Bob Barker Snubbed By 'Price Is Right' On Shows 40th Anniversary Episode

The 88-year-old former TV game show host said the show's producers "chose to ignore me, which is fine," according to the Associated Press.

While Barker was not involved in the festivities, the 40th anniversary special episode of TV's longest-running game show did feature returning contestants from the past four decades as well as clips where he can be seen.

"They haven't even offered me a DVD," Barker said in an interview with AP on Tuesday.

In the interview, Barkers chalks up the situation to his longtime animal activism which was displayed at the end of every show when he said, "Help control the pet population: Have your pets spayed or neutered."

The former "Price Is Right" hose said he thinks he was omitted from the anniversary show "because I have been critical of them for giving away prizes that I consider inappropriate."

According to AP, Barker complained to producers for awarding tickets to Sea World and the Calgary Stampede as prizes. Both organizations "are notorious for animal abuse," Barker said.

During the time that he hosted the show, Barker reportedly asked producers to stop giving away fur coats and leather jackets, which they agreed to.

"We really became very careful about what we put on the show," he told AP. "Had I been the executive producer, they would not have even considered bringing me tickets to the Calgary Stampede of all things."

Barker has reportedly been very generous in his donations to animal-rights groups since his retirement from the show in 2007. He was replaced by Drew Carey, who hosted Tuesday's anniversary episode.

In the interview, Barker insists that he's content with the fact that producers decided to not include him in the anniversary episode, but said, "When you celebrate a 40th anniversary, you would think you'd have the fellow who did the show for 35 years there."'

Barker added that had he been invited to attend, he said he would have repeated his show-closing refrain about spaying and neutering pets.

"That's my message on any occasion and every occasion," he said.