Price is Right mega fan reveals ‘$h0ck’ over Drew Carey casting as host ‘never auditioned’ & ‘pushed back’ on producers

PRICE is Right super fan Ted Slauson has shared his thoughts about Drew Carey taking over as host of the game show following Bob Barker’s retirement and how it impacted the program.

The U.S. Sun sat down with Ted for an exclusive interview to discuss his experience being both a contestant on the show and a 37-time audience member, which gave him quite the reputation in the game show circuit.

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Price is Right mega fan Ted Slauson in the Amazon Prime documentary, Perfect Bid: The Contestant Who Knew Too MuchCredit: Perfect Bid

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Price is Right host Drew Carey on the set of the game showCredit: Getty

Ted Slauson competing on the Price is Right in 1992Credit: Perfect Bid
Ted is known for being an outspoken attendee in the crowd, often helping other contestants in the game with his diabolical memory of items’ prices.

He was often called out by former host Bob, who was impressed by the San Antonio native’s quick thinking and generally spot-on guesses, and he even became the star of the Amazon Prime documentary Perfect Bid: The Contestant Who Knew Too Much.

After dominating the price show for some time as a viewer, he was eventually chosen to participate in the games in 1992. He made it to the Showcase Showdown before being eliminated.

It also marked the mathematics wiz’s then one-time quota to be on the show, leading him to take time off from attending tapings.

He has since distanced himself even more after Bob stepped down and Drew became the host.

HOST AUDITIONS

Ted admitted to The U.S. Sun that his absence from tapings was primarily due to the host switch-up and that he wasn’t exactly a fan of Drew’s hosting style.

“I think everybody’s reaction [to Drew being cast as the host], everyone who was a super fan of the show, was kind of like, Huh? And what was really strange was they had auditioned many – probably close to 10, maybe 12, different [people for the gig], and they would do it between tapings or after a taping.” Ted revealed.

He noted that contenders for the role included Mario Lopez and Mike Richards, who later became the executive producer of The Price is Right from 2009 to 2019.

“They would keep the audience, and they would have this host do like a little mini version of the show,” Ted explained of the auditions. “They’d film it, and they were so they might find a good fit for the show.”

Price is Right’s Drew Carey almost costs player win with huge mistake on air as he reveals reason for flub
However, Ted claimed the former Drew Carey Show star was exempt from this process and soared to the top of the resume pile.

“Drew never auditioned. He was just offered the job by either [the show’s producer and distribution company], Fremantle, or [someone else]. And I remember, too, thinking, well, that’s an interesting choice. I wonder how that’ll go.

Ted admitted he was surprised by the decision to hire Drew after some seemingly questioning behavior from the Whose Line Is It Anyway? alum.

“And then, you know, having watched it, and it’s like, okay, well, yeah, he’s very different than Bob and having met [the former executive producer] Roger [Dobkowitz] in person more than a few times because [he was a part] of the Perfect Bid documentary, and listening to him tell stories about what it was like to work with Drew, and how he would try to get him to do certain things, and Drew would just push back on so much of it.”

The Price is Right Hosts

The Price is Right first came on TV in 1972. Fans fell in love with the game show so much that it has been on for over 50 years. Throughout that time, the show has had a few different hosts. Find out who they are below.

Bob Barker – 1972 to June 2007 (also became executive producer in 1988)

Drew Carey – October 2007 to present

Dennis James – filled in for Bob in 1974 when he missed four episodes, also hosted the nighttime version

Craig Ferguson – 2014 April Fools Day Special

Ted continued, “It’s like he just was going to do things the way he wanted to do them, and it’s like, okay. So that’s why you’ll see when people spin the wheel behind anyone, like, it’s the same over and over and over. And after a while, it’s like, do something different.

“Everything is always the same. ‘Next prize, please.’ I’m like, seriously, you can’t come up with something different at least a couple times during the show? But I don’t get paid the money. He gets paid, so.”

Drew became the new host of the Price Is Right in July 2007, succeeding Bob, who had held the role for 35 years.

The actor recently became the longest-serving game show host on television following Wheel of Fortune host Pat Sajak’s retirement in June 2024.

DREW’S CAREER PLANS

Shortly after, Drew revealed to TV Insider when he’d call it quits and it would not happen anytime soon.

“I just show up and punch the clock and hope I have a job every day,” Drew told the outlet.

“I do have a goal: I want to keep going until I die. This is my 18th season. I’ve got to get the 35 and 41 so I can catch Bob Barker and Pat Sajak,” he concluded.

Bob died last August at 99 years old after a battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

Drew honored the beloved host in a social media post, which read, “Very sad day for The Price Is Right family and animal lovers all over the world.

“There hasn’t been a day on set that I didn’t think of Bob Barker and thank him. I will carry his memory in my heart forever.”

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Former Price is Right host Bob Barker during his last taping before his retirementCredit: Getty

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Former Price is Right host Bob Barker with the show’s next host, Drew CareyCredit: Getty