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The Game Show Forum => The Big Board => Topic started by: Don Howard on October 16, 2004, 04:36:55 PM

Title: Contestants As Hosts
Post by: Don Howard on October 16, 2004, 04:36:55 PM
Howdy, pardners.
So! Who, of the game show contestants you've seen play games and win cash and prizes over the years, seem to you like they might have the right stuff to host a game show?
To give everyone the chance to play, please resist the urge to list your Top 127 and just supply one.
The challenge is yours.
Title: Contestants As Hosts
Post by: tvwxman on October 16, 2004, 04:52:35 PM
[quote name=\'Don Howard\' date=\'Oct 16 2004, 03:36 PM\']Howdy, pardners.
So! Who, of the game show contestants you've seen play games and win cash and prizes over the years, seem to you like they might have the right stuff to host a game show?
To give everyone the chance to play, please resist the urge to list your Top 127 and just supply one.
The challenge is yours.
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Ummmmm......

Me.

;)
Title: Contestants As Hosts
Post by: OntarioQuizzer on October 16, 2004, 05:13:39 PM
Ken Jennings.
Title: Contestants As Hosts
Post by: Timsterino on October 16, 2004, 06:22:49 PM
[quote name=\'tvwxman\' date=\'Oct 16 2004, 04:52 PM\'][quote name=\'Don Howard\' date=\'Oct 16 2004, 03:36 PM\']Howdy, pardners.
So! Who, of the game show contestants you've seen play games and win cash and prizes over the years, seem to you like they might have the right stuff to host a game show?
To give everyone the chance to play, please resist the urge to list your Top 127 and just supply one.
The challenge is yours.
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Ummmmm......

Me.

;)
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Hey, me too! ;-)

I second your me and raise you a me.

Tim :-)
Title: Contestants As Hosts
Post by: opimus on October 16, 2004, 06:56:55 PM
Matt Ottinger.
Title: Contestants As Hosts
Post by: Jimmy Owen on October 16, 2004, 06:57:56 PM
Unless it's a long running contestant, we don't really get to know the person well enough to make a decision.  Matt Ottinger, Mark DeCarlo and Mike Reilly are the ones I can think of to have actually done it.  I guess your first name has to start with the letter M. :)  I remember a contestant on "Rhyme and Reason" who Bob introduced as wanting to be a game show host, I don't know if he realized his dream. Maybe they could revive WBSM as WKJM.
Title: Contestants As Hosts
Post by: Chief-O on October 16, 2004, 07:31:39 PM
>> Matt Ottinger.
Uhh....wait. Isn't he already? I think he has that one show out in the East Lansing, MI area that's been on now for 16 years....

Although I wonder how Jenny Jones would handle a game show.
Title: Contestants As Hosts
Post by: The Ol' Guy on October 16, 2004, 10:56:01 PM
Michael Reilly did it on Monopoly, if the legend is correct. A former Jeopardy contestant, Merv used Michael as a player in a Monopoly run-thru. When some offhand chatter had Reilly mentioning he'd like to try Merv's hosting job, he and Griffin traded places, and that led to Griffin picking Reilly for the ABC run. So I guess it's not impossible...  Anyone "in the know" around here who can confirm or clarify the story?
Title: Contestants As Hosts
Post by: tvwxman on October 17, 2004, 06:46:58 AM
[quote name=\'Jimmy Owen\' date=\'Oct 16 2004, 05:57 PM\']Unless it's a long running contestant, we don't really get to know the person well enough to make a decision.  Matt Ottinger, Mark DeCarlo and Mike Reilly are the ones I can think of to have actually done it.  I guess your first name has to start with the letter M. :)
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Hey, I like your theory!

And I think you've stumbled on the best idea on this board in some time.....A revival of Win Ben Stein's Money as Win Ken Jennings Money...

It would be much better than "Stump the Schwab"...
Title: Contestants As Hosts
Post by: Kevin Prather on October 17, 2004, 03:22:46 PM
The only problem is that KenJen would have to wear a dunce cap half the time for using "What is..." in his response. ;)
Title: Contestants As Hosts
Post by: Ian Wallis on October 17, 2004, 04:04:46 PM
Quote
I remember a contestant on "Rhyme and Reason" who Bob introduced as wanting to be a game show host, I don't know if he realized his dream.


