People: Last date with Bob? Priceless
Bob Barker officially begins his retirement today after taping his final “The Price is Right” on Wednesday, ending a 35-year stint as host.
Die-hard fans from across the country huddled in sleeping bags for days for a chance to join the studio audience and say goodbye.
“I’m here because I need to kiss Bob,” said Zepeda Velez of Alberta, Canada – something female contestants have traditionally done.
Added Mark Dub, a NASA engineer who flew in from Houston: “I’d rather win a couch from Bob Barker than a million dollars from Howie Mandel (on ‘Deal or No Deal’). He’s part of American culture.”
That includes Barker’s trademark signoff – “Have your pets spayed and neutered” – a tribute to the vegetarian’s favorite cause.
Philip Barrett of Tampa, Fla., said he had to hear Barker say it one last time: “I get teary-eyed just thinking about it.”
Barker’s final show is slated to air June 15. His replacement has yet to be announced.
He says he’ll mis it: “How many 83-year-old men get up every morning knowing that they’re going to have a standing ovation sometime during the day?”
What is ‘comfort zone’?
Alex Trebek, on the other hand, has no plans to step down from “Jeopardy” after 23 years of presiding over the syndicated quiz show.
“My wife mentioned recently that when I’m not taping, I tend to fump around a little, like, ‘What am I going to do today?’ ” says the 66-year-old Trebek.
“But if I have the show to go to two days a week, it anchors my life and that’s good.”
Umm … good guess, Keith
Speaking of golden oldies, the Rolling Stones kicked off their European tour in Belgium on Tuesday to a big crowd, rave reviews – and a massive traffic jam that stretched for 30 miles.
Guitarist Keith Richards says he sees longtime Stones fans bringing their grandchildren to performances.
“I don’t know quite what it is,” he said. “But it must be something to do with the music.”
It’s just not fashionable
Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen took time out from strutting the runway during Rio de Janeiro’s Fashion Week to defend her homeland’s support of birth control.
While most abortions are banned in Brazil, the government hands out more than 300 million free condoms each year – which Pope Benedict XVI criticized during a recent visit.
Bundchen says the church’s position on contraception dates back to when “the women were virgins, the guys were virgins. Today, no one is a virgin when they get married.”
Pro bono, no?
Finally, in case you hadn’t heard, Larry Birkhead, the court-declared daddy of the late Anna Nicole Smith‘s little girl, has been busy trading lawsuits with his attorney.
Debra Opri says Birkhead hasn’t paid his legal bills, but he claims she agreed to represent him for free because the publicity.
The birthday bunch
Singer Tom Jones is 67. Actor Ken Osmond (“Leave It to Beaver”) is 64. Talk-show host Jenny Jones is 61. Actor Liam Neeson is 55. Musician Prince is 49. Rock guitarist Dave Navarro is 40. Actor Michael Cera (“Arrested Development”) is 19.