The Game Show Forum
The Game Show Forum => The Big Board => Topic started by: Jeremy Nelson on January 15, 2020, 02:48:11 PM
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With Jimmy Kimmel getting the gig as the new host of Millionaire, it got me wondering- what game show host had the highest “celebrity” profile when signing up to host a game show? Historically there have been a number of hosts who sign on before (Johnny Carson) or after (Joel McHale) their career peak, but who signed on during that sweet spot in the middle?
I’m thinking Ellen and Michael Strahan come to mind, but I’m not even sure Michael was as popular as he is now when he signed on for Pyramid.
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Regis?
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Groucho Marx?
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or after (Joel McHale) their career peak
Joel might not agree with this statement.
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I’m thinking Ellen and Michael Strahan come to mind, but I’m not even sure Michael was as popular as he is now when he signed on for Pyramid.
I'd make a case for Michael. He had Regis's old job alongside Kelly Ripa, plus the FOX NFL gig.
How about Drew Carey or Wayne Brady? Neither were what I'd considered "washed-up" when they took on their respective shows? At that point, Wayne was only a few years removed from his infamous Chappelle's Show sketch.
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How about Steve Allen taking over IGAS in 1964? It might not have been his career peak, but he was certainly still in demand at the time; he'd just left the syndicated Steve Allen Show and would get new talk/variety series later in the decade.
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Anthony Anderson, blackish was his first successful staring role.
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Alec Baldwin was nominated for an Academy Award and won two Emmys for his acting before hosting Match Game.
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I like Groucho and Baldwin as answers. I'd also like to add that Ryan Seacrest hosted a quiz show after he became Ryan Seacrest.
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Baldwin? It is a running gag on Match Game that his career is in such decline he has to host a game show to pay the bills.
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Most histories will say that Groucho was in something of a career slump before agreeing to do You Bet Your Life. Make no mistake, Groucho was still one of the most famous stars of his time, the Marx Brothers were still making movies, and the game only reinforced his personal stardom. But the question was looking for that "sweet spot in the middle", and it's not like Groucho went straight from Duck Soup to hosting a quiz. It was definitely "after their career peak".
Although we're too close to it to judge, you could make an argument that Elizabeth Banks is enjoying career success on many fronts (the Charlie's Angels misfire notwithstanding) while hosting a game show currently.
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Does the current president count?
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Does the current president count?
Heard he got as high as 15 the other day...
If anything, The Apprentice seemed to revive his career and make him a household name. So....no?
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Jamie Foxx always seemed like a surprisingly high-profile choice to host Beat Shazam.
And without going into politics re: Trump...I don't really consider The Apprentice a game show, though I'm open to an argument that it is...
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Even if The Apprentice counted, Trump was in a career slump by that time- he was the laughingstock of the real estate world doing Pizza Hut commercials to stay relevant.
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If we add guest hosts to the mix, I think you can make a case for Charlton Heston, who filled on on The $64,000 Question. That was a year after The Ten Commandments.
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Jackie Gleason in 1961, for one horrendous episode of You're In the Picture and one apology.