The Price Is Right has become one of America’s most beloved game shows, spanning five decades with two hosts guiding the contestants through various games.
So far, the legendary Bob Barker hosted the show the most, with a run that began in 1972 and lasted until his retirement in June 2007.
He and the show, with various pricing games and fabulous prizes, including cars and substantial cash, became pop culture icons that have stood the test of time.
Actor and comedian Drew Carey took over for Bob and has carried the show through its modern era on CBS.
Fans continue to compare the two hosts, with some enjoying Carey and others reminiscing over having Bob as the classic game show’s host.
However, there was almost another host who could have had the prominent role, as he recently talked about receiving the job offer and why he turned it down.
Bob Barker signed off on another TPIR host
Sportscaster and current radio broadcaster Dan Patrick, known from his days on ESPN, recently appeared on the Pardon My Take show.
During part of the show, they asked why he turned down the opportunity to host The Price Is Right years ago.
“I was still in the sports mode. I wasn’t ready for a game show,” he said.
Patrick explained he got a call “out of the blue” in 1999 asking if he was “interested in Price Is Right.” He said they told him they wanted him as host and that Bob Barker signed off on it.
They were prepared to build a set in San Antonio, the site of that year’s NBA Finals, to have Patrick come on stage and audition.
“I just remember hanging up the phone and going, ‘I don’t know what that was,'” Patrick told the guys on Pardon My Take.
He said he asked them what the job paid, and they told him they’d tell him only if he took the job. Upon discussing the opportunity with his wife, he said she asked him if he turned it down because they hadn’t provided a salary amount.
However, Patrick indicated he turned it down because he didn’t think he “could do [the job as host] well enough.”
The host of The Dan Patrick Show also said he received “three or four opportunities” to host game shows. Among them was Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, ultimately hosted by the late, great Regis Philbin.
Drew Carey wants to host TPIR for a while
Instead of Dan Patrick, viewers received Drew Carey as their host for The Price Is Right, and many fans continue to enjoy the show with his presentation.
He’s known for acting as well as stand-up and improv comedy, which lends itself perfectly to hosting a game show.
Carey doesn’t seem interested in leaving the show anytime soon. He revealed in an interview last year that he plans to host as long as possible.
“Thoughts of dying on stage with a microphone in my hand have gone through my mind,” Carey said, adding, “I never want to leave. I’m having such a good time there. Everybody treats me great and the cast is great and the production office is great.”
“I really feel supported and loved there and wanted. When you’re 65 and in the entertainment business, you don’t really get that that often,” he said.
“I’m in a pretty rare situation so I wanna keep that going as long as I can,” Drew told People.
According to Carey, he initially had no interest in replacing Bob Barker as The Price Is Right host. However, he changed his mind when he realized that hosting a popular game show daily would help him get the money to own a soccer team.
It’s hard to imagine anyone else in the host role besides Bob Barker and Drew Carey! And Carey’s decision has paid off, as he is part-owner of the MLS’ Seattle Sounders FC and continues to host the game show into 2025 and beyond.
