The Game Show Forum

The Game Show Forum => The Big Board => Topic started by: bulldog_06 on February 28, 2014, 02:49:46 PM

Title: Johnny Gilbert
Post by: bulldog_06 on February 28, 2014, 02:49:46 PM
Every game show fan is talking about who will replace Alex Trebek as host of Jeopardy when he retires in a couple of years.

But...

Who would be a good replacement for Johnny Gilbert's position as announcer on Jeopardy when he retires or (heaven forbid) dies?

NOTE: Johnny Gilbert is about to turn 90 this summer.
Title: Re: Johnny Gilbert
Post by: SuperMatch93 on February 28, 2014, 02:51:24 PM
Two SoCal-based ones that come to mind for me are Wally Wingert (Leno's last annoucer) and Randy West.
Title: Re: Johnny Gilbert
Post by: Winkfan on February 28, 2014, 03:02:05 PM
Two SoCal-based ones that come to mind for me are Wally Wingert (Leno's last annoucer) and Randy West.

As I mentioned in a earlier thread, I believe Paul Boland would make a good replacement for Monsieur Gilbert.

You know, when I first saw this thread, I thought to myself, "They are throwing Johnny out on his ear this time!"

Cordially,
Tammy
Title: Re: Johnny Gilbert
Post by: Dbacksfan12 on February 28, 2014, 03:43:58 PM
Every game show fan is talking about who will replace Alex Trebek as host of Jeopardy when he retires in a couple of years.
Well, if you say so.  Anyhow, as much as I don't like to admit it, I don't believe the announcer is a vital part of the show as in years past.  There's no long lists of fee plugs to read, and from what I understand, many audience members are 'actors' who get paid to attend; therefore the "warm up" bit isn't as necessary either.  As long as a person has decent vocal tones, I believe most anyone would do.
Title: Re: Johnny Gilbert
Post by: TLEberle on February 28, 2014, 03:47:16 PM
As long as a person has decent vocal tones, I believe most anyone would do.
That said I would think real hard before giving that job to Burton Richardson.
Title: Re: Johnny Gilbert
Post by: clemon79 on February 28, 2014, 03:47:42 PM
and from what I understand, many audience members are 'actors' who get paid to attend; therefore the "warm up" bit isn't as necessary either.

And the warm-up isn't the announcer in a lot of cases either; consider that George Gray was warming-up for Jeopardy! for some time.
Title: Re: Johnny Gilbert
Post by: clemon79 on February 28, 2014, 03:48:55 PM
That said I would think real hard before giving that job to Burton Richardson.

Burton's fine when he isn't puking. That said, I don't think he could get through "Here's the host of Jeopardy!, Alex Trebek!" without puking.
Title: Re: Johnny Gilbert
Post by: BrandonFG on February 28, 2014, 03:52:18 PM
Every game show fan is talking about who will replace Alex Trebek as host of Jeopardy when he retires in a couple of years.
Well, if you say so.  Anyhow, as much as I don't like to admit it, I don't believe the announcer is a vital part of the show as in years past.  There's no long lists of fee plugs to read, and from what I understand, many audience members are 'actors' who get paid to attend; therefore the "warm up" bit isn't as necessary either.  As long as a person has decent vocal tones, I believe most anyone would do.
I'm a purist in the sense that I still like to hear someone introducing the host, but I'm inclined to agree, considering the announcer's voice on most shows is probably coming from a computer file and not live in house (George Gray is one exception, not sure on Jim Thornton, ETA: forgot about Jonathan Mangum). I believe even Don Pardo does his intros from his home.....in Arizona.

Not a bad thing, but yeah...the days of a staff announcer doing multiple shows from the same producer or network are over.

Disagree on Paul Boland though...from what I remember, his work on TPiR left a lot to be desired. Would love to see Randy...he's about the only one I can think of from the top of my head who could belt out "This.....Issss....Jeopardy!" like Don or Johnny.
Title: Re: Johnny Gilbert
Post by: Chief-O on February 28, 2014, 04:00:18 PM
considering the announcer's voice on most shows is probably coming from a computer file and not live in house (George Gray is one exception, not sure on Jim Thornton).

