http://www.radaronline.com/features/2007/06/bob_barker_the_price_is_right_dian_parkinson_1.php

Thanks for posting the link. Very interesting article.

That article although some things are factual is way off base in my opinion. The one fact that is totally 100% wrong is the fact about his contract situation. It is true that he signed a new 5 year deal in 2006, but what was left out was a very important fact, that in that contract he had a " yearly out" that would enable him to get out of his deal as long as he let CBS & fremantle know of his intentions by December 31st of that particular year. That is the real story when it comes to that. CBS & Fremantle media as far as I Know had nothing to do with Bobs decision to retire. I have had the wonderful oppurtunity on numerous occassions to visit the show thanks to some friends that I have & in all my time there which dates back to 1999, I always left with the same feeling after visits. That feeling Was Bob is a very nice guy but a very tough boss. When I was present for a taping in 2001 after the show I had the oppurtunity to watch a new game that was going to debut the next day get rehearsed. The staff on the stage at the moment were kind of having a good time, laughing & what not & then Bob appeared from the backstage area to rehearse the game & all the laughter stopped & it was all business. Bob is very well respected in my opinion based on my visits to the show over the last 8 years. That is just one persons view based on events that I saw on various visits. I am not there everyday to see the happenings on the set. There are people out there that Im sure will tell you a totally different story but that is my opinion.

^^^I appreciate your thoughts about the story and sharing your experience being on the set.

Even with an "out" clause, why did Barker suddenly decide when he did to retire? Why isn't anyone questioning that, especially when he's indicated his interest in staying? And why hasn't CBS or Fremantle jumped at the chance to keep him on in light of his offer, and especially with his primetime specials doing so well? Why haven't they publicly responded to his offer and shown serious indication of interest in taking him up on it?

Just because Barker reportedly had an "out" clause in his contract doesn't mean that other circumstances couldn't have factored into his exit.

Very cool that you've been so close to the set, but, I respectfully ask, why would CBS or Fremantle tell you about their private business dealings? Did you know Debbie Curling was planning a lawsuit, or that she complained to CBS about anything to do with Price?

That's cool that Bob seemed well-respected by the current staff. I wonder why the laughter stopped, though, when he showed up. I've had several jobs where the boss jumps right in and laughs away, then gets serious. Why can't both happen while a boss is in the room?

Thanks again for your comments.

^^^I appreciate your thoughts about the story and sharing your experience being on the set.

Even with an "out" clause, why did Barker suddenly decide when he did to retire? Why isn't anyone questioning that, especially when he's indicated his interest in staying? And why hasn't CBS or Fremantle jumped at the chance to keep him on in light of his offer, and especially with his primetime specials doing so well? Why haven't they publicly responded to his offer and shown serious indication of interest in taking him up on it?

Just because Barker reportedly had an "out" clause in his contract doesn't mean that other circumstances couldn't have factored into his exit.

Very cool that you've been so close to the set, but, I respectfully ask, why would CBS or Fremantle tell you about their private business dealings? Did you know Debbie Curling was planning a lawsuit, or that she complained to CBS about anything to do with Price?

That's cool that Bob seemed well-respected by the current staff. I wonder why the laughter stopped, though, when he showed up. I've had several jobs where the boss jumps right in and laughs away, then gets serious. Why can't both happen while a boss is in the room?

Thanks again for your comments.


Chris I myself am not a " friend " of the show in terms of I am close enough to the show to get the secret to end all secrets. I happen to know someone who is pretty high up in the foodchain out there & this person keeps me informed about certain things, but they are not going to tell me about lawsuits and all that. I am sure you have your sources Chris & have probably done far more work on it like any good journalist would & there are always two sides to every story. My post regarding this is just based on my experiences & my opinons when I was out in LA.

I just feel that Bob was very well respected by the crew but there was definitly an all business approach when Bob was around. You can take & do with that what you will.

As far as CBS or Fremantle not jumping at Bobs Offer, your guess is as good as mine! I read somewhere that they were " pleased with Bobs offer" They have been looking for Bobs successor for a number of years now & still can't find the right person!!!! LOL

Good luck with your project

That article although some things are factual is way off base in my opinion. The one fact that is totally 100% wrong is the fact about his contract situation. It is true that he signed a new 5 year deal in 2006, but what was left out was a very important fact, that in that contract he had a " yearly out" that would enable him to get out of his deal as long as he let CBS & fremantle know of his intentions by December 31st of that particular year. That is the real story when it comes to that. CBS & Fremantle media as far as I Know had nothing to do with Bobs decision to retire. I have had the wonderful oppurtunity on numerous occassions to visit the show thanks to some friends that I have & in all my time there which dates back to 1999, I always left with the same feeling after visits. That feeling Was Bob is a very nice guy but a very tough boss. When I was present for a taping in 2001 after the show I had the oppurtunity to watch a new game that was going to debut the next day get rehearsed. The staff on the stage at the moment were kind of having a good time, laughing & what not & then Bob appeared from the backstage area to rehearse the game & all the laughter stopped & it was all business. Bob is very well respected in my opinion based on my visits to the show over the last 8 years. That is just one persons view based on events that I saw on various visits. I am not there everyday to see the happenings on the set. There are people out there that Im sure will tell you a totally different story but that is my opinion.

Thanks for posting your comment. I don't know any "sources" like some people on this message board but I always thought Bob Barker's character was just the way you describe it so it's great to read your story. :)

It's nice to hear that Bob was polite and came off as respected by his current staff. It's too bad Roger, who sings his praises, refuses to interview for my book. It'd be great to get his and Bob's perspectives.

Bob was one of my idols when I was a kid. I got to meet him when I was 10 years old--my aunt and uncle lived across the street from him--and I was so impressed by his kindness in that moment. Imagine how surprised I've been to hear so many who've worked with him and known him for so long describe a very different person than the Bob I "knew."

Few celebs in reality are much, if anything, like their on-screen persona. One who was, though: John Ritter. Seemingly everyone who worked with that man loved him and said he was a kind, giving soul. And he opened his heart to me in interviewing for my 3's Co book. In doing so, he opened doors to many others, most of whom sang his praises, and a few of them--namely, his female co-stars--who did not. But John understood that, despite his best efforts, nobody is liked by everyone, and he welcomed all sides of the story in my book--and he wanted Joyce to talk, even though he knew she'd have painful memories of him not telling her about the spin-off that cost her her job. And he wanted Suzanne to talk, even though her actions nearly cost him and 60 other cast and crew members their jobs in 1980-81.

But where was Bob's nod to Janice Pennington in his farewell specials? (Or Anitra, Holly, Dian, Kathleen, Nikki, Gena Lee, Chantel, etc., for that matter.) Janice never got to say goodbye to viewers, and even though she supported Bob in the Dian Parkinson lawsuit and said nice things about him in his 1999 Biography show, he still called her "disgusting" to USA Today. Wow. Even at his justifiably angriest at Suzanne Somers, John never called her disgusting, nor did he act like she wasn't a part of the show's success.

John gave throughout his life to the United Cerebral Palsey Foundation, Feed the Children and numerous other charities--and he never sought PR for his generosity. I know Bob has given millions to animals, and that is great, but does anyone know anything he's done to help a fellow human? I'd love to hear examples, because sadly I haven't heard many in my years of research. And I wish the opposite were true, because he seemed like a generous guy when I met him in the early '80s.