Bob Barker, the former host of the long-running game show The Price is Right, returned to the set to celebrate his 90th birthday on Thursday. “You folks appreciate the fact that it has taken me a long time to become 90,” Barker said as he returned to the stage.

While a birthday celebration was in store for Barker, he admitted that he had already started celebrating the night before over a pitcher of margaritas. “I started celebrating last night. I’m going to have a series of celebrations,” Barker told TVGuide.com. “The former producer of The Price Is Right, Roger Dobkowitz, and his wife and the former director of The Price Is Right and his wife took me out last night. We went over to one of our favorite restaurants, Antonio’s Mexican Food,” Barker continued. “We drank a series of margaritas and rehashed the old days. They had a birthday cake for me, a huge cake, and I made a wish. Of course, I can’t share it with you because then I wouldn’t get it, but I blew out all the candles. There was wild applause. Margaritas are right for anything — 90th birthdays or anything else.”

(image)

Barker’s return to the show was very emotional, and as he stepped onto the stage, the audience gave him a standing ovation. “The audience gave me a standing ovation,” Barker said. “I had a lump in my throat the first moment I was on the show practically. It was just a thrill, a pleasure. All the people on the show were so nice to me. Some of the people I had worked with, it was a joy to see them. And some of the people with whom I had worked and they had retired or left the show for one reason or another, they came back,” he continued. “And some of the executives from upstairs came down. It was just a homecoming. I expected to enjoy myself, but it was even a nicer day than I had expected.”

(image)

During a recent interview, Barker was asked what it meant to him to be turning 90. I’m very excited about it because I only have to wait 10 years and then I’ll be 100 years old,” Barker answered. “They’ve already invited me back to The Price Is Right. Drew has invited me back. I’m sure it’ll be on when I become 100.”

(image)

Images via Twitter