Drew Carey's Debut as Host of The Price Is Right
Drew Carey began hosting The Price Is Right on October 15, 2007, succeeding Bob Barker after Barker's final episode on June 15, 2007. Carey's first episode aired as part of Season 36 of the long-running CBS game show. The transition was announced by FremantleMedia and CBS in early 2007, with Carey selected from a shortlist of candidates to lead the show's reboot era CBS Official Site.
Carey signed a multi-year contract with FremantleMedia and CBS, making him the second permanent host in the show's history. His debut marked the first major hosting change since the show moved to its current hour-long format in 1972. The premiere under Carey drew strong overnight ratings, positioning the series as a consistent performer in the daytime lineup Nielsen Ratings Data.
The Price Is Right Format and Production Under Drew Carey
The show follows the same core format Carey inherited, including the Showcase Showdown and Showcase segments filmed at Television City in Los Angeles. FremantleMedia produces the series, with Mark Goodson Productions branding retained as a legacy element of the franchise. Carey's role includes opening the show, facilitating contestant interviews, and managing the pricing games that define each episode Fremantle Official Site.
Under Carey's tenure, The Price Is Right has expanded its digital presence and integrated viewer interaction through CBS platforms and companion apps. Production cycles run year-round with multiple tapings per week, maintaining a backlog of episodes that supports daily syndication and streaming availability. Carey's contract renewals have aligned with the show's continued ratings strength in the daytime demographic Forbes Media Coverage.
Ratings, Longevity, and Legacy of Drew Carey's Tenure
The Price Is Right remains the highest-rated daytime game show in the United States during Carey's hosting period, consistently ranking in the top tier of Nielsen's daytime reports. Carey's approachable hosting style has been credited with stabilizing viewership after the Barker transition, helping the series maintain its position as a flagship CBS daytime property Nielsen Official Data.
Carey's ongoing contract extensions reflect the show's enduring commercial value, with CBS and FremantleMedia renewing agreements based on ad revenue and audience retention metrics. The series has produced thousands of episodes under Carey, contributing to its status as one of the longest-running game shows in television history. Carey's role continues to evolve with new pricing game variants and special celebrity episodes integrated into the regular rotation CBS Official Site.