Pop culture Q&A: 'Price is Right' announcer is from Ohio

Akron Beacon Journal (MCT) - Q: I am interested in hearing about the announcer on "The Price Is Right." Any info would be appreciated. I love "The Price Is Right."

A: Like host Drew Carey, announcer Rich Fields is a Buckeye _ born in Bay Village in 1960 and growing up in Avon until his family moved to Florida in 1976.

He has worked in radio, been a TV weatherman and hosted a game show for the Florida lottery. He joined "The Price Is Right" in 2004, when Bob Barker was still host, and continued into Carey's tenure. "It's the hardest announcing job in Hollywood," he told me once. "The script is 37 to 42 pages every time . . . pages and pages of prize descriptions and stuff. . . . And we pretty much tape it in real time _ 65 to 70 minutes (for an hour show). If I stumble, they're not going to fix that."

Q: When Sarah Palin was giving her speech at the Republican convention, they played a song from a movie. I have heard it several times, but the name escapes me.

A: I think you are referring to Heart's "Barracuda." It was played at the convention in association with Palin because she picked up the nickname "Sarah Barracuda" in high school.

According to the Internet Movie Database, the song was used in the movies "Shrek the Third," "Roll Bounce," "Charlie's Angels" and "Wag the Dog." (Heart's "Crazy on You" also has an extensive movie resume.) Heart's Ann and Nancy Wilson have asked that their song not be used by McCain-Palin.

Q: Will the "Little People" show on TLC be aired this season? I hope so! I love to watch them!

A: "Little People, Big World" will begin its fourth season on Oct. 13 on TLC.

Q: There was a movie released in 1968 called "The Power," starring George Hamilton, Suzanne Pleshette and Nehemiah Persoff. I remember it being a gripping sci-fi thriller, but I can't find it on VHS or DVD anywhere. Do you know if it has been released on DVD? I would love to get my hands on a copy.

A: I do not know of an authorized release of the movie. There are copies available online, including at http://www.ioffer.com and http://www.robertsvideos.com, but I cannot vouch for their source or quality.

Q: There was a comedy horror film made in the '60s called "The Fearless Vampire Killers" starring the late Sharon Tate, also with Roman Polanski. I have been looking everywhere for a copy. Would you know where I could find one?

A: "The Fearless Vampire Killers, or Pardon Me But Your Teeth Are in My Neck," co-starred and was directed by Polanski, as well as featuring Tate, who later married Polanski. The marriage ended tragically when a pregnant Tate was murdered by members of the Charles Manson gang.

The movie was released on DVD in 2004. If your local retailer cannot get it for you, I have seen it for sale at http://www.amazon.com and http://ww.deepdiscount.com. But this may not be the movie exactly as you remember it; the DVD contains Polanski's original cut, which was re-edited (some would say butchered) for its U.S. release.

Q: I just read in your paper about all the returning shows on major network and on cable. I didn't find "Friday Night Lights" on there. I thought it was coming back. Did they change their minds? Boo hoo.

A: Dry your eyes! "Friday Night Lights" will be back for a third season on Oct. 1. But new episodes will air first on 101 Network, a channel available only to people with DirecTV, the satellite program service. NBC will then show the episodes in 2009.

___

Do you have a question or comment about movies, TV and other popular culture? Write to rheldenfels@thebeaconjournal.com or the Akron Beacon Journal, 44 E. Exchange St., Akron, OH 44309. Please mark the note for Mailbag and do not phone in questions.

Letters may be edited. Individual replies cannot be guaranteed.

___

© 2008, Akron Beacon Journal (Akron, Ohio).