Drew Carey took over as host of The Price Is Right in 2007.
His first episode aired on October 15, 2007 , following Bob Barker's retirement after 35 years on the show.

Quick Timeline

  • Bob Barker's Era Ends : Barker hosted from 1972 until his final episode on June 18, 2007.
  • Drew Carey's Start : Production resumed in August 2007, with Carey's debut marking a smooth transition.
  • Nearly Two Decades Later : By early 2026, Carey has hosted over 3,300 episodes across 18+ years, calling himself the "new guy" still honoring Barker's legacy.

Behind the Scenes Story

Imagine stepping into Bob Barker's massive shoes—Carey did just that, determined not to "ruin the show". He shared in a recent interview how he aimed to freshen things up—like adding "new drapes and wallpaper"—while keeping the core magic alive, all without "rocking the boat." His first day even included a funny mishap: forgetting warnings and getting spun by the turntable during rehearsals!

Fun fact from fans: Reddit threads buzz about milestones, like Carey hitting half of Barker's tenure by March 2025, sparking chats on how he's kept the show thriving into 2026.

Host| Tenure| Episodes Hosted| Key Notes
---|---|---|---
Bob Barker| 1972–2007| ~8,000+ (two-thirds of total)| Iconic era; retired at 83.1
Drew Carey| 2007–present| 3,300+ (18 years by 2026)| "Destined for this"; no plans to quit.15

Fan & Media Buzz

Forums love reminiscing—posts mark 17 years in 2024 as a "generational change," with users sharing old-school memories like phone-in contests during commercial breaks. Carey recently told Variety he's in for the long haul, as the show hit 10,000 episodes total. No major updates since; it's steady game-show gold.

TL;DR : Drew Carey officially took over The Price Is Right on October 15, 2007—right after Barker's 2007 retirement. He's hosted ever since, blending nostalgia with his humor.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.