-
Yeah, we know Ray Combs got the nod over Joe Namath. But does anyone know if Bill Rafferty was ever given any consideration?
Granted, he had just come off two flops in Blockbusters and syndie Card Sharks, but I don't think those should have been held against him.
Granted, his New Yawk accent would have grated on some at times...
-
[quote name=\'calliaume\' date=\'May 10 2005, 03:40 PM\']Yeah, we know Ray Combs got the nod over Joe Namath. But does anyone know if Bill Rafferty was ever given any consideration?
Granted, he had just come off two flops in Blockbusters and syndie Card Sharks, but I don't think those should have been held against him.
Granted, his New Yawk accent would have grated on some at times...
[snapback]84948[/snapback]
[/quote]
Funny you said that...as I recently found myself taking back the old "Ahmed" Rafferty nickname of years ago, since seeing Bill's shows again now, his accent wasn't THAT bad. As for grating voices for FF, insert your own Louie Anderson knock here.
But yeah, Bill was kind of a go-to man over at MGP for some of the late '80s, wasn't he? Could that be part of what was behind the question you asked?
Anyway, if that did come to pass, I wouldn't be surprised if I wasn't disappointed. Bill's CS wasn't bad at all, and BB87 was OK albeit different from the original, and definitely not the "one black mark on GSN's morning schedule" as the Professor called it (then again, that's probably to be expected, given his Cullenmania...not that there's anything wrong with that ;-))
-
[quote name=\'calliaume\' date=\'May 10 2005, 03:40 PM\']Yeah, we know Ray Combs got the nod over Joe Namath. But does anyone know if Bill Rafferty was ever given any consideration?
Granted, he had just come off two flops in Blockbusters and syndie Card Sharks, but I don't think those should have been held against him.
Granted, his New Yawk accent would have grated on some at times...
[snapback]84948[/snapback]
[/quote]
Its been said and resaid that Richard Dawson didn't recieve a call, period.
I'd like to know as well who, besides Joe Namath, was looked for what must have been a very coveted job. Peter Tomarken had his own show comming at the time, and Chuck Woolery was busy with two shows. Peter Marshall or Tom Kennedy may never have been mentioned due to age or asking price or both.
-
[quote name=\'JMFabiano\' date=\'May 10 2005, 04:30 PM\']BB87 was OK albeit different from the original, and definitely not the "one black mark on GSN's morning schedule" as the Professor called it (then again, that's probably to be expected, given his Cullenmania...not that there's anything wrong with that ;-))
[snapback]84955[/snapback]
[/quote]
The conceit, of course, is the shows feature "The Men of GSN," with several Desperate Housewives-like actresses in promo spots saying they've been seeing Chuck, Alex, Gene, Richard, etc. (Lin Bolen's no doubt watching and nodding to herself, "Cool promos.") Maybe 60-something Cullen didn't fit in with that group. Also, in fairness, Cullen's Blockbusters has been running on weekends for quite a long time now, so it's not like we don't have access.
-
[quote name=\'PaulD\' date=\'May 10 2005, 05:53 PM\'][quote name=\'calliaume\' date=\'May 10 2005, 03:40 PM\']Yeah, we know Ray Combs got the nod over Joe Namath. But does anyone know if Bill Rafferty was ever given any consideration?
Granted, he had just come off two flops in Blockbusters and syndie Card Sharks, but I don't think those should have been held against him.
Granted, his New Yawk accent would have grated on some at times...
[snapback]84948[/snapback]
[/quote]
Its been said and resaid that Richard Dawson didn't recieve a call, period.
[snapback]84957[/snapback]
[/quote]
Where the HELL do you see anything in Curt's post about Richard Dawson?
-
[quote name=\'calliaume\' date=\'May 10 2005, 04:40 PM\']Yeah, we know Ray Combs got the nod over Joe Namath. But does anyone know if Bill Rafferty was ever given any consideration?
Granted, he had just come off two flops in Blockbusters and syndie Card Sharks, but I don't think those should have been held against him.
Granted, his New Yawk accent would have grated on some at times...
[snapback]84948[/snapback]
[/quote]
I also have wondered if Rafferty was considered for Feud '88. I actually find his hosting style to be quite similar to Ray's, and I think he would've been a great fit for the Feud.
