Priceless Memories - Bob Barker [62]
• • •
When I first started doing Truth or Consequences, the Academy did not have Emmys for daytime television. Later on, I did Truth or Consequences in syndication, and the Academy did not have Emmys for syndicated programs. It was only once I began doing The Price Is Right that I became eligible to win an Emmy Award for daytime television. I received my first Emmy for the 1981–82 season, and it was just after my wife had passed away. I regret that I did not get at least one while she was with me because she had been such an important part of me getting any. Without her, I would never have received even one. After doing everything possible to help me, Dorothy Jo saw me get my first national show, Truth or Consequences. She was with me for Price and a long list of specials, too.
Speaking of the Emmys, I got to know Alex Trebek, the host of Jeopardy!, at the Emmys. I found him to be a very bright and fun fellow. I have always thought he did Jeopardy! exceedingly well. He is perfect casting, just right for that show. He impresses viewers as being erudite; he is pleasant and has a fine voice. I always thought he was a perfect choice for Jeopardy!, and he must have been because the show has been so successful.
When I retired, Alex wrote me a beautiful letter. He sent it to me about a month before my last show. He said in the letter, “As I approach my fiftieth year in our business, I am able to more fully appreciate the tremendous accomplishments of your half century. I congratulate you.” It was a wonderful gesture on his part, and I was very touched. He also sent a generous check for the DJ&T Foundation. That meant a lot to me as well.
On the subject of other hosts, I have always admired Art Linkletter. When I was first starting out, working for KTTS radio station in Springfield, Missouri, Linkletter was doing House Party on CBS, and I used to hear his show every day when I worked my shift. When I heard his voice, the thing that came to my mind was a stream bounding down a mountain. In that wonderful voice, he would talk about his home, his family, and what they had been doing, and it brightened your day just to listen to him.
Years later, when he was a guest on Truth or Consequences, he told me backstage, “I’ve been watching you, kid. You’re going to be around a long time.” That thrilled me because I admired him immensely. He was an excellent guest on the show as well.
Groucho Marx was another host I admired. He was also a guest on Truth, and he said, “You know, when I watch you, I keep waiting for you to act like other game show hosts, but you never do.” And I took that as a huge compliment because when he became a game show host, he did You Bet Your Life. He did not act like other game show hosts, either.
• • •
The Price Is Right juggernaut of success rolled on. We passed milestone after milestone. Millions of dollars in prize money handed out. We logged our 5,000th show (and actually logged 6,500 shows before I retired). We passed Concentration as the longest-running game show. In 2001, TV Guide called The Price Is Right the number one game show of all time. There were prime-time evening specials. There were anniversary shows. I was pleased that we were able to do shows dedicated to military servicemen and women. Those were very popular. We featured the