A few contestants on "Press Your Luck" stated the same - and I've never seen any of those guys again either!
Title: Contestants As Hosts
Post by: Matt Ottinger on October 17, 2004, 04:18:24 PM
[quote name=\'opimus\' date=\'Oct 16 2004, 06:56 PM\']Matt Ottinger.
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Damn straight.
Title: Contestants As Hosts
Post by: SplitSecond on October 17, 2004, 04:22:29 PM
[quote name=\'The Ol' Guy\' date=\'Oct 16 2004, 07:56 PM\']Michael Reilly did it on Monopoly, if the legend is correct. A former Jeopardy contestant, Merv used Michael as a player in a Monopoly run-thru. When some offhand chatter had Reilly mentioning he'd like to try Merv's hosting job, he and Griffin traded places, and that led to Griffin picking Reilly for the ABC run. So I guess it's not impossible...  Anyone "in the know" around here who can confirm or clarify the story?
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Mike was a contestant on the pilot that Peter Tomarken hosted when Merv was trying to sell the show in syndication (before the ABC version was picked up).  So your specifics aren't quite there, but you are indeed right that Mike was a contestant before becoming a host.

What other shows (if any) had their eventual hosts involved in the pilot, in some capacity other than hosting?
Title: Contestants As Hosts
Post by: SRIV94 on October 17, 2004, 08:30:09 PM
Well, I know of a pretty good announcer.  :)  And that announcer strikes me as the type who probably could pull off hosting duties as well (reads copy clearly, meaning he could read rapid-fire questions clearly).  And he certainly has the enthusiasm to match the contestants.  (Frankly, I'm surprised he wasn't mentioned sooner.)

(No disrespect intended to any of the other fine staffers/hosts/former contestants/current contestants in our illustrious 1101-member band [give or take].)

Have I done enough brownnosing yet?  :)

Doug
Title: Contestants As Hosts
Post by: sshuffield70 on October 17, 2004, 10:50:37 PM
[quote name=\'Ian Wallis\' date=\'Oct 17 2004, 03:04 PM\']
Quote
I remember a contestant on "Rhyme and Reason" who Bob introduced as wanting to be a game show host, I don't know if he realized his dream.


A few contestants on "Press Your Luck" stated the same - and I've never seen any of those guys again either!
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Well, one did become a TPIR announcer........and HoSho.....and AN3AC......and Supermarket Sweep.....and.......(oh, well that's enough.....you get the picture.....) :) :) :)
Title: Contestants As Hosts
Post by: SRIV94 on October 17, 2004, 11:41:20 PM
[quote name=\'sshuffield70\' date=\'Oct 17 2004, 09:50 PM\']Well, one did become a TPIR announcer........and HoSho.....and AN3AC......and Supermarket Sweep.....and.......(oh, well that's enough.....you get the picture.....) :) :) :)
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Methinks you and I are on the same wavelength.  I was just referring to him in the post previous to yours.  And I think he'd do a swell job as a host.

Doug
Title: Contestants As Hosts
Post by: Ian Wallis on October 18, 2004, 12:22:03 PM
[quote name=\'sshuffield70\' date=\'Oct 17 2004, 09:50 PM\']
Well, one did become a TPIR announcer........and HoSho.....and AN3AC......and Supermarket Sweep.....and.......(oh, well that's enough.....you get the picture.....) :) :) :)
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I was thinking more of a couple of contestants later in the run that said they wanted Peter's job...and Peter's reactions to them, but add me to the list of people who thinks Randy would be a great host!
Title: Contestants As Hosts
Post by: MyCapableAssistant on October 18, 2004, 12:45:11 PM
[quote name=\'SRIV94\' date=\'Oct 17 2004, 06:30 PM\']Well, I know of a pretty good announcer.  :)  And that announcer strikes me as the type who probably could pull off hosting duties as well (reads copy clearly, meaning he could read rapid-fire questions clearly).  And he certainly has the enthusiasm...
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Enthusiasm?
SNOOOOZE!    ;-P
Title: Contestants As Hosts
Post by: BrandonFG on October 18, 2004, 01:23:42 PM
[quote name=\'Ian Wallis\' date=\'Oct 17 2004, 03:04 PM\']
Quote
I remember a contestant on "Rhyme and Reason" who Bob introduced as wanting to be a game show host, I don't know if he realized his dream.


