Drew Carey Is "Right"

Comedian Drew Carey has been selected to replace Bob Barker as the host of "The Price Is Right." Carey said, "I realize what a big responsibility this is. It's only a game show, but it's the longest-running game show in American television and I plan to keep it that way."

Drew Carey, 49, grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, which may explain why he is a fan of the Cleveland Indians, and why there was a Drew Carey Bobblehead Doll Night last year before the Indians' baseball game against the Kansas City Royals. Asked once to describe what he was like as a child, Carey said: "Weirdo. Weirdo. Underachiever. Weirdo. Weirdo."

A college drop-out, Carey served for six years in the United States Marine Corps Reserve. Here he signs autographs at a U.S. Marine base in Afghanistan in December, 2001.

He launched a career as a stand-up comic at the age of 27, in 1985. Six years later, Carey appeared for the first time on "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson." After his performance, Carson asked him to sit with him for the rest of the show, which was long understood to be the Carson seal of approval for up-and-coming comedians. Here Carey talks to Carson's successor, Jay Leno, in 2002.

After several jobs acting and writing for television, Carey developed his own show in 1995, "The Drew Carey Show," playing the assistant director of personnel at a Cleveland department store. He's shown here with his co-star Kathy Kinney. The show ran for nine seasons.

His celebrity gained him much -- not just wealth (he reportedly ended the series making $750,000 per episode), not just a degree (Cleveland State University awarded him an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters), but also the chance to hobnob with other celebrities, such as the cartoon character Dilbert.

And Mickey...

And various long-limbed friends. Here he is at a promotional party for the animated film "Robots," where he provided the voice-over for the character named Crank.

Carey received the 2,216th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles in 2003.

Just a week after he appeared with executive producer Michael Davies to promote the television game show "Power of 10" during the CBS portion of the Television Critics Association Press Tour, Drew Carey announced on "Late Night With David Letterman" on July 23 that he would also be the host of "The Price Is Right."

Talk show host David Letterman, right, listens as Drew Carey announces during the Monday, July 23, 2007, show taping that he will be the new host of "The Price Is Right" replacing Bob Barker. Carey was on hand to promote his new game show "The Power of Ten" that premiered in August.

Drew Carey the new host of the game show "The Price is Right" has makeup applied before taping of the game show at CBS's Bob Barker Studio in Los Angeles Thursday, Oct. 4, 2007. The comedian said it wasn't until he became the new face of "The Price Is Right" that he realized game shows were his true calling.

Drew Carey the new host of the game show "The Price is Right" is introduced as he walks on stage at CBS's Bob Barker Studio in Los Angeles Thursday, Oct. 4, 2007. the 49-year-old comedian makes his "Price" debut on Monday, Oct. 15.

Drew Carey, new host of the game show "The Price is Right," guides contestant Marie Bentley after she won the big spin to put her in the Showcase Showdown during taping of the game show at CBS's Bob Barker Studio in Los Angeles Thursday, Oct. 4, 2007.

Comedian Drew Carey, new host of the game show "The Price is Right," talks with the audience during a break in taping of the game show at CBS's Bob Barker Studio in Los Angeles Thursday, Oct. 4, 2007.

Comedian Drew Carey, new host of the game show "The Price is Right," talks with the audience during a break in taping of the game show at CBS's Bob Barker Studio in Los Angeles Thursday, Oct. 4, 2007. The 49-year-old comedian makes his "Price" debut on Monday, Oct. 15.