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The Game Show Forum => The Big Board => Topic started by: johnnya2k3 on February 26, 2005, 05:21:29 PM

Title: Jimmy Connors as daytime WOF host
Post by: johnnya2k3 on February 26, 2005, 05:21:29 PM
According to the E! True Hollywood Story on Wheel, tennis star Jimmy Connors was originally considered to take Sajak's spot as the daytime host. But the higher-ups at NBC thought of a different way to use Connors, and Merv Griffin of course had to go with San Diego Charger Rolf Benirschke, which was probably a fatal mistake. Didn't Merv learn that lesson from how Joe Namath almost got the CBS Family Feud gig until Mark Goodson looked at Ray Combs???

But if NBC didn't stick their noses into Connors' business, I think he would've been great on daytime Wheel should he'd gotten the job. What do you think?

Jonathan Allen
Title: Jimmy Connors as daytime WOF host
Post by: Dbacksfan12 on February 26, 2005, 05:24:11 PM
[quote name=\'johnnya2k3\' date=\'Feb 26 2005, 05:21 PM\']But if NBC didn't stick their noses into Connors' business, I think he would've been great on daytime Wheel should he'd gotten the job. What do you think?
[/quote]
I think Pat O'Brien should have gotten the nod.
Title: Jimmy Connors as daytime WOF host
Post by: johnnya2k3 on February 26, 2005, 05:38:42 PM
[quote name=\'Modor\' date=\'Feb 26 2005, 02:24 PM\'][quote name=\'johnnya2k3\' date=\'Feb 26 2005, 05:21 PM\']But if NBC didn't stick their noses into Connors' business, I think he would've been great on daytime Wheel should he'd gotten the job. What do you think?
[/quote]
I think Pat O'Brien should have gotten the nod.
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What did I say about no PO'B talk? LOOK AT THE SIG!!!!!

Anyway...Rolf on WOF was stiff, boring, and put many to sleep. Jimmy Connors would've given the daytime show a breath of fresh air, and made it enjoyable to watch like Sajak was and still is doing on the nighttime version.

And I also read that another tennis great, John McEnroe, was also considered for "Wheel." Man, he would've BOMBED, just like he did with "The Chair" and his unwatchable CNBC talk show!

Jonathan Allen
Title: Jimmy Connors as daytime WOF host
Post by: Jimmy Owen on February 26, 2005, 05:41:12 PM
If that had happened, Wheel would still be running today and Jimmy's wife Patti would have eventually won the hearts of America (she had already won the hearts of most teen males in the late '70s) when she replaced Vanna after Ms. White stepped down to focus on the nighttime version.

Shopping would still be a big part of the show.  One of the often offered gag prizes would be one of those automatic tennis ball servers.
Title: Jimmy Connors as daytime WOF host
Post by: aaron sica on February 26, 2005, 05:50:34 PM
[quote name=\'johnnya2k3\' date=\'Feb 26 2005, 05:38 PM\']
What did I say about no PO'B talk? LOOK AT THE SIG!!!!!

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And that's exactly why we do it. Because we know it bugs you.
Title: Jimmy Connors as daytime WOF host
Post by: clemon79 on February 26, 2005, 06:49:05 PM
[quote name=\'johnnya2k3\' date=\'Feb 26 2005, 05:38 PM\']What did I say about no PO'B talk? LOOK AT THE SIG!!!!!
[/quote]
Or else WHAT?
[quote name=\'aaron sica\' date=\'Feb 26 2005, 03:50 PM\']And that's exactly why we do it. Because we know it bugs you.
[/quote]
And 'cuz Pat O'Brien is a television genius.
Title: Jimmy Connors as daytime WOF host
Post by: Matt Ottinger on February 26, 2005, 06:51:22 PM
[quote name=\'johnnya2k3\' date=\'Feb 26 2005, 06:21 PM\'] Didn't Merv learn that lesson from how Joe Namath almost got the CBS Family Feud gig until Mark Goodson looked at Ray Combs???[/quote]
Well, um, no, because Merv never actually SAW Joe Namath host Family Feud, now did he?

I'm also amazed about how absolutely certain you are that John McEnroe would have bombed and Jimmy Connors would have been great.  Astonishing how you can judge the hosting skills of tennis players based on your obvious personal like or dislike for them.