I think Jim Thornton is in-studio for "Wheel".

Speaking of which----I could see him doing J! as well after Johnny retires/dies/whatever. He'd be working under the same employer, with some of the same people that he works with on "Wheel".....and I don't think he's got too much else going on that would interfere.

........That said, being on the road for "Wheel" at times may be a different story.
Title: Re: Johnny Gilbert
Post by: DoItRockapella on February 28, 2014, 05:21:35 PM
I've thought about this, and always reached the conclusion then when Johnny dies or moves on, Jeopardy could easily give up on the announcer entirely and just have the contestants introduce themselves or something. This would be the end of an era, but given that Johnny's job in 2014 seems to consist of the intro alone, why spend the money?

On the other hand, in my mind, Wheel Of Fortune should always have an announcer as it requires the description of prizes. Somehow the idea of Vanna White reading the prize copy doesn't appeal to me.
Title: Re: Johnny Gilbert
Post by: TLEberle on February 28, 2014, 05:25:18 PM
On the other hand, in my mind, Wheel Of Fortune should always have an announcer as it requires the description of prizes. Somehow the idea of Vanna White reading the prize copy doesn't appeal to me.
Jeopardy still has the Aleve plug, I forget if there's other pluggery that happens.

When Alex retires they could kill two birds with one stone and have Ron Maestri do both jobs.
Title: Re: Johnny Gilbert
Post by: aaron sica on February 28, 2014, 06:39:01 PM
Jeopardy still has the Aleve plug, I forget if there's other pluggery that happens.

I can't stand that plug......"The Answer is Aleve".....No, it's not, it should be a question....
Title: Re: Johnny Gilbert
Post by: Nick on February 28, 2014, 08:21:40 PM
consider that George Gray was warming-up for Jeopardy! for some time.

When was this?  I attended tapings in seasons 29 and 30, and Johnny did the warmup.  It just surprises me, if he stopped doing it, that he'd start doing it again.

I think Jim Thornton is in-studio for "Wheel".

Affirmative, and he does the warmup plus entertainment between shows.

Speaking of which----I could see him doing J! as well after Johnny retires/dies/whatever. He'd be working under the same employer, with some of the same people that he works with on "Wheel".....and I don't think he's got too much else going on that would interfere.

He does afternoon drive at KNX in LA when Wheel tapings don't interfere.

........That said, being on the road for "Wheel" at times may be a different story.

I can't see that getting in the way.  They would have taped the six weeks of Vegas shows in six days.  Plus, there are a number of staffers who work for both shows.  They never tape at the same time in Culver City, so it probably doesn't happen when one show is taping out of town.

Jeopardy still has the Aleve plug, I forget if there's other pluggery that happens.

There's his, "Closed captioning is sponsored in part by..." line before Double Jeopardy! begins, which isn't live-to-tape.  Nothing Johnny announces is live-to-tape aside from the intro.

As far as what Johnny has said for himself about his future with the show, he said to the audience at one of the last tapings I attended he plans to stay with the show as long as he is able.  Alex said he's got these same plans too.
Title: Re: Johnny Gilbert
Post by: Jamey Greek on March 01, 2014, 10:34:38 PM

I would say for a replacement for him will be either Our own Randy West, Joe Cipriano, or John Cramer. 
Title: Re: Johnny Gilbert
Post by: bulldog_06 on March 01, 2014, 11:59:52 PM
I second Randy West for new announcer.
Title: Replacing Johnny Gilbert When the Time Comes
Post by: dale_grass on March 02, 2014, 12:22:15 AM
Don Pardo's still kickin'.  I say bring him back.
Title: Re: Johnny Gilbert
Post by: Bryce L. on March 02, 2014, 01:52:26 AM
I concur with the majority here and put forward Randy West also
Title: Re: Johnny Gilbert
Post by: Don Howard on March 02, 2014, 05:40:54 AM
Matt O. will host and I will announce.
And Randy West will bring both of us coffee.
Title: Re: Johnny Gilbert
Post by: Jeremy Nelson on March 02, 2014, 11:25:28 PM
That said I would think real hard before giving that job to Burton Richardson.

