Author Topic: The 'Sophomore Jinx' part 2 (Read 3977 times)

Winkfan · « **on:** October 29, 2004, 07:09:45 PM »

Last month, I initiated a thread about the 'sophomore jinx;' and how many GS hosts were victims of it. This time we're gonna examine the factor in reverse. Meaning we could come up with those hosts who failed on their first try at game show hosting, only to have their second effort actually SUCCEED.

I could think of a few off the top of my head. One is Peter Tomarken. He hosted the '13-week wonder' Hit Man in early 1983; but then six months after that show was axed, he bounced back with, of course, Press Your Luck. Another is Pat Finn. His first effort, the 1990 remake of The Joker's Wild, failed poorly; but his follow-up show has run off and on for the past 13 years, and it's still going. The show, of course, is Shop Til You Drop. Then there is Chuck Woolery. He spent seven years hosting Wheel of Fortune, but after that, he spent about eight years doing Love Connection.

Any others? Or have I covered it all?

Cordially,
Tammy Warner--the 'Lynda Day George of the Big Board!'

clemon79 · « **Reply #1 on:** October 29, 2004, 07:21:41 PM »

I would hardly call seven years at the helm of WOF "failure", no matter what it turned into.

Jimmy Owen · « **Reply #2 on:** October 29, 2004, 07:29:07 PM »

Jack Clark had a three week run on "100 Grand" then his next show 11 years later was the successful "Dealer's Choice." Geoff Edwards went from "Hollywood's Talking" to "Jackpot." Regis's first game show "The Neighbors" was not as successful as WWTBAM.

zachhoran · « **Reply #3 on:** October 29, 2004, 07:44:39 PM »

I could think of a few off the top of my head. One is Peter Tomarken. He hosted the '13-week wonder' Hit Man in early 1983; but then six months after that show was axed, he bounced back with, of course, Press Your Luck. Another is Pat Finn, his first effort, the 1990 remake of The Joker's Wild, failed poorly; but his follow-up show has run off and on for the past 13 years, and it's still going. The show, of course, is Shop Til You Drop. Then there is Chuck Woolery. He spent seven years hosting Wheel of Fortune, but after that, he spent about eight years doing Love Connection.
--the 'Lynda Day George of the Big Board!'

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Three others whose second show was a bigger success than their first: Dawson(Masquerade Party, then Feud), Trebek(Wizard of Odds, then HR), Johnny Carson(Earn Your Vacation, then WHo Do You Trust),

Dbacksfan12 · « **Reply #4 on:** October 30, 2004, 03:06:17 AM »

[quote name=\'Winkfan\' date=\'Oct 29 2004, 06:09 PM\']Any others? Or have I covered it all?

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Jim Caldwell lasted 1 year on Tic Tac, but 4 on Top Card.
Bill Anderson lasted 26 weeks on TBS, but 6 on Fandango.

zachhoran · « **Reply #5 on:** October 30, 2004, 07:28:17 PM »

Jim Caldwell lasted 1 year on Tic Tac, but 4 on Top Card.
Bill Anderson lasted 26 weeks on TBS, but 6 on Fandango.

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Caldwell only did two years of Top Card, the third and fourth seasons of TC were hosted by Dan MIller.

adamjk · « **Reply #6 on:** October 30, 2004, 07:30:59 PM »

How about Regis Philbin? He hosted the Neighbors for a very short run in the 70's I think, and then of course came back in 1999 to host Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, and later on Super Millionaire.

zachhoran · « **Reply #7 on:** October 30, 2004, 08:33:44 PM »

[quote name=\'adamjk\' date=\'Oct 30 2004, 06:30 PM\']How about Regis Philbin? He hosted the Neighbors for a very short run in the 70's I think, and then of course came back in 1999 to host Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, and later on Super Millionaire.

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Hosting the quasi-game show Almost Anything Goes soon after the Neighbors ended arguably keeps Regis off the list

Don Howard · « **Reply #8 on:** October 31, 2004, 02:53:10 PM »

After The Object Is... and Missing Links, I'd say Dick Clark survived the "junior jinx". Of course, he did have that little dance show to fall back on.

uncamark · « **Reply #9 on:** October 31, 2004, 09:28:17 PM »

[quote name=\'zachhoran\' date=\'Oct 30 2004, 07:33 PM\'][quote name=\'adamjk\' date=\'Oct 30 2004, 06:30 PM\']How about Regis Philbin? He hosted the Neighbors for a very short run in the 70's I think, and then of course came back in 1999 to host Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, and later on Super Millionaire.

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Hosting the quasi-game show Almost Anything Goes soon after the Neighbors ended arguably keeps Regis off the list

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"Almost Anything Goes" wasn't a "quasi" game show. It *was* a game show in every sense of the word, except perhaps for the fact that the only prize was the hearty handshake and the warm glow of victory. It still was an unjudged test of skill.

GSWitch · « **Reply #10 on:** October 31, 2004, 10:28:20 PM »

[quote name=\'Jimmy Owen\' date=\'Oct 29 2004, 06:29 PM\']Geoff Edwards went from "Hollywood's Talking" to "Jackpot."

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Actually, The New Treasure Hunt came first in September 1973, followed by Jackpot in January 1974.

Jimmy Owen · « **Reply #11 on:** November 01, 2004, 02:14:54 AM »

I stand corrected. We didn't get TH in our market and I first saw the show when CBN showed the reruns in the early '80s.

ChuckNet · « **Reply #12 on:** November 01, 2004, 08:18:14 PM »

Quote

Jack Clark had a three week run on "100 Grand" then his next show 11 years later was the successful "Dealer's Choice."

Although he did get jinxed in a different manner, suffering through a string of unsold pilots for some 15+ yrs.

Chuck Donegan (The Illustrious "Chuckie Baby")

Author Topic: The 'Sophomore Jinx' part 2 (Read 3977 times)

adamjk

uncamark

GSWitch