Carey Embracing Role As "Game Show King"

Comedian Says He Never Realized How Much Fun It Could Be To Give Money Away

(CBS)  Suddenly life is just a game for comedian Drew Carey. Not only is he the new host of "Price is Right," but tonight he premieres a CBS game show called the "Power of 10."

"I used to think that — I used to go, great, game show king," he told The Early Show co-anchor Hannah Storm. "I thought about it. You're giving way prizes all day and making everybody happy. I really can't complain. Honestly, my whole take on it has turned around now. Now I think you couldn't do better. Here's a car, here's some money. And it's not even your money. You're giving away money and getting credit for it. I feel like a congressman. I'm like the junior Ted Stevens."

Carey has been rehearsing for "The Price Is Right," and his role filling the shoes of legendary Bob Barker is beginning to sink in. He said he is really enjoying his job there because the show is full of great energy.

"It's, like, soaked into every chair and every piece of wood, all that happiness," he said. "You walk in and you're like, 'Ah, what a great place.' "

He has been getting advice from Barker who told him to just be himself. Carey said he will keep Barker's signature signoff about spaying and neutering pets.

"It takes two seconds and it's part of the show — would be a mistake not to," he said. "Nothing really big is going to change about the show at all."

The beauty of "The Price Is Right" is that it doesn't change, Carey said. For example, the producers' idea of change is putting a carpet over a portion of the floor that has gold spots, he said. One producer, he said, doesn't even have a cell phone. Neither does Barker, nor does he have a computer, Carey said.

Although the show was made famous by Barker, the former host is now taking a hands-off approach and has told Carey not to call him asking for help.

"He's like every other retired guy," he said. "Know anybody who just retired? Like, no, got to run the factory themselves now. That's what he's like."

"Power of 10," on the other hand, is a completely new show that is, in the words of Carey, crazy.

"It's the biggest money game show on TV," Carey said. "You can win up to $10 million. It's call 'The Power of 10' because we start you out with every time you win, we times it by 10 …1,000, 10,000, then 100,000, then 1 million, then 10 million. Five steps and that's it."

Contestants must accurately predict the results of a poll taken of an exact demographic representation of the United States. The questions range from as benign as "What percentage of Americans bought jeans that cost more than $100?" to "What percentage of white Americans said they would never vote for an African-American for president?"

"That's the thing that's hard about this game. It's going to shake all the perceptions about what you think those people in Idaho think or those New Yorkers think or those weirdoes in L.A. think," Carey said. "Because it's everybody in America and you have to adjust and realize there's other people besides you and your friends that have an opinion."

[tanghigh]

Hired a 'Real game show host?' Oh PUH-LEAZE, give me a break!

How exactly does one become a "Real" game show host? Do they attend Game Show Host Grad School? Do they have their PhD in Game Show Management?

Dude, EVERY good game show host has come from some other walk of life in the entertainment industry; whether they be actors, radio personalities, comedians, etc.

And I'd MUCH rather have a fun guy like Drew Carey host the show than some stiff from Supermarket Sweep... (David Reuprect, HA!)

Word.

[bingocaller1]

I think CBS should have really hired a real gameshow host like Todd Newton, Mark L. Walberg, or David Reuprect.

But we can't judge him until we see him in action coming out "the big doors"!

[bacardistuff]

I'm glad he's keeping the spay and neuter message.

[anywhereman]

Based on the promo's, Power of 10 seems like a pretty good concept. Good show, good host. Will be interesting to see how it premieres.

Concept reminds me a bit of something I saw online, though...

www.buzzdash.com

Maybe a good cheat for contestants :)