Rod Roddy - The Price Is Right

The Price Is Right

After Goodson-Todman announcer Johnny Olson died in October 1985, Roddy was chosen as one of several substitute announcers (along with Rich Jeffries, Bob Hilton, and Gene Wood) to announce The Price Is Right. The job was first offered to Hilton, who had to decline due to prior announcing engagements. Despite only announcing for six episodes (the least of the four), on February 17, 1986 Roddy was announced as the show's regular announcer. Roddy also was the announcer on Tom Kennedy's Nighttime Price Is Right after Olson's death.

Roddy later adopted a rigorous diet and exercise program. Overweight for much of his adult life, the program resulted in Roddy's loss of close to 200 pounds, an accomplishment often hailed by Barker on camera, but also subject to some mild teasing as camera technicians distorted their lenses to show an elongated and overly-skinny Roddy intentionally distorted in the manner of a funhouse mirror when Barker would ask how much weight he has lost. With his weight-loss regimen becoming a much-lauded success, he was frequently shown on-camera while he announced "the next contestant on The Price Is Right", and was occasionally featured in Showcase skits aiding the "Barker's Beauties".

Roddy was also noted for wearing brightly colored and sequined sport jackets, a practice he first adopted as a trademark when making personal appearances emceeing teen dances and concerts for WKBW in Buffalo in the 1960s. On Price he first wore pastel jackets made in Hong Kong, and with the encouragement of Bob Barker turned them into a staple of the show. Preferring Thai silk for its colorfulness, he traveled to Bangkok several times a year to have new clothing custom-made. He would also frequently travel to Thailand as the official ambassador to Chiang Mai.

Beginning in Season 31, Roddy's on-air camera appearances were eliminated from the show. FremantleMedia claimed that it was against its policies for announcers to appear on camera during any of its game shows; however, insiders speculated that a falling-out between Roddy and Barker was the real reason Roddy was never shown again (except for a brief appearance on the Season 32 premiere, after his return from a lengthy absence). The policy was later claimed to be a fabrication in a 2009 interview by series model Holly Hallstrom, who was dismissed from the show in 1995 but remained friends with Roddy.