It has almost been 2 months since Bob Barker announced his retirement from "Price is Right". When I found out the news, I - like many other fans of the show - was shocked. Then I realized that he made the right decision at the right time, and I wish him all the best in whatever the future may hold for him.

Many have said that the show will go on, I'm sure Bob himself would have wanted it that way too. No matter where you go online in search of a game show-related message board or chat group, you'll be sure to find at least one thread with people throwing names around as to who would be the best possible person to become the next host. Some have suggested famous faces, others have suggested game show veterans. But I believe that for the past two and a half years, a strong candidate has been under the show's noses the whole time.

The person I'm talking about is the show's current announcer, Rich Fields. I really feel strongly that he would be a terrific host because of the following reasons:

* He knows the games (there's over 80)
* He has great energy and charisma
* Who better to be the next host than a lifelong fan himself (he has watched the show since the beginning in 1972 and made his own pilgrimage to Studio 33 when he was a teenager)
* He deeply loves the show and the people he works with
* Bob believes in him (in fact, it was Bob himself who suggested that Rich toss his hat into the ring
* We may know Rich as an announcer, but his ultimate dream is to one day host his own show
I really believe he can do it, he has got what it takes to keep the show going. Of course that would mean having to hire another announcer, but from what I heard on Friday's show, Burton Richardson would be a good chemistry match for Rich.

I have a video I'd like to show you of Rich in action hosting various events. You may be familiar with some clips, while others you may be seeing for the first time. But this will hopefully prove to you that he would be the right man for the job. Watch it at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHf-upBOk2M

If you want to help out, you can visit this page as well:
http://richfields.awardspace.com/project.htm

Thanks guys

I'm really getting excited about the next few weeks, especially the first couple weeks of December.  The albums of two of my favorite artists are coming out, and both are on my Christmas list

Taylor Hicks (self-titled): December 5
Rex Goudie (Look Closer): December 12

Also, Deal or No Deal is coming to Canada, and they're looking for contestants.  I love the show and am glad that Canadians will be getting in on the action.  With some encouragement, I sent in an application online and now have to wait for the casting people to call me to see if I got an audition.  If I did, they would be held in Toronto on December 4 and 5.  I hope I do get the audition! :)

So "The Price is Right" is losing a legend.  Bob announced on Halloween that he would be retiring at the end of the current season, he will be missed.  I have been a "loyal friend and true" since I was 2 years old and have been watching the show every chance I get.
Now the search is on for a successor, because I'm sure Bob would have wanted the show to continue - which I know it will.  Everywhere I look on some boards names have been thrown into the proverbial ring.  If you ask me, one of the best candidates has been under their noses for the last couple of years.

I decided to experiment with the Movie Maker program on my laptop, and last night I was surprised at the final product I created.  I learned how to splice clips, add captions/titles and use background music all in a few short hours.  I'm a fan of Taylor Hicks (the winner of American Idol 5) and was so impressed with some of the videos other fans made, I decided to make my own.  Even I was surprised it turned out so well!
Backed by Journey's 1981 hit "Don't Stop Believing", it's a video montage of Taylor's journey through the Idol competition this past season from audition to winning moment with clips of all his performances in between.  I've posted the link to several fan boards, and people have told me that they really enjoyed it (some even cried seeing it).  It's amazing what a little ingenuity can do, don't you think?

You can watch it here, and if you really like it, you can download it here so you can have your own copy (look for the filename "dontstop.wmv") Enjoy!

I'm a huge fan of Idol (both Canadian and American), and I have to say that this past season of American Idol has been my favorite to date.  Why?  Because it's been an unpredictable ride, the talent pool of the top 12 finalists has been the deepest ever with musical styles varying from rock to R&B.  I didn't really get into it until late in the season, but those last few episodes were worth the watch.

My favorite finalist?  It's definitely Taylor Hicks.  Ever since I watched a video of him performing "Try A Little Tenderness", I was hooked and became a card-carrying member of the Soul Patrol.  What I really love about him is the way he takes any song and infuses it with his own heart and soul, as well as the way he makes a connection with his audience (which is what I think is the real reason that he deserved to win).  His single, "Do I Make You Proud", is fabulous and he truly does make me proud to be one of his fans.  His American dream has come true, and I wish him nothing but the best as his journey continues.

I hope one day he comes to Canada after he releases his debut CD, it's sure to be great!

The American Idol season 5 tour starts next week, but being Canadian with no stops up here, I really wish I could go so I could cheer on Taylor...he rocks!  I have his single and it's so good it almost makes me cry.

Just waiting for the day when Tay eventually comes to Canada for a concert (in the Toronto area, of course), I could get my single autographed and get my picture taken with him.  Wishful thinking, I know.  I'm really looking forward to his debut CD since winning the Idol crown, it's sure to be great!

The Olympics in Torino were fantastic, Canada did so well and almost met the COA's 25-medal goal.  I enjoyed the speed skating and women's hockey, but it was the men's curling final that I enjoyed the most because Brad Gushue and his team practically surprised everybody even when some said that they didn't have the experience to win.  I was in Thunder Bay on vacation when the match was on, and my heart was literally in my throat when Canada scored 6 points in the 6th end to blow the game wide open (I knew that the gold was theirs at that point).

I'm just glad I get to re-live that match whenever I want, the CBC came out with a 6-DVD box set featuring highlights from Canada's performances at the games which includes the women's and men's hockey finals, the bronze-medal women's curling match and the men's gold-medal game in their entireties.  I bought the set last week and am really enjoying it (I've already seen the men's curling final twice).