The Game Show Forum
The Game Show Forum => The Big Board => Topic started by: Jim on December 30, 2003, 08:06:25 PM
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Pat Sajak noted on WOF tonight that he and Vanna drive themselves in to work for each taping. I know it's a minor point, but do any of you know if this is true of most game show personalities? I just can't imagine Bob Barker, (or in their day Allen Ludden, Bill Cullen, or Jack Barry) pulling the car out of the garage and driving down I-10 or whatever to get the studio. Aren't they pampered a little more than that? (Maybe this was true in the 50's through 70's in NYC when panelists regularly frequented the area for multiple purposes?)
- If it's true, do they park in a special parking area or should I expect to see Alex Trebek angling in next to me next time I attend a taping? Crew and staff maybe, but not a host.
BTW, Happy New Year (or as John Daly said, a most happy 1962 to all!)
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[quote name=\'Jim\' date=\'Dec 30 2003, 08:06 PM\'] Pat Sajak noted on WOF tonight that he and Vanna drive themselves in to work for each taping. I know it's a minor point, but do any of you know if this is true of most game show personalities? [/quote]
Geoff Edwards mentioned on his Radio Tonight show in 2000 that Bob Stewart would often take the bus into work.
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I recall seeing a feature (might have been a bio) of a day in the life of Pat Sajak. They showed him driving to work, bringing his wardrobe, etc...
Barker does drive himself, although I'd question for how many more years.
Some of the CBS parking lot spots are named and reserved, so most people do drive themselves.
Only noticeable spots I've seen are "Announcer" and "S. Vinnedge" (I once parked in his spot)
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I just can't imagine Bob Barker, (or in their day Allen Ludden, Bill Cullen, or Jack Barry) pulling the car out of the garage and driving down I-10 or whatever to get the studio. Aren't they pampered a little more than that?
I attended a Press Your Luck taping back in 1985; and while I was waiting to get in, I could've sworn I saw Peter Tomarken driving up to the Television City studio gate in a beautiful black Porsche. (Well, he was wearing shades; that is, from what I saw from the waiting area.)
You know, I disagree that all hosts are 'pampered.' If they want to drive (or even take the bus) to the studios themselves, that's their business. It only goes to show that they're making a living just like regular folk do.
Cordially,
Tammy Warner--the 'Gail Sheldon of the Big Board!'
I just made my 100th post! YABBA DABBA DOO!!!!!
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[quote name=\'cmjb13\' date=\'Dec 30 2003, 08:18 PM\'] I recall seeing a feature (might have been a bio) of a day in the life of Pat Sajak. They showed him driving to work, bringing his wardrobe, etc...
Barker does drive himself, although I'd question for how many more years.
Some of the CBS parking lot spots are named and reserved, so most people do drive themselves.
Only noticeable spots I've seen are "Announcer" and "S. Vinnedge" (I once parked in his spot) [/quote]
I believe somebody on the old MSN TPIR board had a pic. of Barker's wheels parked in the lot. Not sure who was it though, check Golden-road.net and see if maybe Marc posted it in the new picture galleries.
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Oddly enough, I was watching a rerun of Larry King Live last night and Ed McMahon said that Carson drove himself to the studio every day in his Corvette and that Ed thought it was odd because Ed had a driver.
I guess if they wanted a driver they could have one, but they like to drive. Some people love it. (Not the traffic, natch...but the driving)
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When I attended WWTBAM during its second week of taping, I saw Regis hurriedly leave the studio and walk into his car with a chauffeur waiting. (I was walking out of the building the same instant he was).
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[quote name=\'cmjb13\' date=\'Dec 30 2003, 05:18 PM\']I recall seeing a feature (might have been a bio) of a day in the life of Pat Sajak. They showed him driving to work, bringing his wardrobe, etc...
Barker does drive himself, although I'd question for how many more years.
Some of the CBS parking lot spots are named and reserved, so most people do drive themselves.
Only noticeable spots I've seen are "Announcer" and "S. Vinnedge" (I once parked in his spot)[/quote]
Most of the West coast hosts I know or have worked with all usually drive themselves. From Wink to Wahlberg, Tom Kennedy to GSN Kennedy, Trebek to Thicke, Newton to Nicotero. George Gray, Leno and several others are car aficionatos with a different vehicle every day. Out of town talent such as Maury ("21") and Anne Robinson get the limo treatment, as do celebrity guests. Mark Wahlberg did use a car for one gig I recall.
