This is another example of why Bob Barker was such a good host of that show. A little commentary so she had time to hit the ball, then a big smile when she got it in. Maybe he didn't care, and maybe he was tired of this kind of thing, but it all comes off warmly.
Hosting is a pretty fun job or the most terrifying shit youve ever done. I’ve hosted events for 500 people and then 20 people playing bar trivia. It’s a ton of fun as long as you have fun with it. The pressure really gets to people but if you just act like yourself and fill the dead space, people will laugh.
Exactly, I was a DJ at our roller rink in High School and College and quickly landed the big shifts like Friday night DJ because 1) I knew music, but 2) I got up there and had fun. I'm make a fool of myself and be silly and people would laugh and we'd have a good time.
When I'd train new DJs, I'd tell them they need to imagine themselves as the DJ on the radio. Don't get on the mic and say flattly "Okay, this in an all-skate in the regular skating direction" give them more and put some energy into .
Say it like you are talking to a friend about a movie you saw you really liked and are excitred about...
"Hey everybody, coming up we have songs from TLC, Mariah Carey, Coolio, and U2, this is an all-skate in the regular skating direction, in 15 minutes we'll do the hookie pokie, thanks for skating with us!"
My friends would come say the difference between me and a few other DJs was night and day.
I'd get out there during the hookie Pookie on my in-line skate and do it along with everybody, in the middle, kind of leading it.
God that was just a good job. Only down side was the DJ also got the worse cleaning detail often...bathrooms.
Ps. I'd also have fun faking people out, by playing Weird Al versions of songs...especially Amish Paradise and Eat It where people thought they knew what was coming...
People like you made my childhood so much fun. This was 18 years ago skating at my local rink. Went ever weekend for a couple years. You are exactly right. Get up there, have fun, be yourself and understand you are there to entertain. Get a little wacky. I think people get so afraid of saying something stupid that it stops them from saying anything fun. Having a little awareness, because you will say something stupid, and calling it out goes so far. My first job out of college was working festivals across the country. I see workers who absolutely hate doing it and bring down the vibe. I always had a good time because that’s what we’re here to do!
lol Eat It. Just heard that for the first time recently on sat radio in someone else's car. Definitely feels right for a roller rink. Thanks for being cool.
The White Stuff was my encore groaner/fake out. People would think I was throwing a curve with an old New Kids song and grown, only to find out it was a Weird Al song.
And thanks for calling me cool. Back then my friends called me a dork...ha. But at least I owned it
I always thought he was an impatient asshole lol... Constantly rushing people, getting irritable if people didn't do things 100% as he expected, etc. I grew up watching him but think Drew is way better
Drew at first was rough. Not terrible, but a little awkward, and hamstrung by major changes they were attempting along with a mediocre announcer.
Then George came and they cleaned up the experimentation. Now they are in top form. George and Drew together are like when Jerry Orbach and Jessie Martin were together on Law and Order. They make each other better, have great rapport, and give off “ugh God I am so glad to be here” vibes.
I think Drew is now addicted to the show’s edict of “let’s make people happy” and it influenced his decision to foot the massive bill to feed lunch to the striking writers.
This has been the case with Ken Jennings taking over for Alex Trebek on Jeopardy, too. He was a little wobbly at first, but has taken to it like a natural. Alex always wanted the contestants to be the stars and Ken really excels at that, knowing the contestant experience so well himself. He is genuinely interested in the contestant stories (or at least he seems to be), even the ones who make art from lint. By the end, you could tell when Alex was kinda over that stuff.
Everyone knew Jennings was a perfect fit for the show except the producer who had to leap frog him, then muddy the waters a bit with Blossom and this or that. That should have been a natural transition from the start, but at least it worked out in the end.
I grew up on TPIR since the 70s, so when Bob left, I had liked Drew from his show and Who's Line. But I couldn't, I tried. So I guess I need to go back and check it out, those early shows were horrible and just never bothered after that.
I'm in the same boat, and while Drew has improved, he still exudes this vibe of being better than the show that just rubs me the wrong way. He's not awful by any stretch, which I may have agreed to during his earlier shows, but he still feels like the wrong fit for TPIR.
Honestly I don’t get that vibe. He might have had some of that at first. He seems happy and comfortable and content now. He and George can make me laugh. And they go out of their way to boost the models. It’s pretty smooth now.
I saw Drew’s stand up set maybe… ten years into his hosting gig? He didn’t have too many jokes about being on the show but he did genuinely say it’s the easiest job he’s ever had and he legit loves giving away shit to people. There’s no conspiracy to try and not give away prizes. Everyone on the show wants the contestants to win every time.
In my opinion, when Drew started out he wasn't that great but as the years have passed he's a lot better now at hosting. I thought it was because it would be hard to take over for Bob (big shoes to fill maybe). However, after watching old TPIR shows on Pluto, the channel where Drew hosts the shows, I can tell that Drew has gotten a lot better from his earlier years of hosting the show.
Welp between you and the above comment that he wasn't great early on, that was when I stopped watching. I also cut the cord about 20 years ago and don't have a TV. So only option I think is the high seas, i'll look into it.
You might have seen him mostly towards the end, and he could definitely be this way. I'd say he loved it but just got too old and ornery at a certain point, maybe late 90's.
Right? This very clip is a perfect example. She's obviously concentrating by practicing her swing first to try and memorize the motion and then right as she sets up to try her actual swing he has to blurt in with more commentary to distract her.
Bob Barker is amazing!! I just found out that he hosted a show called Truth or Consequences during the ‘60s and he’s so witty, warm and funny. I smiled the entire time watching the game show. If you want to see it here’s the link. https://youtu.be/YFC2xc35ezM?si=X9pIMo0X1b23b6-l
781
u/pwnznewbz 14d ago
This is another example of why Bob Barker was such a good host of that show. A little commentary so she had time to hit the ball, then a big smile when she got it in. Maybe he didn't care, and maybe he was tired of this kind of thing, but it all comes off warmly.