A major account of the behind-the-scenes drama during the Barker years of “The Price is Right” came out today. Former model (known on the show at the time as “Barker’s Beauties”) Holly Hallstrom spoke to Business Insider.
Read the article here at this link.
This post will continue assuming you have read this article.
Before I comment, I wish to go back to a post I wrote on the day Bob Barker’s final episode aired on June 15, 2007:
Well, as some of you know, today is Bob Barker’s last day on “The Price is Right”, and on television as he is now retiring.
I now offer my thoughts about today in TV history.
Bob has proven himself to be a good host over the course of his career, recognized by his peers with awards and accolades too numerous to count. You have to respect a tad bit a man who has been famous for only two game shows in 50 years. He knew how to get the reactions out of contestants to make the show interesting.
That being said, I can only give good words to his character in front of the camera. Based on what has been said about how he is off-camera, I would have to say that he is very unprofessional and very uncourteous to the people who have tried to work with him. If I were host, I would be nothing but a friend to each and every person who worked hard on the show. I would never show the level of attitude that he has shown to certain individuals, and I never will. It would violate my principles as not only a producer/director but as a human being. It’s just my human nature to enjoy each and every person’s unique talents and what they have to contribute, not to find petty reasons to try to get them off the show or be jealous of someone grabbing the spotlight.
That’s about all I have to say on this matter. All I can say is, have a good retirement, Bob, you’ve been ready for it for a long time.
Those feelings from 17 years ago have not changed one iota. As a matter of fact, they are even more amplified. After hearing what everyone went through and what this man tried to do for the sake of this show really sticks in my craw.
At this point in time, I don’t know if I can ever watch the show the same way ever again. I am sure many other people will feel the same way. This doesn’t mean that I will stop watching Price, but it certainly casts the show in a new light for me.
By the way, in case you’re curious, I have come to respect the current run of the show with Drew Carey much more in the last few months. Certain things still irk me about it but it’s a lot better than when I tried to watch it back in 2007 when he first took over as host.
If there is one thing I can say for sure – it’s to please, please, PLEASE be kind to others. Be welcoming of everyone no matter who they are or any other reason. In this day and age everyone deserves mutual respect. That is a lesson that is far too prevalent in current society.
So, it’s been about a month since I got out of the hospital. All in all, my recovery has been very good. I feel very much like my old self again… give or take a couple of minor things.
I am very fortunate that this wasn’t something that was very debilitating to my way of life. Very, very fortunate.
What else can I say? I will just continue on and live my best life.
Just wanted to give that quick update.
TTFN.
The dates of April 6 to April 12th, 2024 are dates which will remain etched in my consciousness forever.
Let’s rewind a little bit before that. In the roughly week and a half prior to April 6, I started feeling more and more ill every day. Lots of sweats, fever, nausea. My appetite wasn’t what it should be. Just a general feeling of… well… being sick.
At first we thought it was side effects of a prescription I was taking. Come to find out later that it wasn’t that.
By the time Saturday, April 6 came, Greg made a decision that this wasn’t going to get better on its own and took me to an Emergency Room. They discovered that I had an infection going on inside me and admitted me to the hospital.
For personal reasons, I am not going to go into detail in this public facing blog post as to what was going on inside me. That knowledge if for trusted individuals only. Suffice it to say that it was very much something that could be brought under control.
The days following my hospitalization were a struggle. Gaining strength back, getting back into a normal daily routine, etc. etc.
Here we are, April 30, 2024, about 18 days since being discharged from the hospital. I have done several follow-up appointments since, my numbers have improved but are still not all the way there. Things will improve.
I really wish I could tell you what led up to all this and what it is. However, I can’t take the chance on a public facing blog such as this. It’s the kind of information you don’t want to fall into the wrong hands or keep you from being hired in a future position that I don’t know about yet. I’m sure you, the reader, will understand.
Thanks for all of your kind thoughts and support no matter who you are.
I have been trying a lot in recent years to keep my health in check as much as I can. I have been seeing a doctor regularly and have been taking medications to stop the onslaught of health problems being a man of size can bring.
How am I doing? OK I guess.
In case the reader didn’t know, I have been battling Irritable Bowel Syndrome for a few years. That and crippling anxiety at times is not a good combination.
I have my days. Usually when the weather is cloudy my mood tends to go down into a bad area and I struggle. I am not ashamed to admit this. Y’all know I always tend to wear my heart on my sleeve. It helps me and it hurts me.
I think one of my strong suits is that I have a good sense of empathy. For example: this week at work a very close friend had a relative pass away while he was on shift. He got a call about it and pulled me aside because he knew that he could count on me. I was there for him just as he had been there for me when I was going through tougher times myself.
That is the beautiful thing of something that is beyond friendship and almost (but not quite) family. There is some kind of indescribable bond there that is unique and one-of-a-kind.
Does any of that make sense? Well, it does to me.
And there is why your emotional health is just as important as your physical health.
10 Years ago on January 1, 2014, me and Greg put online a little bit of research we had done that culminated in a website that was never known for it’s graphic sleekness.
Behold, The Daytime TV Schedule Archive was born.
We have made adjustments to it over the years… mostly correcting erroneous data. Most of that information has come from contributors. All of that information is and always has been greatly appreciated. We welcome it as always.
To show the greatness of it all, the site has a special logo now commemorating 10 years of the site being online.
The funny thing is, I didn’t even realize it until I sat down to update the copyright year at the bottom of the page as one does with their website around the end of the year. That got me thinking about when it was put online. I remember posting about the site on The Game Show Forum and a quick search reminded me of our 2014 launch of the site.
The first thought of course was, “Geez, has it been that long!?”
It’s funny what you think when you see that that length of time has passed and it only felt like yesterday that you put something like that online for the world to see.
Time grows short. Time is also the fire in which we burn.
……..
Whoa, I had better really lay off the philosophy references at this hour! TTFN.
Well.
In the last while since I have neglected this blog a lot has changed in my life.
I got promoted in my job, my title is now Operations Engineer. I still deal in information, information and information from all sources imaginable. However, on top of that, I am now learning lots of technical back-end stuff. I have learned a lot since I accepted this position in July 2023. I still have a lot more to learn every day.
I have confidence I will be ok, but I naturally second guess myself a lot of times. Any human being would. I am proud of myself for what I have accomplished.
This still doesn’t hide the fact however that the odds are against me and my colleagues equipment-wise. We will have to do the best we can in the long haul. We’ll make it. Just. Be. Resilient.
This year will mark our eighth wedding anniversary.
Where does the time go?
It seems like just yesterday we were rushing to our wedding on a pleasant spring morning in New York City. Getting on the wrong subway train and all that. The story is well documented on the ‘Tube.
As each year passes, I can’t help but be amazed at how lucky I am to have the greatest husband in the world. A husband who puts up with a lot from me day after day. That’s love.
I hope that if you read this that you find your true love. Everyone deserves it, even if you don’t think you do.
Everybody say love!
Just a quick post to make it seem like this blog isn’t dormant.
49 Days. That’s how long we were in this nightmare. Technically it still isn’t done, there is one small piece of missing tile in the kitchen.
We haven’t even paid the remaining balance for the work. Not because of us, because the final figures haven’t even been given to us yet!
What an ordeal this has been.
Excuse me, I am hangry and must go have some pizza.
TTFN.