one last time...

Bob Barker enters the stage for the last time for his final episode of "The Price Is Right" in Los Angeles on Wednesday, June 6, 2007. Bob Barker signed off on 35 years on "The Price Is Right" and 51 years in television in the same low-key, genial fashion that made him one of daytime TV's biggest stars. (AP Photo)

I want this setup for my house, back wall and all. I used to have something similar at Tanglewood, or thought I did. LOL

We're gonna miss you, Bob!

After taping last show, Barker offers to fill in as 'Price' host

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- After 35 years as host of "The Price Is Right," Bob Barker hung up his microphone for good this week. Or did he?

After taping his last show, the 83-year-old icon said Wednesday that he would happily return to the "Price" stage if a replacement host isn't found by the time the new season starts in the fall.

"They're having trouble finding someone to do the show," Barker told reporters during a post-show press conference. "And I've told members of the staff here that ... if they wanted me to do it for a few more months, I would do it.

"I don't want to walk out on CBS or the company if they're in that position because they've been too good to me."

FremantleMedia North America, which produces "The Price Is Right," did not respond to a call seeking comment Thursday.

Barker taped his last episode — his 6,586th — of the popular CBS game show Wednesday, retiring after five decades on national television. The episode is scheduled to air twice June 15: once at its usual time and again that evening.

The silver-haired host ended his record tenure by blowing kisses and working in the same low-key, genial fashion that made him one of daytime TV's biggest stars. He closed the show with his usual, "Help control the pet population, have your pets spayed or neutered. Goodbye everybody."

Once the cameras stopped rolling, he told the studio audience: "I thank you, thank you, thank you for inviting me into your home for more than 50 years. I'm truly grateful, and I hope that all of you have enjoyed your visit to `The Price Is Right.'"

Reruns of Barker-hosted shows will play throughout the summer.

A new host has yet to be named. Among those reportedly in the running are Todd Newton of the E! network, Mark Steines of "Entertainment Tonight," George Hamilton and John O'Hurley.

showcase showdown

Short entry today.

Lots of housekeeping stuff at Big Green yesterday. I passed out refund checks left and right, and they were huge. Made me feel like Bob Barker. All we need is a Plinko board!

Nothing much else of import today, but all seems to be going well this year...hope it keeps on.

10 great things about "The Price is Right"

The cast of the CBS game show 'The Price is Right' from the late '70s/early '80s era. Clockwise from top: host Bob Barker, presenters Dian Parkinson, Janice Pennington, and Holly Hallstrom. Not pictured: announcer Johnny Olson (http://www.curtalliaume.com/tpir.html)

These are in no particular order, by the way.

1. The music. Simply the coolest suite of music on a game show ever! The theme alone is killer! Even when they add new songs, they still blend into the perfect goofy '70s soundtrack that has stood the test of time. It's rumored that professional musicians used to wastch the show for the soundtrack alone! There's a great MP3 download page with a lot of the songs on the show.
2. The set. I'm not a fan of some of the latest updates, but the set has definately carved out its own place in TV history. It's one of my favorite parts of watching TPiR, unchanged in spirit since the mid-'70s. No one would dare put that combination of colors and design elements on a TV set ever again! When I was younger, I used to pretend the automatic doors at Tanglewood Mall were my 'set' and I would walk out of them by myself to get that proper Bob Barker feeling. Keep in mind Tanglewood looked a lot like the TPiR set at that time!
3. Johnny Olson. Much respect to the late, great Rod Roddy, but Johnny Olson was THE best TPiR announcer. Not only did J.O. participate in the action and help keep things lively, he gave the show its most distinctive signatures. What would daytime television be without "COME ON DOWN, YOU'RE THE NEXT CONTESTANT ON 'THE PRICE IS RIGHT!!!' " or "A NEW CAR!!!!"?
4. The classic Barker's Beauties. Though they were largely objectified, Janice, Dian, Holly, Anitra and Kathleen MADE the show. What good are fabulous prizes without the proper sexy presentation? Sue Bee Honey and Galaxy Carpet never looked hotter!
5. The pricing games. Plinko rules, but it's not as fun as Temptation, The Bump Game, Hole In One (or Two) , The Shell Game, or the game with that yodeling mountain climber!
6. The Showcase Showdown. Three words: BIG GIANT WHEEL. No lie: I learned a lot about addition and counting money as a toddler from watching people spin for a dollar on TPiR.
7. The showcases. The various iterations of the goofy podiums are pretty awesome by themselves, but the showcases rock. No one in their right minds would put a jet ski, a popcorn cart, a sewing machine, Broyhill furniture and a trip to Argentina together into a cohesive whole, but TPiR's been making it work for years. "And it can all be yours if the price is right!" I found a webpage based on "Splendido!," aka the second Furniture Showcase music, with tribute lyrics that will make you laugh your ass off.
8. The actual retail price. Along with "You've all overbid. Erase the bids please," they are some of the most unlikely catchphrases ever, but anyone who's watched the show can recognize them anywhere.
9. Bob Barker. He's definately goten more cranky, and creepy (and a little pervy) with age, but he remains the consumate host. You'd have to have a good attitude to put up with 'The Grocery Game' for over 3 decades.
10. Sue Bee honey. It's a TPiR staple. When I saw it at Kroger one time when I was six, I freaked out. Any show that can make natural sweeteners sound good to a six-year -old is doing something right!

Remember to help control the pet population. Have your pets spayed or neutered. Goodbye everybody!

come on down!

Bob Barker -- proof positive that 80 is the new 70 -- in fact celebrated his 81st birthday last month. And he's just agreed to do season 34 of "The Price is Right." Although Bob is in the fourth year of a five-year-contract with CBS, he has the option at the end of each year to call it quits. But not only is he not quitting, he's also agreed to host and produce three more $1 million "Price is Right" prime time specials for May sweeps.

"I have been considering hanging it up for years now," admits Barker. "My brother, who is younger than I am, is retired and he would like someone to play with. But then I say, ?Well, I'll do another year. I do have fun. If I didn't, I wouldn't be here."

Barker reports that he's in talks with three different Las Vegas hotels for possible shooting of the "Price is Right" specials.

He ascribes his vitality to "exercise and nutrition. Particularly as you get older, they're terribly important. I'm a vegetarian and I work out six days a week" Maybe he's also helped by his own sort of energizer bunnies to keep going and going.

Long-time animal advocate Barker is sharing his home nowadays with a pair of (neutered) rabbits -- that's Mr. Rabbit and Honey Bunny to friends. His housekeeper found one of the critters out on his lawn one day, and after attempts to locate the owner failed, he kept it and brought in a companion for it. Now the pair has their own room, he says, and they rush to greet him like pups when he arrives home at the end of the day.