-
[quote name=\'Steve Gavazzi\' date=\'May 10 2005, 05:37 PM\'][quote name=\'PaulD\' date=\'May 10 2005, 05:53 PM\']Its been said and resaid that Richard Dawson didn't recieve a call, period.
[snapback]84957[/snapback]
[/quote]
Where the HELL do you see anything in Curt's post about Richard Dawson?
[snapback]84962[/snapback]
[/quote]
No place. I shall now build on his remark before sending him off to his bubble bath:
I've told you people. Jan Murray flat out didn't want the job!!!!!
-
So what's Pat O'Brien's excuse?
*runs far away*
-
[quote name=\'Steve Gavazzi\' date=\'May 10 2005, 06:37 PM\'][quote name=\'PaulD\' date=\'May 10 2005, 05:53 PM\'][quote name=\'calliaume\' date=\'May 10 2005, 03:40 PM\']Yeah, we know Ray Combs got the nod over Joe Namath. But does anyone know if Bill Rafferty was ever given any consideration?
Granted, he had just come off two flops in Blockbusters and syndie Card Sharks, but I don't think those should have been held against him.
Granted, his New Yawk accent would have grated on some at times...
[snapback]84948[/snapback]
[/quote]
Its been said and resaid that Richard Dawson didn't recieve a call, period.
[snapback]84957[/snapback]
[/quote]
Where the HELL do you see anything in Curt's post about Richard Dawson?
[snapback]84962[/snapback]
[/quote]
I'll bet that a proctologist with a flashlight could tell us where he saw it.
-
[quote name=\'dzinkin\' date=\'May 10 2005, 07:45 PM\'][quote name=\'Steve Gavazzi\' date=\'May 10 2005, 06:37 PM\'][quote name=\'PaulD\' date=\'May 10 2005, 05:53 PM\'][quote name=\'calliaume\' date=\'May 10 2005, 03:40 PM\']Yeah, we know Ray Combs got the nod over Joe Namath. But does anyone know if Bill Rafferty was ever given any consideration?
Granted, he had just come off two flops in Blockbusters and syndie Card Sharks, but I don't think those should have been held against him.
Granted, his New Yawk accent would have grated on some at times...
[snapback]84948[/snapback]
[/quote]
Its been said and resaid that Richard Dawson didn't recieve a call, period.
[snapback]84957[/snapback]
[/quote]
Where the HELL do you see anything in Curt's post about Richard Dawson?
[snapback]84962[/snapback]
[/quote]
I'll bet that a proctologist with a flashlight could tell us where he saw it.
[snapback]84973[/snapback]
[/quote]
Funny. Great post. I agree. Interesting. Good one.
-
[quote name=\'calliaume\' date=\'May 10 2005, 04:55 PM\'][quote name=\'JMFabiano\' date=\'May 10 2005, 04:30 PM\']BB87 was OK albeit different from the original, and definitely not the "one black mark on GSN's morning schedule" as the Professor called it (then again, that's probably to be expected, given his Cullenmania...not that there's anything wrong with that ;-))
[snapback]84955[/snapback]
[/quote]
The conceit, of course, is the shows feature "The Men of GSN," with several Desperate Housewives-like actresses in promo spots saying they've been seeing Chuck, Alex, Gene, Richard, etc. (Lin Bolen's no doubt watching and nodding to herself, "Cool promos.") Maybe 60-something Cullen didn't fit in with that group. Also, in fairness, Cullen's Blockbusters has been running on weekends for quite a long time now, so it's not like we don't have access.
[snapback]84958[/snapback]
[/quote]
Well, for the time being Rafftery BB suits me just fine. We haven't seen it in a while, first of all, and it isn't a bad show, albeit short-lived. Yes the Cullen version is much better in most if not all aspects, but that doesn't mean Rafferty's sucked or anything.
