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We brought up our favorite host entrances before, but what about the funniest ever? Here are those that spring to mind:
Jim Peck's "Big Falldown" (of course)
Gene Rayburn running around the studio on MG78
Bob Barker entering in crutches on one TPIR episode (somebody also said about Bob entering through the turntable once)
The host of the New Zealand $OTC crashing into the wall
Greg Evans on "Perfect Match" tumbling face down as he entered on stage
Marc Summers arriving to Double Dare very late in his casual clothes (and Harvey indroducing him as "the late, great Marc Summers")
Any others?
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Probably some of my favorite host entrances were done by none other than Gene Rayburn on Match Game 7x/PM/Syn...
One show the big doors opened... and he rolled down the steps.
On another... the big doors opened... and he jumped through one of the "O" shaped set pieces.
Yet another... the big doors didn't open... and he just busted through.
There will never be another show like 70s "Match Game".
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Not totally funny entrances, per se, but I always worried that Nick Clooney would not make it from the middle of the maze to the podium before Alan finished describing "some of the prizes hidden in the maze." I also had to watch Allen Ludden's entrances on "Password Plus," just to see him pause to outstrech his arm and reveal his palm, as if he were showing us the password. I liked those better than the CBS entrances where he would whip his mic cord.
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He actually broke through the doors twice. During the syndie run, he had to kick and punch the door to break through it, and when he busted out, he spit out some pieces that accidentally got in his mouth!
Other entrances....
On MG 74, he was posed on the big "O", and the O suddenly moved stage left, taking Gene with it, and then it moved back. Gene appeared to be surprised, and Richard quipped "Do you know the time for the next "O"?
Sitting on a chair reading a newspaper
Lying flat on the floor, almost like he died (GSN, not thinking clearly, aired this episode on the actual day Gene died) CNR runs up to "revive" him
Gene's makeup man is making him up, Gene looks in a mirror like Narcissus, and kisses the makeup man on the cheek.
When the doors open, Gene peeks his head out, and mouths "Do I come out now?" and the panel encourages him out.
Gary Burghoff entered with Gene a couple times, and in a rare moment, Gary actually waves with his disfigured hand. Another time, on MG 78, as a gag of a previous entrance where Gene came out carrying the children of Gary Burghoff and Patti Deutsche, the next day, he comes out trying to carry Gary and Patti!
He wore Brett's eyeglasses, and walked out like Mr. Magoo. Brett was laughing hysterically.
In a variation of trying to jump through the O, once, he pretended he was drowning, then struggles to pull himself through the O.
Once, the doors opened and as Gene walks out, the doors close back up! They open again, and Gene is holding his nose as if he hit his nose as the doors closed.
Peter Marshall and Gene switched places, and Peter entered instead of Gene. Apparently, there was a running gag that Gene and Peter were often mistaken for each other (other than the overbite when they smile, I see no resemblance) and they wanted to see if they could fool the audience.
On MG 75, he walked out like a robot
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Ross Shafer's "fall" sequence on MG 90 was kind of cute, but it looked very deliberate to me.
ITSBRY
itsbry@juno.com
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[quote name=\'Jimmy Owen\' date=\'Oct 21 2004, 08:50 AM\']Not totally funny entrances, per se, but ... I also had to watch Allen Ludden's entrances on "Password Plus," just to see him pause to outstrech his arm and reveal his palm, as if he were showing us the password. ...
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Remember week 2 of P+, when Tony Randall ran out to his chair without stopping as Gene was introducing him and Marsha Wallace? Allen called it one of the most tasteless acts he ever saw, and the next day, Tony was much more gentlemanly during the intros.
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[quote name=\'GS Warehouse\' date=\'Oct 21 2004, 01:51 PM\']
Remember week 2 of P+, when Tony Randall ran out to his chair without stopping as Gene was introducing him and Marsha Wallace? Allen called it one of the most tasteless acts he ever saw, and the next day, Tony was much more gentlemanly during the intros.
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Yes, that was the week of Webber's Bread and the roach clip. That was a darn good week on Password Plus, and if you missed it, where were you?
