Drew Carey Wants to Die On Stage, Says Bob Barker Made "Big Mistake" By Retiring + Who Should Be The Next Host If Drew Carey Is Murdered By A Contestant
Drew Carey thinks Price Is Right host Bob Barker made a mistake by retiring: 'I want to die on stage'
Entertainment Weekly - Don't expect Drew Carey to retire as host of The Price Is Right any time soon. He's not even sure why longtime host Bob Barker hung up his signature skinny microphone when he did.
"I think Bob made a mistake by retiring," Carey told Entertainment Tonight at CBS' fall schedule celebration. "I'm not gonna make that same mistake. As long as my heart is ticking and they want me to be on the show, I think I'm gonna do The Price Is Right. I just love it. I'm not going anywhere," he continued, adding that he was "made for" the job.
The legendary Barker hosted the long-running CBS game show between 1972 and 2007, explaining at the end of his tenure that he had decided to retire at age 83 — while he was still young. Carey took over the gig in October of that year. Barker died in August 2023 at the age of 99 following several years with Alzheimer's disease.
I can't say I've ever related less to a statement. As awesome as dying on stage mid-show while hosting The Price is Right would be, it's crazy for Drew Carey to say, "I think Bob made a mistake by retiring".
Bob Barker was 82 years old when he retired. He had been hosting The Price is Right for 35 years. For the last decade he was making $10M per year. Why on earth would you not retire at that point? But if Drew Carey truly loves everything about the show, and would rather host The Price Is Right than do anything else, I guess I can't blame him. He's taping only 2 episodes per day from Monday-Wednesday, and raking in an annual salary of $12M. But I would still think at a certain point he'd want to fuck off entirely and enjoy a full retirement.
I just can't relate. I work the exact job I want to work, and I'm still counting down the days until I retire. But I suppose Barstool is a little different. When I'm done with Barstool (which will be far closer to tomorrow than when I retire) I can keep writing and fuck around on Twitter to scratch that itch. Drew Carey can't fuck around and do a little bit of Price Is Right from home.
Advertisement
I can't say I've watched more than a few episodes of Drew Carey's The Price Is Right. I always Bob Barker hosting on snow days. But I'm sure it's still the same show. How different could it actually be? I know they have some new games, and more updated prizes. The price of the showcases must have skyrocketed along with inflation. They'd be crazy to get rid of any of the classics. My favorite was when they had to guess over/under the cost of household items. Or any of the games where they had to switch the numbers around to make the right price.
Anything game I could play along with at home was great. Plinko sucked. I know it's a classic, but it's all luck. The Price Is Right should be purely a game of skill.
But naturally, since Drew Carey addressed his eventual departure from The Price Is Right, albeit it won't be until he strokes out after after someone sinks a putt in the Hole-in-One game, I have to consider who the next host should be. Drew Carey could die any show. At an point next week we could be hit with breaking news that says, "65-Year Old Host of The Price Is Right, Drew Carey Murdered on Stage by Contestant".
If that's the case, which it probably won't be (but is still a real world possibility), then here are my choices for the next host
Aaron Rodgers
Advertisement
Idk if I actually would want Aaron Rodgers to host The Price Is Right. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't. But he's 100% going to end up in a role like this when he retires from football. We know his name was floated around for Jeopardy. It's going to be some sort of low-risk hosting gig where he doesn't really have to put himself out there or risk showing too much personality. I suppose he might want a platform where he can go fucking crazy with his conspiracy theories. But I think he'd rather take an easy job like the The Price Is Right. Then maybe every couple years gets himself in trouble for telling a contestant who works at NASA that he has a fake job and the moon landing never happened. I'm sure he'll have an open invite to the Joe Rogan Experience. He'll be able to get all the crazy off his chest there whenever he needs.
Vanna White
Eric McCandless. Getty Images.She just went through a whole thing with Wheel Of Fortune. There was all this hubbub where about Vanna White being underpaid. People were upset that she had been making a yearly of $3M dollars for the past 18 years. Meanwhile, Pat Sajak was making $15M dollars. The disrespect to Vanna White… smh. She's a legend of the game. She's as big a part of the show at Pat. Then when Pat Sajak announces last year that he'll be retiring from Wheel Of Fortune, everybody wanted Vanna White to step in as host. It was finally her time. But The Wheel said fuck you Vanna, were going to hire robo-host Ryan Seacrest and pay him $28M.
What better way to say fuck you to The Wheel by skipping town and taking over for Drew Carey after his gruesome on stage murder. She did end up receiving some sort of raise after Pat Sajak announced he was leaving, but I guarantee she not making Seacrest money.
