The Original Host Of The Price Is Right Might Surprise You
By Alexander Billet/July 15, 2022 10:37 am EST
Drew Carey has earned a place in our hearts as the host of "The Price Is Right." Since he took the baton in 2007, most regular viewers have come to know what to expect from him: good humor, professionalism, and an ability to roll with sometimes literal stumbles.
That being said, he would likely be the first to say he is standing on the shoulders of a daytime game show giant. Because just as "Jeopardy!" had Alex Trebek, and just as "Wheel of Fortune" has Pat Sajak, "The Price Is Right" had the iconic Bob Barker. Even if Barker himself is less than thrilled with the job Carey has been doing as his replacement (via TMZ), Carey made clear to People in 2021 that he had no intention of trying to copy his predecessor when first taking over.
It makes sense that Barker and "The Price Is Right" are nearly synonymous. His tenure hosting and reminding us to spay and neuter our pets ran for 35 years. And while that may put him behind Trebek (37 years according to CNN) and Sajak (more than 40 per Today), it's still astonishing — which is why it may be equally astonishing to learn that Barker was in fact not the original host of "The Price Is Right." That's right — there was another who came before him. And in retrospect, it's stunning that we don't all know his name too.
The original host of The Price Is Right was Bill Cullen
"The Price Is Right" host Bob Barker talks with an unidentified game show contestant on Aug. 26, 1972. (CBS Photo Archive/CBS via Getty Images)
Advertisement
1978
Bob Barker and a contestant named James look on as the Big Wheel spins around on the game show "The Price Is Right" in February 1978. (CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images)
Advertisement
2004
Game show host Bob Barker poses with the "Barker's Beauties" (from left to right) Lanisha Cole, Shane Stirling and Brandi Sherwood, at the "Price is Right" 6,000th show taping on Feb. 12, 2004, at the CBS Television Studio in Los Angeles, Calif. (Amanda Edwards/Getty Images)
Advertisement
2004
(L to R) Host Bob Barker watches a show contestant celebrate during the 6000th taping of "The Price Is Right" television show at CBS Television Studios on Feb. 19, 2004, in Los Angeles, Calif. (Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
Advertisement
2004
A contestant celebrates during "The Price Is Right" million-dollar spectacular celebrating host Bob Barker's induction into the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences' Hall of Fame at the CBS Television Network on April 19, 2004, in Los Angeles, Calif. Host Bob Barker will be inducted into the Hall of Fame later this spring. (Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
Advertisement
2006
Host Bob Barker (R) announces the showcase showdown at the taping of the 35th season premiere of "The Price Is Right" at CBS Television Studios on Aug. 31, 2006, in Los Angeles, Calif. The show will air on Sept. 18, 2006, on CBS. (Michael Buckner/Getty Images)
Advertisement
2008
(L-R) Models Rachel Reynolds, Brandi Sherwood, host Drew Carey, model Tomeka Nash and announcer Rich Fields pose during Carey's 100th Episode of "The Price Is Right" celebration at CBS Television City on Feb. 5, 2008, in Los Angeles, Calif. (Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
Advertisement
2010
Host Drew Carey (R) and a contestant celebrate the 500th "The Price Is Right" television show at CBS Television City on Feb. 1, 2010, in Los Angeles, Calif. (Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
Advertisement
2010
Host Drew Carey attends "The Price Is Right" Daytime Emmys-themed episode taping at CBS Studios on May 24, 2010, in Los Angeles, Calif.