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The Game Show Forum => The Big Board => Topic started by: ITSBRY on June 18, 2004, 11:01:11 AM

Title: Grandest host entrance
Post by: ITSBRY on June 18, 2004, 11:01:11 AM
Which show(s) do you think had the grandest host/hostess entrance?

For glitz, I'd vote for PYL.  The turntable moving into place in the background as PT entered was cool.

For class, I'd vote for TTTT90.  The big stair case where the panel and host entered was very classy, especially toward the end of the run when the panel wore black tie on Fridays.

ITSBRY
itsbry@juno.com
Title: Grandest host entrance
Post by: tvwxman on June 18, 2004, 11:02:23 AM
black tie was done once...the last friday...and didn't trebek wear white?

omigod, i just pulled a horan....

I'm going back to therapy.
Title: Grandest host entrance
Post by: ITSBRY on June 18, 2004, 11:10:04 AM
[quote name=\'tvwxman\' date=\'Jun 18 2004, 10:02 AM\']black tie was done once...the last friday...and didn't trebek wear white?[/quote]
I MIGHT be wrong, but I'm fairly certain that Fridays were black tie during the last  several weeks of the run.  I have some episodes from this era, but admittedly I'm relying on memory here.  I was thinking that they even specially mentioned it on the air.

Can anyone confirm or am I just making that up?

ITSBRY
itsbry@juno.com
Title: Grandest host entrance
Post by: Jimmy Owen on June 18, 2004, 11:12:50 AM
Anytime a host had to walk (or stumble) down a long flight of stairs, like Jim Peck on TBS or Jack Narz on NYSI was pretty cool.  Of course you have to count the Bob Barker entrance as one of the grandest.
Title: Grandest host entrance
Post by: aaron sica on June 18, 2004, 11:24:59 AM
[quote name=\'Jimmy Owen\' date=\'Jun 18 2004, 11:12 AM\'] Anytime a host had to walk (or stumble) down a long flight of stairs, like Jim Peck on TBS or Jack Narz on NYSI was pretty cool.  Of course you have to count the Bob Barker entrance as one of the grandest. [/quote]
 Grandest Bob Barker entrance I've seen is the 1986 prime-time specials where he comes out dressed in the tux...

Matter of fact, I feel so inspired I just might go to tpir.tv to download that opening clp.
Title: Grandest host entrance
Post by: Chief-O on June 18, 2004, 11:51:56 AM
Allen Ludden on P+.
Title: Grandest host entrance
Post by: MikeK on June 18, 2004, 12:24:43 PM
[quote name=\'Jimmy Owen\' date=\'Jun 18 2004, 11:12 AM\'] Anytime a host had to walk (or stumble) down a long flight of stairs, like Jim Peck on TBS or Jack Narz on NYSI was pretty cool.  Of course you have to count the Bob Barker entrance as one of the grandest. [/quote]
 Jim took my answers.  Walking down stairs is hardly grand or glitzy, especially if you slip. :-)  However, both Now You See It with Narz and The Big ShowDown immediately came to mind.

I know this thread's barely an hour old but lemme take it in a different direction.  What show had the least glitzy host entrance?  My vote's for Caesar's Challenge, specifically when the rotating cage accidentally dropped balls on Ahmad Rashad as he opened the show.

There's your double entendre for this Father's Day weekend.  Enjoy!
Title: Grandest host entrance
Post by: clemon79 on June 18, 2004, 01:03:12 PM
[quote name=\'hmtriplecrown\' date=\'Jun 18 2004, 09:24 AM\'] There's your double entendre for this Father's Day weekend.  Enjoy! [/quote]
Some would suggest that entire show dropped balls. ;)

As for PYL, yeah, the set looked good, but Peter's entrance was about as subdued as it gets...he walks in from the wing. Big deal.

TTTT90 is a good choice for raw class, especially with that great remix of the classic theme.

For glitz, a nod needs to be given to the Match Game Hollywood Squares Hour...you can't beat that big-ass Close Encounters light board.

Really, anytime a big set is involved, it looks like a bigger deal than it is. Consider Go! O'Connell's entrance was just up a flight of stairs, but that set was so friggin' HUGE, it still looked like a big deal. I STILL can't figure out if that whole thing rotated to set up for the Jackpot Round.

