The Game Show Forum
The Game Show Forum => The Big Board => Topic started by: Dbacksfan12 on September 14, 2007, 07:16:22 PM
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I was discussing this with another member on AIM and thought it might make for an interesting discussion topic. It seemed like at one point (perhaps I'm misguided in this thought) that Bob Barker was well-liked by almost every active member in the "online game show community".
It seems that tide has turned. Were there specific instances that made your turn on Bob, or have you not liked him in the first place?
Discuss.
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Many things soured my opinion of Barker over the years. However, the one thing that stands out in my mind, was when Barker's ego grew to where he'd no longer allow Rod Roddy to be shown on camera--simply because Rod was becoming as popular as Barker (heaven forbid...). Suffice to say, I can't wait for Drew to come on board.
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You asked, so I shall tell.
I'd say 2000...when Dian and Kathleen were unjustly fired. That seems to be the time when Barker's head started to swell (at least for me).
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[quote name=\'tpirfan28\' post=\'163861\' date=\'Sep 14 2007, 07:33 PM\']
You asked, so I shall tell.
I'd say 2000...when Dian and Kathleen were unjustly fired. That seems to be the time when Barker's head started to swell (at least for me).
[/quote]
Same here... Dian? Floozy had it coming. Holly? Well, perhaps she could be difficult. Janice AND Kathleen? Now wait just a freakin' minute...
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My personal aversion goes back a little farther. Some have stated his dislike of children almost borders on the pathological. When I read some time back that Barker refused to do a TorC taping when he found a large group of Cub Scouts in the audience, my dislike began. It took quite a push to get him out. If that's the case...why on earth did he take on being host of Barris' The Family Game? To keep me from passing on what could just be someone else's sour grapes, I'd appreciate anyone with B.E. (Barker Experience) shedding light on this.
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[quote name=\'The Ol' Guy\' post=\'163886\' date=\'Sep 14 2007, 11:37 PM\']
My personal aversion goes back a little farther. Some have stated his dislike of children almost borders on the pathological. When I read some time back that Barker refused to do a TorC taping when he found a large group of Cub Scouts in the audience, my dislike began... To keep me from passing on what could just be someone else's sour grapes, I'd appreciate anyone with B.E. (Barker Experience) shedding light on this.
[/quote]
Hmm... I'd never heard of this, but it sounds like something of urban legend, though I'm curious to see what those who've been near him say...
Personally, my liking of him isn't what it used to be, but I never soured on him completely. I think he's been an excellent emcee, outlasting many others, but I also think his time has passed, and I'm glad to see new blood taking over.
One thing that hurt my vision of him was the fact that he was making many mistakes on air (which makes me wonder how many flubs were cut from the show) in recent years.
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I have an ep. of T or C where they have a baby race. Each baby wore a shirt with a number, representing dollars, and that money would be split with the mothers. Obviously, the baby with the highest number had to cross first in order to win a fair amount of money. Unfortunately, none of these babies were in much of a mood to "race", some of them crying probably because they were scared of the live audience. Bob kept saying "please stop the babies from crying, that breaks my heart".
So, if anything, Bob seems uncomfy with infants. I do remember an ep. of TPIR where they had a young girl, probably related to someone on the staff, and Bob actually held her and didn't seem uncomfy. He was smiling, actually.
I do think that even the casual TPIR viewer noticed that Rod was suddenly not shown on camera. While Stan Blits doesn't address Rod not being shown on camera, he did say that the showcases were sort of "downplayed" because they felt Bob was entertaining enough and the length of the showcase skits was shortened to give Bob more time to interact with the contestants (I'm sure increasing commercial time is a factor as well)
I hope with Drew taking over, that perhaps the showcases can become more entertaining and wacky again. Considering that Drew has worked with ensembles in his own show and Whose Line, he doesn't seem to be afraid of being upstaged.
