MAY 15 2007
AMERICANWAY 97
Maybewe know the answer to this, but it’s a standard exit question:Why
now?
InDecember, I became83 years old, and Iwant to retirewhile I’m still
young.
Havingdone
ThePrice Is Right
for,well, forever, are you even equipped to
doanything else?
Perhaps I’mmissing something, but I thought that after you
retire, you don’t have to do anything. However, I do have a plan. I’mgoing into
bodybuilding. And eventually, I’ll become governor of the state of California.
Actually, after
HappyGilmore
, I thought I’dgo directly into amovie upon the
completion of
ThePrice Is Right
. Theywere going tomake
HappyGilmore 2
. But
AdamSandler’s doctor has saidAdam can’t take another beating like I gave him.
What is it about
ThePrice Is Right
that has kept it around so long?Aside from
you, of course?
We’re an old-fashioned show that has fun. And everyone identi-
fieswith prices.
After so long, howdoyou still seem just as excitedas your guests?
Booze. No,
actually, …well, actually, yeah. Not until I get home, though. In truth, I reallydo
lovewhat I do. Had I not enjoyed it somuch, I probablywouldhave retireda long
time ago. And I think I’mblessedas far as genes are concerned. I feel good. I’ve
hadarthroscopic surgery onmy knee. I have a torn tendon inmy rotator cuff. I
have a tilteddisk inmyback. But I feel great. I eat properly, and I exercise. I’m
a vegetarian. I became a vegetarianout of concern for animals, but Iwasn’t a
vegetarian longbefore I realized there’s something to that. I don’t think Iwould
haveworked for thepast five years, probably, were it not formy vegetariandiet.
What convinced you that televisionwas your thing?
I’dgottenmyfirst chance
to do an audience-participation radio show. AndDorothy Jo, mywife, was at
home, and she heard that radio show. Andwhen Iwent home, she said, “That’s
what you shoulddo.” She said, “You did that better than you’ve ever done any-
thing else.” Now, she didn’t say Iwas good. Just that Iwas better than I’d ever
done anything else. And I set out from that day to do preciselywhat I’m still
doing.
A lot ofpeopledon’t know you grewuponan Indian reservation.
Rosebud
IndianReservation. Awonderful place. That is aSioux reservation, and I am
part Sioux. Iwas there in the early ’30s.We had a one-room schoolhouse. Every-
body knew everybody. Therewas no crime. Doorswere left unlocked. There are
casinos there now, but I haven’t received a penny. So I’mgoing up there after I
retire tofind outwhat’s going on, why I’m not beingpaid off.
What advicewould you give abudding game-showhost?
To listen. I listen to
what the person I’m talkingwith is saying. I listen towhat the contestant says.
Some people are so concerned aboutwhat they’re going to say next or how
they’re going to top this contestant that they’re not really listening.
Sowhat are your thoughts onunscriptedprogramming?
I saw
Deal or NoDeal
[NBC] just long enough to seewhat the showwas. Iwould never have predicted
its success, because it’s the same thing time after time. I didn’t think people
would like that. But I didn’t think
Survivor
[CBS]wouldwork either.
Will youmiss
ThePrice Is Right
?
Of course. But this is an appropriate time for
me to retire.We still have people lined up, sleeping out there on the sidewalk, to
see our show. Iwant to go out on top.
Is it true that game-showhostsmakebad contestants?
Iwouldbe a terrible
contestant, at least onmy show. I know nothing about prices. Sometimeswhen
I do interviews, thewriterwill show upwith a brown paper bag and say, “I’m
going to test you, Bob.” And Imake a fool ofmyself every time they do it.
Will youhelp in theprocess offinding your successor?
You haven’t been told?
When I leave, not only is
ThePrice Is Right
ending, but all television is ending.
T
h
e
T
i
m
e
I
s
R
i
g
h
t
Themanwho hasmade a pretty good living as a game-show host is stepping off the stage after half a
centuryof televisionwork. After 18 years on
Truthor Consequences
, BobBarker logged35moreon
The
Price Is Right
(CBS), the simple yet durable game show inwhich contestantswinbigprizes by guessing
their to-the-nearest-pennyprices. ThecharismaticBarkerwill retire inJune, and thismonthheaddresses
graduates atDruryUniversity inSpringfield,Missouri,whereheoncewas animble forwardonabasket-
ball scholarshipandwherehewill now receivehisfirst honorarydegree. As he faces retirement, a rather
relaxedBarker reflectson the cutegirlwho suggestedhego into television (his latewife, DorothyJo), on
the thing thatmakes a good talk-show host, and on howbeing a staunch vegetarian sustains his life.
The Price Is Right
’s Bob Barker asks you to“come on down!”one last time.
ByKen Parish Perkins
