Rich Fields

Last updated
Rich Fields
RF Headshot Internet.png
Born
Richard Wayne Fields

(1960-11-30) November 30, 1960 (age 63) [1]
Occupations
  • Media personality
  • author
  • motivational speaker
  • meteorologist
  • game show announcer
  • voice over artist
  • radio personality
Years active1979–present
Website www.richfields.tv

Richard Wayne Fields (born November 30, 1960) is an American media personality, author, motivational speaker, game show announcer, and meteorologist. He is best known for having been hand-picked by Bob Barker as the announcer for the American version of The Price Is Right with both Barker and Drew Carey.

Contents

Early life and education

Fields was born in Bay Village, Ohio, and raised in Avon, Ohio, before moving to Clearwater, Florida, in 1976. He graduated from the University of Florida Gainesville in 1983 with a Bachelor’s degree in broadcasting. While attending UF, Fields was diagnosed with both testicular cancer and lymphoma, both of which he survived. [2] Between 1995 and 1999, he was the announcer of the Florida Lottery game show Flamingo Fortune. [3]

In early 2000, Fields returned to college at Mississippi State University to study meteorology and later became a successful Los Angeles television weatherman. [4] Rich completed his MSU Meteorology internship at WFLA-TV in Tampa, Florida. In 2002, Fields was offered the morning weather position at KPSP-LP in Palm Springs, California. Fields was later promoted to Chief Meteorologist for KPSP and was charged with the weather forecasts on the 5:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m., and 11:00 p.m. newscasts for the station until May 2004. [5]

Career

Fields during his tenure with The Price Is Right, c. 2007 Rich Fields game show host and master of ceremonies.jpg
Fields during his tenure with The Price Is Right, c. 2007

In 2004, Bob Barker chose Fields as the new announcer of the American version of The Price Is Right , after the death of longtime announcer Rod Roddy. [6] The announcement of Fields' hiring was made official on April 8, 2004. [7]

In 1978, during a question-and-answer segment with announcer Johnny Olson at a taping of The Price Is Right, Fields asked how he could get Olson's job. Olson brought Fields onstage and asked him to give an example of how he would call a contestant to "Come on down!" [8] In 2007, Fields appeared with Bob Barker on a fictional episode of The Price Is Right in an episode of How I Met Your Mother . [9]

From 2010 to 2016, Fields was a staff meteorologist for CBS, delivering forecasts on its Los Angeles properties KCBS-TV, KCAL-TV, KNX, KFWB, and KRTH. Fields was a veteran disc jockey, having had music radio shows for over a decade on CBS' 93.1 FM frequency in Los Angeles during the 1980s and 1990s. [10]

Fields served as the announcer of the All-Star summer tournament series Gameshow Marathon from May 31 until June 29, 2006, on CBS. [11] It was during this seven-show series that Fields set a record for announcing the most televised game show titles in a single season. This U.S. version was hosted by actress and talk show host Ricki Lake. [12]

In 2009, Fields had his own comedy web series on YouTube called Rich Fields Gone Wild where he gets into some crazy situations in his daily life with Lou Ferrigno (The Incredible Hulk) and Adam West (Batman) as guest stars in those particular episodes. [13]

Fields also served as the announcer on 55 episodes of Wheel of Fortune in 2010 following the death of Charlie O'Donnell, and provided post-production voice-over work for over 11 weeks of episodes, plus specials. [14]

Fields has worked as a radio personality (starting back in 1979) at some 16 radio stations across the country, including markets like Los Angeles, California, and Tampa, Florida. From 2017 [15] until 2020, Fields held down the Afternoon Drive position on Q105 (WRBQ-FM). However, after nearly three years on the air at Q105, Fields and nearly the entire air-staff were let go, during staffing cutbacks due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [16]

Fields as seen in March 2023 Rf motivational.jpg
Fields as seen in March 2023

In November 2021, Rich Fields was hired as a meteorologist at WTSP (10 Tampa Bay), the CBS affiliate in Tampa, Florida where he stayed until 2023. [17] On February 16, 2023, Fields announced he was leaving traditional broadcasting to become a motivational speaker. [18]

