The Game Show Forum
The Game Show Forum => The Big Board => Topic started by: DoorNumberFour on January 10, 2008, 11:10:49 PM
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What's your favorite entrance made by a host at the top of his/her show?
I have a couple.
I like the way Joe Garagiola made his way in on "He Said, She Said". He looked so excited to be doing the show, and the audience was excited to see him. It makes for an exciting intro.
And no matter who the host is, the entrance the host of "The Price is Right" makes (or made) every morning is always cheerworthy, in my opinion.
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Jim Peck on "The Big Showdown", or at least one ep of it.
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Honestly, I loved the way Howie walked out during the first week of D/ND, starting in the "vault", then walking down the hallway, building tension as he described the game. He still does this from time to time, but the drama gets lost with the frantic audience's obligatory standing ovation.
Also, Allen Ludden's hand gesture upon his entrance, on any form of Password.
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[quote name=\'fostergray82\' post=\'174484\' date=\'Jan 10 2008, 11:18 PM\']
Also, Allen Ludden's hand gesture upon his entrance, on any form of Password.
[/quote]
Absolutely agreed.
I also think Gene's entrances on "Match Game" have a place in this, just because they were so different and so entertaining.
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Now You See It--Jack Narz walking in the opposite direction of the contestants on the upper tier, going down the thick red carpeted stairs, with the contestants taking their appropriate marks on the opposite stairs. The coordination is slick and probably wasn't reshot a dozen times like such an open would nowadays.
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[quote name=\'MikeK\' post=\'174486\' date=\'Jan 10 2008, 11:31 PM\']
Now You See It--Jack Narz walking in the opposite direction of the contestants on the upper tier, going down the thick red carpeted stairs, with the contestants taking their appropriate marks on the opposite stairs. The coordination is slick and probably wasn't reshot a dozen times like such an open would nowadays.
[/quote]
I second this one. Makes the open of my show look bland and blah. :-P
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I was always partial to Jim Perry's energetic sprint to the podium on Sale of the Century. Was a hint of the fast paced awesomeness to come.
By that logic, Rossi Morreale should make his Temptation entrance on a Rascal scooter with a nearly dead battery.
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[quote name=\'CountdownRound\' post=\'174488\' date=\'Jan 10 2008, 09:23 PM\']
I was always partial to Jim Perry's energetic sprint to the podium on Sale of the Century. Was a hint of the fast paced awesomeness to come.
By that logic, Rossi Morreale should make his Temptation entrance on a Rascal scooter with a nearly dead battery.
[/quote]
I lol'd. :)
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Bill Cullen was so great, he didn't have to enter. He was already there! :)
Ever notice Jim Perry always clapped just once when rounding the CS stage?
Anything involving staircases was cool to see.
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I always liked Gene's entrances on MG. You never know what he'll do once those doors open up after the title sign lifts up. The most memorable I thought was when he was just lying there as if waiting for someone to prod him up & say "Gene, you're on!".
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Old-school, but ... "Ladies and gentlemen, Garry Moore!" And Garry would come out, tease the first segment, then somehow link it to the daily introduction of Carlisle, Cass and Cullen. It got you nicely into the game.
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[quote name=\'DrBear\' post=\'174503\' date=\'Jan 11 2008, 07:04 AM\']
Old-school, but ... "Ladies and gentlemen, Garry Moore!" And Garry would come out, tease the first segment, then somehow link it to the daily introduction of Carlisle, Cass and Cullen. It got you nicely into the game.
[/quote]
My favorite TTTT entrance is (sadly) Garry's final episode, where Alan Kalter introduced him. Alan Kalter is definitely an underrated announcing voice...liked his work on TTTT80 too.
Bruce Forsyth always makes a NICE entrance as well.
That Ludden entrance from the first episode of Password Plus is a great one. Everyone was very excited that show was back.
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I liked Ludden's entrances on P+, as he'd go up the stairs, pause, and extend his arm. Just classy.
