Bob Barker Retires

I remember sitting on my grandfather's lap as a little girl and waiting anxiously for our favorite game show to come on. The flicker of the channels and the excitement rising, a little dose of Price is Right was sure to bring a smile on my face. Bob Barker's delightful smile and anticipated greetings to the next contestant drew millions of American viewers daily. The thought of retirement had to have crossed people's minds more than once, knowing that no one else could truly make a mark on American television the way that Bob has. Viewers across the country may have hoped to one day be able to hear their name called as the next contestant just so they could run down that isle in their brightly colored "I LOVE BOB" t-shirt, just so they could spin the big wheel at least one time. Dreams of meeting Bob and shooting a Plinko chip down the Plinko wall fascinated so many people not to mention the excitement of winning a brand new car.

Now after more than a 50-year television career, the beloved game show host, Bob Barker, has decided to call it quits. On Tuesday, October 31, 2006, Bob Barker announced his retirement of the game show Price is Right. Bob has confirmed that he will retire fully from the game show in June of 2007 after an amazing 35 years with the show. The 82-year-old host has chosen to retire because his presence on the show is physically and mentally demanding. He stated that he has enjoyed being a host on the television show so much so that he hasn't wanted to leave, even though he has been considering retirement for the past 10 years.

Barker started his television career in 1956 as the host of "Truth or Consequences." On September 4, 1972, the then dark haired man appeared on "Price" and has been the only host of the show since then. Bob has taken the luxury of being awarded 13 individual Emmys and three Emmys as one of the show's producers. Bob also received a Daytime Television Lifetime Achievement Emmy in 1999 and was placed into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in June 2004. Besides these numerous rewards and achievements the host has continue to help grow more and more viewers and fans to the CBS Network as the years progressed.

Bob plans on kicking off his retirement by relaxing and feeling what it is like to be bored for once in his life; however, he does not plan on taking a complete rest. Bob has decided to work as an animal rights activist, as well as with his own D&JT Foundation, which was founded in the memory of his late wife Dorthy Jo, and his mother Matilda.

Finding a good replacement for the show maybe a little tough for the CBS crew. They have been actually searching for the perfect candidate for two to three years now. Bob advises the new host, whoever they may be, to learn all 80 Price is Right games backwards and forwards. He also advises that learning the games have to be like riding a bicycle. If the new host wants to have fun with the audience and be relaxed in the Price is Right environment, then he has to learn those games. That is probably the best advice that Bob could give. It would be a shame for the new host to freeze up on the brightly colored stage in front of millions of daytime viewers.

Even though there hasn't been any official announcement of a new host by the CBS Network, the show must go on. For the next few months Bob's fans will get to watch their favorite game show host enjoy his final moments with the show. The next contestant maybe able to squeeze a nice washer and dryer or an exotic trip to Hawaii out of the show just one last time before Bob's departure. I do wonder if the next host will have the drive and determination that Bob has set forth every weekday for the past 35 years. It will be hard to top Mr. Bob Barker's accomplishments and vitality, however it can be done. Maybe the next host won't retire for the next 40 years or more, or maybe the host will flop before they even get a chance, God knows best.