Bob Barker Retires from The Price is Right

This week marks the end of a historic run as Bob Barker encourages people to have their pets spaded or neutered for the last time, as the longtime host of The Price is Right waves goodbye to a national television audience. Having been the host of the game show for over thirty-five years, the 82-year old Barker feels the time is right for both him and the game show to move on. But Bob Barker is not alone, many longtime hosts of game shows as well as other syndicated media programs are finding the time right to wave goodbye to their audiences and sail into the sunset of retirement.

But what is a show to do when part of its core appeal has been the very host who is planning to leave? Shows like Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy along with The Price is Right all have hosts who have been the cornerstone of the show the entire viewing lives of many in their audience. Bob Barker's face is as synonymous with The Price is Right as Michael Jordan is to a Nike advertisement. They just go together. The question television executives must ask themselves is if anyone can follow a Bob Barker?

With shows like The Price is Right and Jeopardy, the host is an integral part of what makes the show work. When Pat Sajak and Vanna White decide to leave Wheel of Fortune it will face a similar struggle for the same reasons. Hosts are the only continuous part of a game show. They are the only real cast that the show has. The players in a game show are extras whose job is to play the game. But it is the host whose job is to entertain and keep the show going.

With executives looking to replace Bob Barker they must resist the temptation to find another Bob Barker. There is not another Bob Barker. That is like flying to Chicago and looking for another Phil Donahue. Since he retired another one has not risen from the Windy City. So rather than find a carbon copy of the existing hosts; executives would be wise to liven up the game shows by bringing in someone who might alienate some of the viewing audience but will take the show in a different direction rather than trying to captain a ship in the same direction even though some fundamental things have changed.

A show is only as successful as the host who leads it. He is both pilot and stewardess, helping a show to set sail while at the same time making sure every passenger is comfortable. This unique talent and skill is not found in everyone. Morning talk shows have found this out over time as they are the one mainstay who fights to stay current while changing hosts on a two to three year basis. And even when one of the hosts leaves the search to find a new one becomes arduous as the show loses part of its slant because of the departure of a host.

On NBC's Today Show which went through such an event last year when Katie Couric decided to leave and become the host of the CBS Nightly News, Meredith Viera was brought in to replace her. While this was applauded it was not immediately embraced as the energy and synergy between Matt Lauer and Meredith seemed less familial than what Matt had experienced with Katie.

That sort of dynamic is what The Price is Right will feel the first time someone other than Bob Barker stands up and asks the show announcer if they have any contestants. Will they do it like Bob Barker? Will people embrace them like they embraced Bob Barker? Those answers will come. They have to. Bob Barker recorded his last episode on June 6^th with an airdate of June 15^th.

What lies ahead for The Price is Right and Jeopardy whose host Alex Trebeck has been hosting since 1984. Obviously a transition will occur. But what will really happen to The Price is Right? The truth is, no one really knows. But one thing is for certain, the new host will not be another Bob Barker.