Drew Carey, the beloved host of The Price is Right, appeared recently to celebrate a major milestone: the game show’s 10,000th episode. As the flame of the iconic program burns into its 53rd year, Carey reflected on his role, the passionate fanbase, and even his life outside the studio—from DJ gigs to dog rescue.

“It’s weird being in front of an audience without name tags,” Carey joked as he was welcomed to the stage. He described how the live studio crowd at The Price is Right is often made up of enthusiastic, lifelong fans—many of whom come prepared with themed shirts and hopeful energy, even if they sometimes mistakenly wear shirts with his name instead of their own.

While Drew’s presence is central to the show, he clarified that he doesn’t choose the contestants. “If I did, it would just be all chicks up there,” he laughed.

Honoring Writers During the Strike

Beyond his hosting duties, Carey made headlines during the writers’ strikes—both the most recent one and a previous one—by footing the bill for any writer who dined at local spots like Bob’s Big Boy or Swingers. “If I wouldn’t have any money without writers,” he said, explaining his motivation. “It was my way of paying them back.”

A Long Career, But Still Chasing Bob Barker

Carey took over hosting duties after the legendary Bob Barker, who helmed The Price is Right for decades. Carey has now hosted 3,317 episodes, compared to Barker’s incredible 6,731. “I’ve got a ways to go,” Carey acknowledged. “But I’ve already done 18 years.”

When asked about his involvement with the show’s prizes, Carey said he’s not really in charge of that part. Though early on, one item always confused him: the grandfather clock. “Every ship would have one!” he laughed. “Eventually, when I had more input, I said, ‘Can we lose the grandfather clock already?’”

Carey revealed there’s actually a prize warehouse, and at the end of each season, leftover items—like washer and dryer sets—are sold to crew members at discounted prices. “But trust me,” he joked, “no one’s buying the grandfather clocks.”

From Game Show Host to Dog Dad

Outside of his TV role, Carey recently adopted two rescue dogs, an experience that turned out to be more bureaucratic than he expected. “I thought saying ‘I’m Drew Carey and I want a dog’ would be enough,” he said. “But no, I had to fill out an application like everyone else.”

The application asked if he was willing to spend money on the dogs and if his previous pets had ever escaped. “Not until these ones,” he joked. Asked whether his pets are spayed or neutered, Carey quipped, “Yes, I’m the host of The Price is Right,” referencing Bob Barker’s famous sign-off promoting pet population control.

Carey noted that Barker’s influence went deep—The Price is Right was even a vegan-friendly show under his watch. “No meat products, no leather goods. Even the grills had only plastic vegetables. Now, at least we have fake meat on them.”

A Newfound Phish Fan

One unexpected side of Drew Carey? He’s become a full-on Phish fan. He discovered the jam band at the high-tech Las Vegas Sphere during the 4/20 weekend. “I have a friend who’s that guy—the fish friend,” Carey said. “You know, calls everyone ‘bro.’”

His immersion into Phish culture came complete with a DJ set after their New Year’s Eve show. “I used to host a rock and roll radio show, and when I stopped, I still had the itch,” he said. “So now I DJ for fun. That night, everyone came straight from the Phish concert.”

Carey described the scene: bro-heavy, lots of dancing, and plenty of smoke—especially at Madison Square Garden. “It was like New York City in the winter—just steam coming off the floor.”

Still Rockin’ at Parties

And yes, Drew is available to DJ events—casually. “If you guys have a wrap party, I’ll DJ,” he offered.

Whether it’s hosting TV’s longest-running game show, adopting pups, or spinning vinyl after a Phish concert, Drew Carey is living his best life—always with a joke at the ready and a heart in the right place.

The 10,000th episode of The Price is Right aired Wednesday on CBS.