New “Price is Right” Host Auditions
Thanks to a good friend of Buzzer for IMing us this information as well as posting it to the Game Show Forum. We have more “The Price is Right” hosting auditions. Right now we have John O’Hurley, Todd Newton, and Doug Davidson. John O’Hurley currently hosts “Family Feud”, which only tapes on weekends. Todd Newton is doing whatever work he can find. Doug Davidson hosted the short-lived syndicated edition of “The Price is Right”.
Sorry, but I have to throw in my opinion. I’ve said it once, I’ll say it again: hiring Todd Newton to host “The Price is Right” is a bad bad bad idea. He was OK on Hollywood Showdown, but we saw what happens when he hosts a fast-paced, high-energy, silly game like “Whammy!”. Quite frankly, at least to me, he was not very good. He screams for the most needless stuff, and I actually enjoyed just listening to the players banter than Todd. Again, I really liked Todd on “Hollywood Showdown”. If you haven’t seen Doug Davidson’s “Price is Right”, run to ClassicGameShows.com to see a clip of him. He really shocked me. He’s a lot better than I expected. This wouldn’t be a horrible idea (nor would it be to take that set over. I thought it was an extremely nice set). However, my pick from the start still remains John O’Hurley. He has mastered “Family Feud” better than the other two in a matter of weeks (yes, he’s knocked off jumping in fear over the repeat answer buzzer”. He has a lot of experience hosting and acting. Out of anyone listed, he seems like one of the few that can actually handle the job. So, my ranking right now stands at…
1- John O’Hurley
2- Doug Davidson
3- Todd Newton
4- David Price
How do you all feel?
You must be kidding. Marc Summers hasn’t been good on a game show since 1989. To even toss around his name is at the very best laughable, at the very worst an atrocity. His energy level on Wintuition and History IQ was so bad that insurance agents looked at him and said “That dude is boring”!
Todd Newton and Bil Dwyer are my top two choices. O’ Hurley has an obnoxious voice and I would have to watch Davidson before I made a decision one way or the other.
I never even considered Bill Dwyer! I thought he was great on I’ve Got A Secret. He would be an interesting wild card choice. I would like to see him get the chance to audition. I feel his lack of experience hosting game shows would hurt his chances however. What does everyone think?
Will Todd Newton replace Bob Barker as the next host of TPiR? The answer is “No.”
Bil Bwyer actually did a great show for Jonathan Goodson a while back called Dirty Rotten Cheater.
“Dirty Rotten Cheater” was a pretty good show, although obviously it was on Pax which kills any show, and the rules were a bit too complicated for a network TV show. The concept of trying to figure out who is “cheating” though was a solid show and Dwyer was a good host.
For Bob who said Dwyer lacks game show experience, I looked at IMDB to recall all the shows he’s hosted:
I’ve Got A Secret, Extreme Dodgeball, Dirty Rotten Cheater, BattleBots, Ultimate Fan League.
Dodgeball and Bots were maybe more like “sports” hosting than “Game Show” hosting (very little interaction with contestants), but, I count it anyway.
That’s not really a “lack” of hosting experience. Sidebar: Him being a contestant on “Last Comic Standing” was also a reason why I started to dislike that show, and I kind of disliked the show after season one, after I realized that 4 of the 5 final contestants had already been on Comedy Central at some point (maybe not their “own” special, but, on the “Friday Night Standup” show), and a few maybe even friends/collegues of the host (Jay Mohr) coming into the show. Even though I didn’t think Dat Phan was really funny, he was the only one that I thought represented what the show should be (finding truely “unknown” talent that hasn’t been on TV anywhere before). Dwyer being on season 3, despite having over 100 TV episodes to his credit, was another example of this, (but, thats how the people who run that show decided the show should be, I don’t blame Dwyer for trying out and getting on, I just think it should be trying to find truely “unknown” talent. Unless I am mistaken, to get on “AI” you can’t have any previous national TV experience, correct?).
OK, off the sidebar rant now. Just wanted to say, I think Dwyer’s personality that has come across on previous hosting stints might work on Price, and, him getting at least an audition wouldn’t be a bad idea.
Oh come on folks! Everyone knows that the only man for the job is Joe Pasquale!!!
I think Todd Newton should be the person to host the Price is Right. I like his energy and it really seems like he wants the contestents to win. When he was hosting Hollywood Showdown and Whammy it really looked like he’s was enjoying himself with the contestants and I believe by allowing him to host a Game Show like Price is Right would give him more connection with the contestants.
I think Richard Karn (From Home Improvement and Family Feud) would be great to replace Bob Barker.
Now that I think about it I am truly undecided about TPiR even Staying on the air. The end of it would be an official end to an era that some might say has already been dead for about 15 years. The Price is Right is the last NETWORK Daytime Game Show. Besides that it has become an American Institution. This being said, a dropoff in my opinion in ratings will be expected no matter who is the host. Whomever gets the job will be compared to Bob Barker.
However, this doesn’t mean that with the right host the show can’t thrive.
First of all, no matter who you put into the role, the show probably has another 4-5 years in it anyway before they will retire it after 40-some years. The show has had the same look, with small color scheme changes, for 35 years. Expect it change when the new host, whoever it might be, takes over.
Doug Davidson was handed a dud as his first game show outing. Taking this into account, he did a great job turning nothing into something. The 1994 half-hour nighttime show format made him rush through everything. The hour-long daytime should let him breathe.
John O’Hurley’s involvement with Family Feud will kill his chances at Price. Fremantle won’t want to have the same host on two different shows that may compete with each other in certain markets. Plus, the atmosphere of the two shows are completely different. Unless Price is brought down to Feud design, don’t expect O’Hurley to walk through Door 2 any time soon.