I think Pat O'Brien should have been offered the job.  Then he could have his good friend John McEnroe visit from time to time, and they could talk about how Jimmy Connors almost got the job, and wouldn't that have been awful?
Title: Jimmy Connors as daytime WOF host
Post by: aaron sica on February 26, 2005, 06:54:53 PM
[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' date=\'Feb 26 2005, 06:51 PM\']
I think Pat O'Brien should have been offered the job.  Then he could have his good friend John McEnroe visit from time to time, and they could talk about how Jimmy Connors almost got the job, and wouldn't that have been awful?
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Johnny Mac visit WoF from time to time??? YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUS!!!!!!
Title: Jimmy Connors as daytime WOF host
Post by: Jimmy Owen on February 26, 2005, 06:56:18 PM
In the spirit of compromise, let's all agree to have Jimmy Connors host and Pat O'Brien turn the letters.  See, doesn't that feel good! When everybody plays nice, everybody wins!
Title: Jimmy Connors as daytime WOF host
Post by: Jamey Greek on February 26, 2005, 09:41:18 PM
Yeah!  Jimmy, would have done a good job!  I mean, he was REAL good friends with Merv, and he watched Wheel, every day.  And, he knew the game.  Real good, unlike Rolf, who only watched WOF in snippets.
Title: Jimmy Connors as daytime WOF host
Post by: clemon79 on February 26, 2005, 10:05:22 PM
[quote name=\'Jamey Greek\' date=\'Feb 26 2005, 07:41 PM\']Yeah!  Jimmy, would have done a good job!  I mean, he was REAL good friends with Merv, and he watched Wheel, every day.  And, he knew the game.  Real good, unlike Rolf, who only watched WOF in snippets.
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You know it's coming, don't you?

Oh yeah. Here it is. Stand back, class is IN SESSION:

Wow.
Title: Jimmy Connors as daytime WOF host
Post by: bricon on February 26, 2005, 10:52:02 PM
[quote name=\'johnnya2k3\' date=\'Feb 26 2005, 05:21 PM\']But if NBC didn't stick their noses into Connors' business, I think he would've been great on daytime Wheel should he'd gotten the job. What do you think?
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I think if you had seen Jimmy Connors' audition tape you would change your mind about that pretty fast.

Pat O'Brien would run rings around him.
Title: Jimmy Connors as daytime WOF host
Post by: tyshaun1 on February 26, 2005, 11:02:12 PM
[quote name=\'bricon\' date=\'Feb 26 2005, 10:52 PM\']Pat O'Brien would run rings around him.
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Pat O'Brien would run rings around everyone. EVERYONE!

Tyshaun
Title: Jimmy Connors as daytime WOF host
Post by: Don Howard on February 26, 2005, 11:17:28 PM
[quote name=\'tyshaun1\' date=\'Feb 26 2005, 11:02 PM\']Pat O'Brien would run rings around everyone. EVERYONE!
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I need cold water splashed on me. I almost called Pat's name out by mistake while with the fiancee last night.
Title: Jimmy Connors as daytime WOF host
Post by: MikeK on February 26, 2005, 11:52:08 PM
[quote name=\'Don Howard\' date=\'Feb 26 2005, 11:17 PM\'][quote name=\'tyshaun1\' date=\'Feb 26 2005, 11:02 PM\']Pat O'Brien would run rings around everyone. EVERYONE![/quote]
I need cold water splashed on me. I almost called Pat's name out by mistake while with the fiancee last night.[/quote]
I could make an Insider joke right now but I'm better than that.

And I'd love to see Pat O'Brien run for President in '08.
Title: Jimmy Connors as daytime WOF host
Post by: johnnya2k3 on February 27, 2005, 12:11:53 AM
[quote name=\'hmtriplecrown\' date=\'Feb 26 2005, 08:52 PM\']And I'd love to see Pat O'Brien run for President in '08.
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Or for that matter, Billy Bush (since he's our President's cousin)!

Back on topic: How would Connors handle the CBS daytime version and back to NBC for its last few months? Given its cheapness (somebody said it was like watching WOF on welfare), he would eventually bail out.

