Actual Retail Price...

As a kid, I was very limited on the type and amount of TV I was allowed to watch.  One of the few shows that was parent-approved was The Price is Right, which I devoured daily every summer.  At 9am, I would drink in Plinko, the Dice Game, fabulous prize packages, a NEW CAR!, and, best of all, Bob Barker and Barker's Beauties.  I dreamed of being a Barker Beauty. I guessed at all the prices, even though I had no clue how much anything cost, never having bought things like multi-vitamins or denture paste before.  I LOVED it.  In college, my roommates and I would dream about going to Southern California, wearing matching T-shirts and ending up winning the showcase showdown at the end.  At that point, I couldn't watch all the time, and, as life went on, I watched less and less until I stopped watching altogether.  I was sad when Drew Carey replaced Bob Barker, but since I wasn't really watching anymore, it didn't ruin my life.  Every once in a while I'd turn on the TV at 9 and my TV would be on the Price is Right, so I'd watch for a few minutes.  Drew Carey seemed like an okay fit.  He was funny, engaging, and seemed to love what he was doing.

Fast forward to this morning.  I spend a LOT of time on the couch these days.  I feed a newborn every 2 hours all day and night.  This morning, having dragged myself out of bed for the last time until tonight, I settled into my butt groove on my couch and turned on the boob tube (get it?), and thought I'd catch up on an old favorite.  As I tuned into The Price is Right, my first reaction was, "Whoa!  Drew Carey has really thinned out!"  Then, "What's with Drew Carey's hair?"  Then, after watching for a few minutes, "That is one sad man."  Drew Carey seems to have lost more than weight.  He seems to have lost the love.  No smiling, minimal chit-chat with the contestants, and a total lack of enthusiasm for anything he was doing.  It was horrible!  And the guy who won the showcase showdown at the end got within 26 bucks on his guess, and won both showcases, which NEVER happens, and still no joy.  It was painful to watch contestants who were screaming and jumping up and down next to a host who seemed...gray.  Bland.  Disconnected.  What has happened?  It's time for a reboot!

So, after I've gotten past the feedings every other minute stage, who wants to drive down to Southern California with me, get on the show, and wear T-shirts saying, "At least pretend you like your job, Drew Carey."?  Who's with me?