Comments on: The Day Has Come: Drew’s “Price is Right” Debuts

By: Drew

Drew — Sun, 28 Oct 2007 23:10:21 +0000

I really enjoy Drew at the driver seat. We finally get to see the interaction with the models, something the last 6.5 years have been severely lacking. And with Dismantle at the helm, I’m pleasantly surprised the changes were cosmetic. I was fully expecting them to F*** this up like they did with Bullard’s CS and Burger’s Match Game. And I fully expected them to pick a really awful host like:

Patrick (YOOOOOOOOUUUUUUU WWWWWIIIIIIIINNNNNNNN!!!!!) Wayne
Louie (Can you speak more clearly?) Anderson
Or Richard (I’M GONNA DOUBLE THE SHOWCASES!!!!) Karn.

By: Mitch Muchk

Mitch Muchk — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 16:33:18 +0000

With all this talk of announcers, why not that talented Rich Jeffries fellow. He’d be fun and his come on down would be great!!! There’s one name that should be drawn out of a hat.

By: Bryan Hayes

Bryan Hayes — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 07:15:36 +0000

I think Drew Carey is doing a fine job as a host so far; he does have this habit of talking too fast, but he does a good job of making the contestants the stars of the show. Overall the flaws are few and the show seens to be in good hands. Bob Barker’s presence will be missed but I have a feeling that the Price will go on with Drew at the steering wheel.

P.S. IMO Fremantle has mostly made up for ruining “Temptation.”

By: Intelligentfan777

Intelligentfan777 — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 22:00:27 +0000

The Member of Red Sox Nation in me must come out here.

Who wants to bet that Drew was at 33 today bumming a little about his Indians?

We love ya Drew, but………GO SOX!

By: scott

scott — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 13:24:22 +0000

drews a real boar hard to watch

By: Chris

Chris — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 21:31:00 +0000

I never ever want to see computerized scoreboards, its why most new game shows don’t succeed … but the freshening of everything else was great .. Freemantle had cut the show to the bone so bad .. bob couldn’t catch his breath having to hurry ..the plugs were even down to 2 seconds ..so long love TPIR!

By: Greg

Greg — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 11:25:13 +0000

The old fashioned scoreboards are there because of tradition. You don’t want to change everything, do you? Then, the show will lose its edge.

How about this for a closing spiel…

“This is Rich Fields speaking for The Price is Right, a Mark Goodson Television Production for FremantleMedia!”

By: David Cooper

David Cooper — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 17:39:35 +0000

The Price is Right, hosted by Drew Carey, is absolutely awesome! He is a wonderful host and what I like about him is that he’s funny and I like the way he laughs. In addition, the new set is totally cool and I like Drew’s wireless microphone. The only downside about the new Price is Right is the old-fashioned scoreboards. I prefer the computerized scoreboards, just like the ones on “Wheel of Fortune” and “Jeopardy!”. Otherwise, The Price is Right, on a scale of 1-10, gets a 9.5. I will continue watching the show for years to come. 8-D

By: Scott

Scott — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 16:47:37 +0000

Mrquiz, thanks for that inside scoop on announcers. Indeed, I was basing my judgment on classic announcers like Jay Stewart, Johnny Olson, Rod Roddy, and the like. They had a “big” style to be sure, but it always seemed to fit the context. It never seemed cheesy, always seemed who they were, not a put-on or impersonation of an announcer. Rich Fields just doesn’t sound, should I say it (and I really HATE to say it), genuine enough lately for a classic show like TPIR, especially now that Drew Carey is hosting. What is most ironic is that he actually idolized Johnny O growing up and wanted his job (and eventually got it). Sometimes I find it hard to believe that out of all those who did tryouts, Rich got the gig. Of course, Barker hand-picked him…

I know Rich Fields is beloved and respected in most circles, and I do respect him — he did a great job on Game Show Marathon two summers ago, and it’s not as if there is that much announcing work to go around these days. But it seems that something has changed — he is trying too hard, or worse, he is being put under pressure to do what the “client” — Fremantle perhaps — wants. He is different from what I had seen in the final Barker episodes and the Million Dollar Spectaculars. If that is what is going on, it is a big, big mistake. I used to shy away from TPIR because of Bob Barker, and I don’t want to do now now because of how Rich Fields is sounding.

Something has changed…am I the only one who has noticed this?