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Larry Blyden's on WML
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[quote name=\'MikeK\' post=\'174486\' date=\'Jan 10 2008, 11:31 PM\']
Now You See It--Jack Narz walking in the opposite direction of the contestants on the upper tier, going down the thick red carpeted stairs, with the contestants taking their appropriate marks on the opposite stairs. The coordination is slick and probably wasn't reshot a dozen times like such an open would nowadays.
[/quote]
Not only that, but Jack RAN down those stairs. Never ceases to amaze me that there wasn't a train wreck, or a host skidding down the shag.
Much as I like that entrance, by the way, it seems to me that the platform with the two curving sets of stairs is just about the least essential piece of GS setwork ever.
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I was kinda partial to Chuck Barris being lowered from the rafters (that was one interesting thing about GONG--Chuckie's entrances varied).
There was also one time where Barris was introduced, but Siv Aberg came out instead and did the rules (before Chuckie came out to take over).
As for the more traditional shows, Narz, Rayburn and Ludden win for me, as does Dick Clark's laughing entrances on PYRAMID.
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[quote name=\'Clay Zambo\' post=\'174518\' date=\'Jan 11 2008, 10:29 AM\']
Not only that, but Jack RAN down those stairs. Never ceases to amaze me that there wasn't a train wreck, or a host skidding down the shag.
Much as I like that entrance, by the way, it seems to me that the platform with the two curving sets of stairs is just about the least essential piece of GS setwork ever.
[/quote]
Point taken, but I love that set.
To continue the side-topic though, with the exception of Joe G's Sale of the Century, when 'did' stairs matter into a set?
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[quote name=\'mitchgroff\' post=\'174508\' date=\'Jan 11 2008, 09:32 AM\']That Ludden entrance from the first episode of Password Plus is a great one. Everyone was very excited that show was back.[/quote]
Better still is the one from the first episode back after his illness. Gene Wood pauses just exactly long enough to remind us that it's special, and with Cullen playing and already seated, Ludden had the stage to himself. That's one of those momnets I'll watch again and again.
And heck, I'm a sucker for the emotional, so any long-running show's last episode is likely to have moments like that.
[quote name=\'Jimmy Owen\' post=\'174497\' date=\'Jan 11 2008, 02:48 AM\']
Bill Cullen was so great, he didn't have to enter. He was already there![/quote]
Well said!
[quote name=\'tvwxman\' post=\'174524\' date=\'Jan 11 2008, 11:34 AM\']
To continue the side-topic though, with the exception of Joe G's Sale of the Century, when 'did' stairs matter into a set?[/quote]
Plinko?
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[quote name=\'Jimmy Owen\' post=\'174497\' date=\'Jan 11 2008, 02:48 AM\']Bill Cullen was so great, he didn't have to enter. He was already there! :)[/quote]Yeah, but Matt Ottinger is so good they bring the set to him!
Of course, he learned from Uncle Bill . . .
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[quote name=\'tvwxman\' post=\'174524\' date=\'Jan 11 2008, 10:34 AM\']
To continue the side-topic though, with the exception of Joe G's Sale of the Century, when 'did' stairs matter into a set?
[/quote]
Love me, love me not :D
and Bergeron Squares as they're entering the bonus round..
I'd say Whew! too, but I suppose the Gauntlet could have been done on stage level just the same probably .. something about its elevated status that made it seem more important though.. plus, where would you put that huge "$25,000" marquee? (and the tracking of the cam behind Tom and the contestant up the stairs went well with the music..)
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[quote name=\'lobster\' post=\'174528\' date=\'Jan 11 2008, 11:50 AM\']I'd say Whew! too, but I suppose the Gauntlet could have been done on stage level just the same probably .. something about its elevated status that made it seem more important though.[/quote]
But that's the point. Stairs make it cooler, but are they needed?
For some reason, the unsold pilot "King of the Hill" sprung to mind.
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Here are my picks:
* The early eps of Deal or No Deal, with Howie in the vault
* Any of Rayburn's goofy entries on Match Game
* Jack Narz on Now You See It (wish they'd left the music alone, though -- seems like later eps cut out a couple seconds of silence from the theme, thus screwing up the meter)
* I always liked Bob Barker's intro on TPiR as well, even though it sounds best with Johnny (or Randy, or even Rod in his early days). Just the way that he always came out looking so dignified, even at 127 years old.
