Bob Barker hosted The Price Is Right for 35 years. He was difficult to replace, despite many disturbing allegations regarding his backstage behavior. Whose Line Is It Anyway? comedian Drew Carey took over as host in 2007. A former staffer called for a new host, saying Drew “adds little” to the game show. Keep reading for all the details.
Price Is Right Staffer Calls Out Changes
Price Is Right kicked off its 55th season in September. Viewers at home may have noticed several surprising changes. The number of models during the show was reduced. Furthermore, the audience size decreased significantly due to budget constraints.
Roger Dobkowitz, 81, worked as producer on the game show for over 30 years. He blasted the changes in a shocking social media rant. “The drastic changes they have made this season reeks of a show desperately trying to stay on at any cost. We all know that TV revenue is down and the show is expensive to do.” He added that the “cost cutting” is “quite obvious in Season 55.
While he places some of the blame on CBS, he saved most of his vitriol for Drew Carey. “There is an elephant in the room that no one acknowledges. It is time to cut Drew Carey loose,” the former producer wrote.
“His reported $10 Million a year salary would go quite far in remaking the show,” Roger Dobkowitz wrote. He suggested that the money could be better spent on another model, better prizes, and more to make the game show better.
Drew Carey ‘Adds Little,’ Calls For Firing
The former producer expected pushback for suggesting The Price Is Right replace Drew Carey. But he doubled down. “I understand many people like Drew’s presence on the show…but it is obvious he ADDS very little to the show…he ushers contestants to their game, recites the rules quickly, and always asks if they want to say hello to anyone at home,” he wrote.
Roger Dobkowitz said that the show survived Bob Barker’s departure and could survive Drew Carey’s firing. “A new host would gladly work for the fraction of what Drew Carey is being paid. And most likely, we would get someone that actually ADDS to the entertainment of the show.”
Drew Carey has been hosting The Price Is Right for nearly 20 years. He hasn’t mentioned any plans to retire anytime soon. In fact, he just got a new gig at CBS. He’s hosting the network’s upcoming Undercover Boss revival. Share your thoughts on the game show’s former producer calling for Drew Carey’s firing.
Jennifer Havener grew up in a small town in Upstate New York. She earned her B.A in Writing & Literature from Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado. She always knew watching reality TV shows and soap operas, particularly ‘Days of Our Lives’, would come in handy someday. When she’s not writing, she’s playing with her dogs, Lola and Ruger