A former longtime producer of The Price Is Right is taking aim at Drew Carey, arguing that the beloved CBS game show needs a major shakeup after nearly two decades with Carey behind the microphone.
Roger Dobkowitz, who spent 36 years working on The Price Is Right, stunned fans this week when he publicly called for Carey to be replaced.
“It is time to cut Drew Carey loose,” Dobkowitz wrote in a lengthy Facebook post criticizing the direction of the show.
Dobkowitz, 81, said he has become increasingly concerned about changes he believes have taken away some of the personality and spectacle that helped make The Price Is Right a daytime television institution.
“I am a little worried about The Price Is Right,” he wrote, claiming the current season “reeks of a show desperately trying to stay on at any cost.”
Among his complaints were what he described as fewer models, changes in the presentation of expensive prizes and other signs that he believes point to tighter production spending.
But his strongest criticism was reserved for Carey.
Dobkowitz acknowledged that plenty of viewers still enjoy the comedian as host but argued Carey does not contribute enough to justify keeping him in the job.
He said Carey largely guides contestants to the pricing games, quickly explains the rules and gives them an opportunity to greet friends and family watching at home.
“It is obvious he ADDS very little to the show,” Dobkowitz wrote.
The former producer went even further, suggesting that replacing Carey with a less expensive host could free up money for bigger prizes, additional models and other improvements.
Claims about Carey’s salary have circulated for years, but CBS has not publicly disclosed the financial terms of his current deal.
Dobkowitz nevertheless argued that the program itself is strong enough to survive another major hosting change.
“The show is strong,” he wrote, pointing out that The Price Is Right successfully continued after Bob Barker retired.
Barker hosted the daytime version of the show from 1972 until 2007, becoming one of the most recognizable personalities in television history.
Carey was announced as Barker’s successor in July 2007 and has now hosted The Price Is Right for nearly 20 years.
Dobkowitz believes another transition could work just as well.
“A new host would gladly work for a fraction of what Drew Carey is being paid,” he claimed, adding that the right replacement could bring more entertainment value to the program.
He also dismissed the idea that CBS would struggle to find candidates.
“There are lots of good candidates out there,” Dobkowitz wrote. “There were 18 years ago when we did auditions. I am sure there are just as many today.”
His criticism carries extra weight because of his long history with the series.
Dobkowitz joined The Price Is Right production team near the beginning of the modern CBS version and later became a producer, helping develop numerous pricing games and working extensively during Barker’s tenure.
He left the program in 2008, shortly after Carey began hosting.
Despite Dobkowitz’s harsh assessment, there is no indication CBS is preparing to replace Carey.
CBS still lists Carey as the host of The Price Is Right, and new Season 55 episodes continued airing this week.
The network also continues to describe the program as the longest-running game show in television history and one of its signature daytime properties.
That makes Dobkowitz’s demand more of an insider’s critique than evidence that Carey’s job is actually in jeopardy.
Still, after nearly two decades of Carey telling contestants to “come on down,” the unusually public criticism from someone who spent decades helping shape the show is certain to get longtime Price Is Right fans talking.
Nobody but the bean counters really care about the producer but Drew is the face of the franchise at this point in time. Even if the show borders on silly at times, it still draws an audience !