Jonathan Allen
Title: Jimmy Connors as daytime WOF host
Post by: clemon79 on February 27, 2005, 12:17:13 AM
[quote name=\'johnnya2k3\' date=\'Feb 26 2005, 10:11 PM\'][quote name=\'hmtriplecrown\' date=\'Feb 26 2005, 08:52 PM\']And I'd love to see Pat O'Brien run for President in '08.
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Or for that matter, Billy Bush (since he's our President's cousin)!
[/quote]
Naw, Billy Bush would be a rotten candidate. Pat O'Brien, though, he has the political savvy to be a great leader.
Title: Jimmy Connors as daytime WOF host
Post by: aaron sica on February 27, 2005, 12:24:18 AM
[quote name=\'clemon79\' date=\'Feb 27 2005, 12:17 AM\']
Naw, Billy Bush would be a rotten candidate. Pat O'Brien, though, he has the political savvy to be a great leader.
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He's got my write- in vote for '08.
Title: Jimmy Connors as daytime WOF host
Post by: Matt Ottinger on February 27, 2005, 12:27:08 AM
[quote name=\'tyshaun1\' date=\'Feb 27 2005, 12:02 AM\'][quote name=\'bricon\' date=\'Feb 26 2005, 10:52 PM\']Pat O'Brien would run rings around him.[/quote]Pat O'Brien would run rings around everyone. EVERYONE![/quote]
EVERYONE!
Title: Jimmy Connors as daytime WOF host
Post by: Dbacksfan12 on February 27, 2005, 02:03:17 AM
[quote name=\'johnnya2k3\' date=\'Feb 27 2005, 12:11 AM\']Back on topic: How would Connors handle the CBS daytime version and back to NBC for its last few months? Given its cheapness (somebody said it was like watching WOF on welfare), he would eventually bail out.
[/quote]
This is rampant speculation and nothing more.  
Just becaue a show had low payouts; doesn't mean his paycheck did. [sic]

Go back to watching "The Insider".
Title: Jimmy Connors as daytime WOF host
Post by: BrandonFG on February 27, 2005, 03:01:41 AM
[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' date=\'Feb 26 2005, 06:51 PM\']I think Pat O'Brien should have been offered the job.  Then he could have his good friend John McEnroe visit from time to time, and they could talk about how Jimmy Connors almost got the job, and wouldn't that have been awful?
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Damn...even the mods are cracking jokes. The only thing more humiliating would be to get flamed by Horan. :-)
Title: Jimmy Connors as daytime WOF host
Post by: GS Warehouse on February 27, 2005, 10:40:46 AM
[quote name=\'clemon79\' date=\'Feb 27 2005, 12:17 AM\'][quote name=\'johnnya2k3\' date=\'Feb 26 2005, 10:11 PM\']Or for that matter, Billy Bush (since he's our President's cousin)![/quote]
Naw, Billy Bush would be a rotten candidate. ...
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To Mr. Allen: the reason we don't rag on Billy Bush is because we've already established him to be a lousy gs host.  But just because he is, how do we know he'll be a lousy president?  Besides the fact his cousin alienated half the world already, of course.  (The other half already hates the USA regardless of the president.)