Another vote for the "class" category (though it could well qualify for "glitz", too), would be Jim Perry's entrance on <echo>$ale Of The Century</echo> He would burst through when the door opened, and you knew he was raring to go and something was about to Happen.

Finally, my vote for "crap" goes to Tic Tac Dough. Making Wink walk out of that stupid little paneled doorway looked idiotic.

(Yes, you could give one to Debt, too, but everything from the disco pose to the bad suit was quite intentional.)

(Honorable Mention: I was just watching the clip of the open to Crosswits '86, courtesy Jimmy Coyne's site, and it amazes me how David Sparks entrance could suck all of the energy from that great theme and Michelle Whatsername's announce work. Herb Shriner couldn't have done it any better.)
Title: Grandest host entrance
Post by: bandit_bobby on June 18, 2004, 01:24:28 PM
The $25,000/$100,000 Pyramid.
Title: Grandest host entrance
Post by: urbanpreppie05 on June 18, 2004, 01:29:14 PM
I always liked the opening to Wheel of Fortune- back in the shopping days (and early post-shopping days)- the tight shot of Vanna's beautiful visage, zooming out to see the rest of the set, and Pat (or Chuck, Bob or Rolf) running from behind the contestant's area, trying to beat the gold curtain from falling on them....

ah, memories.
Title: Grandest host entrance
Post by: Neumms on June 18, 2004, 01:52:07 PM
Match Game '73 was rather grand. The sign rises, the background light comes up and here comes Gene through the doors that had no other purpose but for him. The whole center of the set was made for that moment.

Barker's entrance is something, too. We must mention the hand-off of the microphone that adds to the whole thing, especially the 20-whatever years it was Janice doing it.
Title: Grandest host entrance
Post by: adamjk on June 18, 2004, 01:57:28 PM
The coolest thing about Bob's entrance is that thing he does with his hands as he walks out the doors. Also, I think it's cool when he enters through the audience, and slaps everybody's hands as he comes down the aisle.
Title: Grandest host entrance
Post by: uncamark on June 18, 2004, 03:14:23 PM
[quote name=\'clemon79\' date=\'Jun 18 2004, 12:03 PM\'](Honorable Mention: I was just watching the clip of the open to Crosswits '86, courtesy Jimmy Coyne's site, and it amazes me how David Sparks entrance could suck all of the energy from that great theme and Michelle Whatsername's announce work. [/quote]
Roth.

Actually, it took me a while to realize that the announcer on that version of "Crosswits" was the same woman with the sultry voice on the old FNN "TelShop"--one of the things that made it different from the 5 million other shopping shows/channels that sprung up like weeds after HSN went public was that almost everyone but Todd Donaho were generally more low-key than the average HSN host (and this, of course, was still back in the toot-the-bike-horn days of HSN).  Michelle did most of her pitches in a very sultry voice, which, considering the fact that "TelShop" played on late-nights, was almost like having a porn tape running.  Note that I said "almost."

To get back on track, only one person could make a bad entrance down a staircase--Jim Caldwell on "Top Card," even with Blake Pickett behind him.  Of course, any time Jim appears, it's a bad entrance.
Title: Grandest host entrance
Post by: TheInquisitiveOne on June 18, 2004, 03:38:23 PM
I also have to tip my hat to the classic $ale of the Century entrance. It is amazing to see Jim Perry do that EVERY SHOW. The echo effect put in every time* Jay Stewart or Don Morrow says the title helped to make the show as big of a deal as it actually was (especially when $50,000+ was on the line that day).

*I could be wrong, but I think that the echo effect was accidentally taken out on one of the episodes I have.

Bob Barker's entrance is my absolute favorite - especially from 1980-1987, when the camera person would perform a very fast zoom out to a full shot of the doors.

Match Game gets the honorable mention. I always liked Gene Rayburn's entrances, especially when he was up to no good. Finally, I have to give props to Tom Kennedy's entrance during syndie Name That Tune. As soon as he walks on stage (or was it before? I forget), that huge $100,000 sign rises up from the ground.

Those were the days.

