"The show / host really wasn't bad"

[Jeremy Nelson]

As the years roll on, I’m more and more convinced that the fandom’s disdain towards certain shows was just a result of the loudest voices online being the largest detractors; those same people also had an issue of going “I don’t like the show, so by extension, I must not like the host either”, especially for the newer crop of emcees.

I was always a fan of Kroeger Newlywed Game. I’d always thought the classic format didn’t always work even with Bob at the helm, so having different party game-style rounds was, IMO, a welcome change.

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.

I don’t know if this was the checkmate Rossi was hoping for this point to be, considering the only four game shows to make it through the first Bush Administration were arguably four of the five most lucrative game show properties to ever be devised worldwide.

[SuperMatch93]

^Fun fact related to that: in the United States, Sale of the Century has only been on the air with new episodes during Republican presidencies.

[clemon79]

As for a specific example myself...while I don't blame us/viewers for rejecting Scattergories and its parade of celebrity home video footage, the show itself wasn't a total slog to watch, for me. Dick Clark had a lot to do with that, of course.

Same, but this was WHOLLY because of Dick Clark. You put a second-string host behind the podium for that dog and I don't watch a minute of it beyond the premiere, I don't think.

[clemon79]

^Fun fact related to that: in the United States, Sale of the Century has only been on the air with new episodes during Republican presidencies.

Thanks, Obama.

[Joe Mello]

Rossi may not have been wholly wrong, but from between 1980-2013, Australia had some variant of the $ale formula for about as long as the US had Family Feud during that same span.

I think my definition of "replacement-level" for hosting is Jim Lange. He will represent your show with a level of competency that all but a few would say "no" to, but he isn't a draw and doesn't "perform" outside of whatever is necessary to shepherd the game along.

I put on a random TTD 90 because I hadn't seen it since the USA days. IMO Lange would've said or did just about everything Wayne did, but Wayne did it all just slightly worse. I understand Chelsea's POV on Wink, but he would've added an extra bit or two or at least change up the patter between segments/games.

[Matt Ottinger]

This thread reminds me of one of my favorite reviews of Bill.  For a local TV game in 1949, the critic said, "Emcee Bill Cullen showed little video presence."

Turns out he really wasn't bad.

[SuperMatch93]

Do we think Mark DeCarlo would be willing to host a revival of either Sale or Studs?

[SamJ93]

This thread reminds me of one of my favorite reviews of Bill.  For a local TV game in 1949, the critic said, "Emcee Bill Cullen showed little video presence."

Turns out he really wasn't bad.

I unfortunately can't seem to find it now, but a few years ago either you or Adam posted a clip to Facebook of one of Bill's very early gigs, and it was shocking how much he sounded like a stereotypical overly-bombastic radio announcer. I dunno if someone gave him some tips or he figured it out on his own, but either way we should be thankful that he was given a chance to adopt the more laid-back, conversational style for which he became known.

[Long live Jeopardy]

As for a specific example myself...while I don't blame us/viewers for rejecting Scattergories and its parade of celebrity home video footage, the show itself wasn't a total slog to watch, for me. Dick Clark had a lot to do with that, of course.

Same, but this was WHOLLY because of Dick Clark. You put a second-string host behind the podium for that dog and I don't watch a minute of it beyond the premiere, I don't think.

See also It Takes Two in 1997.

[TimK2003]

As for a specific example myself...while I don't blame us/viewers for rejecting Scattergories and its parade of celebrity home video footage, the show itself wasn't a total slog to watch, for me. Dick Clark had a lot to do with that, of course.

Same, but this was WHOLLY because of Dick Clark. You put a second-string host behind the podium for that dog and I don't watch a minute of it beyond the premiere, I don't think.

See also It Takes Two in 1997.

Despite having his own successful production company that was doing all sorts of television programming in the 80s and beyond, I was always surprised at how many game shows he hosted for *other* companies after his reign on Pyramid came to a close (Scattergories, Winning Lines, It Takes Two,...).

[The Ol' Guy]

Perhaps, Sam, it was the Quick As A Flash television pilot? Bill did the radio show, and he was really amped up in this video version. You'd think it was radio considering there's hardly a second of dead air anywhere.