Over the weekend, a piece of my childhood and the childhoods of anyone who grew up watching “The Price is Right” was gone with the passing of the legendary Bob Barker on Saturday August 26th at the age of 99.
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While it seemed like I knew he was going to pass on eventually, it still came as a big shock to me. I mean, think about it. How would you feel if someone you grew up on passed away? Bob was a huge part of our lives and it seemed like he became a member of our family. Hell, it was part of the reason why “The Price is Right” is still the most watched game show on television.
Of course, Bob was the one who helped us feel better if the moment came where we had to stay home from school because we were sick or had a matter that required us to be out of school or work. Every Monday through Friday at 11am, you dropped whatever you were doing and tuned into watch Bob Barker host “The Price is Right.” Unless, of course, you were healthy and at work or school. Bob, the Barker Beauties and announcers like Johnny Olsen, Rod Roddy and Rich Fields were there to keep us entertained for a short time, even if it was just for an hour.
Pricing games like Any Number and Plinko brightened our spirits and made us get the urge to go through our television screens and be a part of the show live.
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But, when it comes to Bob Barker, there is something about him that makes you wonder if Bob and “The Price is Right,” was the first time that neurodivergent children like myself ever had to stick to a routine and you got upset when that routine was disrupted.
During Bob’s 35 year run, my late paternal grandfather made it a part of his routine to watch “The Price is Right” at 11am. I should know because there were moments when I was part of that and it helped me build the relationship I had with him for the first 22 years of my life.
I mean, when you were on summer vacation, home sick or on school vacation breaks, you had to have “The Price is Right” into your set schedule and were not happy when that routine was disrupted for a variety of reasons. Nowadays, if you wanted to get hooked on “The Price is Right,” you can just find an episode on streaming services like Pluto TV, etc.
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Yes, I get the fact that a majority of the episodes featuring Bob are out of date, but Bob Barker’s legacy should live on in the sense that “The Price is Right” can serve as a teaching tool for students on the account that “The Price is Right” can teach basic mathematics and the importance of money skills.
As more and more neurodivergent and special education students are toying around with the idea of homeschooling because of the hostile educational climate, tutors and parents should use the Bob Barker episodes as a teaching tool and that would be the ultimate legacy to this great man. In fact, there are several video games that teachers can use as a teaching tool such as the 2010 video game version that was on the Wii and PC formats.
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However, Bob wasn’t flawless, and he did get into some controversy that can serve as a cautionary tale to anyone who is seeking romance. In 1994, Bob was accused of sexual harrassment by former “Barker Beauty” Dian Parkinson and while the suit was eventually dropped, it did damage his family friendly reputation for a short time.
Neurodivergent individuals (myself included) have had their reputations at risk because of behaviors like Bob had towards people like Dian. Even if it was made out to be more than what it was, it teaches that people that celebrities like Bob aren’t above the law and we must be held accountable for our actions if we get into situations.
Bob also was involved in another scandal the following year when another model accused him of being a dictator and being wrongfully accused of being fired on account of her weight. If you are going to be running a business or put into a leadership role, you are going to have to watch your “P’s” and “Q’s” around those who are working for you.
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Finally, as most neurodivergent individuals are animal lovers, it is no surprise to see that Bob was a role model for the treatment of animals. Once upon a time, Bob was the host of the Miss USA and Miss America pageant, and he ended up quitting because the pageant refused to not remove animal skins and furs from being showcased as an example. To this end, Bob sets an example of standing your ground for something you believe in and if it’s a bad reflection of your core values, you get out of it.
If you are a first time pet owner or animal lover, I highly look to Bob for guidance and inspiration on how to treat animals properly. Of course, Bob always, ALWAYS ended “The Price is Right” with a message to help control the pet population and to have your pets spayed or neutered. As I write this blog, I can imagine St. Francis of Assisi going up to Bob and praising him for all he did for the advocating of animals.
Also, if you are a “Spongebob Squarepants” fan, you know the character of Bob Barnacle? Yep, that’s Bob doing the voice and paying tribute to his animal activism.
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Now, what do I think of Drew Carey as host of “The Price is Right”? Well, to be fair, Drew does okay, but he isn’t Bob Barker although he tries his best. While the spirit is still there, it isn’t the same and even though I am a loyal follower, I know where the real spirit lies.
RIP Bob Baker (1923-2023) Long live the king!!
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Also, who can forget these moments with Adam Sandler?
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Catch you all later!!
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