Bob Barker and Rod Roddy's Distant End to a Game Show Partnership

The duo had a good on-screen relationship, but circumstances shifted over time off-screen.

NEED TO KNOW

Bob Barker was the host ofThe Price Is Rightfor 35 years, between 1972 and 2007
Rod Roddy took on the role of the show's announcer after being one of the candidates who tried out for the position following the passing of original announcer Johnny Olson in October 1985.
A friend of Roddy spoke about the changing dynamic between Barker and the announcer for an episode ofNostalgia Tonight featuring Joe Sibilia

There was a great deal happening behind the scenes ofThe Price Is Right.

When Rod Roddy joined the game show world in 1986, he had significant footsteps to follow. The show's original announcer, Johnny Olson, passed away in October 1985. Olson had a unique connection with the hostBob Barker. Roddy and Barker initially had a good relationship.

Roddy's friend and fellow announcer Randy West discussed the shift in momentum during an appearance onNostalgia Tonight featuring Joe Sibilia.

"If I may be so bold and impolite, Bob Barker liked him because he wasn't a leading man. As Bob was getting older, he remained the dominant male on every show he appeared on, was very aware of his looks, and certainly didn't want a leading man to be competing with," West said.

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And Rod, naturally, posed no threat with his leading man look. So he was appreciated for his second banana appearance. They enjoyed him for his delivery and his voice style.

Following more than a decade of collaboration, the change between the two became noticeable to those involved in the production.

"They were amazing for the first... 13 or 14 years. That was incredible, and they worked together seamlessly, like the top banana and the sidekick. It was fantastic. However,... their relationship became tense over time," West mentioned.

By the end, there wasn't much informal friendship. They weren't in a position... Barker would never have removed Rod from the show because he was such a popular figure. He was a key part of the program, but no, they weren't friends by then, and that was a major disappointment for Rod, who often discussed it with me. He didn't want to be on anyone's negative side and felt bad that their relationship had reached a point where he was taken off the air.

As long as Roddy was part of the show, his camera appearances were restricted, which "upset Rod," particularly since there was "no specific event" that altered the relationship between the host and the announcer.

Craig Kilmore, who hosted The Late Late Show also remembered hearing about conflicts between Barker and Roddy.

I believe one of his friends mentioned some issues involving Bob, but Rod didn't express much dissatisfaction. However, I am aware that there was some tension.

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