-
[quote name=\'JMFabiano\' date=\'May 10 2005, 08:39 PM\'][quote name=\'calliaume\' date=\'May 10 2005, 04:55 PM\'][quote name=\'JMFabiano\' date=\'May 10 2005, 04:30 PM\']BB87 was OK albeit different from the original, and definitely not the "one black mark on GSN's morning schedule" as the Professor called it (then again, that's probably to be expected, given his Cullenmania...not that there's anything wrong with that ;-))
[snapback]84955[/snapback]
[/quote]
The conceit, of course, is the shows feature "The Men of GSN," with several Desperate Housewives-like actresses in promo spots saying they've been seeing Chuck, Alex, Gene, Richard, etc. (Lin Bolen's no doubt watching and nodding to herself, "Cool promos.") Maybe 60-something Cullen didn't fit in with that group. Also, in fairness, Cullen's Blockbusters has been running on weekends for quite a long time now, so it's not like we don't have access.
[snapback]84958[/snapback]
[/quote]
Well, for the time being Rafftery BB suits me just fine. We haven't seen it in a while, first of all, and it isn't a bad show, albeit short-lived. Yes the Cullen version is much better in most if not all aspects, but that doesn't mean Rafferty's sucked or anything.
[snapback]84976[/snapback]
[/quote]
How many times do I have to tell you? Richard Dawson wasn't even considered for the Blockbusters revival.
-
Where the HELL do you see anything in Curt's post about Richard Dawson?
I see Lemon's logged on as Steve Gavazzi. I'll get right on it.
-
[quote name=\'chris319\' date=\'May 10 2005, 10:26 PM\']
Where the HELL do you see anything in Curt's post about Richard Dawson?
I see Lemon's logged on as Steve Gavazzi. I'll get right on it.
[snapback]84983[/snapback]
[/quote]
I thought everyone was Steve Gavazzi in disguise.
-
[quote name=\'dzinkin\' date=\'May 10 2005, 09:30 PM\']I thought everyone was Steve Gavazzi in disguise.
[snapback]84984[/snapback]
[/quote]
So they're not all Chris Lemon in disguise?
-
[quote name=\'mystery7\' date=\'May 11 2005, 12:34 AM\']So they're not all Chris Lemon in disguise?
[snapback]85000[/snapback]
[/quote]
No...some of them are Zach Horan in disguise ;-)
-
[quote name=\'chris319\' date=\'May 10 2005, 07:26 PM\']
Where the HELL do you see anything in Curt's post about Richard Dawson?
I see Lemon's logged on as Steve Gavazzi. I'll get right on it.
[snapback]84983[/snapback]
[/quote]
Not so. I would have used the phrase "blue hell". :)
-
[quote name=\'mystery7\' date=\'May 10 2005, 08:34 PM\']So they're not all Chris Lemon in disguise?
[snapback]85000[/snapback]
[/quote]
...with glasses...
-
Ahem...getting back to the original topic...if Bill Rafferty WAS the host of FF88, how would you think its "legacy," so to say, would have changed? Would it too be a victim of the "Rafferty Curse"; i.e. only last a season? Would it have run pretty much the same course the Combs era did? Pretty much the same with variations? Or longer? (Thus, ala TPIR, we may have even still had "classic" Feud now, no Louie or DOUBLING THE POINTS, etc)
-
[quote name=\'JMFabiano\' date=\'May 11 2005, 08:51 AM\']Ahem...getting back to the original topic...if Bill Rafferty WAS the host of FF88, how would you think its "legacy," so to say, would have changed? Would it too be a victim of the "Rafferty Curse"; i.e. only last a season? Would it have run pretty much the same course the Combs era did? Pretty much the same with variations? Or longer? (Thus, ala TPIR, we may have even still had "classic" Feud now, no Louie or DOUBLING THE POINTS, etc)
[snapback]85019[/snapback]
[/quote]
Of course this is all speculation, but I don't think it would have ran for 6 years under Rafferty.
-
[quote name=\'cmjb13\' date=\'May 11 2005, 08:14 AM\'][quote name=\'JMFabiano\' date=\'May 11 2005, 08:51 AM\']Ahem...getting back to the original topic...if Bill Rafferty WAS the host of FF88, how would you think its "legacy," so to say, would have changed? Would it too be a victim of the "Rafferty Curse"; i.e. only last a season? Would it have run pretty much the same course the Combs era did? Pretty much the same with variations? Or longer? (Thus, ala TPIR, we may have even still had "classic" Feud now, no Louie or DOUBLING THE POINTS, etc)
[snapback]85019[/snapback]
[/quote]
Of course this is all speculation, but I don't think it would have ran for 6 years under Rafferty.