But I digress.  Following that reasoning, I give you Bush 44's running mate: Patrick Wayne!
Title: Jimmy Connors as daytime WOF host
Post by: aaron sica on February 27, 2005, 11:24:34 AM
[quote name=\'GS Warehouse\' date=\'Feb 27 2005, 10:40 AM\']
But I digress.  Following that reasoning, I give you Bush 44's running mate: Patrick Wayne!
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What a sight that would be - can you see what would happen if Bush 44 were elected president? I can just hear Patrick Wayne now - "Billy, YOOOOOOOOOOOOU WONNNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!"
Title: Jimmy Connors as daytime WOF host
Post by: OntarioQuizzer on February 27, 2005, 12:25:38 PM
[quote name=\'aaron sica\' date=\'Feb 27 2005, 11:24 AM\'][quote name=\'GS Warehouse\' date=\'Feb 27 2005, 10:40 AM\']
But I digress.  Following that reasoning, I give you Bush 44's running mate: Patrick Wayne!
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What a sight that would be - can you see what would happen if Bush 44 were elected president? I can just hear Patrick Wayne now - "Billy, YOOOOOOOOOOOOU WONNNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!"
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And of course, they'd have Richard Karn on their campaign team -- so that when they were losing,  America could go nuts when he DOUBLES THE POINTS!!!!!!, and ride the wave right into the White House...
Title: Jimmy Connors as daytime WOF host
Post by: BrandonFG on February 27, 2005, 01:38:18 PM
Howard Dean could give a lot of pointers as they go all the way to Washington to take back the White House.....YEEE-AHHHH!!!!
Title: Jimmy Connors as daytime WOF host
Post by: Matt Ottinger on February 27, 2005, 01:40:18 PM
[quote name=\'OntarioQuizzer\' date=\'Feb 27 2005, 01:25 PM\']And of course, they'd have Richard Karn on their campaign team -- so that when they were losing,  America could go nuts when he DOUBLES THE POINTS!!!!!!, and ride the wave right into the White House...[/quote]
"We believe that every American has the right to have his or her points doubled, and when I am in the White House I...WILL...DOUBLE...THOSE...POINTS!"

[Wild applause ensues.]
Title: Jimmy Connors as daytime WOF host
Post by: johnnya2k3 on February 27, 2005, 03:06:03 PM
[quote name=\'GS Warehouse\' date=\'Feb 27 2005, 07:40 AM\']To Mr. Allen: the reason we don't rag on Billy Bush is because we've already established him to be a lousy gs host.  But just because he is, how do we know he'll be a lousy president?  Besides the fact his cousin alienated half the world already, of course.  (The other half already hates the USA regardless of the president.)
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But come on; if you happen to host a lousy entertainment show like "Access Hollywood" (which PO'B did for seven years), you know you're gonna get ragged on.

Why don't we rag on Bill O'Reilly instead? I mean, he's a BILLION times more irritating than Pat or Billy!

On-topic...I don't think Connors would've bailed out when daytime Wheel moved to CBS, but he would after it moved back to NBC so he could go back to playing tennis (he did advance in the 1991 U.S. Open).

Jonathan Allen
Title: Jimmy Connors as daytime WOF host
Post by: clemon79 on February 27, 2005, 03:21:48 PM
[quote name=\'johnnya2k3\' date=\'Feb 27 2005, 01:06 PM\']Why don't we rag on Bill O'Reilly instead? I mean, he's a BILLION times more irritating than Pat or Billy!
[/quote]
You just gon't GET it, do you? Do you have to work to be this clueless?

ObPat: O'Brien's so good, he should get the TPiR gig.
Title: Jimmy Connors as daytime WOF host
Post by: Dbacksfan12 on February 27, 2005, 03:25:44 PM
[quote name=\'johnnya2k3\' date=\'Feb 27 2005, 03:06 PM\']On-topic...I don't think Connors would've bailed out when daytime Wheel moved to CBS, but he would after it moved back to NBC so he could go back to playing tennis (he did advance in the 1991 U.S. Open).
[/quote]
Irrelevant, since he never had the job in the first place.  You don't know this.
Title: Jimmy Connors as daytime WOF host
Post by: passwordplus on February 27, 2005, 04:06:37 PM
[quote name=\'clemon79\' date=\'Feb 27 2005, 03:21 PM\'][quote name=\'johnnya2k3\' date=\'Feb 27 2005, 01:06 PM\']Why don't we rag on Bill O'Reilly instead? I mean, he's a BILLION times more irritating than Pat or Billy!
[/quote]
You just gon't GET it, do you? Do you have to work to be this clueless?

ObPat: O'Brien's so good, he should get the TPiR gig.
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I don't see that one happening for real, Todd Newton or Tom Bergeron are far BETTER candidates for the job.

Why not put Alex Trebek on this Campaign thing, can you say "What is recount?"