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[quote name=\'The Ol' Guy\' post=\'163886\' date=\'Sep 14 2007, 11:37 PM\']
My personal aversion goes back a little farther. Some have stated his dislike of children almost borders on the pathological. When I read some time back that Barker refused to do a TorC taping when he found a large group of Cub Scouts in the audience, my dislike began. It took quite a push to get him out. If that's the case...why on earth did he take on being host of Barris' The Family Game? To keep me from passing on what could just be someone else's sour grapes, I'd appreciate anyone with B.E. (Barker Experience) shedding light on this.
[/quote]
My experience : Not true at all.
I was 10 years old when the "Bob Barker Fun and Games Show" came to Miami. My father had connections to someone at the Jackie Gleason Convention Center where the show was done, and was able to get me a minute with Bob before the show...it was my birthday present.
He was, to a ten year old, the kindest, most gracious celebrity you'd find. I don't know what he was like away from kids, but for those 5 minutes, he was a God. And he made that birthday extra special.
I've met too many celebs in my career who are assholes as soon as the red light turns off. I'm not suggesting Bob was or wasn't in his PIR years, but for one day in February 1983, he was a gem.
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I always thought the reason Rod wasn't shown on camera anymore was because of his illness.
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[quote name=\'BMaurice06\' post=\'163925\' date=\'Sep 15 2007, 11:50 AM\']
I always thought the reason Rod wasn't shown on camera anymore was because of his illness.
[/quote]
You were wrong.
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It seems that tide has turned. Were there specific instances that made your turn on Bob, or have you not liked him in the first place?
For me, part of it is that we all know these stories about some of the off-set actions. Once you've heard about them, it's hard not to think of it while watching the shows. For example, it's hard not to watch Family Feud and not think what an ego-maniac Richard Dawson became.
Personally, I think Barker is/was one of the best to ever get into the business. When I think back to that Best Game Show Host poll we did last year, I probably should have ranked him higher than I did. On air, he's great.
But there's more to being a host than being smooth on-air. Especially if he's executive producer, he should make sure it's a happy place to work because I think you get more out of people when they're happy to be there.
I have nothing against Barker, but somehow I feel a bit more comfortable watching his '70s and '80s appearances that the more recent ones because that was well before all of this started happening.
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Thank you all for the information and taking me up on my request. There's enough crap floating out there about game shows 'n stuff. Don' wanna be part of making it thicker.
Later...
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[quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'163931\' date=\'Sep 15 2007, 03:41 PM\']
[quote name=\'BMaurice06\' post=\'163925\' date=\'Sep 15 2007, 11:50 AM\']
I always thought the reason Rod wasn't shown on camera anymore was because of his illness.
[/quote]
You were wrong.
[/quote]
As are you. I read from many sources that it was FremantleMedia who stopped allowing Rod Roddy to be shown on camera as a rule of theirs.
Bob Barker will awlays be super in my eyes, regardless of any lawsuits, allegations or rumours.
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[quote name=\'eday_2010\' post=\'164148\' date=\'Sep 18 2007, 10:28 AM\']
[quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'163931\' date=\'Sep 15 2007, 03:41 PM\']
[quote name=\'BMaurice06\' post=\'163925\' date=\'Sep 15 2007, 11:50 AM\']
I always thought the reason Rod wasn't shown on camera anymore was because of his illness.
[/quote]
You were wrong.
[/quote]
As are you.
[/quote]
Er, considering that Chris didn't actually give a reason, how can you say that he's wrong?
Bob Barker will awlays be super in my eyes, regardless of any lawsuits, allegations or rumours.
You certainly have a right to your opinion, just as our other members have a right to theirs.
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[quote name=\'eday_2010\' post=\'164148\' date=\'Sep 18 2007, 10:28 AM\']
[quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'163931\' date=\'Sep 15 2007, 03:41 PM\']
[quote name=\'BMaurice06\' post=\'163925\' date=\'Sep 15 2007, 11:50 AM\']
I always thought the reason Rod wasn't shown on camera anymore was because of his illness.
[/quote]
You were wrong.
[/quote]
As are you. I read from many sources that it was FremantleMedia who stopped allowing Rod Roddy to be shown on camera as a rule of theirs.[/quote]
Did it ever occur to you that this "international policy" only seemed to apply to Rod Roddy?