[snapback]85024[/snapback]
[/quote]
Hard to say--my personal belief is that the game itself is strong enough that it would've had the same run if Allen Ludden's corpse had hosted. (And we haven't gotten too much better than that with the current version.) What it would still not be is the ratings smash it was with Dawson. As much as you may not like the guy, he gave "Feud" an edge in its original incarnation that no other host (or an older version of himself) was able to do.
As for Rafferty? Same thing as Combs--six years of respectable daytime and syndication ratings, but as time went on in syndication, lesser time slots, lesser stations and lesser expectations.
-
[quote name=\'uncamark\' date=\'May 11 2005, 02:51 PM\']
Hard to say--my personal belief is that the game itself is strong enough that it would've had the same run if Allen Ludden's corpse had hosted.
[/quote]
Must...not....ask THAT question...;-)
-
[quote name=\'matchgame\' date=\'May 11 2005, 06:41 AM\'][quote name=\'mystery7\' date=\'May 10 2005, 08:34 PM\']So they're not all Chris Lemon in disguise?
[snapback]85000[/snapback]
[/quote]
...with glasses...
[snapback]85014[/snapback]
[/quote]
[font=\"Times\"] LINE[/font]
OF THE[/color]
DAY
RIP John Fred.
Ok, back on topic-----quite honestly, I've noticed a frightening similarity between Rafferty and Combs, in a way----their enthusiasm, their wit, not to mention slight physical resemblance. He probably woulda been a good fit for Feud.
-
I don't think Rafferty would've been a bad fit, either...if you remember his first GS, Every Second Counts, he would joke about the answers (the emphasis was on comedy, w/the couples determining whether or not answers fit a certain category like "Real Jello flavors" or "Tuna brand or spyplane?"), something not at all uncommon on FF, and I could easily see him handling it well.
Chuck Donegan (The Illustrious "Chuckie Baby")
-
How about Goodson bringing Feud to New York with Rafferty at the helm (assuming it were at all feasable)? Would the East Coast locale with an East Coast host have fared as good as Combs/California? Or would it have crashed and burned?
(Please note that I did NOT call Richard Dawson.)
-
[quote name=\'dale_grass\' date=\'May 11 2005, 11:54 PM\']How about Goodson bringing Feud to New York with Rafferty at the helm (assuming it were at all feasable)? Would the East Coast locale with an East Coast host have fared as good as Combs/California? Or would it have crashed and burned?
[snapback]85166[/snapback]
[/quote]
The story was that Goodson had considered doing "Feud" in New York to begin with, since he felt that southern California couldn't provide a diverse enough pool of families (and before anyone did out-of-town contestant searches). Perhaps Dawson didn't want to commute. They still found families of every race, creed, color and nationality.
It could've been possible, considering that the Combs version did have a contestant office in New York run by Edye Chan and Rae Pichon (and Dick DeBartolo was doing material from New York). But they kept the show in LA.
-
[quote name=\'uncamark\' date=\'May 12 2005, 11:40 AM\']They still found families of every race, creed, color and nationality.
[snapback]85219[/snapback]
[/quote]
And as Richard implied in his farewell address of twenty years ago, those bigots at MGP never would've allowed a diversification of races and cultures if it weren't for Richard declaring that it must be so.
-
But of course. Because Richard Dawson is the world's best emcee, and he should get credit for everything; including having contestants suck on sticks right on stage.
-
[quote name=\'Modor\' date=\'May 12 2005, 01:32 PM\']But of course. Because Richard Dawson is the world's best emcee, and he should get credit for everything; including having contestants suck on sticks right on stage.
[snapback]85242[/snapback]
[/quote]
Yes, hard to believe Spencer Christian was chosen over him to host Triple Threat, isn't it?
-
[quote name=\'uncamark\' date=\'May 12 2005, 11:40 AM\'][quote name=\'dale_grass\' date=\'May 11 2005, 11:54 PM\']How about Goodson bringing Feud to New York with Rafferty at the helm (assuming it were at all feasable)? Would the East Coast locale with an East Coast host have fared as good as Combs/California? Or would it have crashed and burned?