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[quote name=\'whewfan\' date=\'Oct 21 2004, 07:02 AM\']Lying flat on the floor, almost like he died (GSN, not thinking clearly, aired this episode on the actual day Gene died)
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How eerie! That reminds me of the last 4 digits that "Family Challenge"
had in their contestant line while Ray was hosting the last season: 5696!! Bizarre.
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[quote name=\'whewfan\' date=\'Oct 21 2004, 08:02 AM\']Lying flat on the floor, almost like he died (GSN, not thinking clearly, aired this episode on the actual day Gene died) CNR runs up to "revive" him
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Did they even know he was dead yet? I don't see how GSN "wasn't thinking clearly".
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While Ray was hosting "Feud" one year, upon his entering the stage didn't he fall down the steps or something? I seem to remember something like that happening.
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[quote name=\'MyCapableAssistant\' date=\'Oct 21 2004, 02:29 PM\'][quote name=\'whewfan\' date=\'Oct 21 2004, 07:02 AM\']Lying flat on the floor, almost like he died (GSN, not thinking clearly, aired this episode on the actual day Gene died)
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How eerie! That reminds me of the last 4 digits that "Family Challenge"
had in their contestant line while Ray was hosting the last season: 5696!! Bizarre.
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Okay, my stupidity is setting in. What the hell is the significance of 5696? If it were 6296, I'd have an easier time.
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[quote name=\'Jimmy Owen\' date=\'Oct 21 2004, 12:20 PM\']Yes, that was the week of Webber's Bread and the roach clip. That was a darn good week on Password Plus, and if you missed it, where were you?
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Uh, I imagine many of us were in school getting some good ol' fashioned book learnin', and those who weren't were still practicing in an effort to become the best swimmer in their groups, if you know what I mean. :)
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Well, that was just something Allen would say, but I'm sure he wondered why the kids couldn't watch Password during recess.
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[quote name=\'sshuffield70\' date=\'Oct 21 2004, 01:49 PM\'][quote name=\'MyCapableAssistant\' date=\'Oct 21 2004, 02:29 PM\'][quote name=\'whewfan\' date=\'Oct 21 2004, 07:02 AM\']Lying flat on the floor, almost like he died (GSN, not thinking clearly, aired this episode on the actual day Gene died)
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How eerie! That reminds me of the last 4 digits that "Family Challenge"
had in their contestant line while Ray was hosting the last season: 5696!! Bizarre.
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Okay, my stupidity is setting in. What the hell is the significance of 5696? If it were 6296, I'd have an easier time.
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56 was the year Ray was born, and 96 was, well... If you subtract 56 from 96 it leaves 40, Ray's age in 1996. It's probably a bit stupid to most folks, but when I realized it, I never forgot it.
What is the significance of 6296? Now MY stupidity is setting in.
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My God, you are AdamJK's Bowling Buddy, aren't you?
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While Ray was hosting Feud one year, upon his entering the stage didn't he fall down the steps or something? I seem to remember something like that happening.
Yes, it happened; it was around 1989.
And here are a few more of Geno's MG entrances:
1.) He's 'pulling' on a dummy leg.
2.) He's seen reading a newspaper when the doors open. (He did that gag twice)
3.) He's napping when the doors were opened and Brett goes over to wake him up.
4.) He comes out from stage left on roller skates.
There was one time on Tic Tac Dough when the Winkster 'crawled' on stage.
Other hosts who made 'funny entrances' would also include Al DuBois on Bumper Stumpers, who would 'leap' onto the stage; and David Ruprecht on Supermarket Sweep, who would often run out into the audience and 'high-five' some of the members; one time, he kissed his wife, who was seated there, same with his mother.
Cordially,
Tammy Warner--the 'Siv Averg of the Big Board!'
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A couple more I thought of...
Password Plus-
Tony Randall zig zags his way down the steps, trying to upstage Marcia Wallace
Allen Ludden enters wearing Bowzer's jacket, which is much too small for him.
While not a funny entrance, once Betty White nearly stumbled down the steps during one opening, and I guess she was injured, because she was seated with her partner at the main area for the rest of the week.
