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Sweater wearing game show hosts trend

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gamed121683:
For this post, I'll give you two questions for the price of one...

1. You may recall that in the late '80s-early '90s, game show hosts trading in wearing suits for sweaters. Ray Combs was wearing them for a time on Feud as was Trebek on Classic Concentration...even the early episodes of Supermarket Sweep had David Ruprecht look like he was raiding through Mike Levey's closet.

This made me wonder, what started this trend in the first place? Were they trying to emulate Bert Convy's fashion sense on Win, Lose, or Draw at that time with that "Hey, we're playing at someone's home and you're invited!" feel or was it just the en vogue thing for men of the day (looking at you, Cliff Huxtable)?

2. Speaking of Win, Lose, or Draw, I was talking about that show with a friend of mine the other day and this question came up. See if you agree with me on this one or not: Do you feel that Win, Lose, or Draw was perhaps the last big game show craze that swept America until Millionaire came along in '99-'00? Some would argue that Wheel was the last major game show obsession, but...I seem to recall Burt Renoylds' Pictionary capturing America's imagination for a time.

BrandonFG:

--- Quote from: gamed121683 on November 23, 2021, 01:38:50 PM ---See if you agree with me on this one or not: Do you feel that Win, Lose, or Draw was perhaps the last big game show craze that swept America until Millionaire came along in '99-'00? Some would argue that Wheel was the last major game show obsession, but...I seem to recall Burt Renoylds' Pictionary capturing America's imagination for a time.

--- End quote ---
I'd make an argument for Jeopardy! somewhere in-between there. It became iconic on a different level in the last 15-20 years (Jenningsmania, maybe?), but IMO it had its moment in the early-90s as well, long before SNL started doing the Celebrity J! sketches. If I could pinpoint, I'd say around the time the Cheers episode aired. The think music alone and how it's been used in pop culture adds to this.

Winkfan:

--- Quote from: gamed121683 on November 23, 2021, 01:38:50 PM ---This made me wonder, what started this trend in the first place? Were they trying to emulate Bert Convy's fashion sense on Win, Lose, or Draw at that time with that "Hey, we're playing at someone's home and you're invited!" feel or was it just the en vogue thing for men of the day (looking at you, Cliff Huxtable)?
--- End quote ---

The Winkster wore sweaters during his 1989 gig on The Last Word.

Cordially,
Tammy

mystery7:
It was absolutely The Cosby Show. I suspect some wardrobe supervisor at Goodsons thought The Cosby Sweaters would be a good vibe for Alex and/or Classic Concentration itself, and from there it spread.

Blanquepage:
I think Bob was ahead of everyone else with Trivia Trap. Pretty sure he also occasionally wore them when he went more casual on Newlywed Game  '98, along with just dress shirts and no jacket.

Edit: just remembered Bobby Van on Showoffs.

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