Roger Dobkowitz Defends Bob Barker, Calls Documentary A Hit Piece

Roger Dobkowitz, the longtime producer of “The Price Is Right,” has publicly defended Bob Barker after new sexual harassment allegations were revisited in the E! documentary series “Dirty Rotten Scandals.” Dobkowitz said the program tried to turn old accusations into what he called an “obvious ‘hit piece’” and argued that the show and its former host deserve a fairer account.

Dobkowitz worked behind the scenes on more than 4,600 episodes across 36 years, giving his remarks extra weight among fans of the CBS game show. His comments came after two episodes of the six-part series highlighted claims from former “Barker’s Beauties” models who said they experienced or witnessed harassment, retaliation, or a hostile work environment.

Dobkowitz Pushes Back on the Documentary

In a lengthy social media statement, Dobkowitz said he initially chose not to respond because he did not want to give the documentary more attention. He later said the series should “quietly disappear” and claimed it did not gain much traction anyway.

He also argued that some of the allegations rely on events that happened decades ago and do not reflect the full history of the show. Dobkowitz said he wanted to defend “the dignity and integrity” of the production, calling the documentary misleading and emotionally driven.

What the Documentary Focused On

The E! series revisited long-running claims surrounding Barker’s time on the show and included interviews with former models. Some of those women said they were mistreated after speaking up or refusing to support Barker during legal disputes tied to sexual harassment allegations.

A simple breakdown of the documentary’s focus:

1. Former models described alleged harassment and workplace retaliation.
2. The series connected those claims to the culture behind the popular game show.
3. Dobkowitz responded by rejecting the framing and defending the set environment.

Barker, who hosted “The Price Is Right” for 35 years, died in 2023 at age 99. Before his death, he repeatedly denied wrongdoing and said any relationships in question were consensual.

Hallstrom’s Longstanding Claims Remain Central

One of the most closely watched voices in the dispute is Holly Hallstrom, who appeared on the show from 1977 until her firing in 1995. Hallstrom has said she was removed after refusing to publicly support Barker when fellow model Dian Parkinson filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against him in 1994.

Hallstrom later became involved in a long legal fight after Barker sued her for defamation, according to Business Insider. She countersued and alleged defamation, emotional distress, and discrimination, while also saying she was pushed out of the industry and faced serious financial pressure.

Dobkowitz Defends the Show’s Culture

Dobkowitz said his experience on the set did not match the portrait presented in the documentary. He described the production as a “happy place” and said its work environment was admired by other shows.

He also claimed that many of the women who worked as models returned year after year because they were happy there. According to Dobkowitz, most workplace problems involved standard personnel disputes, such as pay, promotions, or terminations, rather than the broader allegations raised in the documentary.

Dobkowitz also suggested he may eventually write a book about his decades on the show. He said it could offer “36 years of observations” about Barker, the models, and the staff, while addressing what he views as misconceptions and false accusations.

The dispute has reopened a long-running public debate about the legacy of one of television’s most recognizable game shows. As the documentary draws attention to old claims and Dobkowitz pushes back, the conversation around Barker, Hallstrom, and the culture of “The Price Is Right” remains active and closely watched.