And of course...
*Jim Peck on the Big Falldown Showdown (sorry, Rigsby, but that was funny...)
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[quote name=\'opimus\' post=\'174513\' date=\'Jan 11 2008, 10:03 AM\']
Larry Blyden's on WML
[/quote]
I knew I was forgetting one. Not to echo another sentiment, but the stage presence that Larry had as he walked onto the set and seemed to stop and smile, even though he didn't stop, was very cool.
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I know this wasn't so much a great game show, but you have to admit having Pee Wee (or whatever his game show persona's name was) coming out on the conveyor belt on YDKJ was pretty ... unique :D
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[quote name=\'CountdownRound\' post=\'174488\' date=\'Jan 10 2008, 11:23 PM\']
I was always partial to Jim Perry's energetic sprint to the podium on Sale of the Century. Was a hint of the fast paced awesomeness to come.
By that logic, Rossi Morreale should make his Temptation entrance on a Rascal scooter with a nearly dead battery.
[/quote]
I almost lost my drink reading that! Hilarious!
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[quote name=\'Mike Tennant\' post=\'174527\' date=\'Jan 11 2008, 10:50 AM\']
Of course, he learned from Uncle Bill . . .
[/quote]
No. Uncle Bill learned from Ottinger.
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[quote name=\'TenPoundHammer\' post=\'174538\' date=\'Jan 11 2008, 12:15 PM\']
*Jim Peck on the Big Falldown Showdown (sorry, Rigsby, but that was funny...)
[/quote]That would be why I mentioned it originally.
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Always loved the way Johnny O. introduced Garry Moore on To Tell the Truth. Always sounded like they were doing a routine they'd been doing for ten years. Bill Wendell always sounded nice on the show, and I liked how Alan introduced Joe.
Another favorite is Jack Narz going down the stairs on Now You See It.
Loved the Super Password intro too, with the stars and then Bert coming out, smiling and doing a half bow to the audience and television cameras.
I have to also agree about Blyden's intro. He was always either waving or sort of bowing while walking to his desk. I always liked how it looked.
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[quote name=\'TenPoundHammer\' post=\'174538\' date=\'Jan 11 2008, 01:15 PM\']
* Jack Narz on Now You See It (wish they'd left the music alone, though -- seems like later eps cut out a couple seconds of silence from the theme, thus screwing up the meter)
[/quote]
One thing that strikes me more now than it did when I was 7 is how great that music is. The riff they play when the first four players take their seats is just awesome. Two other great things about Jack's entrance: his unrivaled collection of sportcoats, and Johnny O's great "now you see HIM."
Let me also note Eubanks' entrance on the original Newlyweds. The way the set pieces part for him and his nice walk to the camera make it very grand, but then there's that awkward ten seconds where he has to say something, anything, before the commercial.
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[quote name=\'PYLW\' post=\'174560\' date=\'Jan 11 2008, 03:59 PM\']Always loved the way Johnny O. introduced Garry Moore on To Tell the Truth. Always sounded like they were doing a routine they'd been doing for ten years. Bill Wendell always sounded nice on the show, and I liked how Alan introduced Joe.[/quote]
Nifty bit of trivia I've always liked to keep in my back pocket: The 70s TTTT was one of the very few game shows (if not the ONLY one) where the host was introduced first ("Ladies and gentlemen, Garry Moore!"), and then they named the show.
Of course, often on Millionaire, Regis wasn't introuduced at all, not even "Hi, I'm Regis Philbin."
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[quote name=\'PYLW\' post=\'174560\' date=\'Jan 11 2008, 12:59 PM\']
I have to also agree about Blyden's intro. He was always either waving or sort of bowing while walking to his desk. I always liked how it looked.
[/quote]
Really? I always thought it looked stilted and REALLY awkward. Mind you, I don't understand the whole Larry Blyden thing in the first place; I always thought the only reason he had a gig was the whole New-York-as-center-of-the-universe thing.