The Inquisitive One
Title: Grandest host entrance
Post by: aaron sica on June 18, 2004, 03:53:15 PM
[quote name=\'TheInquisitiveOne\' date=\'Jun 18 2004, 03:38 PM\'] Bob Barker's entrance is my absolute favorite - especially from 1980-1987, when the camera person would perform a very fast zoom out to a full shot of the doors.
 [/quote]
 Besides his "tux entrance" from '86, I do agree with you - especially in the days when Johnny Olsen was still alive and just the way he said Bob's name from at least 1980-1985 upon introducing him.....Dragging out "Bob" but real short on "Barker"...
Title: Grandest host entrance
Post by: aaron sica on June 18, 2004, 03:57:14 PM
[quote name=\'adamjk\' date=\'Jun 18 2004, 01:57 PM\'] The coolest thing about Bob's entrance is that thing he does with his hands as he walks out the doors. Also, I think it's cool when he enters through the audience, and slaps everybody's hands as he comes down the aisle. [/quote]
 Adam, I don't know what you mean by "that thing he does with his hands as he walks out the doors" but now you've got me curious...
Title: Grandest host entrance
Post by: bclark71 on June 18, 2004, 04:16:59 PM
Concerning Bob Barker's entrance on The Price is Right:

Quote
Bob Barker's entrance is my absolute favorite - especially from 1980-1987, when the camera person would perform a very fast zoom out to a full shot of the doors.

...plus...

Quote
...and just the way [Johnny Olsen] said Bob's name from at least 1980-1985 upon introducing him.....Dragging out "Bob" but real short on "Barker"...

...equals the best opening on television, ever, IMHO.  I remember a quote from Johnny where he said that when he introduced Bob at the opening of the show, "That's it for me.  I feel like I'm living!"

I still miss him.
Title: Grandest host entrance
Post by: aaron sica on June 18, 2004, 04:18:56 PM
[quote name=\'bclark71\' date=\'Jun 18 2004, 04:16 PM\'] ...equals the best opening on television, ever, IMHO.  I remember a quote from Johnny where he said that when he introduced Bob at the opening of the show, "That's it for me.  I feel like I'm living!"

I still miss him. [/quote]
 I, too, have seen that quote as well....I'd be damned if I knew where, though....

You should hear our own Randy West do Johnny O. saying "Come on DOWN!!!", anyone who's heard it can attest...It's like Johnny is CHANNELING through him...
Title: Grandest host entrance
Post by: adamjk on June 18, 2004, 04:46:50 PM
[quote name=\'aaron sica\' date=\'Jun 18 2004, 02:57 PM\'] [quote name=\'adamjk\' date=\'Jun 18 2004, 01:57 PM\'] The coolest thing about Bob's entrance is that thing he does with his hands as he walks out the doors. Also, I think it's cool when he enters through the audience, and slaps everybody's hands as he comes down the aisle. [/quote]
Adam, I don't know what you mean by "that thing he does with his hands as he walks out the doors" but now you've got me curious... [/quote]
 What I am speaking of is when the doors open, as he walks out, he pushes out his arms slightly.
Title: Grandest host entrance
Post by: joshg on June 18, 2004, 04:56:54 PM
[quote name=\'adamjk\' date=\'Jun 18 2004, 12:46 PM\'][quote name=\'aaron sica\' date=\'Jun 18 2004, 02:57 PM\'] [quote name=\'adamjk\' date=\'Jun 18 2004, 01:57 PM\'] The coolest thing about Bob's entrance is that thing he does with his hands as he walks out the doors. Also, I think it's cool when he enters through the audience, and slaps everybody's hands as he comes down the aisle. [/quote]
Adam, I don't know what you mean by "that thing he does with his hands as he walks out the doors" but now you've got me curious... [/quote]
What I am speaking of is when the doors open, as he walks out, he pushes out his arms slightly.[/quote]
Oh yes... the 'Barker Push'. He does that little arm movement to kickstart 'ol Barker... that's a long walk for an 80 year old man, you know.
Title: Grandest host entrance
Post by: Kevin Prather on June 18, 2004, 05:26:21 PM
Wasn't there one point in time on PYL where Peter entered from behind the board? Somewhere, I saw a picture of him right in front of the board walking "stage-left", I don't know if this was an entrance though.
Title: Grandest host entrance
Post by: Winkfan on June 18, 2004, 05:59:50 PM
My top choice is Geno's entrances on MG '7X. You'd never know how he was gonna appear from day to day!

I'd also include Jim Lange on the ORIGINAL Dating Game, Bob Eubanks on the ORIGINAL Newlywed Game, and David Ruprecht on Supermarket Sweep. Several times, the latter host would run out into the audience during the first two seasons of SS. (Gee, I wish'd saved episodes when he did that!)

