'Price Is Right' Producer Defends Bob Barker After Damning Docuseries

Roger Dobkowitz, who produced 'The Price Is Right' for over 4,650 episodes across four decades, has come to the defense of the show and its late host, Bob Barker. This follows the airing of E!'s 'Dirty Rotten Scandals' documentary, which presents allegations of sexual harassment, discrimination, and a hostile work environment from former employees and models. Barker, who passed away in 2023 at the age of 99, always denied any wrongdoing, as did his longtime representative, Roger Neal, who issued a statement after the documentary aired, calling him "beloved".

Dobkowitz initially resisted commenting on 'Dirty Rotten Scandals', hoping the show would "quietly disappear." However, seeing that the documentary did not have the expected impact, he decided to defend "the dignity and integrity" of 'The Price Is Right'. In a Facebook post, Dobkowitz expressed that the documentary "exaggerates and creates falsehoods" to justify a "personal vendetta" against a deceased person who can no longer defend themselves. He added that "brave" should not be an adjective used to attack a dead person.

Dobkowitz hinted that he might write a book in the future, where he would share his 36 years of observations about Barker, with the aim of "clearing up many misconceptions and dismissing any wrongful accusations." He described the work environment as enviable, with staff who rarely quit and models who returned year after year. According to Dobkowitz, the only unhappy people were those who did not get the desired raises or promotions, or who were fired for not fulfilling their responsibilities.

The 'Dirty Rotten Scandals' documentary features testimonies from former employees, such as Barbara Hunter, who recounts having suffered sexual harassment during her time on the show in the 1970s. Hunter describes an incident in the elevator and other inappropriate situations, stating that, despite reporting the behavior, no action was taken. Holly Hallstrom, a 'Barker’s Beauties' model, also participated in the documentary, mentioning that she complained about inappropriate stares and lack of supervision, and that this negatively affected the work environment.

Hallstrom claims that the lack of action on complaints "destroyed" the show. 'The Price Is Right' is still on the air, with Drew Carey as host. The statements of Hunter and Hallstrom paint a picture of a work environment where sexual harassment and a lack of action on complaints were common. The allegations raise serious questions about the treatment of employees and the work environment on the show during Barker's time.