Commentary

Rosie's Cost To 'The Price'

Word that Rosie O'Donnell has taken herself out of contention (for the moment) to replace Bob Barker as host of "The Price is Right" is good news.

Word that she's still looking to host a game show is not.

Hiring O'Donnell would be like trading Steve Nash for Kobe Bryant.

"The View" may have needed points; "The Price is Right," as well as every other game show, needs assists.

And O'Donnell is a shooter.

NBA metaphors aside, "The Price Is Right" needs a team player, one who can dish to the audience, the advertisers, the products, the spokesmodels with long gowns and big hair without commenting that the spokesmodels with long gowns and big hair are fawning over Chevrolet minivans.

When Rosie had her daytime talk show, her career in stand-up served her well. Dying is easy; comedy is hard.

Hosting a game show is mundane.

Other comedians who made the transition -- Louie Anderson ("Family Feud"), Howie Mandel ("Deal or no Deal") -- had shorter trips. In their stints as stand-ups, Anderson talked about growing up fat and Mandel wore a latex glove on his head. O'Donnell, meanwhile, has called U.S. soldiers terrorists, defended Imus, questioned Oprah's sexual leanings, compared fundamentalist Christianity to radical Islam, and advocated the impeachment of President Bush -- stances that helped "The View" increase its overall ratings about 17% for women 18-49 (according to Nielsen Media Research) during her tenure.

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So imagine what happens the first time a contestant hands host O'Donnell a flag or wears a "Support Our Troops" yellow ribbon?

The longevity of "Price," the recent accolades to Barker notwithstanding, had to do with the guileless charm of the show and the over-the-top excitement of the contestants -- not the acerbic wit of its host. Not only would Rosie not be the center of attention; she would have to deflect attention when some fan or snafu called on her to take center stage. Hobie Boats doesn't want her take on what a CPA from Canton would do with a catamaran, nor does CBS want her telling young girls not to become prize models.

Nobody on television today, with the possible exception of Bill Maher and Jon Stewart, is better at dissecting the country's zeitgeist than O'Donnell.

But it's come at a price. O'Donnell is now daytime's version of another CBS legend: Dan Rather. Many tuned in just to see if he would snap.

Many would watch O'Donnell for the same thrill.

More enticing: game shows are a series of hanging curves to a pull hitter like O'Donnell.

If things change -- and they still could -- and CBS gives her the job (or, for that matter, any other game show producer gives her the nod), they will be praying she doesn't swing away.

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