Well, Season 38 started and there’s nothing you can do about it now. The set’s going to be this way for a long time. And the intro isn’t going back either. Those are the two biggest changes. The set and the intro.

The set is changed because we wanted more room at home base (the area next to the turntable). We didn’t want the showcase contestants to be flat up against a wall with one of them having a giant thick seam coming up out of their head. So there’s that.

The intro to the show was changed because we wanted to get to the “come on downs” quicker. I also asked to not be called “The Star of The Price Is Right!” I’m just the host. The contestants and the prizes are the stars.

For a while, a friend or someone would ask me what’s new at The Price Is Right and I’d start to tell them about the new set and such. Then it would always trail off because really, there’s a war on. And it’s football season. And my kid wants to start swim lessons but I was too late to sign him up so now what do I do? It’s like really telling someone how you’re feeling when they ask how you’re feeling. They don’t care. It’s just small talk. They have problems of their own.

So now, when people ask what’s new at Price I just say “Oh, lots of things. You should check it out. It’s been really good lately.” Then I change the subject as quickly as I can. (To something about themselves, if possible, since I’m all about Winning Friends and Influencing People.)

The changes are nice though. I love the extra room at home base when I’m doing Any Number or one of those turntable games. And I love hearing Rich say “Here’s Your Host!”

So... there you go. Not to make too big deal about it, but it’s a new season. We have a new set and a new intro and well, just lots of cool new things. New leaves on the tree. Same old tree, but new leaves.


But enough about me and my job. How are you?