'I wanted to be that source of energy and entertainment that made listening to the radio enjoyable. 'I really wanted to be that voice,' Newton said. He worked his way into that life as DJ Rikk Idol, and said there are people in the Midwest area who still call him that. 'She had a little crush on Bob Barker,' Newton said.īefore gameshow life grabbed him, young Newton found himself entranced by the radio voices in between the songs. Newton's grandmother also introduced him to 'The Price is Right' on TV. I just really enjoyed the way she made people feel good. When I was very young, I got to see her at the very tail end of her career. 'She did a lot of shows locally in my hometown of St.

'My grandmother was a comedian during World War II,' Newton said.

'It's like being Santa Claus for 365 days a year.'īeing an entertainer and uplifting people is something that runs in Newton's family. 'I tell people, I love being a game show host,' Newton said. Between then and now, he's given out close to $60 million in prizes. Newton got into the game show world in 1999, working on several shows. 'I know the actual retail price of everything from Oreo cookies to brand new refrigerators,' Newton said. When Newton walks into virtually any store, the prices of virtually anything around him aren't a mystery. All guests are required to wear masks in the building. MPAC will continue temperature checks of everyone entering the theater. 'I'm lucky that I get to do this every night, but for the contestant it's a once in a lifetime experience,' Newton said. My feeling is, if you can get it to go around just once exactly, you'll be home free because we always start it on the $1.'įrom there, Big Wheel winners will get a shot at the showcase. 'But the rule says it's got to go all the way around at least once. 'A lot of people say it's very calculating,' Newton said. Plinko and, of course, the Big Wheel where contestants try to spin twice to add up to a dollar without busting, or if they're lucky or skillful enough land on the dollar the first try.

Who hosts price is right