Along with Johnny Carson and The Golden Girls, The Price Is Right was one of the shows I specifically remember watching during the frequent nights I spent at my grandma’s house, scarfing down bowl after bowl of sugared cereal throughout the stay.
PIR announcer Rod Roddy died of colon and breast cancer in late 2003, but it wasn’t until some time in 2004 that I tuned in to discover an unfamiliar voice ordering the first four contestants to come on down. Roddy’s departure was not widely reported; everyone learned of the death individually, and at different times. There was no nationwide tribute, no evening re-airings of that morning’s final episode, no reminiscent magazine features.
Illustration by Colleen Wang
Bob Barker publicly announced his retirement last October. This time all the nationwide tributes were in full effect. We collectively mourned the passing of skinny microphones and perma-tans. There was comfort in numbers. But in private, that day’s specially purchased Golden Grahams just didn’t taste the same as they used to.