Dan Patrick, in the Showcase Showdown?
The lead item in Friday's "What Smokes" part of the Daily News media column is this exclusive:
Dan Patrick, c’mon down? The price may be right in luring the ESPN/ABC personality and weekday ESPN Radio sports-talk host, who sources insist has been contacted by the producers of the legendary game show “The Price Is Right” and is on the short list of those who’ll be asked to take part in auditions to replace the retired Bob Barker, who recently ended his 35-year run. Patrick wouldn’t comment on the report except to say: “Len Barker was always one of my favorite pitchers.”
Other names tossed around in the media as Barker replacement contenders include Mark Steines, the “Entertainment Tonight” host and former sportscaster at KCAL Channel 9; B-list actors George Hamilton and John O’Hurley, and (the biggest challenger) Rosie O’Donnell, who claims she’s out of the running, as if she was ever in it.
In a direct swipe at “Stump the Schwab,” TV Guide recently named “The Price Is Right” as the “greatest game show of all time." And don’t think Patrick, who once upon a time replaced the legendary Tim Brando on the set of “SportsCenter,” doesn’t know what he’d be getting into with the plus-sized female 65-plus demographic.