Bob Barker to Retire from TPIR in June

31 Oct

Posted by Paul Ford as Breaking News, The Price is Right

Golden-Road, a trustworthy Price is Right website is reporting that Bob Barker will be retiring from The Price is Right in June of 07, at the end of The Price is Right’s 35th season. On December 31st 2006, Bob Barker will celebrate the anniversary of his 50th year on national television. When a more official word comes out, we here at Buzzer will bring it to you, but unfortunately this seems official. No word of the future of The Price is Right.

Edit: We contacted CBS and it’s official: he will be leaving.

Edit 2: An official article from the AP if you don’t believe us.

20 Responses

Donald
1
October 31st, 2006 at 1:55 pm

OMG, he isn’t? Woooowwww. I mean we knew this day would come when he would have to retire. At least he got an even 35 seasons under his belt.
Scott
2
October 31st, 2006 at 2:05 pm

Hopefully the time Todd Newton has put into the TPIR stage show
has demonstrated that he can and will fill the shoes of Bob Barker. Fremantle kept him busy on Gameshow Marathon (though he did not host), so it is hard to imagine who else could be a more obvious
heri apparent.

Apart from that, if ABC would allow, I’d vote for Tom Bergeron if they
wanted A-list, immediately recognizable game show talent.
Rialtus
3
October 31st, 2006 at 2:07 pm

The AP has an article out — this is confirmed!
Scott Meckley
4
October 31st, 2006 at 2:22 pm

wow I enjoy Bob Barker on the Price Is Right. but I can understand this. a younger host will be great because I would like to see the show go on. maybe Todd Newton or even Marc Summers.
Erskine Thompson
5
October 31st, 2006 at 2:23 pm

Let’s be frank…Bob Barker is a television legend, and he deserves to go out on his own terms. He’s in incredible health for someone of his age, and I applaud him for this decision. Will I be sad to see him go? Of course, but I’d much rather him announce his retirement and go out gracefully than to find in the middle of a taping season that he had taken ill, and had to leave because of illness or his death. Now, he’ll have a chance to enjoy some retirement - and I’d bet the farm he’ll hand-pick his successor, if he hasn’t already.
HQ
6
October 31st, 2006 at 3:50 pm

About time!
Donald
7
October 31st, 2006 at 4:42 pm

I think Todd Newton would be the top choice for replacing Bob Barker. Ricki Lake did a good job on Marathon, but that was just that one time and Todd does the vegas price all the time.
Mark
8
October 31st, 2006 at 5:41 pm

It is unfortunate to see him go, but it is indeed very cool that we were able to talk about him and his growing legacy for all these years. He reached that “no one even comes close” designation some time ago. Bob is smart. He is going out as he reaches the unheard of 50-year milestone in TV, and also at TPiR’s 35th anniversary. I wouldn’t be surprised if he popped up on future shows from time to time as well. In our hearts, I think we all wanted Barker to go out under such circumstances that we’d still be able to see him occasionally in the future.

A suggestion — on his last show (or, more appropriately, a primetime special to celebrate his legacy), a Viper, a Rolls Royce, and a motorhome are offered on Triple Play, and $1,000,000 is guaranteed for the Showcase winner ;-)

Maybe not that, but all I can say is that they better give him a 2-hour primetime retrospective special next year. It would also be awesome to see them air classic episodes for a couple months before immediately replacing Barker.
OhioWxMan
9
October 31st, 2006 at 6:47 pm

Amazed and speechless… I beleive if CBS ever decided to go back to the primetime specials that Bob would at least host those after he leaves full time. I like Scott’s idea of Marc Summers or Todd Newton.

And if CBS is smart, they will make this go out with a huge bang…
TheKid965
10
October 31st, 2006 at 7:10 pm

To everyone who has suggested a big, bombastic finale, I cannot help but be reminded of something that Johnny Carson said on his own last show.

If you don’t remember, Johnny claimed that NBC had come to him with the idea of doing his last Tonight Show as a big, splashy, two-hour send-off that would be a star-studded tribute to no less than a television legend. Johnny personally vetoed the idea, however, preferring a relatively low-key (but much-hyped anyway) last day on the job, in his normal timeslot, that was more or less a scrapbook retrospective of the last 30 years of Tonight, ending with him making a dignified and graceful exit from not only television, but the public eye altogether (as you recall, Johnny spent the last years of his life in relative seclusion, and aside from one guest role on The Simpsons and a surprise walk-on cameo on David Letterman’s CBS show was almost literally never seen again on the medium that had made him a household name).

It wouldn’t surprise me in the least if Bob’s final Price was a regular show. Not because Fremantle or CBS “lack respect” for the man and his accomplishment, but because that’s just Bob’s style, I think. While I’m sure CBS will promote the living out of Bob’s retirement - they’re already doing at least one special this year, presumably a MDS, commemorating Bob’s half-century in television - Bob just strikes me as someone who’ll approach his last day on the job similarly to how Johnny Carson approached his own - as just another show, since there could be no more fitting tribute than that.

