by Ted Sherman

Created on: July 26, 2007

YES: Great move by CBS! Drew has the kind of easygoing, friendly personality that will help him fill the shoes of long-time host, Bob Barker. Drew also has a stage presence that combines the wise-guy sense of humor of long-time host Pat Sajak of "Wheel of Fortune" with the quick ad lib abilities of former stand-up comic Howie Mandel of "Deal Or No Deal".

Drew's sly, slightly wicked sense of professional timing is not at all like the image of the white-haired, straight-arrow, always in scripted control, father-figure Barker. Barker was good in his day, but his day is long, long past. In my opinion, all of his positive qualities makes Drew a perfect choice for what a totally different, but more interesting game show host should be for today's TV audiences.

The only other close competitor for the job, at least according to all the TV insiders, was Rosie O'Donnell. It is most likely that the network bosses felt, after due consideration, that she is just too controversial, in-your-face and outspoken to host what has been the favorite family-oriented program, the oldest game show in TV history. It made its TV debut 51 years ago with Bill Cullen as host. Bob Barker was the MC for the past 35 years.

Drew's previous TV stardom involved a ten-year run with his very successful sitcom, "The Drew Carey Show" and as moderator on the improv show, "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" Like most successful comedians and TV game show hosts, the 49-year-old Carey struggled to work his way to the top of his vocation. His father died when Drew was eight, and his mother held down full time jobs in Cleveland to help care for the three boys in the family.

Drew confesses he spent much of his youth depressed and with little ambition. After several suicide attempts and being expelled from Kent State, he joined the Marines. He did six years of active service in the 1980s, and he claims this experience gave him the discipline to make something of his life. He tried stand-up comedy in Cleveland, and found some success, encouraging him to move to Los Angeles. He established an on-stage character than was totally the opposite of the wildly-costumed flamboyant 80s and 90s entertainers. He kept his Marine buzz haircut, put on horned rimmed glasses and wore suits and ties right out of the 50s.

Drew began to get noticed, and moved up to be recognized as one of the top Los Angeles comedy club performers, crowning his achievement and showbiz popularity by several appearances on the Johnny Carson Tonight Show and acting gigs in several movies. He then began to get frequent, well-paying programs on HBO, and after working up a pilot script with another writer, his super-hit "Drew Carey show assured him of TV immortality when it ran from 1995 to 2005.

Taping for the upcoming "Price Is Right" season will begin soon, and there is certainly every chance that Drew will "come on down" to be a great success in his latest endeavor.

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