September 4, 1972: “The Price Is Right” Premiered On CBS
On September 4, 1972, a simple phrase, “Come on down!”, echoed through television history as the revamped game show, The Price Is Right, debuted on CBS. Fifty-three years later, it remains the longest-running game show in U.S. history, a daytime institution that’s outlasted countless trends.
Though the format, guessing the prices of everyday items, is deceptively simple, its magic lies in the energy of its hosts. Bob Barker, who guided the show for an astonishing 35 years, became synonymous with it. His calm charm, quick wit, and signature sign-off, “Help control the pet population: have your pets spayed or neutered”, made him a household name. When Barker retired in 2007, comedian Drew Carey took the reins, bringing his own brand of humor and accessibility. Along the way, fill-in hosts like George Gray and announcers like Johnny Olson also shaped the show’s sound and style.
For Gen X, who grew up with Barker’s microphone and the colorful Showcase Showdowns, The Price Is Right was more than a game show, it was a cultural touchstone. “If you were home sick from school, you watched The Price Is Right,” journalist Chuck Klosterman once joked. “It was like part of our DNA.” The flashing lights, Plinko board, and spinning Big Wheel became rites of passage for an entire generation.
Five decades on, the show still draws in millions daily, proving that even in an age of streaming, nothing beats the thrill of a contestant nailing the price of a washer-dryer and hearing those three immortal words: “Come on down!”
Doug O’Brien