I'll take Ohio for 1000 thousand please!!!
Title: Jimmy Connors as daytime WOF host
Post by: clemon79 on February 27, 2005, 04:16:09 PM
[quote name=\'passwordplus\' date=\'Feb 27 2005, 02:06 PM\']I don't see that one happening for real, Todd Newton or Tom Bergeron are far BETTER candidates for the job.
[/quote]
Oh good lord friggin' WHOOSH.
Title: Jimmy Connors as daytime WOF host
Post by: Don Howard on February 27, 2005, 07:57:01 PM
[quote name=\'clemon79\' date=\'Feb 27 2005, 03:21 PM\']ObPat: O'Brien's so good, he should get the TPiR gig.
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Indeed he should get that gig. He should get his choice of gigs. And name his salary. The name Pat O'Brien means star power and magnetism, baby. Don't fight the feeling.
Title: Jimmy Connors as daytime WOF host
Post by: J.R. on February 28, 2005, 05:57:44 AM
[quote name=\'OntarioQuizzer\' date=\'Feb 27 2005, 12:25 PM\']And of course, they'd have Richard Karn on their campaign team -- so that when they were losing,  America could go nuts when he DOUBLES THE POINTS!!!!!!, and ride the wave right into the White House...
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Of course, if that doesn't work: Karn could just bribe the voters with TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS!!!!!!!!

-Joe R.
Title: Jimmy Connors as daytime WOF host
Post by: Robert Hutchinson on February 28, 2005, 08:08:25 PM
Wow, the Karn jokes will never get old, will they? You could repeat them every day for weeks on end, in fact, and they'd still be hilarious. Yup.
Title: Jimmy Connors as daytime WOF host
Post by: ChuckNet on February 28, 2005, 08:17:42 PM
If Jimmy Connors HAD gotten the job over Rolf, then Joe Raygor wouldn't even be on this board. :-D

Chuck Donegan (The Illustrious "Chuckie Baby")
Title: Jimmy Connors as daytime WOF host
Post by: clemon79 on February 28, 2005, 09:21:03 PM
[quote name=\'Robert Hutchinson\' date=\'Feb 28 2005, 06:08 PM\']Wow, the Karn jokes will never get old, will they? You could repeat them every day for weeks on end, in fact, and they'd still be hilarious. Yup.
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Just wait...pretty soon Pat O'Brien will be DOUBLING THE POINTS!!! on Guppy CASino....
Title: Jimmy Connors as daytime WOF host
Post by: CarbonCpy on March 01, 2005, 02:34:03 AM
I was told this thread was the petition to change the Game Show Forum logo from Bill Cullen's picture to Pat O'Brien.  This is a measure that I wholeheartedly support.  Pat O'Brien a fine American and a modern-day rennisance man.  Here's some things you may not've known about Pat O'Brien:

They say Gene Roddenbery got the idea for Star Trek from hearing Pat O'Brien talk in his sleep.  

He makes brooms in his spare time.  A Pat O'Brien broom can fetch anywhere from $2500 to -12 cents in an art auction.  He also knitted the signature scarf Tom Baker used during his seven year tenure on Doctor Who.

Pat O'Brien co-wrote "Don't Worry, Be Happy" with Bobby McFarrin, but didn't feel he contributed enough to have his name listed in the credits.

Orson Wells, before he died, once wrote that "Hearing Pat O'Brien display his  knowledge of cinema was akin to God himself giving you an ice cream."

Pat O'Brien was the key player in ensuring the US never switched over to the metric system.

[quote name=\'Robert Hutchinson\' date=\'Feb 28 2005, 08:08 PM\']Wow, the Karn jokes will never get old, will they? You could repeat them every day for weeks on end, in fact, and they'd still be hilarious. Yup.
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Stop crapping up the thread, threadcrapper.
Title: Jimmy Connors as daytime WOF host
Post by: Don Howard on March 01, 2005, 02:53:09 PM
[quote name=\'CarbonCpy\' date=\'Mar 1 2005, 02:34 AM\']Pat O'Brien was the key player in ensuring the US never switched over to the metric system.
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Here. Here. A lovely, lovely man. If only there were a private section of this forum where all things Pat could be discussed. But, alas, nay.
Title: Jimmy Connors as daytime WOF host
Post by: Robert Hutchinson on March 01, 2005, 11:31:42 PM
[quote name=\'CarbonCpy\' date=\'Mar 1 2005, 02:34 AM\']Stop crapping up the thread, threadcrapper.[/quote]

Sorry. I was overwhelmed by the thought of TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS!!!