/ask any New Yorker, they'll tell you
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Favorite host entrances: Clark $25K and $100K from the later years (with the bow after he comes from behind the set), Narz NYSI, Password Plus, and TPIR.
Stairs that mattered: Classic Concentration.
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[quote name=\'tpirfan28\' post=\'174575\' date=\'Jan 11 2008, 04:49 PM\']Stairs that mattered: Classic Concentration.[/quote]
Huh-uh. Not to game play, they didn't. Just let us see Marjorie's legs.
/Not that that isn't a killer reason.
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My favorite host entances are:
Allen Ludden - Password Plus
John Daly and the panel - What's My Line?
Dick Clark - The $20/25/100k Pyramid
Gene Rayburn - Match Game (70s version)
Garry Moore - To Tell The Truth
Bob Barker - The Price is Right
But my favorite host entance is Jack Narz on Now You See It, with the music, set, contestants and Johnny O's intro, it's classic.
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Great topic! I think the openings are half the reason I enjoy game shows actually. :)
My top 5:
5. The 90's To Tell the Truth opening and entrance was very classy. I always enjoyed watching the celebs and host enter via that big staircase.
4. Press Your Luck's host entrance always seemed cool with the island swinging into place as Peter entered.
3. 80's Pyramid celeb/host entrances. Very cool.
2. TPIR has to be right up there. What I wouldn't give to put on a suit, walk through those doors and have a studio full of people give me a standing ovation while that nifty theme music plays.
1. High Rollers 87 had one of the coolest and most exciting overall openings ever.
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I may regret mentioning this in the thread, but what about entrances that you loved as a kid for no particularly good reason? Me, I had some sort of hang-up over hosts walking under curtains--Sajak on Wheel, and especially Bill Anderson on Fandango.
Re: stairs that matter to game play, Finders Keepers and Shop 'Til You Drop had stairs that could eat time off the clock in their bonus rounds--not to mention the ever-present danger of a lawsuit.
Finally, just to mention some faves that haven't come up yet (I don't think): I liked the way the whole back wall swung open on MG/HS Hour. And I still miss Alex entering through the sliding "P" and "A" on the Jeopardy! set.
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Echoing the sentiments of Narz NYSI, Jack's entrance was amazing, although the set was pretty much nonessential after that.
But I love how Johnny O. says "Now...You...See...It!" in rhythm to the trumpet riff.
The Olson/Barker combo in TPIR was also gold.
The Inquisitive One
/I loved those ultra-fast zoom-outs!
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[quote name=\'tvwxman\' post=\'174524\' date=\'Jan 11 2008, 11:34 AM\']
[quote name=\'Clay Zambo\' post=\'174518\' date=\'Jan 11 2008, 10:29 AM\']
Much as I like that entrance, by the way, it seems to me that the platform with the two curving sets of stairs is just about the least essential piece of GS setwork ever.
[/quote]
Point taken, but I love that set.[/quote]
Oh, me, too! Hell's bells, that's one of the coolest gameboards ever. (And when I think of the electronics involved, for 1975, I'm even more amazed.)
To continue the side-topic though, with the exception of Joe G's Sale of the Century, when 'did' stairs matter into a set?
How 'bout Barker's (now Drew's) TPiR? I know, you *can* do it without, but very time I see an international version with Contestant's Row on the same level as the game floor, it just seems wrong.
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For those who remember, did you ever worry that Nick Clooney wouldn't make it from the center of the maze to his host position before Alan finished telling us about some of the prizes hidden in the maze?
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Peter Marshall on The Hollywood Squares.
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Gene Rayburn's entrances were the best that can be attributed to the host. Narz on NYSI had the best-staged entrance. (Non-host entrances: I definitely liked the 80's Pyramid celeb entrances. I also like J! better when Johnny would say, "Now entering the studio are today's contestants ...")
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[quote name=\'PYLW\' post=\'174560\' date=\'Jan 11 2008, 03:59 PM\']
I have to also agree about Blyden's intro. He was always either waving or sort of bowing while walking to his desk. I always liked how it looked.
[/quote]
Larry entered like a true man of the stage.
