Bob Barker to retire from TPIR - say it ain't so!

[chefker]

I knew it was coming, but still....feeling wistful and sad. I felt like this when Johnny Carson retired, another icon from my childhood rides off into the sunset.

Bob Barker retiring after 50 years on TV By SANDY COHEN, AP Entertainment Writer
2 hours, 14 minutes ago



Bob Barker is heading toward his last showcase, his final "Come on down." The silver-haired daytime-TV icon is retiring in June, he told The Associated Press Tuesday.

"I will be 83 years old on December 12," he said, "and I've decided to retire while I'm still young."

He'll hang up his microphone after 35 years as the host of "The Price Is Right" and 50 years overall in television.

Though he has been considering retirement for "at least 10 years," Barker said he has so much fun doing the show that he hasn't been able to leave.

"I've gone on and on and on to this ancient age because I've enjoyed it," he said. "I've thoroughly enjoyed it and I'm going to miss it."

Reaching dual milestones, 50 years on television and 35 with "Price," made this an "appropriate" time to retire, Barker said. Besides, hosting the daily CBS program — in which contestants chosen from the crowd "come on down" to compete for "showcases" that include trips, appliances and new cars — is "demanding physically and mentally," he said.

"I'm just reaching the age where the constant effort to be there and do the show physically is a lot for me," he said. "I might be able to do the show another year, but better (to leave) a year too soon than a year too late."



rest of story at link (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061031/ap_en_tv/tv_bob_barker_retires_8)

[KellyM]

I can't imagine the show without him!

[tgr68]

That's just going to be weird to see TPIR without him.

[kugrrly]

Hole in One or Two will not be the same.

[Adaya]

Hole in One or Two will not be the same.

I know...no one makes that first putt like Bob. Putting while leaning over to talk into the microphone. :D

[sea74]

Knew this day was coming, but wow. TPIR will never be the same.

[coquelicot]

One of my dreams was to make it out to Southern California and be in the audience for the show. It just wouldn't be the same without BB as the host. Doubtful that I'll make it there before June. I wondered when he was going to retire, but somehow thought that he never would.

[kk junebug]

oh man....an end of an era.... :(

[shopaholic]

I love Price is Right. Definitely will not be the same without him...he makes the show!

[Sasha]

Oh no, I only have until June to fulfill my dream of making it on TPIS with Bob Barker! The show won't be the same without him.

[Lizard]

Man, I feel like I caused this somehow, because over the past week I've been thinking Bob would retire soon. I've been watching TPIR again since I had DD, and there is such a difference in him recently. People say bids and he either can't hear them or repeats the bid incorrectly. They did The Clock Game the other day and you could tell Bob was having a harder time figuring out if the price was higher or lower, and that took time off the clock. I love Bob but I am not surprised about his announcement. :(

[jnettie]

Without Bob, they might as well cancil the show. :(

[sparkle&shine]

Man, I feel like I caused this somehow, because over the past week I've been thinking Bob would retire soon. I've been watching TPIR again since I had DD, and there is such a difference in him recently. People say bids and he either can't hear them or repeats the bid incorrectly. They did The Clock Game the other day and you could tell Bob was having a harder time figuring out if the price was higher or lower, and that took time off the clock. I love Bob but I am not surprised about his announcement. :(


I started watching again while I was on maternity leave a 2 years ago! I could definitely tell that he was slowing down even then but it just won't be the same and I really can't see the show continuing without him.

I always wanted to go on the show and never got around to it. Definitely the end of an era.

[ginastorm]

He seems to be losing his patience with the contestants much easier and earlier now too. It makes me laugh when he gets mad at people who take too long to bid on Contestants' Row!

[shopaholic]

Yes, you can definitely see a difference in him. I don't get to watch the show that much anymore but if I am ever home sick I always make sure to watch.

He almost always repeats bid incorrectly and you can tell his patience is being tested with some contestants.

He also seems to been semi-annoyed when women want to kiss/hug him. Perhaps that might have been only the few episodes I saw.

[HeatherFL]

"I will be 83 years old on December 12," he said, "and I've decided to retire while I'm still young."


I love this!

He will be so missed!

~H.

[salysaturn]

poop.

I remember when Rod Rodney left, and they have had a few new announcers since. I can't IMAGINE anybody that would make a half decent replacemment!!

[HeatherFL]

Yes, it was very sad when Rod Roddy died of colon and breast cancer. I can't believe it's been three years since he passed.

[TriSigmaNC]

Any thoughts or news on replacements yet?

[Lucy Van Pelt]

He seems to be losing his patience with the contestants much easier and earlier now too. It makes me laugh when he gets mad at people who take too long to bid on Contestants' Row!


Joe - what's your bid?
Joe - I need your bid..
JOE! What's you fricking bid?
JOE - give me a damn number or I am going smack you upside the head!!

I would have lost my patience with contestants years ago! UGH - some people are just sooo stupid it makes me want to rip my hair out! LOL

[ginastorm]

I would have lost my patience with contestants years ago! UGH - some people are just sooo stupid it makes me want to rip my hair out! LOL

Me too. I get mad at contestants too. I mean come on, the format of the show hasn't changed, be ready when it is your turn to bid. It especially makes me mad when contestants get to play the classic games like "Plinko" & they don't understand how to play them. If you know you are going to be on TPIR, then watch a few episodes before you go to the taping!

[shopaholic]

I was 1/2 listening to the radio today and they were talking about a replacement. Some guy named Mr. Price from some sitcom (??).

King of Queens? What about Raymond...


I can't recall. I will see if I can find it.

[Adaya]

Me too. I get mad at contestants too. I mean come on, the format of the show hasn't changed, be ready when it is your turn to bid. It especially makes me mad when contestants get to play the classic games like "Plinko" & they don't understand how to play them. If you know you are going to be on TPIR, then watch a few episodes before you go to the taping!

Seriously!! Like the the game Ten Chances where you have to write down the number of 3 different prizes using the scrambled up numbers. Who doesn't know that TPIR prizes always end in 0, 5, or 9? People kill me writing down the price of a car at $16, 509. I always scream at the tv on that game. "You idiot, a toaster is not going to $26!!!!" :rolleyes:

I just read this on some website about TPIR games:
Ten Chances is a unique game in which contestant vie for three prizes; a 2-digit small prize, a 3-digit prize, and a car. For each prize, the contestant is shown a series of jumbled digits that makeup the price of the prize with one extraneous digit thrown in for confusion. Starting with the two-digit prize, the contestant attempts to produce the correct value of the prize. If s/he is correct, s/he moves on to the next prize; if not, s/he attempts to win that prize again. The contestant has ten chances to correctly identify the prices of the three prizes. If the contestant uses up all ten chances before all the prizes are won, the contestant wins whatever prizes s/he has correctly identified up to that point. The contestant technically has 10 seconds for each guess, although that rule is rarely enforced. Depending on Bob's mood, he may or may not warn contestants if they are about to repeat a guess they've already tried. With the advent of five-digit cars, the extraneous digit for the car was removed and all five (correct) digits of the car were jumbled for the contestant.

With the plethora of price combinations possible, especially for the car, the producers snuck a trick into the game early in the game's run that EVERY prize ends in a zero. Contestants who realize this rule should have very little trouble winning all three prizes. Although Bob has never flat out mentioned this rule to the audience, he often chides contestants who guess something like "17032" for a car. It remains the easiest car game to win on the show.