But that’s my probably just my warped imagination at work…
JL
11
November 1st, 2006 at 12:10 am

Fix your hyperlink, kid.
KP
12
November 1st, 2006 at 4:28 am

Maybe it’ll be presented and handled just like any other show, but with a couple of surprises. Perhaps reviving a retired pricing game for one day only - that might be a neat bit of nostalgia.

One thing’s for sure, he’s going on his terms, and I think that’s absolutely great - compare and contrast with Richard Whiteley on Countdown, the nearest such institution we had in UK television; while he was nowhere near as old as Barker, he became ill soon after one series was completed in the first half of last year and died before the subsequent series was due to start filming; original plans for guest hosts were scrapped and a series that was planned to start in the summer was postponed for several months. With that in mind, I’m glad Barker is going in the manner of his choosing.
Antonio Gray
13
November 1st, 2006 at 9:49 am

Marc Summers had been my pick for the longest for Bob Barker replacement…
Robert P
14
November 1st, 2006 at 9:52 am

Wow, I’m still just lettng this set in, since I’ve watched him since I was old enough to walk. I know he’ll continue to do well in the future with his various animal-rights campaigns. All I do have to say is that he’s definately has earned his retirement, and his legacy. You just don’t see that much in television personalities at all.
Howard
15
November 1st, 2006 at 10:51 am

It’s hard to believe after all these years that Bob is going to retire. There really won’t be anybody like Bob. Whoever takes his place will have some really big shows to fill. Sure hope that The Price is RIght continues. I really miss all the game shows that used to be on T.V. now we have these dumb talk shows that are a big joke.
Bob
16
November 1st, 2006 at 1:25 pm

The time has come for him to retire. I have watched TPIR since it premiered on Labor Day 1972. Bob has done a great job from day one. However for the past five years or so, watching some of the shows has been painful. As Bob stated this is a very physically demanding show. You can see the fear in Bobs eyes when an over-excited contestant comes his way. I have feared for his life on one or more occasions. Half the run of the show was watching Bob interact woth the excited contestant. Now when they approach him on stage, he puts his hand out or backs up. No will will ever be able to fill his shows. He is a class act. I think Todd Newton is the only cantidate who could replace Bob. He is high energy, and can handle that kind of audience. He been in training for a couple of years doing TPIS stage shows. I for one intend to pay my respects to the master by heading to Hollywood in may to see the Price Is Right In person. Here is my wish for the final week of shows or the last show:Let Bob bring the new host on at the end of the show to pass the torch. My biggerst wish is that Bob comes through the big doors to the contestant area.Then he talks with the audience, the turns back to the big doors. Behind door #1 is Janice Pennington! Behind door #2 is Dian Parkenson. And finally behind door #3 is the lovely Holly Hallstrom!. I know that wont happen due to the bad blood between them, but I would hope the would get Janice to return for the last day/week. I always though she would have retired from the show when Bob did. Bob Barker: Thank you for 50 great years on television!
Austin
17
November 1st, 2006 at 9:52 pm

I will be 36 this month and all I ever remember being on CBS at 11am is Bob Barker and The Price is Right. Nothing will ever be the same again. Funny how life just seems to go by in the blink of an eye. Thank you Bob for so many years of great entertainment. You brought your own style of class to the show that will never be matched by anyone. I believe (an also think that you believe) the show must go on. I think no one wants to see the price is right cancelled after you leave, so here is to hoping the guy or gal that will be walking in your foot steps is given a chance and not judged to harshly by everyone.
John Glenn
18
November 1st, 2006 at 10:47 pm

Dear Producer Roger Dobkowitz

Bob Barker Is Going To Retired From The Price Is Right In The Last 35 Years
Of 50 Greatest On Television He’s Going To Have A 35th Anniversary Prime Time Special
On CBS Sunday December 31st 2006 Because On Thursday June 7th 2007 To Replaced
Bob Barker Is Going To Be A New Host Of The Price Is Right I Think Todd Newton
Marc Summers Jim Perry Bob Eubanks Chuck Woolery Peter Marshall On Monday
September 17th 2007 At 11:00 Am Eastern Time On CBS Right Now He Is Retired
Age 83 Right Now Would You Please Bring Them Classic The Price Is Right About 6500
Episodes 3 Announcers Is Johnny Olson Rod Roddy & Rich Fields & The Rest Of The
Hosts Is Bill Cullen Bob Barker Dennis James Tom Kennedy & Doug Davidson &
The Original Models Are You Bring Back The Price Is Right Classic Old Episodes
On GSN The Network For Games For Game Show Network Next Year In The Fall If
Not Well Wait About For The Next 20 Years In 2026

Sincerely
John Glenn
xenadrine efx
19
November 4th, 2006 at 4:54 pm

xenadrine efx xenadrine efx
John Glenn
20
February 18th, 2007 at 9:38 pm

Will You Bring Back Classic Old Episodes Of The Price Is Right Bob Barker On GSN I
Haven’t Seen The Price Is Right With Bob Barker For A Long Time In 1996-2000
Bob Barker Brings The Price Is Right Back On GSN My Favorite Shows In The 1970;s 1980’s
And The 1990’s Around In June July & August 2007 Or Wait Until 2011 Or 2026