A few contestants on "Press Your Luck" stated the same - and I've never seen any of those guys again either!
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And I remember seeing a guy on Wheel (early syndie ep. on GSN) who stated that he'd like to do the same, and "in a couple of years, I might even have your job."

(NBC canned chuckles)

Pat: And in a few minutes, a trap door should open underneath you.
Title: Contestants As Hosts
Post by: tommycharles on October 18, 2004, 04:22:34 PM
[quote name=\'SRIV94\' date=\'Oct 17 2004, 10:41 PM\']Methinks you and I are on the same wavelength.  I was just referring to him in the post previous to yours.  And I think he'd do a swell job as a host.
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Didn't Randy host a pilot at one point? I seem to think it was called Chain something.
Title: Contestants As Hosts
Post by: Dbacksfan12 on October 18, 2004, 06:04:45 PM
[quote name=\'fostergray82\' date=\'Oct 18 2004, 12:23 PM\']And I remember seeing a guy on Wheel (early syndie ep. on GSN) who stated that he'd like to do the same, and "in a couple of years, I might even have your job."
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Strangely enough, didn't his name tag say Rolf?
Title: Contestants As Hosts
Post by: ChuckNet on October 18, 2004, 08:30:14 PM
Quote
Mike was a contestant on the pilot that Peter Tomarken hosted when Merv was trying to sell the show in syndication (before the ABC version was picked up). So your specifics aren't quite there, but you are indeed right that Mike was a contestant before becoming a host.

He also appeared on J! in late 1989, as well.

Chuck Donegan (The Illustrious "Chuckie Baby")
Title: Contestants As Hosts
Post by: tvrandywest on October 20, 2004, 01:40:36 AM
Quote
Didn't Randy host a pilot at one point? I seem to think it was called Chain something.

You win <ding> for the obscure trivia answer of the week. I hosted "Chain Game" during its CBS development deal, circa 1984.

(Charlie O's opening: "Chain Game, Game Show, Show Time...")

Small world: the CBS execs on the project included Bob Boden and Barbara Hunter. The Exec Producer... Syd Vinnedge!


Randy
tvrandywest.com
Title: Contestants As Hosts
Post by: BrandonFG on October 20, 2004, 12:33:34 PM
[quote name=\'tvrandywest\' date=\'Oct 20 2004, 12:40 AM\']
Quote
Didn't Randy host a pilot at one point? I seem to think it was called Chain something.

You win <ding> for the obscure trivia answer of the week. I hosted "Chain Game" during its CBS development deal, circa 1984.

(Charlie O's opening: "Chain Game, Game Show, Show Time...")

Small world: the CBS execs on the project included Bob Boden and Barbara Hunter. The Exec Producer... Syd Vinnedge!
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From the intro, I'm guessing that it was either something similar to Chain Reaction, Smush, or the Before and After puzzles on Wheel, no?
Title: Contestants As Hosts
Post by: tvrandywest on October 20, 2004, 02:54:20 PM
Quote
From the intro, I'm guessing that it was either something similar to Chain Reaction, Smush, or the Before and After puzzles on Wheel, no?

Yes <ding, ding, ding>

Our Dr. Reason A. Goodwin was the linguistics prof from UCLA who referred to the acceptable links as "compound nouns". Here's a chain you might see on the cable version:

drug traffic - traffic circle - circle jerk - jerk chicken - chicken shit - shit house - house cat - cat food - food court - court report - report card - card game - game night - night school - school bus - bus fare - fare box - box boy - boy scout - scout troop - troop leader - leader board - board room - room service - service station - station identification - identification card - card table - table dance - dance step - step training - training wheel - wheel chair - chair lift - lift ticket - ticket office - office machine - machine gun - gun powder - powder keg - keg party - party line - line score - score sheet - sheet music - music box - box lunch - lunch bucket - bucket seat - seat cover - cover charge - charge card - card shark - shark bite - bite mark - mark... summers?   ;-p

Theresa Ganzel caught on to the trick in 3 minutes, and kicked ass!


