was back in the day, with increased cash amounts on the Big Wheel and even funnier Showcases (e.g., The Models Can Talk, Fried Chicken, Rich Fields getting more camera time, etc.).

And besides...I HATE "The View"!

 

[imhomerjay]

TPIR should have been taken off the air the day Bob Barker left.

Because you don't happen to like it? Some of us gave it a shot in the new direction and enjoy it. If the ratings among target viewers goes up, then no, it shouldn't have been cancelled. Whether that happens remains to be seen, but kudos to CBS for giving it a shot.

 

[quadraphonic]

I kind of like the new TPIR, even though I don't see it everyday or know all the hidden nuances and subtexts that others know.

 

[formeraa]

ABC said The View was the top ranked daytime show recently, so it certainly beat Price. Regardless, I am enjoying the updates to Price very much; it has a renewed energy overall. I don't see there being a need to compare Bob to Drew--they're different styles, and it's quite possible to enjoy both.

I agree. I know Bob Barker made TPIR, but he seemed kinda slow as he was getting up there in age.

With Roger Dobkowitz gone and "Fingers" Greco promoted to producer, the show is more livlier than it was back in the day, with increased cash amounts on the Big Wheel and even funnier Showcases (e.g., The Models Can Talk, Fried Chicken, Rich Fields getting more camera time, etc.).

And besides...I HATE "The View"!

I agree that Bob was slowing considerably at the end. In addition, it was clear that he could no longer withstand bear hugs from the contestants. Did you see how Bob would back WAAAAY off, when he got an overly excited contestant in recent years???

That being said, Drew is a great comedian -- not a game show host. I guess I'm old school, but I would like to see a real game show host on TPIR.

 

[mjlarochelle]

It was nice to see Bob Barker on last night's new Family Guy. I didn't see the credits so I don't know if it was his voice, but it sounded like him anyways.

 

[imhomerjay]

I always laugh a bit at the idea anyone is trained to be a game show host. Bob Barker was a broadcaster, a type of performer to be sure, and he happened to land a gig hosting a game show, which then led to Price. It's not like there's a game show hosting major in college--people come at it from different performance backgrounds, be it radio to TV or talk shows or what have you. Sure, now you have Drew and Howie coming from a comedic background (as was the great Ray Combs with Feud), and you have Meredith from a journalistic background.

Price faced a daunting challenge. Stick too close to the Barker style and risk the "trying to copy Bob" complaints, or give it a freshened--not completely different--identity and risk the "not enough like Bob" complaints. Damned if you do....

For all the complaints about it being so radically different, it's still pricing games on a flashy set with three doors, the same theme song (HORRORS, though, they updated some of the music cues!), with the same basic structure. The set got minor updates, the music got minor updates, and the host is using his style, much as Barker (and Bill Cullen before him) used his personal style. Perfect? Eh, nothing is. But hardly a vast departure from the show as it's been known all these years.

 

[KML0224]

It was nice to see Bob Barker on last night's new Family Guy. I didn't see the credits so I don't know if it was his voice, but it sounded like him anyways.

How could that have been anybody besides Mr. Barker? Hearing him asking Prince what his bid was on the item was awesome!

 

[Nate Wesley]

I always laugh a bit at the idea anyone is trained to be a game show host. Bob Barker was a broadcaster, a type of performer to be sure, and he happened to land a gig hosting a game show, which then led to Price. It's not like there's a game show hosting major in college--people come at it from different performance backgrounds, be it radio to TV or talk shows or what have you. Sure, now you have Drew and Howie coming from a comedic background (as was the great Ray Combs with Feud), and you have Meredith from a journalistic background.

Price faced a daunting challenge. Stick too close to the Barker style and risk the "trying to copy Bob" complaints, or give it a freshened--not completely different--identity and risk the "not enough like Bob" complaints. Damned if you do....

For all the complaints about it being so radically different, it's still pricing games on a flashy set with three doors, the same theme song (HORRORS, though, they updated some of the music cues!), with the same basic structure. The set got minor updates, the music got minor updates, and the host is using his style, much as Barker (and Bill Cullen before him) used his personal style. Perfect? Eh, nothing is. But hardly a vast departure from the show as it's been known all these years.

The long and short of it all--your analysis nailed it. Anyone who's still nitpicking at this point should just stop watching.

Bob Barker and Rob Roddy are not walking through that door.

 

[bpatrick]

No, there's no place where a person can go
to learn to be a game-show host, although the
late Jack Narz once considered starting a school
to train potential hosts.

A game-show host has to be able to deal with
total strangers, to make them feel at home, to
bring contestants with stage fright out of their
shells and to calm down overeager contestants.
He or she also has to deal with the unexpected;
that was more so in the live days, when if a set
fell down or something, the emcee would have to
ad-lib around it. And finally, as Bill Cullen once said,
it helps to have a mental clock, so that the game
breaks at the most suspenseful moments for commercials,
plus the necessity of timing the show to the split second.

Mark Goodson once said he'd like to have made emcees
out of Dan Rather and Ted Koppel, because of their
ability to think on their feet.

No wonder Uncle Bill and Bob Barker, among others of
their generation, lasted so long, and Alex, Pat, Meredith,
and--yes--Drew have that same ability. I think that elsewhere
I have criticized Drew for essentially using Barker's lines, but
then again, the format is set...unless Drew wants to do more
comedy. Then the contestants would no doubt resent it because
they're serious about winning prizes.

Anyway, while I've never been a huge "Price" fan I'll take it
over that screaming match that's on against it on ABC.

 

[imhomerjay]

Good points!

Obviously there were folks who bounced through many shows in the era when there were lots of opportunities (Cullen, Eubanks, Wollery, etc.). But each of them had to host a fist game show somewhere along the way. They weren't a "game show host" before that. Remember, weatherman Pat Sajak is still on his first game show. Does he still qualify as a rookie?