The End of an Era: June 15, 2007

[Combs]

Fourteen years ago, Bob Barker's final episode of The Price Is Right aired on CBS. (The show taped nine days earlier on June 6th.) Lots of us, dare I say most of us, were dreading that day. We knew the show would never be on the same level of excellence it had been the previous 35 years with Barker. At least Bob is still with us at the age of 97 and that is definitely something to be thankful for.

[pannoni1]

To me, this moment represents the transition from growing up to entering the real world as this episode aired just weeks after I received my B.S. from UMBC, where I would watch some episode of Bob's final seasons between classes like so many other college students did at the time.

It was also the very last episode to be billed as "A Mark Goodson Television Production" (not including the Season 44 Decades Week cameos that had George announce it over the Freemantle Media logo), even though the production company had officially had been Freemantle since 2002, when Feud dropped the Goodson credit. This represented a 60+ year span on TV where the recognition of the greatest creator of game shows would come to an end, starting with Winner Take All in 1946 with his partner Bill Todman. Of course on Pluto, we'll soon see the switch from Goodson-Todman Productions to just Mark Goodson Productions.

Still, we have also received an encore from Bob twice in Drew's era, most recently for his 90th birthday in December 2013. Here's hoping Bob will be back one last time for his 100th, even if its just a letter like what Mr. Goodson did.

[DylanBe]

To me, this moment represents the transition from growing up to entering the real world as this episode aired just weeks after I received my B.S. from UMBC, where I would watch some episode of Bob's final seasons between classes like so many other college students did at the time.

It was also the very last episode to be billed as "A Mark Goodson Television Production" (not including the Season 44 Decades Week cameos that had George announce it over the Freemantle Media logo), even though the production company had officially had been Freemantle since 2002, when Feud dropped the Goodson credit. This represented a 60+ year span on TV where the recognition of the greatest creator of game shows would come to an end, starting with Winner Take All in 1946 with his partner Bill Todman. Of course on Pluto, we'll soon see the switch from Goodson-Todman Productions to just Mark Goodson Productions.

Still, we have also received an encore from Bob twice in Drew's era, most recently for his 90th birthday in December 2013. Here's hoping Bob will be back one last time for his 100th, even if its just a letter like what Mr. Goodson did.

Did you forget about the April Fools' special in 2015 where Bob was brought back to host the first IUFB and Lucky $even as well as help present the second showcase? That would be his most recent encore appearance.

[Superballer]

To me, this moment represents the transition from growing up to entering the real world as this episode aired just weeks after I received my B.S. from UMBC, where I would watch some episode of Bob's final seasons between classes like so many other college students did at the time.

It was also the very last episode to be billed as "A Mark Goodson Television Production" (not including the Season 44 Decades Week cameos that had George announce it over the Freemantle Media logo), even though the production company had officially had been Freemantle since 2002, when Feud dropped the Goodson credit. This represented a 60+ year span on TV where the recognition of the greatest creator of game shows would come to an end, starting with Winner Take All in 1946 with his partner Bill Todman. Of course on Pluto, we'll soon see the switch from Goodson-Todman Productions to just Mark Goodson Productions.

Still, we have also received an encore from Bob twice in Drew's era, most recently for his 90th birthday in December 2013. Here's hoping Bob will be back one last time for his 100th, even if its just a letter like what Mr. Goodson did.

 


Well you can take some solace knowing it can still technically be referred to as a Mark Goodson-Bill Todman Production, even if the company in question no longer exists.  I think both men would probably be amazed, but also proud, to know it's still going strong today. 

As for me, on that day, I locked the door to my room at 11, not wanting to miss a minute of the end of an era.  I had a feeling Any Number would be the last game played to complete the circle, and indeed it was.  As a final send-off, it generally worked pretty well in the end. 

[SeaBreeze341]

Did you forget about the April Fools' special in 2015 where Bob was brought back to host the first IUFB and Lucky $even as well as help present the second showcase? That would be his most recent encore appearance.

Yeah, 2015 was Bob’s final appearance to date.  It actually re-aired this past autumn, but Mr. Barker has made three appearances since 06/15/2007.

It’s Fremantle today, but the show will always and forever be a Mark Goodson / Bill Todman production.  FWIW, Bob Stewart created it, G/T developed it, and FM modernized it (IMO).  Personally it was neat seeing Bob’s final bow taking place not just following 50 years of television, but just over 50 years removed from the debut of TPIR overall

[pricefan18]

Yeah, 2015 was Bob’s final appearance to date.  It actually re-aired this past autumn, but Mr. Barker has made three appearances since 06/15/2007.

It’s Fremantle today, but the show will always and forever be a Mark Goodson / Bill Todman production.  FWIW, Bob Stewart created it, G/T developed it, and FM modernized it (IMO).  Personally it was neat seeing Bob’s final bow taking place not just following 50 years of television, but just over 50 years removed from the debut of TPIR overall

It's also quite interesting to note that for those 50 years at the time.....you had two of most legendary figures in the history of the genre at the helm for most of it (not counting the James and Kennedy nighttime runs, let alone The New Price is Right w/Davidson in 1994), in Bill Cullen and Bob. Pretty neat thing.

[tpirfan28]

Totally has nothing to do with Bob but I really wished they kept the opening jib shot of the back audience sign from that show when they transitioned fully to the jib opening.

[garffreak]

To me, this moment represents the transition from growing up to entering the real world as this episode aired just weeks after I received my B.S. from UMBC

Same sentiment here, also.  I had just graduated from Minnesota and watched it, on my 13" TV taped (yes, VCR) from WCCO, as I was just two weeks into my first "real" job.  Right around the time Drew started I was done training and shifted to evenings, so I didn't need to tape the show again.

[pricefan18]

Same sentiment here, also.  I had just graduated from Minnesota and watched it, on my 13" TV taped (yes, VCR) from WCCO, as I was just two weeks into my first "real" job.  Right around the time Drew started I was done training and shifted to evenings, so I didn't need to tape the show again.

Plus show went to online when Drew took over anyway, so even if you hadn't switched schedules, you coulda watched on CBS.com that night.

[COINBOYNYC]

2015 was Bob’s final appearance to date.  It actually re-aired this past autumn, but Mr. Barker has made three appearances since 06/15/2007.

I know about his 90th birthday celebration, and the April Fool's 2015 show.  What was the third?

[pricefan18]

I know about his 90th birthday celebration, and the April Fool's 2015 show.  What was the third?

The 3rd was in 2009, when he returned to present a showcase and to promote his book Priceless Memories in the process.

[COINBOYNYC]

The 3rd was in 2009, when he returned to present a showcase and to promote his book Priceless Memories in the process.

Oh, okay.  I remember that now.

Was the 90th birthday show the one where he called a contestant to come on down?

[pricefan18]

Oh, okay.  I remember that now.

Was the 90th birthday show the one where he called a contestant to come on down?

Yes it was.