I would hope that Mr. Barker will continue to drive himself for a long time to come. He's really in great shape with good reflexes. Certainly the best 80 I've ever seen. I think he's doing fine; his car has no dings, dents or scratches!
The parking spots you reference at TV City are near the artists entrance. But that "announcer" spot is not for the "Price" announcer. There is a lot more that goes on in that building (!) and some of it involves announcers, such as the network promos and breaks. The "Price" announcer is lucky enough to park next to Barker in a separate area that is more convenient and is under constant security surveillance. Those spots are NOT marked with the name of the assignee.
You can stop reading here. The rest is me just reminiscing about New York!
As a juicy Macintosh off the Big Apple tree, I feel confident in responding that most New Yorkers who work in the city (Manhattan) don't drive to work. It's mass transit from the outer boroughs or from across the river. A monthly parking spot in the city costs more than most monthly mortgage payments in other cities. A great many Manhattanites don't even own cars, choosing instead to use the financial savings from non-existant car payments, insurance, repairs, and gas on cabs. Some actually garage their cars near the train stations in Westchester county or on Long Island for weekend road trips.
To my knowledge the New York folk you're talking about - hosts, panelists, etc. - past and present - who actually live in the city use car services. Howard Stern, as well as a friend of mine who was a neighbor of Rush Limbaugh's, when sleeping in the city, are pretty much typical of the many Manhattanites who have a car pick them up daily for the trip to and from work. To this day, all the NY based talk shows have standing relationships with car services for their hosts and guests.
I miss the city... until I'm there for 4 or 5 days!
Randy
tvrandywest.com
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I Went to see To Tell The Truth back in 2000 and saw John O'Hurley pull into the lot. At NBC many stars have their own spaces. Back in 1983 when I went to see Dream House, Bob Eubanks had his white El Camino in his. Leno always drives one of his many cars to work and Letterman on the opposite coast does the same.
Not as many celebrities use a Limo on a regular basis as you may think. It's a lot more fun to drive.
John
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Randy's post about New York traffic reminded me of a recent conversation I had with someone about their old days of commuting from Connecticut into Manhattan daily. Following the litany of transfers (drive to the Stamford train station to get to Grand Central - switch at GRand Central to catch your subway route - then catch a bus connection - then get the second next bus, but not the express bus and you're there in 2 hours) I felt like a beleaguered What's My Line panelist following one of Mr. Daly's long explanations. I was still back at, "What if you can't find a parking space at the train station?"
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[quote name=\'tvrandywest\' date=\'Dec 30 2003, 09:23 PM\'] As a juicy Macintosh off the Big Apple tree, I feel confident in responding that most New Yorkers who work in the city (Manhattan) don't drive to work. It's mass transit from the outer boroughs or from across the river. A monthly parking spot in the city costs more than most monthly mortgage payments in other cities. A great many Manhattanites don't even own cars, choosing instead to use the financial savings from non-existant car payments, insurance, repairs, and gas on cabs. Some actually garage their cars near the train stations in Westchester county or on Long Island for weekend road trips.
To my knowledge the New York folk you're talking about - hosts, panelists, etc. - past and present - who actually live in the city use car services. Howard Stern, as well as a friend of mine who was a neighbor of Rush Limbaugh's, when sleeping in the city, are pretty much typical of the many Manhattanites who have a car pick them up daily for the trip to and from work. To this day, all the NY based talk shows have standing relationships with car services for their hosts and guests.
I miss the city... until I'm there for 4 or 5 days!
[/quote]
As another expatriate New Yorker, I can vouch for Randy's statement: you don't own a car if you live in New York City. (Well, Staten Island, and maybe the outer reaches of Queens or the Bronx, but that's it.) I lived in or around the city for 13 years, and only owned a car for one of them (because my wife was making a nighttime commute to scenic Newark, NJ). It's crazy expensive to maintain your car if you purchase parking, and nerve-wracking if you need to worry about anti-theft devices and alternate side of the street parking.
I can't imagine any of the NY-based hosts and celebrities (Cullen, Rayburn, Carlisle, Blyden, Regis, etc.) doing anything but taking limos or car services. They were all long-time New Yorkers and must have been used to it.
