When I was watching The Price is Right the other day, I was marvelling at the energy Bob Barker was displaying on stage, despite the fact that a) the show was in its 35th season and b) Bob is well into his eighties (he'll turn 83 on December 12). But, at the same time, I was thinking that he couldn't keep this up much longer, for both of the reasons I stated above.

Well, I guess Bob was thinking the same thing, as he just announced that he will retire at the end of TPiR's current season, which tapes its last show in June. Coincidentally, it will also be the end of his 50th year on television (he hosted Truth or Consequences from 1956 to 1974). To him, those two anniversaries made it a good time to leave.

In case you've missed it -- perhaps you were busy highlighting the made-up parts of A Million Little Pieces --  here are some highlights from the last week at TV Squad:



James Frey Dupes Oprah?

• The Smoking Gun's exposé of A Million Little Pieces hits the fan.
• Oprah defends Frey on Larry King Live.
• Publisher denies rumor that they're offiering refunds on Frey's book.
• Made-up memoirs are old news.
• Frey threatens The Smoking Gun with a lawsuit.

Breaking News

• John Doe is picked up by the Sci-Fi Channel.
• Dane Cook gets his own HBO special.
• Shelley Winters dies at 85.
• Dave Marash, formerly of Nightline, joins Al-Jazeera International.
• David Chase says that this is definitely the final season of The Sopranos. Uh-huh.
• Another station bans The Book of Daniel.
• Fox to air remaining Arrested Development episodes against Olympic opener.
• Cynthia Watros of Lost apologizes for DUI.
• Ted Koppel to write New York Times op-ed column.
• Bob swears he heard Dave Letterman say he was retiring in 2-3 years.
• CBS denies that Letterman's retiring in 2-3 years..
• Linday Lohan denies parts of Vanity Fair article.
• Hillary Swank and Chad Lowe separate.
• Lillo Brancato arraigned on murder charges.

Discussions

• Jonathan hates crossovers. So do most of the readers.
• Readers tell Annie why they do or don't still watch ER.
• Readers argue whether Jen Aniston should have been told about the Pitt/Jolie fetus.
• Bob asks the readers if Law & Order changed their font.
• Karina and the readers discuss the TomKat appearance on Ellen.
• Anna lists the pilots in development, wonders if any of them will ever get made.
• Bob asks readers to tell him what happened on Supernatural.

The Five

• Reasons why guys love beauty pagents.
• Best Sesame Street songs.
• Characters that Bob would love to be.

Opinions

• My picks for Best and Worst of 2005.
• Anna thinks there should be a Golden Globes drinking game.
• I become the third Squadder to fawn over Amy Sedaris.
• The stars of Ed are all over TV, and Bob couldn't be happier.
• Bob thinks that Bill O'Reilly should just stifle it.
• Bob also hates it when local anchors address national anchors like they know each other.

Episode Reviews

• Saturday Night Live: Scarlett Johansson / Death Cab for Cutie
• The Book of Daniel: "Acceptance"
• Battlestar Galactica: "Resurrection Ship (Part 2)"
• The Office: "The Injury"
• Lost: "The 23rd Psalm"
• Gilmore Girls: "The Perfect Dress"
• Emily's Reasons Why Not: "Pilot"
• Surface: Episode 12
• The Simpsons: "Homer's Paternity Coot"
• The West Wing: "Running Mates"