Whenever I do a play and I take my bow at the end, I always try to bow like Larry Blyden: short, enthusiastic, humble.
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One that always awed me as a kid was when John Bartholomew Tucker would come in on that speedboat, looking like Thurston Howell IV, on "Treasure Isle". I don't remember much about that show but that speedboat thing was damned impressive.
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[quote name=\'DoorNumberFour\' post=\'174614\' date=\'Jan 11 2008, 11:29 PM\']
[quote name=\'PYLW\' post=\'174560\' date=\'Jan 11 2008, 03:59 PM\']
I have to also agree about Blyden's intro. He was always either waving or sort of bowing while walking to his desk. I always liked how it looked.
[/quote]
Larry entered like a true man of the stage.
Whenever I do a play and I take my bow at the end, I always try to bow like Larry Blyden: short, enthusiastic, humble.
[/quote]
Yes, Blyden always did that little sidestep thing when he entered. I always remember him doing that and his greeting of "Hello, all bodies" or "Hello, all persons".
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[quote name=\'tpirfan28\' post=\'174575\' date=\'Jan 11 2008, 05:49 PM\']
Stairs that mattered: Classic Concentration.
[/quote]
Weren't there "stairs that mattered" in The Diamond Head Game?
Pitfall, of course, eschewed stairs for elevators. ;-)
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[quote name=\'ITSBRY\' post=\'174585\' date=\'Jan 11 2008, 05:55 PM\']
5. The 90's To Tell the Truth opening and entrance was very classy. I always enjoyed watching the celebs and host enter via that big staircase.
4. Press Your Luck's host entrance always seemed cool with the island swinging into place as Peter entered.
[/quote]
Good picks here. 80's TTTT had a good open, too. The theme was the best thing about the show, and with all the moving parts, the disco lights and the usual "number one. . . what is your name please?" it ruled. Only trouble was that it was Robin Ward walking out last.
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And stairs that mattered: Hollywood Squares. Even more so when lovely Phyllis Diller modeled the fur coat on them and Vincent Price ran down to strangle her.
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Stairs that matter: Deal or no Deal. Try fitting 26 models into one shot without some. :)
(And, for that matter, can we count Pyramid on American Gladiators?)
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3 stairs that matter (even though the shows probably don't matter in the long run):
-Singled Out.
-Every Second Counts.
-The Diamond Head Game.
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[quote name=\'Neumms\' post=\'174643\' date=\'Jan 12 2008, 12:35 PM\']
80's TTTT had a good open, too. The theme was the best thing about the show, and with all the moving parts, the disco lights and the usual "number one. . . what is your name please?" it ruled.[/quote]
That said, so did the 90s version, all walls flying and panel-desks sliding...
Unimportant stairs, though--unless you think they were meaningful because Kitty got to make a glamorous entrance.
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[quote name=\'DoorNumberFour\' post=\'174684\' date=\'Jan 12 2008, 09:04 PM\']
3 stairs that matter (even though the shows probably don't matter in the long run):
-Singled Out.
-Every Second Counts.
-The Diamond Head Game.
[/quote]
I'm sorry, but for all three, how do the stairs matter?
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I also like J! better when Johnny would say, "Now entering the studio are today's contestants ...")
I always had a slight problem with that...weren't the contestants already in the studio? :)
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[quote name=\'Ian Wallis\' post=\'174704\' date=\'Jan 13 2008, 09:28 AM\']
I also like J! better when Johnny would say, "Now entering the studio are today's contestants ...")
I always had a slight problem with that...weren't the contestants already in the studio? :)
[/quote]
Like the J! of old, they actually walked out from behind the set. Probably what they meant.
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[quote name=\'DoorNumberFour\' post=\'174684\' date=\'Jan 12 2008, 09:04 PM\']
-Every Second Counts.
[/quote]
That's my favorite host entrance right there.
After Johnny Gilbert introduced Bill Rafferty, Bill gave a terrifically enthusiastic greeting to Debbie Bartlett ("Hiya, Debbie" then Deb would salute or wave back) and to Johnny Gilbert ("Hi there, Johnny" followed by Johnny's vim-and-vigorous "Hello, Bill!!").
