It's a party in the hands of host Drew Carey, even as the concept hasn't changed through the years — make the best guess on how much that new car, entertainment center or trip to Paris costs and you just may win it. On Tuesday, the game show's 8,000th episode since its CBS debut in 1972 is scheduled to air. Nearly 70,000 people have "come on down."
The game has a blue collar sensibility that the Cleveland-bred Carey reflects. That car or patio set, just the chance someone will take it home, creates a palpable excitement.
"All through my 20s I was broke," Carey said backstage before a recent taping. "I didn't start making money until I was in my 30s doing stand-up. I really don't take money for granted. I have a lot of empathy for people on the show, that's what I mean. I know what it must mean for them to win $5,000, which doesn't seem like a lot of money to give away on a game show nowadays. But it's a lot of money."
As he approaches his seventh year on "The Price Is Right," Carey has made the show his own. That wasn't always the case, since he had the daunting task of replacing 35-year host Bob Barker.
"At the time, nobody could conceive of the show without Bob Barker," said executive producer Mike Richards, "including me."
Richards unsuccessfully auditioned to replace Barker. A year into Carey's tenure, he was brought in as producer with a mandate: change it from Carey doing Barker's show to Carey doing Carey's show.
Carey wasn't trying to imitate. But it was a little like moving into someone else's house, with all the furniture left behind. Under Richards' direction, the set and prizes gradually changed. While Barker looked natural offering a grandfather's clock as a prize, it seemed silly for Carey. Similarly, it's hard to imagine Barker mustering enthusiasm for a smartphone or iPod. The show now uses video to introduce a trip instead of static set pieces. Carey also seems comfortable with contestants who are excessive in their enthusiasm. Loud music keeps the energy up during breaks, when Carey isn't telling jokes or talking to audience members.
"Everyone was worried when Bob left," Carey said. "A lot of people on the show thought they were going to lose their jobs and the show was going to be off the air. They had trouble finding a host. He was 'The Price Is Right.'
"What they found out, I think, was that 'The Price Is Right' is bigger than whoever is hosting the show. The host is an important part of the show, don't get that mistaken," he said, laughing. "But you've got a whole group of people who put together the show."
Carey, who is 55, isn't under the impression he has a lifetime appointment.
"I have to constantly think of new things to keep the show fresh," he said. "I have to constantly be witty and funny with the audience. I have to consistently be on. ... What I have to do is I have to make sure the way I do the job is they can't imagine anybody else coming in here and doing it better — not without having a couple of years to do better."