Randy
tvrandywest.com
Title: Contestants As Hosts
Post by: BrandonFG on October 20, 2004, 03:11:25 PM
Sounds like a fun little party game...add a related-word, and if you get stuck...bottoms up! ;-)
Title: Contestants As Hosts
Post by: mystery7 on October 20, 2004, 04:38:40 PM
[quote name=\'fostergray82\' date=\'Oct 20 2004, 03:11 PM\']bottoms up! ;-)
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Up yours! :^D

(It BEGGED to be said. If it were anyone else...I'd have done the same thing.)
Title: Contestants As Hosts
Post by: mystery7 on October 20, 2004, 04:49:44 PM
But seriously, that does sound like a fun game, and I might just host a round of it at the party I'm planning (NJ/PA area residents, stay tuned for more info), along with a few originals. I wouldn't get my hopes up to see Teresa Ganzel at this thing, but I agree, she was an ass-kickin' contestant! One of my favorites to watch.

Bottoms Up
Up Yours
Yours ___________

(see? There was a good reason behind my last post)
Title: Contestants As Hosts
Post by: Mike Tennant on October 21, 2004, 11:27:55 AM
[quote name=\'mystery7\' date=\'Oct 20 2004, 03:49 PM\']Bottoms Up
Up Yours
Yours ___________
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Yours Truly
Title: Contestants As Hosts
Post by: BrandonFG on October 21, 2004, 01:06:52 PM
Truly...truly.........(BUZZ)

Oh well, what the hell (downs shot of alcohol).
Title: Contestants As Hosts
Post by: Esoteric Eric on October 21, 2004, 11:40:35 PM
[quote name=\'fostergray82\' date=\'Oct 21 2004, 10:06 AM\']Truly...truly.........(BUZZ)

Oh well, what the hell (downs shot of alcohol).
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So far I've seen only one-word answers; was that the rule of the pilot?  (See, the only one I came up with for "truly _____" was the movie Truly Madly Deeply)

Esoteric Eric;  ...deeply indebted...
Title: Contestants As Hosts
Post by: tvrandywest on October 22, 2004, 12:34:33 AM
Each link on the chain is a one word answer, each a noun which, when joined with the previous word, forms a compound noun. That's the linguistics prof's rule, but way too technical an explanation.

In my opinion (and CBS' apparently) we never fully refined the format to where it needed to be. Why? Well, there are always politics and personalities   ;-)

The different rounds we devised during development had different variations, such as bouncing between the teams to see if you could give one more acceptable answer from the same link. Just when you think they've all been used, you add one more:

Dog  ____
dog house, dog pound, dog food....

It's definitely a drinking game; it drove me to drink!


Randy
tvrandywest.com
Title: Contestants As Hosts
Post by: mystery7 on October 22, 2004, 12:52:32 AM
Y'know, the game as it was played on the pilot would've made a good alternate bonus round for Chain Reaction. The round Randy just mentioned kinda sounds like an embryo of Match-Up on MG90.

This wouldn't have been a Stewart or Goodson show, would it?
Title: Contestants As Hosts
Post by: tvrandywest on October 22, 2004, 01:55:36 AM
Quote
This wouldn't have been a Stewart or Goodson show, would it?
Nope. But if you transported it through time it would have been with the Goodson formats now owned by Freemantle! It was from many of the gang who brought you "Wordplay", with Syd Vinnedge Executive Producing for his All American Television, which became Pearson, which became you know who   ;-).


Randy
tvrandywest.com
Title: Contestants As Hosts
Post by: Game Show Man on October 22, 2004, 02:35:38 AM
Hey, what about me? :D