Burton's fine when he isn't puking. That said, I don't think he could get through "Here's the host of Jeopardy!, Alex Trebek!" without puking.
So I've heard the term "puking" on this board when referring to announcers before, but I don't understand- can someone provide an example?
Title: Re: Johnny Gilbert
Post by: TLEberle on March 02, 2014, 11:32:43 PM
So I've heard the term "puking" on this board when referring to announcers before, but I don't understand- can someone provide an example?
Yup:

One of the things that was drilled into us daily at summer stock theater was that you speak or sing from your diaphragm because that's where your power comes. Puking is talking from the throat and face, typified by an annoying vocal sound. Imagine someone without the talent or practice trying to imitate Rod Roddy when he would announce "a new car!"

Lots of morning zoo personalities are guilty of this sin, and they sound dumb and inexperienced for it.
Title: Re: Johnny Gilbert
Post by: dazztardly on March 03, 2014, 12:00:18 AM
I wouldn't mind Randy West, Rich Fields, or Paul Boland taking over announcing.

-Dan
Title: Re: Johnny Gilbert
Post by: TLEberle on March 03, 2014, 12:04:11 AM
I would. One out of three isn't all that great. If Randy could mellow his tone I could buy that. Rich Fields would be like using a smoked fish to hammer a nail.
Title: Re: Johnny Gilbert
Post by: PYLdude on March 03, 2014, 12:15:06 AM
I wouldn't mind Randy West, Rich Fields, or Paul Boland taking over announcing.

-Dan

Randy would work. Rich might if he doesn't sound like he's phoning it in like he did on Wheel.

Boland? Pass.
Title: Re: Johnny Gilbert
Post by: BrandonFG on March 03, 2014, 09:47:24 AM
Lots of morning zoo personalities are guilty of this sin, and they sound dumb and inexperienced for it.
Plus...I imagine it's hell on your vocal cords.
Title: Re: Johnny Gilbert
Post by: ChrisLambert! on March 03, 2014, 11:15:37 AM
I'm going out on a limb: the next announcer will be one of the ladies from the Clue Crew.
Title: Re: Johnny Gilbert
Post by: PYLdude on March 04, 2014, 01:56:55 AM
I'm going out on a limb: the next announcer will be one of the ladies from the Clue Crew.

Wouldn't be a stretch by any means. In fact I would almost expect them to promote from within.
Title: Re: Johnny Gilbert
Post by: Twentington on March 06, 2014, 06:51:45 PM

I would say for a replacement for him will be either Our own Randy West, Joe Cipriano, or John Cramer.

Yet another vote for Randy from me.

I've only ever heard Joe Cipriano from the two weeks where he filled in on Wheel, but on those two weeks, he sounded awful. Flat, nasal, barely any enthusiasm at all.

Rich might if he doesn't sound like he's phoning it in like he did on Wheel.

Or, even worse, the overwrought "A NEW CAAAAAAAAHHHH!"-style shrieking he was doing on later episodes of Price.
Title: Re: Johnny Gilbert
Post by: WarioBarker on March 06, 2014, 07:27:56 PM
Rich might if he doesn't sound like he's phoning it in like he did on Wheel.
The first two weeks I can understand to an extent (dubbed over Charlie, hence not having a live studio audience to feed off of), but the other three...yeah, no, he sucked. Rich even phoned it in when a $100,000 win happened while he was announcing in the studio, which would've been a perfect time for him to go all-out.

I've only ever heard Joe Cipriano from the two weeks where he filled in on Wheel, but on those two weeks, he sounded awful. Flat, nasal, barely any enthusiasm at all.
Episodes from his two weeks and two of Rich's five (one of which had him dubbed over Charlie) were dubbed over by Jim that Summer, so Wheel might have thought the same thing.