During one week when Bill Cullen subbed, Greg Morris takes a seat at the host podium, but moves out of the way once Bill walks on.
Similarly, Gene Rayburn stood behind the host podium when Tom Kennedy took over for Allen. Tom allowed Gene to do the intro, but Gene realized too late that there was no mike on the podium, and gives Tom back his seat, explaining "I was getting a hernia shouting because there's no mike there!"
(I am guessing no one attempted to unseat Allen during his reign... somehow I don't think Allen would tolerate that)
Wheel of Fortune
Not really an entrance, but I do recall Pat Sajak modeling a car during one of the intros
Classic Concentration
Once, Margarie Goodson entered instead of Alex, explaining that Alex had gone too far with his ribbing of Margarie, and Alex was stuck modeling a boat that was shaped like a tractor, with Alex wearing a straw hat, trying to maneuver the boat. Margarie spares Alex further humiliation and gives Alex his job back.
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One of the funnier Price is Right entrances came from the mid 1980's(1983 I do believe it was).
The last of the first four contestants that day, was a woman named Susan. However, she thought it was a different Susan, and so she didn't come down right away. Finally she realized, it was her after all, and she came down.
Then, when Bob was introed, he decided to get back at Susan for this. The big doors opened, and he wasn't there! Finally after making everyone wait for a few moments, he walked out the doors. Really funny intro. There is a clip of this at www.tpir.tv BTW, which is where I saw the clip.
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[quote name=\'MyCapableAssistant\' date=\'Oct 21 2004, 04:01 PM\'][What is the significance of 6296?
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That was the day he hung himself...while on "suicide watch".
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EDIT: Don summed it up for me.
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From Face the Music:
Ron normally entered from the behind the viewer's left side and then came down the stairs. Once, in the second season, he came from the opposite side and then said he wanted to be different. Another time, they lifted up the big door and Ron was sitting down on the set. He then said "I get bored back there just waiting around."
In the 2nd season frequently, while Tommy Oliver was introed, the bass player would give Tommy rabbit ears.
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[quote name=\'whewfan\' date=\'Oct 21 2004, 08:39 PM\']Wheel of Fortune
Not really an entrance, but I do recall Pat Sajak modeling a car during one of the intros
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On his 2nd-to-last daytime episode. Pat can be seen on the Prize Turntable "chatting" with a male mannequin then came up to his side of the rail and proclaimed he was the "God of Love" and said "Hi!" to Vanna as she was making her way to the puzzleboard.
Pat was sure goofy on his final week!
-Joe R.
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[quote name=\'Don Howard\' date=\'Oct 21 2004, 08:01 PM\'][quote name=\'MyCapableAssistant\' date=\'Oct 21 2004, 04:01 PM\'][What is the significance of 6296?
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That was the day he hung himself...while on "suicide watch".
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I see that now. I hadn't recognized it as such before because I was looking
at YEARS when I saw 5696.
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Yes, that was the week of Webber's Bread and the roach clip. That was a darn good week on Password Plus, and if you missed it, where were you?
In the womb. :-) But I digress...that wk also featured future Blockbusters super-champ Leland Yung as a contestant.
As for funny entrances, I recall Al DuBois once walking out backwards on an ep of Bumper Stumpers, claiming it was a "reverse exit", or something like that.
Chuck Donegan (The Illustrious "Chuckie Baby")
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The last of the first four contestants that day, was a woman named Susan. However, she thought it was a different Susan, and so she didn't come down right away. Finally she realized, it was her after all, and she came down.
Turns out she was using her married name, I believe...a similar gambit occured some 15 yrs later in 98 w/the infamous Nicole Thorenson/Barrington incident. Unlike Susan's escapade, however, Rod "gave up" and called an alternate, w/Nicole coming down for the 2nd One-Bid after the issue was resolved.
Chuck Donegan (The Illustrious "Chuckie Baby")
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Not quite on topic, but close enough... There was the episode of the NBC daytime Wheel of Fortune where Vanna White got introduced... and Betty White walked out instead.
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[quote name=\'davidhammett\' date=\'Oct 22 2004, 11:21 PM\']Not quite on topic, but close enough... There was the episode of the NBC daytime Wheel of Fortune where Vanna White got introduced... and Betty White walked out instead.