By: Greg

Greg — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 16:17:44 +0000

Rich Fields is just the messenger. He doesn’t have the relationship with Drew that Bob had with Johnny O. If Gene Wood was still alive and well, he might have announced it. Heck, why don’t we bring back Bob Hilton? He was going to do it when Olson died.

By: mrquiz

mrquiz — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 23:33:35 +0000

Now that Scott brought it up about announcer Rich Fields’ delivery, le’me say this: I’m a radio DJ by trade, and back in the days of the so-called “Golden age of Top 40,” many stations across the country had what what was referred to as “the Boss Sound.” The DJ’s on-air delivery then was usually in a fast-talking, exaggerated style some in the industry referred to as “shuck ‘n jive;” others referred to those air personalities who used that style as “pukers.”

In context, it’s all a stereotypical image/perception that those who don’t really know any better, associate with DJ’s and game-show hosts and announcers. Keep this in mind next time you see or hear a TV or radio commercial where the setting is a game show. I’ve criticized lots of radio production directors and creative people I’ve worked with over the years (the people who write and/or produce radio commercials) when they want that over-the-top style for the game show HOST, and I challenge them, “when was the last time you heard Bob Barker, Alex Trebek, or any of those guys talk like THAT?” The responmse I get would be something like, “well, THAT’S what the client wants…”

Now, getting back to Rich Fields…it’s possible that the suits at Freemental may have wanted him to “pump it up a bit.” Bad move, on many counts; not to mention mocking the memories of Johnny Olson and Rod Roddy (whose styles allowed them to pull that “IT’S A NEEWWWWWWWW CARRRRRRRRR!!!!!!” delivery without sounding like shit), even if it’s unintentional. IMHO, only Burton Richardson can get away with that style, albeit barely. Rich Fields is an adequate announcer. But, he’ll never make some of us forget Messers.Olson & Roddy.

By: Scott

Scott — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 15:30:30 +0000

This was a great early effort for Drew. The new music is freshly arranged, and if you listen carefully it sounds more orchestral / big band sound and less twinkly and synthesized. The opening music and main theme are fantastic, as are the newly-arranged bumpers. They needed some updating and this was perfect timing.

The set is fantastic, retro-cool colors, catchy yet easy on the eyes. And the graphics of amounts won are striking.

Let Drew be Drew, and he’ll not disappoint. Actually, it is Rich Fields who now sounds somewhat over-the-top-kitchy and out of place in the refreshed format. He’s okay, I guess, but I am so glad they did not go with him as host. It is probably worth it having him there for continuity’s sake. I hear he does a great warmup for the contestants (see Stan Blits’ new book).

I cringed when I heard the outro “A FREMANTLE MEDIA Production.” No more Mark Goodson…sad, sad, sad. But I can see why they did that. It’s a new team now.

By: Bill Todman's Ghost

Bill Todman's Ghost — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 15:07:46 +0000

First thing I noticed is the audience crowd is MUCH smaller — probably 50% smaller than when Bob was on. The crowd isn’t as loud obviously but they tried to do well with what they had. Audience size reminds me a bit of “Let’s Make a Deal”. Hopefully they’ll be able to ‘grow’ it somewhat because the first thing I noticed is that they knocked out a fair bit of the crowd, especially in the back. It seems a lot more intimate.

By: Ben Z.

Ben Z. — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 05:32:20 +0000

The only thing that I sort of had a problem with kind of ties in with what Tim Land said abot the “spoiling” of some of the games. I didn’t mind the “Did you drive here?” line too much, because there are so many car games. However, when the one contestant came up on stage, the first question Drew asked her was, “Let me hear your best yodel.” Immediately we knew what game she was going to play. For those not in the know, the pricing games are concealed by a screen, the giant price tag, the turntable, etc., and then revealed during the prize description. Unless that has changed, it’s kind of a suspense killer as to wondering or trying to guess what game is next. I think this is a small detail, and one I think will easily be fixed. Other that that, I think Drew did a wonderful job. It will be interesting to see how it will evolve.

By: Tim Land

Tim Land — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 01:55:37 +0000

I really liked the opening/ come on down music but I did not like the new panning camera arm over the audience. The graphic was OK. The turntable was hard to get used to at first but now I like it. Same thing for the doors. I like Drew Carey doing this show. Only thing is I did’nt like it the way he “spoiled” both car games by saying…”Did you drive here? Then maybe you can drive this home!”..The remix TPIR theme is great (Where can I get this on the internet?) as well as the showcase showdown theme.. I’m glad they kept the same prize music and kept the name “Barker’s Bargain Bar”