Priceless Memories - Bob Barker [14]
In fact, I remember that Bud Grant made a pitch to me when I was having some last-minute doubts. He said, “You come over here and do Price on CBS, and good things are going to come of it.” I’ll never forget that because after he bought Price, a bit of time passed and he was moved from head of daytime to head of all entertainment on CBS. When I saw him, I said, “Congratulations, Bud. I remember when you told me that if I came over to CBS good things would happen. I didn’t understand at the time that these would be ‘good things’ for Bud Grant. I assumed they would be for Bob Barker.” I kidded him about that for years.
But he deserved all his success. Bud Grant knew daytime. He didn’t just buy Price, he also bought Jack Barry’s The Joker’s Wild and Gambit with Wink Martindale. Both shows debuted the same day that Price did, and all three shows were hits.
Bud also bought The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful, both of which are still thriving on CBS. In fact, CBS has been number one in daytime ratings for twenty years, thanks in no small part to Bud Grant’s purchases and scheduling. He really knew daytime, particularly game shows.
Speaking of ratings, The Price Is Right was a smash from day one. We never had a ratings problem. That’s a testimony to the energy, the chemistry, and the enthusiasm that was so much a part of the show. It was electric, in fact. There was terrific energy in the studio when we went on the air, and it never let up. There are shows that actually have to buy audiences, but our problem was fitting people in. We had lines around the building, and some people sleeping out there.
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But let me get back to the early days of The Price Is Right. I want to explain why I think the show was so successful. First, these types of shows were not originally called game shows, they were called audience participation shows, and that’s the key element of them. It was always the spontaneous nature of the entertainment, the guests’ reactions, the unscripted moments, the enthusiasm, the humor, and the personalities of average people getting excited and having fun. When people asked me how I made a living, I told them I made a living creating spontaneous entertainment with unrehearsed contestants.
I never wanted contestants who were chosen two weeks in advance; taught a game; told what to say, how to smile, and how to react. I was not interested in that. I wanted to talk with people who are surprised they’re suddenly on television—totally natural. They might be standing there in a coat and tie or in shorts and sandals with a sunburned nose, but they’re natural. The personalities of the contestants were the lifeblood of the show. People in the audience would root for the contestants, and the viewers would be rooting for them, too. Everyone entered into the fun. People at home enjoy it vicariously. They picture themselves there at the show. They may be in the middle of Nebraska, but they’d love to be out in Hollywood winning a car.
It is always about the people. The host and the games and the prizes are all-important, but on TPIR it has always been the contestants and the audience who provide the energy, the laughs, and the opportunity to create the beautiful and hilarious moments that keep bringing people back for more. People ask me what makes a good contestant. I always say someone who behaves naturally. For Price, some people think they have