This blog is completely random. Have you seen the “new” Price is Right? Maybe I should call it the “Pandemic” Price is Right? I have seen the show many times, but I’ve never considered myself a true fan. Having Drew Carey as host when Bob Barker retired in 2007 was a great idea. — Adding male “models” instead of only ladies was a nod at being politically correct. But the pandemic version of the show is just bonkers.
There is no live, studio audience. When the announcer yells,”COME ON DOWN!” this one person emerges from back stage and has plenty of room to jump up and down. No high-fives. No hugging. My question is: with no audience, where is the applause coming from? — Canned. It’s prerecorded and dubbed in. Soundtrack. Sound effects.
I can deal with canned tomatoes. We have canned corn in the pantry. I leave the creamed corn on the shelf at the store. Canned ham is good. Canned Spam (bacon) is awesome! I haven’t seen my favorite one in over a year. This can is being held in reserve. I may save it for my birthday this year. (grin) — But a canned audience? Seriously? It’s time to get back to normal.
Did you know the Price is Right has been around since 1956? It was, of course, black and white. Bill Cullen, pictured here, was hosting with a couple of other guys. Merv Griffin did twelve episodes in 1959. Fred Gwynne (Herman Munster) was a host for one episode in 1963. Betty White and Jack Palance made a brief hosting appearance in 1965. Bob Barker really became synonymous with the show during his tenure from 1972 until 2007.
Drew Carey in a beard — now that is something else. He reminds me of a young Grizzly Adams. Not a bad thing, necessarily. Dan Haggerty was a handsome fellow. Some men can sport a beard. Some men NEED a beard. Drew doesn’t need the beard, he needs a close encounter with a razor. My personal favorite is Harry’s Razor.
As the show progresses, each contestant used to look to the audience and the camera would show all those people, most wearing matching t-shirts, yelling advice and holding up their fingers to show which number to choose, based on the game.
If memory serves, the host would hand the contestant seven, one-dollar bills in the Lucky Seven Game. The goal was to win a new car. Now, Drew keeps the money and subtracts a bill for every number that is off. After all, money is dirty and can’t be sanitized.
When a person wins their showcase, none of their family or friends can run up on stage to hug the winner while everyone jumps up and down, because they weren’t allowed to be there! The winner just needs to smile for the camera because all those “models” keep their distance. The masks are kept back stage. The contestants keep their masks on until their name is called. Have you thought that if only a hand-full of people are backstage; then….aren’t ALL of them going to be called? I do miss that studio audience all waiting to see if THEIR name is going to be called—–and the poor camera guy trying to find the one person when so many are standing up and jumping and just all excited.
It’s just a game show. I realize that. But it’s just one more thing we lost in 2020. We will never know all we lost in the Year of the Pandemic. The funerals we couldn’t have. The women giving birth alone with only medical staff on hand.
I saw a meme that captured MY perspective: “Some folks think the most-washed body part in 2020 was the hands. I disagree. It was the brain.”
Until next time, I’m going back to normal. I think I need a hug.
You nailed it, they are still trying to “brain” wash us and it’s not working for me!!
God clearly tells us in this time right will be wrong and wrong will be right.
Praying the eyes of mankind will be open!!
Amen! Let’s keep in touch.
The photos were fine before the blog went live; now the photos are missing….I have no idea why.