"The show / host really wasn't bad"

[Blanquepage]

Transplanting my original post from Double Talk #1 video to form this thread.
Watching the Double Talk premiere, I find myself thinking about all my shifts in sentiment towards shows and hosts. Seeing this now, despite the clumsy clue readings, Henry was just fine. I'm sure he pulled off episode 1 better than I probably would have hosting the 1st episode of my 1st game show. What sentiments towards shows and hosts have changed for you over the years?

[TLEberle]

I still think HP2 is a maladroit TV presence.

Pat Finn is a good if not great host saddled with two formats that we have been unkind to.
Robb Edward Morris and his quiet demeanor goes well with Make the Grade until the Fire Drill.
Phil Moore makes me almost forget what a dog’s dinner of a rule set Nick Arcade had.

[SamJ93]

I've always thought that TTD'90's reputation as one of the worst game shows ever was a bit overblown. The core gameplay was still largely unchanged, the doubling square values in the event of a tie compensated adequately for the pot being reset, and Patrick Wayne honestly wasn't that bad of a host--if he had gotten a bit of coaching to tone it down a notch, he would've been fine.

On the flip side of that...while I still enjoy watching the classic TPiR channel (mainly to pay attention to the music cues and how they were used), the cringe-inducing way that Bob Barker often talked to young female contestants has really soured my opinion of him from my childhood.

[TLEberle]

A contrasting view about TTD--the reset of the pot means that the excitement ebbs rather than builds up with each tie, though I think with so many two player categories the fact that I don't recall maybe more than one triple stakes game means you would go from a base pot of $5,000 to the possibility of winning "only" three grand.

Actors are going to act. While I never got the sense that Wink was aiming for gravitas he at least knew how to react to the situation and not go for a big reveal on the first box of the game.

Barker Era is becoming a bit harder of a watch though.

[BrandonFG]

I've always thought that TTD'90's reputation as one of the worst game shows ever was a bit overblown. The core gameplay was still largely unchanged, the doubling square values in the event of a tie compensated adequately for the pot being reset, and Patrick Wayne honestly wasn't that bad of a host--if he had gotten a bit of coaching to tone it down a notch, he would've been fine.

This was gonna be my answer. I think if there's another decade in-between this and Wink's version, the reviews are a little kinder because the most recent version is a little more distant now. IMO it would help that the 2000 landscape was also kinder to the genre thanks to Reege. Working in television gave me a new perspective to where I wonder how much of Patrick's persona was dictated by producers...he always seemed more lowkey on other shows. In a similar vein, TJW90 would've been better under a different title and maybe without the slot machine. Or maybe they should've gone with the "Classic" format from the beginning.

Shop Til You Drop didn't deserve the contempt some of us - myself included - gave it back in the day either. It never tried to be anything more than what it was: a basic cable game show with two teams doing goofy stunts for prizes. The "Costco" season was pretty dull, tho.

[Jamey Greek]

Rossi Morreale got a bad rap hosting Temptation but after reading this interview he did the best he could with what he had.  The interviewer even said: “Not even Bill Cullen would have known what to do with this show.


https://sb2tlopg.wordpress.com/2012/03/02/interview-with-rossi-morreale/

[TLEberle]

Greg Palmer spelled commercials wrong on his blog header. That is majestic.

[whewfan]

Regarding Double Talk, many of us have seen the finale, and I thought Henry Polic II was more polished. I'm confused why they changed it to Celebrity Double Talk, because the show didn't really change much and still had contestants. I think the only rule change they made later in the run was that the team only had to get 3 out of 4 to get the bonus points instead of all 4.

Shop Till You Drop was goofy, but honestly towards the end, I couldn't stand Dee Baker... I thought he was a little too over the top... great voice actor, great as Olmec, but overbearing in STYD. Still, I do agree that the Costco format was like when BTB 85 took away the stunts... it was just a dull show. I liked the second announcer/sidekick best, Jason Smith. Mark L Walberg, the show's first announcer/sidekick was okay, but I think Mark was better destined to be a host, but it wasn't until Russian Roulette came along that format and host clicked. I also liked On the Cover. I read that Mark auditioned to be the host of STYD but he was told he was too young. Randy West told me he auditioned to be the show's announcer/sidekick as well.