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Why'd this happen? Was it a gimmick to promote "Just Men"?
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[quote name=\'clemon79\' date=\'Oct 23 2004, 03:31 AM\'][quote name=\'davidhammett\' date=\'Oct 22 2004, 11:21 PM\']Not quite on topic, but close enough... There was the episode of the NBC daytime Wheel of Fortune where Vanna White got introduced... and Betty White walked out instead.
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Why'd this happen? Was it a gimmick to promote "Just Men"?
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Bingo! Your standard "Meet the New Host In Town" cameo.
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[quote name=\'Robair\' date=\'Oct 23 2004, 05:47 AM\'][quote name=\'clemon79\' date=\'Oct 23 2004, 03:31 AM\'][quote name=\'davidhammett\' date=\'Oct 22 2004, 11:21 PM\']Not quite on topic, but close enough... There was the episode of the NBC daytime Wheel of Fortune where Vanna White got introduced... and Betty White walked out instead.
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Why'd this happen? Was it a gimmick to promote "Just Men"?
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Bingo! Your standard "Meet the New Host In Town" cameo.
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If so, they were promoting a 13-weeks-and-out show that had been canned five years earlier. It happened in 1988.
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[quote name=\'Don Howard\' date=\'Oct 23 2004, 10:20 AM\'][quote name=\'Robair\' date=\'Oct 23 2004, 05:47 AM\'][quote name=\'clemon79\' date=\'Oct 23 2004, 03:31 AM\'][quote name=\'davidhammett\' date=\'Oct 22 2004, 11:21 PM\']Not quite on topic, but close enough... There was the episode of the NBC daytime Wheel of Fortune where Vanna White got introduced... and Betty White walked out instead.
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Why'd this happen? Was it a gimmick to promote "Just Men"?
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Bingo! Your standard "Meet the New Host In Town" cameo.
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If so, they were promoting a 13-weeks-and-out show that had been canned five years earlier. It happened in 1988.
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Yeah, I wasn't sure of the date... I was going to say 1987... but I didn't think it went back as far as 1983.
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Just yesterday they showed a Match Game 76 intro where Gene was hanging upside-down from the top of one of the "O" stage props. I guess you'd just have to see it to get it; when you're expecting to see a host walk out and see that instead, it makes for good comedy. ...they just don't make television like they used to I guess.
The '89 syndicated Feud episode where Viet Pho "took over" as host was kind of a cute intro. It would have been funnier if it didn't seem so staged.
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[quote name=\'Particleman\' date=\'Oct 24 2004, 05:37 PM\']Just yesterday they showed a Match Game 76 intro where Gene was hanging upside-down from the top of one of the "O" stage props. I guess you'd just have to see it to get it; when you're expecting to see a host walk out and see that instead, it makes for good comedy. ...they just don't make television like they used to I guess.
The '89 syndicated Feud episode where Viet Pho "took over" as host was kind of a cute intro. It would have been funnier if it didn't seem so staged.
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Viet Who?
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[quote name=\'JMFabiano\' date=\'Oct 24 2004, 07:28 PM\'][quote name=\'Particleman\' date=\'Oct 24 2004, 05:37 PM\']Just yesterday they showed a Match Game 76 intro where Gene was hanging upside-down from the top of one of the "O" stage props. I guess you'd just have to see it to get it; when you're expecting to see a host walk out and see that instead, it makes for good comedy. ...they just don't make television like they used to I guess.
The '89 syndicated Feud episode where Viet Pho "took over" as host was kind of a cute intro. It would have been funnier if it didn't seem so staged.
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Viet Who?
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I believe he was a former contestant that Combs liked.
First time I ever knew about this and it aired a short time back.
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I'll have to post a pic of Viet Pho for you. Ray said he liked Viet because of his calmness and host-like way of approaching the game (it's hard to explain). Anyway, he was invited back to co-host the show, which turned out disasterous as he kept getting in the way of the camera. Anyway, Gene Wood announced Viet as the star instead of Ray. This ep. was recently aired on GSN.