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Randy has attested to the fact that just about every emcee based in LA-LA land drives/drove himself to work. Based on what I've learned about other emcees, they can also cut their own food, tie their own shoes and bathe themselves.
Besides Ed McMahon being limoed to the Tonight show, the only exception might have been Richard Dawson going to FF. I can't say for sure whether Richard had a limo, but if you asked Howard Felsher he'd probably tell you Richard flew to the studio on a broomstick.
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[quote name=\'chris319\' date=\'Dec 30 2003, 10:40 PM\'] Besides Ed McMahon being limoed to the Tonight show, the only exception might have been Richard Dawson going to FF. I can't say for sure whether Richard had a limo, but if you asked Howard Felsher he'd probably tell you Richard flew to the studio on a broomstick. [/quote]
Great, Chris. And I suppose our member, GSWitch flew him there?
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[quote name=\'chris319\' date=\'Dec 30 2003, 10:40 PM\'] Randy has attested to the fact that just about every emcee based in LA-LA land drives/drove himself to work. Based on what I've learned about other emcees, they can also cut their own food, tie their own shoes and bathe themselves.
Besides Ed McMahon being limoed to the Tonight show, the only exception might have been Richard Dawson going to FF. I can't say for sure whether Richard had a limo, but if you asked Howard Felsher he'd probably tell you Richard flew to the studio on a broomstick. [/quote]
Jamie Locklin had a clip from Feud, where an actor posing as a cop tries to write a "ticket" (before mangling his words). He mentioned a black Cadillac, but it could've all been part of the routine.
In Vanna's autobio, I think there's a picture of her getting out of a Mercedes convertible. She had an outfit draped over her shoulder.
With that in mind, does Matt Ottinger drive to "QuizBusters," or does he get a chauffeur as well? ;-)
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One of the things that the gang at the radio station that I work at (that Mr. Sajak owns) told me is that he drives himself around... in a Ford Crown Victoria. Apparently he doesn't want a big flashy car, from what he's told our sales manager. He gives those to his wife.
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A Crown Vic, eh? Must be a fan of The Police. :)
And really who can blame him? My favorite song of theirs is "Every Step You Take".
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The one person I can't visualize behind the wheel of an automobile on her way to a game show taping is Lucille Ball. I frankly don't know if we hired a car for her or if someone in her entourage drove her. Lucy was nigh 70 when she did P+.
I did, however, witness Carol Burnett driving home after one of our tapings in a classic Rolls.
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[quote name=\'chris319\' date=\'Dec 30 2003, 10:13 PM\'] Lucy was nigh 70 when she did P+. [/quote]
Her age or her Blood Alcohol Content?
Randy
tvrandywest.com
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[quote name=\'tvrandywest\' date=\'Dec 30 2003, 11:21 PM\'] [quote name=\'chris319\' date=\'Dec 30 2003, 10:13 PM\'] Lucy was nigh 70 when she did P+. [/quote]
Her age or her Blood Alcohol Content?
[/quote]
Ooh, that's a shot.
Off-topic, but still funny: Hockey player Bob Probert was caught blowing a .24 driving home after a night of revelry, and the unofficial Blackhawks game-night program picked it up in their Top 10 Bob Probert Pick-Up Lines for the next game:
"My love for you is three times the legal limit, baby." :)
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[quote name=\'tvrandywest\' date=\'Dec 30 2003, 10:21 PM\'][quote name=\'chris319\' date=\'Dec 30 2003, 10:13 PM\'] Lucy was nigh 70 when she did P+. [/quote]
Her age or her Blood Alcohol Content?
[/quote]
Are you saying Lucy had too much blood in her alcohol system?
She had so much alcohol in her bloodstream, instead of being offered the role of "Auntie Mame" she was offered the role of "Auntie Freeze".
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I'm sure whatever fondness Lucy had for "the drink", it doesn't hold a candle to ex-husband Desi.
Mame was a bad choice for Lucy. However, she did have stakes in the movie, so she casted herself in the role, while ironically using some of the original broadway cast for the other main roles. If she had done the movie 10 years before, she would've been great, but in her mid 60s, she was past her prime.
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[quote name=\'whewfan\' date=\'Dec 31 2003, 05:51 AM\'] I'm sure whatever fondness Lucy had for "the drink", it doesn't hold a candle to ex-husband Desi.