Related Research Articles

<i>The Price Is Right</i> American television game show

The Price Is Right is an American television game show where contestants compete by guessing the prices of merchandise to win cash and prizes. A 1972 revival by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman of their 1956–1965 show of the same name, the new version added many distinctive gameplay elements. Contestants are selected from the studio audience: the announcer calls their name, invoking them to "Come on down!", the show's famous catchphrase.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bob Barker</span> American media personality (1923–2023)

Robert William Barker was an American media personality and animal rights advocate. He hosted CBS's The Price Is Right, the longest-running game show in North American television history, from 1972 to 2007. Barker also hosted Truth or Consequences from 1956 to 1975.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rod Roddy</span> American radio and television announcer (1937–2003)

Robert Ray "Rod" Roddy was an American radio and television announcer. He was primarily known for his role as an offstage announcer on game shows. Among the shows that Roddy announced are the CBS game shows Whew! and Press Your Luck. Roddy is widely recognized by the signature line, "Come on down!" from The Price Is Right, and it appears on his grave marker, although the phrase was originated and made popular by his predecessor Johnny Olson. Roddy succeeded original announcer Olson on The Price Is Right and held the role from 1986 until his death in 2003, and as of 2022, is the longest-serving announcer on the current incarnation of the show. On many episodes of Press Your Luck and The Price Is Right, Roddy appeared on camera. He was also the voice of Mike the microphone on Disney's House of Mouse from 2001 until his death in 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johnny Olson</span> American television announcer (1910–1985)

John Leonard Olson was an American radio personality and television announcer. Olson is perhaps best known for his work as an announcer for game shows, particularly the work he did for Mark Goodson-Bill Todman Productions. Olson was the longtime announcer for the original To Tell the Truth and What's My Line?, and spent over a decade as the announcer for both Match Game and The Price Is Right, working on the latter series at the time of his death.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Goodson</span> American TV producer (1915–1992)

Mark Leo Goodson was an American television producer who specialized in game shows, most frequently with his business partner Bill Todman, with whom he created Goodson-Todman Productions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WTSP</span> CBS affiliate in St. Petersburg, Florida

WTSP is a television station licensed to St. Petersburg, Florida, United States, serving the Tampa Bay area as an affiliate of CBS. The station is owned by Tegna Inc., and maintains studios on Gandy Boulevard on St. Petersburg's northeast side, just off the Gandy Bridge; its transmitter is located in Riverview, Florida.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WFLA-TV</span> NBC affiliate in Tampa, Florida

WFLA-TV is a television station licensed to Tampa, Florida, United States, serving as the NBC affiliate for the Tampa Bay area. It is owned by Nexstar Media Group alongside St. Petersburg–licensed CW owned-and-operated station WTTA and Sarasota-based low-power MyNetworkTV affiliate WSNN-LD. WFLA-TV and WTTA share studios on South Parker Street in downtown Tampa; through a channel sharing agreement, the two stations transmit using WFLA-TV's spectrum from a transmitter in Riverview, Florida.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dick Fletcher</span> American broadcast meteorologist

Richard R. Fletcher was a broadcast meteorologist. He was Chief Meteorologist for WTSP in St. Petersburg, Florida, for 28 years. He was a holder of the American Meteorological Society Seal of Approval, having received it in 1978.

KPSP-CD is a low-power, Class A television station licensed to Cathedral City, California, United States, serving the Palm Springs area as an affiliate of CBS. It is owned by the News-Press & Gazette Company alongside Palm Springs–licensed ABC affiliate KESQ-TV and four other low-power stations: Class A Fox affiliate KDFX-CD, Palm Springs–licensed CW affiliate KCWQ-LD, Indio-licensed Telemundo affiliate KUNA-LD, and independent station KYAV-LD. The six stations share studios on Dunham Way in Thousand Palms; KPSP-CD's transmitter is located on Edom Hill northeast of Cathedral City and I-10.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dennis James</span> American television personality (1917–1997)

Dennis James was an American television personality, philanthropist, and commercial spokesman. Until 1976, he had appeared on TV more times and for a longer period than any other television star. Alternately referred to as "The Dean of Game Show Hosts" and the "Godfather of Gameshows", he was the host of television's first network game show, the DuMont Network's Cash and Carry (1946).