Although I must say, the outrage for Vanna White was a little overblow if you ask me. As time went on and technology improved, her job got easier and easier. Look at her going to work on the very first episode.
Advertisement
The letterboard light guy is slow on the trigger. Vanna White knows the location of every letter in each word. She's physically turning every letter. Not that it's backbreaking work, but she's at least doing something physical. Also, might I say…. damn.
John Barrett. Shutterstock Images.Vanna was turning letters & snapping necks from 1981-1997. I'm not sure what her contract looked like then, but I'm assuming she received at least a few pay raises as The Wheel Of Fortune skyrocketed in popularity.
Unfortunately, ever since the board went digital, Vanna White's services were rendered useless. Her unique ability to turn the correct letter was replaced by computers. From there on out, all she needed to do is simply touch the letters. Quite frankly her job had become obsolete. The people still loved her though, so they let her hang around. But even having her touch the letters seemed a bit patronizing.
Regardless, in 2005, they still raised her annual salary to $3M. That's $3M to film 4 days per month. I'm sorry but I don't feel too bad for her. That's a pretty sweet gig. Also, as can plainly see, when Vanna White started the show she was significantly ho- … never mind I'm not gonna go there.
But still… fuck you Wheel. Vanna White is an icon. Your show made plenty of money. The least you could have done is increase her salary with inflation. Make the move Vanna. When Drew Carey goes down The Price Is Right job is yours to take.
Hologram AI Bob Barker
Advertisement
I don't think any show has done this yet, but it's only a matter of time before someone gives it a spin. I think this could work with Alex Trebek and Jeopardy as well. Hologram technology has been with us for a while. Hologram Tupac was performing at Coachella all the way back in 2012. But now, AI technology is good enough that they could program Hologram Bob Barker with all of real life Bob Barkers features and mannerisms. Upload every Price Is Right episode Bob Barker ever did into the AI's brain. The Price Is Right is a simple enough show that Hologram AI Bob Barker could pull it off.
Steve Harvey
Eric McCandless. Getty Images.I promise you I will never not mention Steve Harvey when having any discussion about, "Who should host _ game show. Any show for that matter. Steve Harvey could show up at ESPN tomorrow morning in the brightest suit you've ever seen and take over any show he pleased with ease. Steve Harvey could genuinely host The Wheel Of Fortune without speaking. He could have the audience in tears for the entire show using nothing but facial expressions.
Stavros Halkias
Advertisement
Stand-up comedian, recuring guest on Pardon My Take, host of Stavvy's World, guy who does the Ravens fan impressions, and most importantly, one of the co-hosts of the best non-Barstool* podcast of all time in Cum Town (RIP, 2016-2022). I specifically chose Stavros because he's a comedian who thrives on crowd work. His crowd work still would play well with the contestants. If The Price Is Right wants to take a dark turn, have Stav host the show and allow him free reign to roast the contestants as much as he'd like. They might have to move the show off CBS. He's a bit of a sell out too, so I actually think he might do it (Nick Mullen would never).
*non-Barstool included for legal reasons, Cum Town is my favorite podcast of all time and I suspect it singlehandedly ruined my brain in a terrible, horrible, non-fixable way.
The Cast of Inside The NBA
Byron Cohen. Getty Images.I had no idea the cast of Inside The NBA once competed in Family Feud. How could I have missed what was assuredly the greatest half hour of television in the history of screen? Shaquille O'Neal, Charles Barkley, and Steve Harvey all on one stage? I'd be in stitches.
Now that Inside The NBA could be without a home if the NBA moves to NBC. I know everybody would prefer to see them talk ball, but on the off-chance NBC is brain dead enough to not empty their pockets and get Inside The NBA over to their network by any means necessary, the boys will need to be together somewhere. Why not The Price Is Right? I have no clue how the show would work with 4 people hosting. It doesn't matter. If you put Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, Shaquille O'neal, and Charles Barkey in a room together and turn on a camera, they're gonna make magic. I don't even care if they play Wheel Of Fortune. Shaq and Charles could just insult each other for an hour for all I care. They could be the contestants if they wanted. Doesn't matter. If The Price Is Right is smart, they take their show that's been successfully running with the same format for 68 years, blow the whole thing up, and turn it into whatever the hell those 4 guys want it to be
Those are 6 options. Don't get me wrong though. I'm fully cheering for Drew Carey to live to be 120 years old. A senile Drew Carey in hooked up to an oxygen mask who slowly gets more an more racist as time goes on would be fascinating daytime television. Cheers to a long life Drew. I think you got another 50 years in you.