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July 31, 2007
THIS IS RANDOM . . .
. . . But I've decided I really like Bob Barker. And not on a kitschy, ironic level, the way homosexuals like cereal boxes. As I was watching THE PRICE IS RIGHT on the EFX Machine with the sound off*, it made me realize that Mr. Barker likes things that a large percentage of people don't like, which are:
A) Other People
B) Giving Away Money
C) Seeing Salt of the Earth Types Be Really Happy
We tend to criticize Game Show Hosts easily, and its mostly because they're smarmy, slick, mustachioed jackasses with impeccable teeth. We tend to condemn the guy in the fourth grade who lies a lot and is ingenuine to a future as a game show host.
But something about Barker transcends this stereotype. He seems like a genuinely nice person. He has been a public support of neutering animals, not exactly a cause celebre. You never see him pandering or picking on his lovely blonde models. He's also willing to make fun of himself in ways that most celebrities won't go near - not just in his hilarious appearance in HAPPY GILMORE, but also on several occasions on Letterman where he joked about his apparent effeminacy.
Mostly, when I think of Barker, I think of how excited he gets whenever one of the price-guessers gets the EXACT price and the alarm goes off. And when he announces it, and gives away 100 dollars, usually some large woman who is obviously in the middle of the greatest day of her life comes up and affectionately pecks him on the cheek.
And Barker loves every second of it. There have been better people in the world, but I can't think of one who brings a level of unironic joy to such a seemingly inane profession. There's some message here, I'm just not sure what it is.
---
Here is a good article by the AV Club Editor on appreciating Foreign Movies. I feel the same way as he does about Fellini and Resnais, but have always really liked Bergman.
* - Misplaced Modifiers, gotta love em
| By Andytown | 11:43 AM
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Comments
I totally agree. Great article.
Posted by: Harvey at July 31, 2007 03:08 PM