As of 5:15 Pacific time, July 3rd, 2008, a treasured piece of Americana took a bullet to the head.
Most viewers don't know this yet. but that was the time, "The Price Is Right" wrapped the last show of its 36th season, and ended the classic show as we know it.
Don't misunderstand the message here. "TPIR" will continue into its 37th season. However, sweeping changes are in the air at Beverly and Fairfax. If what I hear is correct, the longest, continuously running, game show, and 9th longest- running entertainment show in history, is looking at the beginning of the end.
It seems, FremantleMedia, or at least Fremantle's Cecile Frot-Coutaz, known around Television City as "The Ice Queen", put forth an edict last year, that the Drew Carey edition of "Price" would have one season in its current format, and then all traces of the Bob Barker era, would be erased from the show.
First to be erased, "Price" Producer, Roger Dobkowitz, who was with the show from its premiere on CBS in 1972. Word from those behind the scenes is, that Frot-Coutaz wanted to take the show, "In a different direction". Dobkowitz got the boot, after the season's final show taped Wednesday.
The scuttlebutt is that, Fremantle, or at least Frot-Coutaz, wants to make "Price" look like Fremantle's mega hit, "American Idol." That means, a number of revisions which are yet unknown. What is virtually certain is, the look of the show will change dramatically. Gone, are the three sliding "Price" doors on stage. Gone, is contestant's row as we know it. Gone are turntables which rotated to reveal game boards and prizes. Gone is the general feel of the show which millions have come to know and love.
From what we hear, emcee Drew Carey, is not at all happy with the events of the last 72 hours, and apparently he's not the only person on the staff who isn't smiling. It seems the staffers are despondent over the firing of Dobkowitz, as well as the plans to perform elective surgery on the show.
We have also heard that Frot-Coutaz and Executive Producer Syd Vinnedge, took former host Bob Barker to lunch Thursday, to tell him the news. Evidently, Bob was furious when heard plans for the show which he built over the last three decades.
From the looks of things, Ms. Frot-Coutaz wants to put her stamp on "Price". even if that involves destroying a show that has survived 36 years, without much change. Fremantle (and its predecessors) has a long, and stellar history in renewing classic shows. Remember how well "Card Sharks" did in 2001? How about the 1998 version of "Match Game"? Let's not forget the 2006 incarnation of "I've Got A Secret", and the complete disaster that was "Temptation" aka-"The New Sale Of The Century". So far, the only classic which Fremantle has not completely botched, is "Password", now called "Million Dollar Password". (Still, "Million Dollar Password" is a show with all kinds of format problems, which will continue to show up in the coming weeks, I'm sure.)
Is an overhaul of "Price" needed? Well, the ratings DID slip 15 percent over the last year. I have to figure that's not bad considering the man who emceed the show for 35 years retired. The fact that Mr. Carey held on to 85 percent of the "Price" viewers, is testament to the fact that he's good, his style is working with most viewers, and that the show was strong enough to withstand such a replacement. Oh wait! Here's why the show must change--the demographics for "Price" don't skew strongly enough toward the 18-25 year olds Fremantle and CBS seem to crave. Funny thing is, I don't see a whole lot of black holes in the commercial breaks, in either the daytime or primetime versions of the show. That means advertisers are willing to pony up the money to run their ads in the show, regardless of the relative age of the viewing audience.
CBS had better think long and hard about what is about to happen. Jump in the Wayback Machine, and set the dial for 1974. NBC hired Lin Bolen as V.P. of daytime programming. It's widely known that Ms. Bolen thought the number-one rated NBC daytime lineup was "old" looking, and decided to shake things up. Her first step was to begin killing off "Jeopardy!" by moving the show from its solid 11:00 Central/Pacific slot, to 9:30, then to 12:30pm. This was to make room for her pet project, "Jackpot", which she considered the new breed of shows, hosted by "young studs." The move, coupled with ABC's imminent cancelation of "Password" and "Split Second", catapulted CBS into the daytime ratings lead, which the network has held for more than 30 years. By the way, "The Price Is Right" has been the number-one or number-two daytime show, for a good deal of that time.
Since it looks like nobody around Television City had any idea what was about to happen on "The Price Is Right", I have to figure the miraculous change to the show has not physically started. "Price" is on hiatus for about three weeks, and is scheduled to begin taping the "New Price Is Right" in August. Ms. Frot-Coutaz and Mr. Vinnedge had better be as good as they think they are, if they are gonna pull off the transformation in such a short period of time. My guess is, they aren't.
Mr. Dobkowitz received his death sentence quickly. Frot-Coutaz should prepare herself for the same fate, though a longer, more painful execution. She's certainly gonna feel that noose slowly tightening around her neck, since viewers don't normally react positively to changes to an American icon. "The Price Is Right" is a television institution. An institution is where Frot-Coutaz belongs if she thinks she can reinvent the wheel. "Price" served CBS well for 36 years. Frot-Coutaz may not have 36 weeks to pull off her ill-conceived plan. I wonder if she'll get lovely parting gifts.
Of course, what do I know?
This message has been edited. Last edited by: MTSRocks,
I could tolerate Drew Carey (of whom I am generally not a fan) on the show because it was still the same show. I'm sure I join millions when I say I will likely never watch it again. What is WRONG with these people?!?
Originally posted by Awardshq: Personally, I think that they should have ended the show when Bob left. Drew Carrey is awful!
100% agree with that. The show should have retired with Bob. But, even though I don't like Drew Carey, he has held onto a better than decent chunk of the Bob's audience. Why spend the money taking the show in a "New Direction" when the direction its been going in for the last 36 years has turned it into one of the longest-running and most successful television shows in history?
I think CBS is bigger fools than I've thought they were if they even think of letting this nitwit take her "new direction." Because it worked out SOOOO well for them when they let the bafoon running GUIDING LIGHT take the show in a "new direction!" 1.5 ANYONE?????
#1 daytime line-up and staples in the fabric of American television are being ruined by ego and SOMEBODY needs to step up the plate and FIX IT! Ugh...this makes me sooooo angry.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: glfan,
Posts: 1146 | Location: New York | Registered: April 29, 2003
Wow, if this happens, and apparently it will happen, this is IDIOCY. Change for the sake of change is stupid. It ruins too many shows. Some people like a bit of familiarity in their lives and their shows. Johnny Carson went 30 years with a format of monologue, skit, interviews. In this day of change for change sake, what shows would have had been radically altered? Would M*A*S*H* have adopted a super cute Korean orphan into the swamp? Would Gunsmoke have added a hot new second in command to Marshall Dillon? Would Law & Order add a pretty but vapid blonde to assist Jack McCoy? (um, wait, scratch that one).
I like the old saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it". Not "If it ain't broke, break it, and then put it back together all bajiggity"
****************************** LORELAI: You ruined my joke. RORY: Um, no, the punchline ruined your joke. (from Eight O'Clock at the Oasis) ******************************
Posts: 1095 | Location: Tuscaloosa, AL | Registered: March 19, 2002
Originally posted by Awardshq: Personally, I think that they should have ended the show when Bob left. Drew Carrey is awful!
I have not watched it since Drew took over. I refuse to give this show the time of day. I grew up watching Bob Barker and that is how it should have been remembered. TPIR is starting its 37 years and CBS should leave well enough alone. Maybe CBS should do a shake up on the evening news but not on a staple of American culture.
