The Price is Right: a Look at America's Favorite Game Show

The Price is Right originally aired on NBC and ABC. This initial run began way back in 1956 and was a success until it was taken off the air in 1965. In this original version of Price, four contestants took turns bidding on lavish prizes. The closest bidder (who did not go over the price of the prize) was declared the winner of that prize. At the show's end, the person who had the most correct bids on items was declared the winner and returned to the next episode of the show. In this original version of the game, there were no mini-games as there are on the show today.

The original host of The Price is Right was famous game show host Bill Cullen, who during his lifetime hosted more than twenty-three different game shows. His gaming credits include Winner Take All (which ran on CBS in 1952), The $25,000 Pyramid (Cullen was the original host of that game show as well), Blockbusters, and Joker's Wild (his last game show, it aired in the 80s). Cullen was also a regular panelist on I've Got a Secret in 1952 through 1967, and To Tell The Truth from 1969 to 1978. Unknown to many of his fans, Cullen suffered from polio. Later in his career, sets were designed so that Cullen would not have to take long walks across the stage.

CBS picked The Price is Right up in 1972, well before many of TV's biggest stars today were even born. On the CBS version, Bob Barker was the show's first (and so far, only) host. Second only to the Spanish variety show Sábado Gigante, The Price is Right is the second longest-running game show in the world.

Before appearing on Price, Barker was no stranger to game shows. He began his hosting career on Truth or Consequences in 1956 through 1974, and served as host on The Family Game during that span in 1967. He was also a regular panelist on Tattletales in 1979, and took over Richard Dawson's seat on Match Game in the 1970s. Bob Barker has had jobs in television, consecutively, for the past fifty years. At 82, he is the oldest man ever to host a game show - and has no plans to retire. In his 34 seasons at The Price is Right, Barker has won 17 Emmys.

Today, The Price is Right is practically an American tradition. You'd be hard-pressed to find a single citizen in America that hasn't seen the show at least once. And, let's be serious, who can watch Price just once? Most of us have been watching the show for our entire lives. Everyone has a favorite mini-game, and everyone who watches can't keep themselves from playing along and putting in their bids on prizes and showcases, too.

Barker has famously been an animal rights activist for decades, and in 1979 he became a vegetarian. Forgoing convention, Bob Barker famously let his trademark hair go gray during the show's tenure, which actually rocked the game show and daytime TV world. Since his decision, other game show hosts (like Alex Trebec) have followed suit and let their own gray locks hang loose without the aid of dye.

Bob Barker has often joked on Price that one year, a contestant spun the big wheel so hard that it came right out of its niche and rolled across the studio. This is just a little bit of host humor - the big wheel actually weighs 1500 pounds and trust me, it isn't going anywhere.

I am of the camp that believes the show's success is largely due to Bob Barker. Fans love him, and despite lawsuits and scandal the show marches on into infinity - or until Barker is no longer hosting. He is a game show darling, and it seems that he can do no wrong. The success of The Price is Right is probably mostly due to Barker's likability with fans - not to mention that watching the show can be a great bit of fun. No matter what happens in the future of Price, one thing is certain: Bob Barker is a man who is immortal. After so many years of The Price is Right, the American public will never, ever, forget him. The show airs daytime on CBS, and if you haven't watched lately then be sure to check it out. New mini-games are being added and retired all the time, retired games brought out of the CBS archives, and more fabulous prizes given away than you can shake a stick at.

So, what are you waiting for? Come on down and tune into The Price is Right, if only to see Bob Barker in all his glory.