There is no policy. It was fabricated to keep Barker from looking like an asshole.
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There is no policy. It was fabricated to keep Barker from looking like an asshole.
Too bad it didn't work.
/the man was a great game show host and friend to animals
//just not too many people
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The story that I had read in TV Guide about getting audiences for TV shows stated that it was a school group that had been booked for "T or C" and that a producer told the audience wrangler that Barker doesn't like kids and didn't want to see them in the studio unless a stunt involving children had been booked. The solution was to seat the group in a corner of the studio where Barker rarely went in his warmup audience interviews (from which he picked the contestants for the show). It may or may not be totally true (and I don't doubt for a second Matt's own experience with Barker).
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[quote name=\'urbanpreppie05\' post=\'164154\' date=\'Sep 18 2007, 11:44 AM\']
There is no policy. It was fabricated to keep Barker from looking like an asshole.
Too bad it didn't work.
[/quote]
Thing is, though, it did work for the most part. You and I know what Barker was like behind the scenes, but the general public seems to be under the impression that he's this great humanitarian or something.
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To answer the OP's question, I started thinking less of Barker when I learned why Holly was forced out. Being a garden-variety jerk off camera is one thing, but going after someone for medical issues is another matter.
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[quote name=\'eday_2010\' post=\'164148\' date=\'Sep 18 2007, 10:28 AM\']
As are you. I read from many sources that it was FremantleMedia who stopped allowing Rod Roddy to be shown on camera as a rule of theirs.
Bob Barker will awlays be super in my eyes, regardless of any lawsuits, allegations or rumours.
[/quote]
Then, Mister 3 Posts Under His Belt, explain why Rich Fields' ugly mug taints my television screen at 11:57am ET every weekday?
In your 4th post, just admit you don't know what you're talking about, and we'll all move on.
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[quote name=\'tvwxman\' post=\'164180\' date=\'Sep 18 2007, 11:12 AM\']
Then, Mister 3 Posts Under His Belt, explain why Rich Fields' ugly mug taints my television screen at 11:57am ET every weekday?[/quote]
He said "taint."
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...the general public seems to be under the impression that he's this great humanitarian or something.
Of course not. Everyone knows he's a VEGEtarian :)
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[quote name=\'Steve Gavazzi\' post=\'164156\' date=\'Sep 18 2007, 11:02 AM\']
[quote name=\'urbanpreppie05\' post=\'164154\' date=\'Sep 18 2007, 11:44 AM\']
There is no policy. It was fabricated to keep Barker from looking like an asshole.
Too bad it didn't work.
[/quote]
Thing is, though, it did work for the most part. You and I know what Barker was like behind the scenes, but the general public seems to be under the impression that he's this great humanitarian or something.
[/quote]
Lemme take an educated guess, and maybe Steve or someone else who was there would be kind enough to answer -- those "behind the scenes" shows about TPiR we see on E! every so often don't even come close to telling us just how much venom and vitriol was there when the cameras weren't rolling.
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I read from many sources that it was FremantleMedia who stopped allowing Rod Roddy to be shown on camera as a rule of theirs.
That's what Barker and Fremantle want the public to believe. I have heard otherwise from credible sources.
I started thinking less of Barker when I learned why Holly was forced out.
If Holly's contract had expired and they didn't want to renew it, or they wanted to buy her out, I would be fine with that. It happens all the time in television. It was when Barker sued her for slander for exposing the lie that she was fired because they wanted to reduce the number of models is when I got to thinking that there's a special place in Hades for Bob Barker to rot for all eternity. Barker's claim that they wanted to go with one fewer model is shot to pieces by the fact that they hired Chantel Dubay shortly after letting Holly go.
Note to attorneys: All of this is my personal opinion.
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[quote name=\'DrJWJustice\' post=\'164342\' date=\'Sep 20 2007, 02:35 AM\']
Lemme take an educated guess, and maybe Steve or someone else who was there would be kind enough to answer -- those "behind the scenes" shows about TPiR we see on E! every so often don't even come close to telling us just how much venom and vitriol was there when the cameras weren't rolling.
