As far as edits go, Price just doesn't "feel" the same. If the edits are barely (if at all) noticeable, then no problem. But I've always cringed at a "choppy" edit. More and more commercial time leaving less and less time for games to be played (or interaction with the contestants) is slowly killing the show. Barker was able to adjust on the fly. (Heck, even Rayburn on Match Game, Dawson on Feud, Ludden on Password Plus, Combs on Feud, Clark on Pyramid, etc. were able to hurry things along when necessary.) However, if Drew cannot work within the confines of an ever-shrinking time budget, then the show is going to feel even less like TPIR and more like a rush job. I've never like the "welcometothepriceisrighthereisthefirstitemupfobids" tactic when Barker did it either. I chalked it up to "that's just the way it is now". Keeping the "live to tape" aspect of the show retains its fun and spontaneity in the same way that live radio is much more fun to listen to than voice-tracking. I got out of radio right before "jock-in-the-box" was employed at our station due to budget restraints.
Secondly, those showcase podiums are ugly and look cheap. I'll withhold further judgement until I can see them in action during the new season. Also, I realize that the turntable seems to appear "smaller than normal" in HD, but that pic makes it appear even smaller. Again, it'll be interesting how the entire production comes off on tv.
Chris
/Having fun with "quotation marks"