Drew Carey Reflects on ‘The Price Is Right’ During its 53rd Anniversary

Current “The Price Is Right” host Drew Carey is about to take the long-running daytime gameshow past a big milestone.

On February 26 2025, the show – currently in its 53rd season – will air its 10,000th episode. Carey has been hosting for 18 years – leading 3,317 episodes. He trails behind previous host Bob Barker’s legendary run of 6,731 episodes.

Carey told Variety that he feels like he’s always been there but does recognize he’s still the new guy compared to Barker.

The current host notes how significant Barker’s legacy is to the show’s own: “It’s very important to keep the memory of Bob alive. I’m not replacing anybody,” Carey states. “I’m just doing a show that he used to do.”

Adjusting to Hosting ‘The Price Is Right’ was Surreal

Being the new guy on the set did not exactly shake the comedian turned host. Carey said the thing that stood out the most was how loud the audience was. In fact, he had to adjust the settings of his Apple Watch because the decibel reading Noise app told him he was in an environment that was too loud.

In an interview with Jimmy Kimmel, Carey also revealed something that bugged him initially about one of the prizes. During his first season as host, “The Price Is Right” gave away a grandfather clock in every episode.

Secrets of ‘The Price Is Right’ Revealed

Carey also delivered some tidbits about what happens to the prizes not won after the game show’s season ends. There’s a prize warehouse where crew members can buy the items at reduced prices.

He also revealed that “The Price Is Right” was a vegan show wherein no meat products, no leather and so on were offered or on display as prizes. The show team would go so far to only include plastic vegetables on the grills in lieu of even fake meat.

Carey was able to convince them to now include fake meat.

An Act of Good Will During the Writer’s Strike

Carey was in the news during the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike for paying for everyone’s lunch during the work stoppage that lasted from April to October. One estimate puts the total number somewhere around $500,000 alone at LA restaurant Bob’s Big Boy. He also paid for meals at Swingers.

He previously pulled the same generous moves during the 2007/2008 writer’s strike. That time, the comedian spent $67,000.

He appeared at the 2024 Writer’s Guild Awards to a standing ovation. He said writers deserve every bit of recognition due to their hard work.

“The Price Is Right’s” 10,000th episode airs Wednesday, February 26 on CBS. Catch other episodes streaming on Paramount+.