Defending Drew Carey December 17, 2008

5/16/19 UPDATE: I wrote a long overdue follow up after watching Perfect Bid: The Contestant Who Knew Too Much.

Yesterday on “The Price is Right” on CBS, a contestant named Terry Kneiss (“niece”) from Las Vegas made a perfect bid in the Showcase round and won both showcases.  This was only the second time in the history of the show that a contestant bid perfectly.  The other time was in the first season, 1972-1973.

For not being enthusiastic enough in announcing this milestone, host Drew Carey has been roundly criticized, especially on the internet.  Other criticisms include: he bungled the situation, he can no longer be defended, he shouldn’t have been the host in the first place, bring back Bob Barker, etc.

I was going to link here to video of yesterday’s Showcase round, so you could just for yourself.  But it wouldn’t load properly.  Instead, click here for the full episode on CBS.com.  Then, scroll ahead to 31:25 for the full round or 37:06 for the stoic reaction that’s infuriated so many people.

I am here to defend Drew.  I believe he was simply in stunned disbelief and shock.  Not everyone handles that situation by yelling and screaming.  Drew has had the yelling, screaming reaction before, but he is far from perfect.  If you want Drew to be wildly enthusiastic every time, you’re going to be disappointed.  Clearly, many were disappointed by this.  If you want to stop watching “The Price is Right” because Drew isn’t enthusiastic enough for your taste, it’s your choice.  But there are plenty of people like me that support Drew and will continue to watch.  I have been a Drew Carey fan since “The Drew Carey Show,” I became a bigger fan when he started the U.S. version of “Whose Line is it Anyway?,” and I’ve supported him on all projects since.

If you’re a fellow Drew Carey fan/supporter, you’re welcome to leave a comment.  I look forward to hearing from you.

And congratulations to Terry.  You wrote a second chapter for the history books.

12/18 UPDATE: TMZ – I can’t believe I’m linking to them – has audio of an interview with 93.1 The Party in Las Vegas.

And Paul Walsh of The Minneapolis Star-Tribune has a report on Terry’s win and the “internet buzz” that followed it (and, of course, Drew Carey’s stoic reaction).