Mame was a bad choice for Lucy. However, she did have stakes in the movie, so she casted herself in the role, while ironically using some of the original broadway cast for the other main roles. If she had done the movie 10 years before, she would've been great, but in her mid 60s, she was past her prime. [/quote]
There will only be ONE Agnes Gooch. Peggy Cass. Accept no substitutes!
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believe somebody on the old MSN TPIR board had a pic. of Barker's wheels parked in the lot.
What's next? Pictures of his living room furniture?
But that "announcer" spot is not for the "Price" announcer.
Never said it was and didn't mean to imply it was. I would figure they would get a better spot than that.
The "Price" announcer is lucky enough to park next to Barker in a separate area that is more convenient and is under constant security surveillance. Those spots are NOT marked with the name of the assignee.
CBS security always amazes me at how inept they can be at times. But if they were to get something right, overseeing that area would have to be it.
I think Barker uses the Beverly Blvd entrance (or called Genesee Ave by others), as most people do. Someone once told me he uses the Fairfax entrance, but I find that a little tough to believe with all the fans in that area hanging around.
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[quote name=\'fostergray82\' date=\'Dec 30 2003, 11:47 PM\'] With that in mind, does Matt Ottinger drive to "QuizBusters," or does he get a chauffeur as well? ;-) [/quote]
Not only does Matt not have a chauffeur, he also doesn't have a designated parking spot.
The question editor doesn't get one either. Then again, the question editor is so lazy he only goes to a handful of tapings a year.
--Mike
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Most of the West coast hosts I know or have worked with all usually drive themselves. From Wink to Wahlberg, Tom Kennedy to GSN Kennedy, Trebek to Thicke, Newton to Nicotero. George Gray, Leno and several others are car aficionatos with a different vehicle every day. Out of town talent such as Maury ("21") and Anne Robinson get the limo treatment, as do celebrity guests. Mark Wahlberg did use a car for one gig I recall.
I was at a Season 1 'Russian Roulette' taping at Sony and while driving home from the studio on Sepulveda Blvd, I passed a tow truck...
which just happened to be *towing* Mark Wahlberg's car. Seems he had a little car trouble.
JOSH
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[quote name=\'matchgame\' date=\'Dec 31 2003, 10:19 AM\']I passed a tow truck...[/quote]
Was Burton driving?
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>> The one person I can't visualize behind the wheel of an automobile on her way >> to a game show taping is Lucille Ball. I frankly don't know if we hired a car for >> her or if someone in her entourage drove her. Lucy was nigh 70 when she did >> P+.
At times, Lucy seemed unable to find (or disinterested in finding) her way over to center stage to play Alphabetics. I also remember Tom Kennedy had to guide her around the P+ set, as well as escort her (physically a few times) around the stage on Body Language. Her instability there differs from the apparent cohesiveness and stamina she showed during Life With Lucy (content/quality of the show aside).
ON LUCY P+: I remember the password was 'Easter" Lucy said it quietly and her partner screamed and pounded the table in excitement. Lucy looked visibly surprised and shaken by the swell of excitement. She did some schtick later, but the initial reaction of being startled and frightened by the noise was priceless.
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[quote name=\'cmjb13\' date=\'Dec 31 2003, 10:29 AM\'] [quote name=\'matchgame\' date=\'Dec 31 2003, 10:19 AM\']I passed a tow truck...[/quote]
Was Burton driving? [/quote]
No...... I heard Paul Boland was. :-)
John
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[quote name=\'goongas\' date=\'Dec 30 2003, 09:22 PM\']When I attended WWTBAM during its second week of taping, I saw Regis hurriedly leave the studio and walk into his car with a chauffeur waiting. (I was walking out of the building the same instant he was).[/quote]
That, I assume was at the Sony Recording Studios, since the first series was taped there. All of the other episodes to the present day are at ABC--and Regis' apartment is across the street from ABC (or so I've read), so he only has to make a short walk to get to work. Whether he makes the walk himself or Joy, Gelman or security guards accompany him, I have no idea.
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[quote name=\'chris319\' date=\'Dec 31 2003, 01:54 AM\'] [quote name=\'tvrandywest\' date=\'Dec 30 2003, 10:21 PM\'][quote name=\'chris319\' date=\'Dec 30 2003, 10:13 PM\'] Lucy was nigh 70 when she did P+. [/quote]
Her age or her Blood Alcohol Content?