Cordially,
Tammy Warner--the 'Fannie Flagg of the Big Board!'
Title: Grandest host entrance
Post by: ITSBRY on June 18, 2004, 06:49:04 PM
[quote name=\'aaron sica\' date=\'Jun 18 2004, 03:18 PM\'] You should hear our own Randy West do Johnny O. saying "Come on DOWN!!!", anyone who's heard it can attest...It's like Johnny is CHANNELING through him... [/quote]
 His Rod Roddy's pretty dead on too...it's spookey!!!  :-)
Title: Grandest host entrance
Post by: tyshaun1 on June 18, 2004, 07:57:56 PM
[quote name=\'whoserman\' date=\'Jun 18 2004, 04:26 PM\'] Wasn't there one point in time on PYL where Peter entered from behind the board? Somewhere, I saw a picture of him right in front of the board walking "stage-left", I don't know if this was an entrance though. [/quote]
Nah. Peter usually walked up to the board for some mini-skits during the 1985-86 season. They eventually had Savage Holland/Bill Kopp record some lines for the show right before board round 2. TTBOMK, Peter never entered from any other area besides stage left, except for maybe the Xmas '85 show.

Tyshaun
Title: Grandest host entrance
Post by: Steve McClellan on June 18, 2004, 11:58:48 PM
[quote name=\'aaron sica\' date=\'Jun 18 2004, 01:18 PM\'] [quote name=\'bclark71\' date=\'Jun 18 2004, 04:16 PM\'] ...equals the best opening on television, ever, IMHO.  I remember a quote from Johnny where he said that when he introduced Bob at the opening of the show, "That's it for me.  I feel like I'm living!"

I still miss him. [/quote]
I, too, have seen that quote as well....I'd be damned if I knew where, though.... [/quote]
Come on Down!!!, page 151.

Don't worry - in a moment, I'll be going down to view the game that intrigued a nation...
Title: Grandest host entrance
Post by: TheInquisitiveOne on June 19, 2004, 12:18:23 AM
[quote name=\'gameshowsteve\' date=\'Jun 18 2004, 10:58 PM\'] [quote name=\'aaron sica\' date=\'Jun 18 2004, 01:18 PM\'] [quote name=\'bclark71\' date=\'Jun 18 2004, 04:16 PM\'] ...equals the best opening on television, ever, IMHO.  I remember a quote from Johnny where he said that when he introduced Bob at the opening of the show, "That's it for me.  I feel like I'm living!"

I still miss him. [/quote]
I, too, have seen that quote as well....I'd be damned if I knew where, though.... [/quote]
Come on Down!!!, page 151.

Don't worry - in a moment, I'll be going down to view the game that intrigued a nation... [/quote]
 Speaking of said book, I wonder if it can be found anywhere. I haven't seen that book for almost 8 years.

Was it really that old?

The Inquisitive One
Title: Grandest host entrance
Post by: Don Howard on June 19, 2004, 12:22:54 AM
[quote name=\'TheInquisitiveOne\' date=\'Jun 18 2004, 11:18 PM\'] [quote name=\'gameshowsteve\' date=\'Jun 18 2004, 10:58 PM\'] [quote name=\'aaron sica\' date=\'Jun 18 2004, 01:18 PM\'] [quote name=\'bclark71\' date=\'Jun 18 2004, 04:16 PM\'] ...equals the best opening on television, ever, IMHO.  I remember a quote from Johnny where he said that when he introduced Bob at the opening of the show, "That's it for me.  I feel like I'm living!"

I still miss him. [/quote]
I, too, have seen that quote as well....I'd be damned if I knew where, though.... [/quote]
Come on Down!!!, page 151.

Don't worry - in a moment, I'll be going down to view the game that intrigued a nation... [/quote]
Speaking of said book, I wonder if it can be found anywhere. I haven't seen that book for almost 8 years.

Was it really that old?

