Showcase Shutdown

Greensboro, NC – This week, legendary game show host Bob Barker decided to put down that stick-figure microphone after 50 years of hosting “The Price Is Right.” I’m not sure about you, but I don’t know anyone who disliked “The Price Is Right.” I bet that if you took a poll of all people ages 20-60 asking them their top reason to skip school; it would be to catch “The Price Is Right” at 11:00 a.m. I’m sure there’s been many a day in my past where faking sick gave me the opportunity to play some pricing games.

Going back to all of those people ages 20-60, if you asked them what their favorite pricing game would be, I’d bet again that “Plinko” would be on top. Here’s why “Plinko” is not my favorite: it’s based on luck. You can’t control where the chip will land. Additionally, the best prize that you can win is $5000. Not that you have a choice, but why not like that golf putting game? Do you ever notice that Bob always makes that putt? I think it’s rigged. Sink the longest putt and you’re going home in a new car, even if you flew to Hollywood. Don’t like the car? Sell it – I’m sure you’d make more than $5000.

My favorite part of “The Price Is Right” is the Showcase Showdown at the end. Rod Reilly (more on him in a moment) did a fantastic job reading the prizes. The top seeded “contestant” always gets the opportunity to “keep” or “pass” the first showcase. It’s a hilarious sight when the contestant is from Kansas and they can’t picture themselves driving that pontoon boat; the camera always zooms in on their puzzled and dissatisfied face.

While “The Price Is Right” is a game show, I have obtained a better grasp on pricing a wide range of objects from cars to new dining rooms to grandfather clocks. A new term was coined as a direct result of this show: “you ‘price is righted’ me.” The Red Sox did just that with the New York Mets this winter by placing a $51,100,001 bid on Dice-K Matsuzaka.

Obviously, the show will never be the same with the departure of Bob Barker. Have they even named is replacement? Will the show go on? However, it cannot be overlooked when Rod Reilly left the show a couple of years ago. I loved the ridiculous, colorful, sequenced jackets that he wore. He always moved his head when he was calling someone down. He invented the phrase, “Cooommmmmmeeee on down!!!! You’re the next contestant on The Price is Right!!” The show went on, but it lost some charisma. Now, with the retirement of ol’ Bob, what game show will step up and become the next 50 year sitcom?