[/quote]
Are you saying Lucy had too much blood in her alcohol system?
She had so much alcohol in her bloodstream, instead of being offered the role of "Auntie Mame" she was offered the role of "Auntie Freeze". [/quote]
I laughed so hard I about fell out of the chair Chris319? HAHAHA!
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I just remembered one from ATGS...Randy Amasia said Jim Perry drove a green MG.
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That, I assume was at the Sony Recording Studios, since the first series was taped there. All of the other episodes to the present day are at ABC--and Regis' apartment is across the street from ABC (or so I've read), so he only has to make a short walk to get to work. Whether he makes the walk himself or Joy, Gelman or security guards accompany him, I have no idea.
Yes, it was at Sony. Regis' apartment is across the street from ABC, at least it used to be.
Also, the show ended taping around 8:30 pm (this was when they taped starting at 7), so Regis probably had to go to his evening entertainment anyhow.
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Geoff Edwards mentioned on his Radio Tonight show in 2000 that Bob Stewart would often take the bus into work.
And I suspect contestants were brought to the studio the same way. :-)
Chuck Donegan (The Illustrious "Chuckie Baby")
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[quote name=\'ChuckNet\' date=\'Dec 31 2003, 06:31 PM\']
Geoff Edwards mentioned on his Radio Tonight show in 2000 that Bob Stewart would often take the bus into work.
And I suspect contestants were brought to the studio the same way. :-)
Chuck Donegan (The Illustrious "Chuckie Baby") [/quote]
At least one Bob Stewart show offered ground transportation for contestants. On the USA version of Jackpot, there was a fee plug for the company who provided it
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[quote name=\'fostergray82\' date=\'Dec 31 2003, 12:47 AM\'] With that in mind, does Matt Ottinger drive to "QuizBusters," or does he get a chauffeur as well? ;-) [/quote]
I figure since they're paying me $2 million a year to host the show, the least I could do was to give back the driver allowance. However, since we tape in the fall and early winter, the Ferrari stays in the garage. I usually just drive the Hummer.
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Also, Sally Julian drove herself to work during her brief stint on $otC...they even gave her a parking space w/her own name on it! :-)
Chuck Donegan (The Illustrious "Chuckie Baby")
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[quote name=\'ChuckNet\' date=\'Jan 4 2004, 01:06 PM\']Also, Sally Julian drove herself to work during her brief stint on $otC...they even gave her a parking space w/her own name on it! :-)[/quote]
Reminds me... Summer BartholeMOOOO (in honor of "mad cow" disease) was very proud of the fact that she used to drive herself to NBC from Santa Barbara (60+ miles) while watching TV! She had a new-fangled TV that could be powered from the 12V cigarette lighter. Suddenly a cell phone seems like no big distraction.
Randy
tvrandywest.com
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Oh lord. What will they think of next???
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[quote name=\'uncamark\' date=\'Dec 31 2003, 12:53 PM\'] [quote name=\'goongas\' date=\'Dec 30 2003, 09:22 PM\']When I attended WWTBAM during its second week of taping, I saw Regis hurriedly leave the studio and walk into his car with a chauffeur waiting. (I was walking out of the building the same instant he was).[/quote]
That, I assume was at the Sony Recording Studios, since the first series was taped there. All of the other episodes to the present day are at ABC--and Regis' apartment is across the street from ABC (or so I've read), so he only has to make a short walk to get to work. Whether he makes the walk himself or Joy, Gelman or security guards accompany him, I have no idea. [/quote]
First eps were indeed shot at Sony. We went to one taping the second week, and Regis seemed a little irritated as to how long the taping took -- making a couple of comments as such to Gelman, who was sitting in the audience. (My recollection is it took about an hour and a half to tape the half-hour episode.)
Some of it was bugs, but other things needed to be worked out -- like taking away and putting back the center podium for Fastest Finger, which took a ton of time. I was sitting to the left of the monitor Regis read the Fastest Finger questions from (a bad idea in itself; you could see him squinting a bit), and deliberately avoided any eye contact to keep things moving ("Why the hell is this guy staring at me all the time?").
Just eliminating the Fastest Finger no doubt makes the syndie version run a lot quicker.