[/quote]
I guess I should clarify that I haven't ever been behind the scenes at the show. I've just read enough accounts to know that they can't all be things angry people are making up.
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[quote name=\'Steve Gavazzi\' post=\'164353\' date=\'Sep 20 2007, 09:41 AM\']
I guess I should clarify that I haven't ever been behind the scenes at the show. I've just read enough accounts to know that they can't all be things angry people are making up.
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Thanks ... I appreciate the reply.
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[quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'164184\' date=\'Sep 18 2007, 03:01 PM\']
[quote name=\'tvwxman\' post=\'164180\' date=\'Sep 18 2007, 11:12 AM\']
Then, Mister 3 Posts Under His Belt, explain why Rich Fields' ugly mug taints my television screen at 11:57am ET every weekday?[/quote]
He said "taint."
[/quote]
Uh huh huh. Shhut up, Beavus...uh huh huh huh.
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[quote name=\'Card Shark\' post=\'164590\' date=\'Sep 22 2007, 10:58 PM\']
Uh huh huh. Shhut up, Beavus...uh huh huh huh.
[/quote]
It's Beavis, with an I. An I!...Come on, people.
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[quote name=\'Adam Nedeff\' post=\'164602\' date=\'Sep 23 2007, 03:54 AM\']
[quote name=\'Card Shark\' post=\'164590\' date=\'Sep 22 2007, 10:58 PM\']
Uh huh huh. Shhut up, Beavus...uh huh huh huh.
[/quote]
It's Beavis, with an I. An I!...Come on, people.
[/quote]
Still did a better job than Sen. Hollings. (http://\"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernest_Hollings\")
/Buffcoat and Beaver?
//Good gravy, Marie!
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[quote name=\'NewJersey137\' post=\'164608\' date=\'Sep 23 2007, 11:17 AM\']
[/Buffcoat and Beaver?
//Good gravy, Marie!
[/quote]
Huh huh huh huh. He said "Beaver." Huh huh huh huh.
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[quote name=\'tvwxman\' post=\'164180\' date=\'Sep 18 2007, 01:12 PM\']
Then, Mister 3 Posts Under His Belt, explain why Rich Fields' ugly mug taints my television screen at 11:57am ET every weekday?[/quote]
Unless you really pay attention to the show and read up on it and watch all the stuff on CBS's website, which I am sure a lot of the casual TPIR fans and older fans don't, you don't know that that is Rich Fields that shows up at the very end. They never address him as such except off camera.
Personally, I loved seeing Rod on camera at his podium and in the showcases. IT was very different than other game shows where you never saw the announcer. If the policy was fabricated, then why isn't Rich on camera now except for 5 annonymous seconds at the end now that Bob is gone?
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[quote name=\'eday_2010\' post=\'169437\' date=\'Nov 13 2007, 03:48 PM\']
Unless you really pay attention to the show and read up on it and watch all the stuff on CBS's website, which I am sure a lot of the casual TPIR fans and older fans don't, you don't know that that is Rich Fields that shows up at the very end. They never address him as such except off camera.[/quote]
And that's not the point. The question was: if it was MANDATED that Roddy not be allowed on camera anymore (and the reason for that mandate, I have no idea and is utterly irrelevant to our discussion), then why does Fields show up, even to wave during the bye-bye?"
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[quote name=\'eday_2010\' post=\'169437\' date=\'Nov 13 2007, 06:48 PM\']
If the policy was fabricated, then why isn't Rich on camera now except for 5 annonymous seconds at the end now that Bob is gone?[/quote]
Apples and oranges. They took the prominent screen time away from Rod. Except for those few anonymous seconds, Rich never had that time, and I can't think of any great burning necessity to change that.
In the great, grand "Now That Barker's Gone..." to-do list, giving the off-screen announcer more on-screen time may not have been a huge priority.
You do make a somewhat interesting point about those anonymous seconds, though. There are probably plenty of casual or elderly viewers who don't have a clue who that well-dressed young man is who shows up to wave at the end.