Drew Carey Is the New Bob Barker: CBS Picks Carey As Price Is Right Host

LOS ANGELES -- When Drew Carey faced critics here a few days ago to talk up his new CBS game show Power of 10, he was uncharacteristically close-mouthed about another rumor -- that he was up for the gig to replace Bob Barker as host of the Price is Right.

"They came to me, because of this (new show, the Power of 10)," Carey said, about CBS execs asking him if he wanted to host Price. "I don't think there's such a thing as an audition for the Price Is Right. I don't think that exists, with anybody they're interested in...'Why don't you come down and play these games and see what happens -- I don't think that happens."

He also had some insight into the rumors that Rosie O'Donnell might host, calling that story the result of CBS and Rosie having to talk about something everyone else was talking about. "I think that came about because of someone asking Bob Barker, 'Hey, what about Rosie?' looking for a soundbite. What's Bob's Barker going to say? No? Or Screw her? No, he's going to be polite and say it sounds like a great idea." Listen to the last podcast for more info.

Unfortunately for us critics, Carey didn't close the deal until he was in New York to promote his other CBS game show, the Power of 10. So, instead, he told the world on David Letterman:

"“I actually had lunch with an AP reporter today, we had a big, long lunch,” Carey said. “I couldn’t tell him anything because we were negotiating the deal. And they approached me right after the pilot for ‘Power of 10,’ and they called me, I said, ‘No.’ Then they called me a month later, they said, ‘What if we really’ — they called my agent: ‘What if we really go after Drew.’ This is like a month later after I did the pilot for ‘Power of 10’ and I said, ‘Well, what does that mean?’ and he said, ‘Well, you know, I mean, maybe this kind of money.’ I go, ‘What kind of schedule?’ He said, ‘I don’t know,’ so I met with them and stuff and we’ve been negotiating ever since.  Couldn’t say anything, but during your ‘Harry Potter’ bit — honestly it was like 15 minutes ago — they called me. It’s a done deal.  I’m the new host of ‘The Price Is Right.’”

Letterman offered Carey his congratulations.  Carey said that he’s not sure when he’s going to start working on “The Price Is Right,” but did say that already “my girlfriend was on the phone with a personal shopper from Bergdorf’s.”

The only other hitch: As an avid soccer fan, Carey insists all his jobs be arranged around the L.A. Galaxy soccer team's playing schedule. Ah,the power of celebrity....