Don't believe the spin: Longtime 'The Price Is Right' host Bob Barker said comments he made to a TMZ.com paparazzo on Monday were not meant to disparage the performance of current 'TPIR' host Drew Carey.

Barker's proof: Dissing Drew would mean putting a dent in his own future earnings.

TMZ posted a video on Monday in which, when asked what he thought of the job Carey is doing as host of the CBS game show, Barker replied, "He does the show differently than I did. I try to make the show really exciting. He doesn't do that. He just plays the games."

But despite a TMZ headline which indicated that Barker was calling the Carey version of 'TPIR' "boring," Barker told EW.com that's not what he meant at all.

"I would not criticize Drew Carey. I would not criticize this show. I would not criticize CBS," Barker told EW.com. "I would not criticize FremantleMedia (which produces 'TPIR' for CBS), because I have a sizable royalty that I am paid every year this show is on, and it's going on for years. I would be an absolute fool. I hope this show stays on for years. As for Drew, he's been charming and complimentary, and he had me on the show to plug my book, 'Priceless Memories.' He devoted half of the show to me! He's a charming man, and kind and gracious. To think that I would say anything derogatory about him is idiocy."

Barker says he had advised comedian and sitcom star Carey to "do the show your way," in fact. "And that's what he has done. Obviously, it's successful."

Carey is in his fourth season as 'TPIR' host, and the show has continued to garner Daytime Emmy nominations for Outstanding Game/Audience Participation Show. The show has also been in the news this month as CBS plans to make several changes at 'TPIR,' including replacing current announcer Rich Fields, adding new games and, according to one source, adding more of a variety show vibe to the series. (Hmmm ... just as long as they don't mess with Plinko!)

Meanwhile, Barker, who says he'll "keep his mouth" zipped when he's walking down a street from now on, might have a second round of clarifications to make.

When asked by the TMZ cameraman about his famous cameo in the Adam Sandler flick 'Happy Gilmore,' in which he punches Sandler, Barker replied, "Young men love that movie, and they're always asking me, could I beat up Adam Sandler in real life. And my answer is: Adam Sandler couldn't even whip Regis Philbin!"

Sandler, Reeg ... Bob didn't mean anything by that.