'The Price is Right' Snubs Bob Barker for 40th Anniversary Show

On Tuesday, The Price is Right began its 41st season in its current format as a daytime series. The CBS game show celebrated with an audience full of past contestants going back to the 1970s. Conspicuously absent, however, was Bob Barker, the man who was at the forefront of the series for 35 years. While he was apparently shown in a couple of clips, there was no special mention and per Barker, he was not invited to the special taping that occurred over the summer.

No matter how you look at it, it is a snub, and in today's era of recognizing people before they have died, that is a surprise. In my view, there is no excuse for such an exclusion, even if the veteran host and the current regime differ in their opinions on things.

When interviewed by TV Guide, Barker commented about how the show no longer seems to support animal rights. “I am ashamed of the show and surprised at their complete disregard for the welfare of animals. Were I still there, a prize to attend the Calgary Stampede would never have been considered. We never did anything that condoned animal cruelty. Apparently, things have changed.”

As a lover of animals, I am fully on Barker's side in this face off. Even so, CBS and the powers that be behind this show should be ashamed of themselves for not having Barker on board for a segment. There have been excuses about the showing running long and having to be edited, but that is nothing but a rationale.

How sad the lack of respect is on behalf of those producing this game show to the man who brought it to new generations so successfully in the first place.

For that matter, a nod to the golden era when The Price is Right was a nighttime staple hosted by the wonderful Bill Cullen would not have been out of line either.