The spirit of the moment, I know, doesn't come through in the typing of what was said but to see it and hear it on the show, it made for a dynamite entrance.
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[quote name=\'sshuffield70\' post=\'174708\' date=\'Jan 13 2008, 07:33 AM\']
[quote name=\'Ian Wallis\' post=\'174704\' date=\'Jan 13 2008, 09:28 AM\']
I also like J! better when Johnny would say, "Now entering the studio are today's contestants ...")
I always had a slight problem with that...weren't the contestants already in the studio? :)
[/quote]
Like the J! of old, they actually walked out from behind the set. Probably what they meant.
[/quote]
Now entering Whooshville is today's contestant... :)
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[quote name=\'whoserman\' post=\'174727\' date=\'Jan 13 2008, 03:02 PM\']
[quote name=\'sshuffield70\' post=\'174708\' date=\'Jan 13 2008, 07:33 AM\']
[quote name=\'Ian Wallis\' post=\'174704\' date=\'Jan 13 2008, 09:28 AM\']
I also like J! better when Johnny would say, "Now entering the studio are today's contestants ...")
I always had a slight problem with that...weren't the contestants already in the studio? :)
[/quote]
Like the J! of old, they actually walked out from behind the set. Probably what they meant.
[/quote]
Now entering Whooshville is today's contestant... :)
[/quote]
Wouldn't he actually already have been in Whooshville, as opposed to just now entering it?
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[quote name=\'tvwxman\' post=\'174703\' date=\'Jan 13 2008, 06:37 AM\']
[quote name=\'DoorNumberFour\' post=\'174684\' date=\'Jan 12 2008, 09:04 PM\']
3 stairs that matter (even though the shows probably don't matter in the long run):
-Singled Out.
-Every Second Counts.
-The Diamond Head Game.
[/quote]
I'm sorry, but for all three, how do the stairs matter?
[/quote]
All three used stairs as a prominent game element (Singled Out in the final round, Every Second Counts in the endgame IIRC, and Diamond Head to determine who went on to play the final).
Unless I'm completely missing the point, I'd say they matter at least somewhat.
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[quote name=\'DoorNumberFour\' post=\'174744\' date=\'Jan 13 2008, 06:46 PM\']
Every Second Counts in the endgame IIRC
[/quote]
Nope. Stationary contestants, elevated prizes.
I think you're missing the point 'a little bit'. Yes, stairs are nice, but are they 'necessary'. In that, could you determine who played in the volcano without going down a step? Yep. The stairs are there for asthetics, which is often the case.
/Surprised no one mentioned Hidden Temple, where the stairs had the buzzers. At least 'that' was creatively different.
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[quote name=\'BillCullen1\' post=\'174581\' date=\'Jan 11 2008, 05:18 PM\']
My favorite host entances are:
Allen Ludden - Password Plus
John Daly and the panel - What's My Line?
Dick Clark - The $20/25/100k Pyramid
Gene Rayburn - Match Game (70s version)
Garry Moore - To Tell The Truth
Bob Barker - The Price is Right
But my favorite host entance is Jack Narz on Now You See It, with the music, set, contestants and Johnny O's intro, it's classic.
[/quote]
One more I thought of. Geoff Edwards' intro on The New Treasure Hunt. All those pretty
girls and then Geoff himself, in that fancy tuxedo.
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Back in the network years, Eubanks did have something to say in his "TNG" opening, since Draper Lewis would come up with some quote or saying about marriage for Bob to read off the cue card before throwing to break.
When they went to syndication, not having anymore a guy who wrote nothing but host continuity on the Barris shows, Mike Metzger just recycled a few forms of openings and, seemingly, if Bob only had a few seconds of time for some reason, dumped the copy completely and let him flail about for five seconds until given the wrap signal.
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Wouldn't Shop 'Til You Drop be considered stairs that matter?
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[quote name=\'cmjb13\' post=\'174833\' date=\'Jan 14 2008, 02:35 PM\']Wouldn't Shop 'Til You Drop be considered stairs that matter?[/quote]
I know of at least one person who's considered them such.