The American television game show The Price Is Right has, since its 1972 relaunch, employed a number of models to showcase the prizes and items that are given away on the show. From 1972 to 2007, the group was referred to as "Barker's Beauties", in reference to Bob Barker, who hosted the show during that period.

Tammie Souza is a multiple Emmy-winning meteorologist, She worked as the chief meteorologist at NBC O&O station WCAU-TV in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from March 2017 until December 2019. and is currently the weekend morning meteorologist at CBS O&O station KYW.

The 1988 Green Bay Packers season was their 70th season overall and their 68th in the National Football League (NFL). Under coach Lindy Infante, the team finished with their second 4–12 in three seasons, and finishing last place in the NFC Central division. 1988 was the first season the Packers played under Infante.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2011 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season</span> NFL team season

The 2011 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season was the franchise's 36th season in the National Football League (NFL) and the third and final under head coach Raheem Morris. The team competed in the NFC South. Both of their preseason home games, and seven of their regular season home games were played at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. One regular season home game was played at Wembley Stadium in London as part of the NFL International Series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015 Jacksonville Jaguars season</span> 21st season in franchise history

The 2015 season was the Jacksonville Jaguars' 21st in the National Football League (NFL) and their third under head coach Gus Bradley. The Jaguars improved on their 3–13 record in 2014, finishing with a 5–11 record and winning their most games in a season since 2011. While they improved upon their previous two seasons, the Jaguars were eliminated from playoff contention before their Week 16 loss to the New Orleans Saints when the Houston Texans defeated the Tennessee Titans earlier in the day.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 Jacksonville Jaguars season</span> 25th season in franchise history

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 Los Angeles Chargers season</span> 61st season in franchise history

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References

  1. Shipp, Laura (September–October 2010). "Coping with Cancer Celebrity Interviews". copingmag.com. Archived from the original on March 18, 2014. Retrieved March 17, 2014. Rich Fields
  2. "Rich Fields from the Price is Right Talks Cancer – Coping Mag". 19 September 2010.
  3. "Come On Down". Cleveland Magazine. December 2004. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
  4. "Rich Fields bio". Richfields.tv. Archived from the original on 2 January 2010. Retrieved 3 January 2010.
  5. "Rich Fields is right for 'Price' job". Los Angeles Times . 10 April 2004. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  6. "Beacon Journal: Search Results". nl.newsbank.com. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
  7. [ dead link ]
  8. Blits, Stan (4 September 2007). Come on Down! Behind the Big Doors at The Price Is Right. Harper Collins. ISBN   978-0-06-135011-5.
  9. Fields, Rich (22 April 2022). "Rich Fields". wtsp.com. WTSP-TV. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  10. "KCAL Meteorologist's Contract Not Renewed". adweek.it. 28 June 2016. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
  11. King, Susan (9 July 2006). "He always knew 'Price' was right". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  12. "Gameshow Marathon". tvtime.com. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  13. "Rich Fields". voices.com. Voices.com, Inc. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  14. "WHAT HAPPENED TO RICH FIELDS?". tampabay.com. Times Publishing Company. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  15. "Rich Fields Joins Q105". myq105.com. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  16. "Beasley Enacts Layoffs, Furloughs And Temporary Pay Cuts". insideradio.com. April 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  17. RICH FIELDS - METEOROLOGY Retrieved 1 March 2022
  18. "Rich Fields, Motivational Speaking". RichFields.TV.
Media offices
Preceded by Announcer of
The Price Is Right

2004–2010
Succeeded by