LONG OVER-DREW
Price Is Right host Drew Carey’s ’90s sitcom hits streaming service – but fans recall series’ ‘terrible’ ending
Drew revealed the comedy series wasn't streaming due to music rights issues
THE DREW Carey Show has finally hit streaming after years of being unavailable.
While the news was exciting to many fans of the 90s sitcom, some remained disillusioned by the series' low points.
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All nine seasons of The Drew Carey Show are available to stream, free of charge, per TV Line.
The ABC comedy quietly arrived on the ad-supported streaming service Plex - the first time the ’90s hit has been available online.
Earlier this summer, The Price is Right host Drew Carey told the outlet, “It’s not in syndication… because of music rights and stuff."
"We’re going to try to change that around and get it back out there," he continued.
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Created by Drew and Bruce Helford (Roseanne, George Lopez), the multi-camera sitcom premiered on September 13, 1995.
Set in Cleveland, Ohio, the series revolved around the retail office and home life of everyman Drew Carey, who played a fictionalized version of himself.
The ensemble cast included Diedrich Bader and Ryan Stiles as Drew’s best friends, Oswald and Lewis, Christa Miller as Drew’s love interest Kate, Kathy Kinney as Drew’s coworker, Mimi, and former Late Late Show host Craig Ferguson as Drew’s boss, Nigel Wick.
A total of 233 episodes were produced over nine seasons with the show's series finale airing on September 8, 2004.
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MIXED BAG
In the article's comment section, fans weighed in on the comedy series' streaming debut.
"About time!" commented an excited fan.
Drew Carey nervously laughs as Price is Right players grind on host before big payday as show praises 'fun to watch' duo
A second wrote, "Awesome! I miss that show! I don’t think you can even buy it on DVD."
However, one commented, "Like most long-running shows, the last few seasons were not great.
"I recall Miller exiting at some point and a little Mimi goes a long way. I assume the music rights are the theme songs? I had no idea it wasn’t airing."
It’s not in syndication… because of music rights and stuff
Drew Carey
Elsewhere in the thread, another commenter agreed, writing, "The final season was butchered by ABC which showed the episodes out of order."
"As I remember it, the show had been renewed for 3 seasons, then the ratings dropped a lot in the first of those (the 7th) and then completely crashed in the 8th. ABC gave up on it midway through the 8th, so Carey and team got experimental and weird with the last season," they recalled.
The commenter continued, "It was burned off over the summer of 2004 but all out of order so it was impossible to really follow."
A third critic asserted, "The last few seasons were terrible.
"Miller left, the brother went from heavily recurring (at least) to essentially gone, and Mr. Wick also left. As stated, Mimi, who was great in moderate to small doses, took on a bigger role, and her character just couldn’t handle that load.
"It had nothing to do with the actress or her talent/ability/effort, it was just the character and writing. Sometimes a little is just enough, and more is not better. Plus, she was at her best when bouncing off of Wick and Drew at work, and when Wick left, it really hurt that dynamic."
They continued, "Compared to the earlier Drew Carey seasons, the last few years were truly terrible. Mostly because there was no gradual decline. I mean, the Simpsons today aren’t as good as at the peak. But the show is still OK, and the decline from peak amazingness to the current 'still above average' took a LONG time.
"The show’s last few years left such a terrible taste in every one’s [mouth]," the commenter concluded.
TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES
The Price is Right recently revisited one of the show's most memorable moments as the countdown to new episodes continues.
The long-running CBS series is on hiatus before the game show returns next month.
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The show's official Instagram account shared a clip from a past episode that became famous after host Drew Carey was forced to kick the Flip or Flop machine.
The throwback video begins with Drew explaining the game's rules to a contestant on the brink of victory.
"You can flip the first two numbers... or you can flop the last two numbers," Drew told her.
"Or you can flip and flop," he added. "Flip flop or flip flop. Good luck!"
After the contestant locked in her guess at $9,782, she tried pressing the buzzer to reveal whether her price was right.
The reveal was ultimately anti-climactic, as Drew and the contestant realized the button was broken.
At one point, the comedian, who has hosted The Price is Right since 2007, even kicked the machine - leaving fans at home in splits.
Reacting to the Instagram video, one user commented, "Not Drew kicking it! [laughing emoji]"
Another said there was "nothing like attending" a live taping of The Price is Right, the longest-running game show on American TV.
"It looks like the game machine almost had a flop [laughing emoji]," a third comment read.
A fourth person praised Drew's "comical timing," while a fifth fan said he had "become such a fit at hosting" the show.
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Finally, Drew was able to press the button, and the studio erupted in cheers as it was revealed that the contestant had accurately guessed the price of the object.
"At least it worked out in the end," the caption of the Instagram video read.
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