The Inquisitive One [/quote]
I believe it was released in 1988. I found a copy at the library. Don't know if it's available in bookstores. You can ask, I suppose, and hopefully they'll be able to order it for you. Great first-hand interviews, including one with Jack Narz, where he talks about being unable to find hosting work anymore.
Title: Grandest host entrance
Post by: Jay Temple on June 19, 2004, 01:06:06 AM
[quote name=\'bandit_bobby\' date=\'Jun 18 2004, 12:24 PM\'] The $25,000/$100,000 Pyramid. [/quote]
 If you treat the celebrity entrances and the host entrance as a single entity, all versions of Pyramid except Osmond's rank right up there.  The entrance made "today's special guests" seem, well, special.
Title: Grandest host entrance
Post by: Steve McClellan on June 19, 2004, 01:25:31 AM
[quote name=\'Don Howard\' date=\'Jun 18 2004, 09:22 PM\'][quote name=\'TheInquisitiveOne\' date=\'Jun 18 2004, 11:18 PM\']
Speaking of said book, I wonder if it can be found anywhere. I haven't seen that book for almost 8 years.

Was it really that old?

The Inquisitive One [/quote]
I believe it was released in 1988. I found a copy at the library. Don't know if it's available in bookstores. You can ask, I suppose, and hopefully they'll be able to order it for you. Great first-hand interviews, including one with Jack Narz, where he talks about being unable to find hosting work anymore.[/quote]
Half.com has copies ranging in price from $5.99 to $147.06. I happened to get my copy in a dollar store some years back. I'm very thankful that I talked my parents into paying the 106 Lincolns for it. :)
Title: Grandest host entrance
Post by: johnnya2k3 on June 19, 2004, 02:47:59 AM
What about the funniest entrances? Other than Jim Peck's "You people would applaud a lynching!", three others spring to mind:

From the Aussie $ale of the Century, the host said "Mmm, yes, it's Friday, yes...whoaa!!" when he slid and probably crashed.

Match Game '78 when Gene Rayburn decided to run around the studio; when he came back on stage, he slipped, and one of the cameramen helped him up.

Perfect Match (the Aussie version), when Greg Evans after his intro immediately tumbled face down.

Australian WOF: The host slipping while making his way to the wheel, and the co-host helping him up.

Those except the one from MG78 were seen on Most Outrageous Game Show Moments 2.

Jonathan Allen
Title: Grandest host entrance
Post by: melman1 on June 19, 2004, 10:45:47 AM
[quote name=\'johnnya2k3\' date=\'Jun 18 2004, 11:47 PM\'] Match Game '78 when Gene Rayburn decided to run around the studio; when he came back on stage, he slipped, and one of the cameramen helped him up.
 [/quote]
For what it's worth, that episode will probably air next week.  Today's show is #1308 in the episode guide... the guide says 1309-1317 have not aired for whatever reason... and the "run around the studio" show is supposed to be part of week "1316-1320".  So if it airs at all, it will be on Sunday, Monday or Tuesday.

edit: There's no MG78 on Sunday in the new schedule, it seems.  (And no MG76 on Saturdays.  Nice going, GSN.)  So the episode in question may air Mon., Tues., or Weds.
Title: Grandest host entrance
Post by: gameshowguy2000 on June 22, 2004, 01:28:44 PM
While we're on the topic of Funny entrances:

One member of G-R.net, mentioned Bob came out from the turntable once.
Title: Grandest host entrance
Post by: adamjk on June 22, 2004, 01:33:53 PM
[quote name=\'melman1\' date=\'Jun 19 2004, 09:45 AM\'] [quote name=\'johnnya2k3\' date=\'Jun 18 2004, 11:47 PM\'] Match Game '78 when Gene Rayburn decided to run around the studio; when he came back on stage, he slipped, and one of the cameramen helped him up.
 [/quote]
For what it's worth, that episode will probably air next week.  Today's show is #1308 in the episode guide... the guide says 1309-1317 have not aired for whatever reason... and the "run around the studio" show is supposed to be part of week "1316-1320".  So if it airs at all, it will be on Sunday, Monday or Tuesday.

edit: There's no MG78 on Sunday in the new schedule, it seems.  (And no MG76 on Saturdays.  Nice going, GSN.)  So the episode in question may air Mon., Tues., or Weds. [/quote]
 That episode is airing right now.
Title: Grandest host entrance
Post by: zachhoran on June 22, 2004, 06:56:56 PM
[quote name=\'gameshowguy2000\' date=\'Jun 22 2004, 12:28 PM\'] While we're on the topic of Funny entrances:

One member of G-R.net, mentioned Bob came out from the turntable once.

 [/quote]
 More unusual than funny(though Bob's opening monologue made it a bit more amusing I suppose). It was done when Hole in One was the first PG on the show(the day in the late 80s Betty WHite made a cameo during the game)