Quick Takes: ‘Price Is Right’ leaves out Bob Barker

Bob Barker hosted “The Price Is Right” for 35 years, but he wasn’t invited to participate in the game show’s 40th anniversary special.

The 88-year-old TV personality said the show’s producers “chose to ignore me, which is fine.”

The 40th anniversary special episode of TV’s longest-running game show aired Tuesday morning and featured returning contestants from the last four decades. Barker was shown in several clips but was not invited to appear on the program or attend the taping.

“They haven’t even offered me a DVD,” Barker said in an interview Tuesday. Show producers had no comment.

—Associated Press

Miami ballet loses director

Edward Villella, the artistic director of the Miami City Ballet, has abruptly left the company after nearly a year of financial struggles and management shake-ups that threatened to overshadow the troupe he founded and built into an internationally recognized company.

Villella, 75, said last year he would retire after the 2012-13 season ends in April. Ballet officials announced Tuesday that Villella has decided to leave now.

The former New York City Ballet star founded the Miami Beach-based dance company in 1986.

The Cuban-born dancer Lourdes Lopez, who was set to succeed Villella as artistic director, now takes over immediately, ballet officials said.

—Associated Press

Wright’s work heads to N.Y.

More than 23,000 of Frank Lloyd Wright’s architectural drawings, 44,000 photos, large-scale models, manuscripts and other documents are being moved permanently from Wisconsin and Arizona to New York City.

The collection has been acquired by the Museum of Modern Art and Columbia University’s Avery Architectural & Fine Arts Library, according to a joint announcement made Tuesday.

—Associated Press

Strahan joins Ripa on ‘Live!’

Michael Strahan is the new permanent co-host of “Live!,” filling the seat vacated late last year by Regis Philbin.

Strahan, a former defensive end for the New York Giants, was one of 50 guest hosts who had stopped by over the past 10 months, quickly endearing himself to fans with his self-deprecating sense of humor and chemistry with co-host Kelly Ripa.

She introduced him in his new role on the syndicated talk show Tuesday morning.

—Meredith Blake

Michaels returns to ‘Biggest Loser’

Jillian Michaels is returning to “The Biggest Loser” — again — as the show revamps its format to focus on what is certain to be a sensitive topic: childhood obesity.

Michaels made the announcement on NBC’s “Today” show Tuesday, telling Al Roker that she couldn’t miss an opportunity to tackle such a touchy topic, one that Michaels dealt with herself as an overweight child.

For the first time, the NBC weight-loss reality show said it will feature teenagers between the ages of 13 and 17 in addition to adult contestants. Several steps are being taken to safeguard the children, according to Michaels and NBC. For example, they will not be subjected to public weigh-ins on a scale, or to elimination.

The new season, which will mark Michaels’ third tour of duty with the show, begins in January.

—Rene Lynch