Todd Newton is not broadcast network material, observe his prize delivery segments on Gameshow Marathon. He is an actor, pure and simple. I’ve seen Hollywood Showdown and Whammy and he does not impart any personality on either show.
I don’t care if a game show host was a radio DJ at one point. Radio has always been impersonal. Nowadays, a game show host should be molded out of a mobile DJ or improvisational comedian. These two groups have the most experience in audience interaction. Both have to listen to their audience (contestant) and be able to play off them if they do something stupid.
Ray Combs was the perfect host of Family Feud. Had he not committed suicide, I would have put my vote in for him.
There is one more guy, he’s from the EAst Coast and he is AWESOME! He has submitted his demo reel to CBS and he looks like Ryan Seacrest! He knows the games backwards and forwards and he’s great with audience interaction. So vote for James Polli gang!
I am sad to see the negative opinions about Todd. I think it is hard for you to come to such a conclusion without seeing him host The Price is RIght Live in Las Vegas…which he has been doing for over a year now. So that says something in itself. I have seen the show numerous times there with different hosts….Doug Davidson being one of them (he was embarrassing), and no one has impressed me more than Todd. I think the entire crowd also agrees when they see him in the show. He is the perfect candidate to take over the TPIR. He gets so many compilments after the show and it is obvious that he really enjoys doing this. ALso, Freemantle must see something in him if he has been doing the live version for so long now. I see nothing “fake” about him..he is witty, funny, personable, and flows through the show quite nicely on a day to day to basis. My vote is definately for Todd and I suggest you see the show in Las Vegas if you think otherwise.
Pretty easy for him to toss out an uneducated opinion on a “news” website. Read all the other posts, 99 percent have his opinion in them. There’s a difference between ‘reporter’ and ‘columnist’.
Hello everyone. I am with the majority here and saying that the replacement that CBS and FREMANTLEMEDIA has up for bids is just not going to cut the show’s longitivity. I am very ashamed of CBS for this.
You guys are going to be shocked to hear this. I have contacted CBS and FREMANTLEMEDIA about an idea. I would love to audition for the show. I know I could carry on the legacy of Bob Barker and carry on the flames that he laid for the show. I DO NOT WANT THE PRICE IS RIGHT KILLED OFF NOR DO I WANT TO SEE THIS SHOW END. The Price is Right is an Americana Icon in Television History. I thought of an idea, of a reality show for CBS to have a few audition in major markets in the US, Los Angeles, New York, Dallas, Washington DC, have some TPIR FANS audition and see how well they could do the job. Have Bob Barker, Roger Dobkowitz, and a couple executive be the judges in determining who goes on the next round which would be filmed at Studio 33, Bob Barker Studios at CBS Television City. Have an audience and have America Vote for who they believe should be the Next Host of The Price is Right. THE FANS ARE THE BEST ROUTE TO GO IN FINDING A HOST. It certainly isn’t going to be those four fools. I can’t stand Doug Davidson, he killed TPIR with that stupid new format. I mean come on a range finder for the Showcase.
What do you think of America chosing who should be the Host out of Fans of TPIR? Good or Stupid idea. I know the majority would say stupid.
Bruce Foresyth…
He Should Be In The Running, He was a better Price host in the UK.
Marc Summers…
People know him from Double Dare, might as well make him double known for Price is Right.
Rich Fields…
He knows how the show runs, plus it could give Burton Richardson a comeback as Announcer.
Mario Lopez…
LOL Saved By The Bell was over, how long ago?
Todd Newton…
He is out of the following with “Game Show Personality”, the only diffrence is, Game Show Hosts don’t need to have “The Wink Personality” to be a Host. Whammy! was a good start for him.
Doug Davidson…
He reminded me too much of Greg Lee from Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego, maybe Greg should host Price if Doug is in the running.
John O’Hurley…
John O’Hurley is the Vernon Kay of America, he should have hosted Game Show Marathon, but his hosting abilities on Family Feud are overshadowed by Dawson, Combs and Karn.
Rosie O’Donnel…
In the words of “The Trumpster”: “She is a big loser, she will be a loser, and always be a loser”. Never will she Host.
Besides Bruce Forsyth I have 3 Other GOOD Choices…
a-Al Roker.
He has the personality of a game show host, so he could host the show perfectly
b-Jimmy Pardo
Commedian, And Great Entertainer, Love His Personality
c-Me
Sorry. That Slipped Out.
I got told off because I suggested that Bruce Forsyth should host “Show Me the Money”.
Rich Fields and Burton Richardson would be a hell of a team. I am with that.
ROSIE O’DONNELL ROTFLMAO. Who the hell want to see that fat ass host TPIR. Might as well kill that show off first before giving her the reign. I can’t stand her.
Ricki Lake is a joke
Marc Summers: He has an annoying voice to me
MARIO LOPEZ ? Who the hell thought of this one ought to be murdered.
Crap, I would do a hell of a better job than Slaughter here.
Al Roker ? Hmmmmmmm…….that doesn’t sound bad at all.
Hey I would do a fine job. That slipped out too. LOL.
This is going to be interesting.
I am sorry, that I interrupt you.
[...] CNN today added some more rumors that the giant confusion that is the new host of The Price is Right. Listed as frontrunners are Mark Steines, George Hamilton, and lord help us all Mario Lopez. CNN is saying that Entertainment Tonight anchor Mark Steines is getting the strongest buzz to take over Bob Barker’s role. However, George Hamilton was the new host a bit ago. And David Price was a bit ago. So can you decipher the facts from shit? I’m starting to just get confused and not care. Obviously we’re not believing any “strongest buzz” thing until CBS announces a new host. CNN also says that Todd Newton, John O’Hurley, and Mike Richards are being considered. [...]