I'll add that Quicksilver had a good premise, but the presentation was a bit lackluster. It didn't help that the show also had a bad title. I read that the producers couldn't think of a better title for the show. Ron Maestri was... adequate. I think with some tweaks, and more money put into it, it could've had a stronger presence.

[Card Shark]

On the flip side of that...while I still enjoy watching the classic TPiR channel (mainly to pay attention to the music cues and how they were used), the cringe-inducing way that Bob Barker often talked to young female contestants has really soured my opinion of him from my childhood.

Ok, I'm glad I'm not the only one. Yes, Bob was a master emcee, etc., etc.  Yes, I also noticed took note on how inapporpriate many of his conversations with female contestants were at times. But, I was watching one of the episodes on Buzzr the other day and it was one in which they had time to kill before a commercial break and it was the first taping after they had been on vacation. Bob took the time to ask Dian, Holly, and Janice about their romantic life. Yes, I know this was from 40 years ago and the world was a much different place, but that creeped me out. So, I share in your sentiment.

[aaron sica]

On the flip side of that...while I still enjoy watching the classic TPiR channel (mainly to pay attention to the music cues and how they were used), the cringe-inducing way that Bob Barker often talked to young female contestants has really soured my opinion of him from my childhood.

Especially in the early ones, he will sometimes address them as "baby". Different time, I know, but just......ewww.

[BrandonFG]

Rossi Morreale got a bad rap hosting Temptation but after reading this interview he did the best he could with what he had.  The interviewer even said: “Not even Bill Cullen would have known what to do with this show.

Christian C. interviewed Rossi a year or so ago, and he has pretty good knowledge of the genre. Would’ve been nice to see him get another show produced by a more competent crew.

And yeah, early-80s Bob is tough to watch at times. It’s a few 80s hosts that have made me do a double take with the chauvinism.

[Blanquepage]

I'm not so much bothered by Barker, but am with Gene getting lecherous with the ladies on MG, especially demanding kisses from the first-timers. Didn't really think much of it when I was younger. Guess that could be the seed for an inverse thread of "Didn't bother me then, but does today."
Another "not bad at all" for me was Ruckus. I enjoy it each time I sit through it when digitizing the old tapes

[SuperMatch93]

I watched an episode of Temptation recently for the first time since 2008, and it wasn't as bad as I remember it being. I think since we all had such high hopes for it—especially since we had seen clips/episodes from the Australian series—what we got was more of a let-down back then.

Rossi had a good point in his interview with Christian: if the 80s format was so flawless in comparison, it would have lasted past 1989. According to Mitt Dawson, Grundy tried to drum up support for a syndie version in the early 90s but failed.

[steveleb]

I watched an episode of Temptation recently for the first time since 2008, and it wasn't as bad as I remember it being. I think since we all had such high hopes for it—especially since we had seen clips/episodes from the Australian series—what we got was more of a let-down back then.

Rossi had a good point in his interview with Christian: if the 80s format was so flawless in comparison, it would have lasted past 1989. According to Mitt Dawson, Grundy tried to drum up support for a syndie version in the early 90s but failed.

I was part of a couple of meetings where Reg was attempting a revival.  The team that sold the 80s version concurrent with NBC promised the second coming of Wheel--needless to say it fell far short.  Too many potential buyers had long enough memories to remember that. 

[TimK2003]

I watched an episode of Temptation recently for the first time since 2008, and it wasn't as bad as I remember it being. I think since we all had such high hopes for it—especially since we had seen clips/episodes from the Australian series—what we got was more of a let-down back then.

Rossi had a good point in his interview with Christian: if the 80s format was so flawless in comparison, it would have lasted past 1989. According to Mitt Dawson, Grundy tried to drum up support for a syndie version in the early 90s but failed.

I was working at a TV station when Temptation and Merv Griffin's Crosswords premiered.  They aired both shows back to back the hour before The Price Is Right.

From what I remember what the GM said was that both shows were "too laid back" as a lead in to Price.  IIRC Jerry Springer was airing against Temptation and MGC and was the ratings leader for that hour.   Even Matlock reruns on our sister station were doing much better than our 9am game show block.