[snapback]85166[/snapback]
[/quote]
The story was that Goodson had considered doing "Feud" in New York to begin with, since he felt that southern California couldn't provide a diverse enough pool of families (and before anyone did out-of-town contestant searches). Perhaps Dawson didn't want to commute. They still found families of every race, creed, color and nationality.
It could've been possible, considering that the Combs version did have a contestant office in New York run by Edye Chan and Rae Pichon (and Dick DeBartolo was doing material from New York). But they kept the show in LA.
[snapback]85219[/snapback]
[/quote]
I honestly don't think it occurs to many viewers where the shows tape - or that it would have made a difference to the audience if Rafferty sounded more at home amongst New Yawkers.
Finding suitable facilities in New york for game shows has gotten more difficult since the genre moved west - I don't know that there's a good place anymore. At NBC, 8H and 6A are now taken up by Saturday Night Live and Late Night, I believe, and the Sullivan is now used by The Late Show. Many of the facilities ABC used in the '60s and '70s are gone. Millionaire was in some studio wayyyyy over on the West Side that would have been too small for Feud.
Nice to know that Edye Chan, who'd been contestant coordinator for many of Bob Stewart's shows, and Rae Pichon (who I remember getting an odd shout-out in one of Dick DeBartolo's Mad books) were still working into the '90s.
EDIT: If I had been Mark Goodson in 1988 (fat chance) and was willing to tape the show in New York to accommodate a host (same), the first guy I'd call wouldn't be Rafferty, it would have been Gene Rayburn. Yeah, he was getting up there, but it would have been an easy and fun show for him to do, and both Gene and Mark would have enjoyed seeing Dawson's head explode.
-
[quote name=\'calliaume\' date=\'May 12 2005, 01:40 PM\']Finding suitable facilities in New york for game shows has gotten more difficult since the genre moved west - I don't know that there's a good place anymore. At NBC, 8H and 6A are now taken up by Saturday Night Live and Late Night, I believe, and the Sullivan is now used by The Late Show. Many of the facilities ABC used in the '60s and '70s are gone. Millionaire was in some studio wayyyyy over on the West Side that would have been too small for Feud.
[snapback]85246[/snapback]
[/quote]
If you're referring to Millionaire's current studio, (http://\"http://studioservices.go.com/timessquarestudios/other_stages.html\") if it could hold "The Moneymaze" it could hold "Feud" :) Millionaire's first home, now known as Sony Studios on W.54th, I believe could have also housed it. Though I haven't been in that building in some 20 years, since it was known as Camera Mart Stages, renting out to feature films and music videos.
-
I saw 'Card Sharks' yesteday and I have to agree that Ray Combs and Bill R. were similar to eaech other. In fact if you had had Ray host the CBS show but used Bill in the evening (or vice versa) it really would not have made a lot of difference.
Bill's talents could also have been used on the 'Match Game' revival a few years later.
-
[quote name=\'PaulD\' date=\'May 14 2005, 07:45 AM\']Bill's talents could also have been used on the 'Match Game' revival a few years later.
[snapback]85411[/snapback]
[/quote]
Oooooooo. Hadn't thought of that. That's using the ol' noodle. I was actually hoping Bill would get the Classic Concentration gig seeing how he was plugging the show so much during BB87's final weks.
-
[quote name=\'bricon\' date=\'May 13 2005, 03:11 PM\'][If you're referring to Millionaire's current studio, (http://\"http://studioservices.go.com/timessquarestudios/other_stages.html\") if it could hold "The Moneymaze" it could hold "Feud" :) Millionaire's first home, now known as Sony Studios on W.54th, I believe could have also housed it. Though I haven't been in that building in some 20 years, since it was known as Camera Mart Stages, renting out to feature films and music videos.
[snapback]85374[/snapback]
[/quote]
No question - the studio that held The Money Maze could hold anything; that thing was huge. Also the most fun taping ever; nearly every audience member got some camera time.
I wasn't aware that studio was still around; I've read through Mark Evanier's TV Tickets (http://\"http://povonline.com/TVTickets.htm\") page and it seems that most of the studios ABC used in the '50s, '60s, and '70s (Elysee, Little Theater, etc.) are gone.
I probably wasn't able to see all of the space the studio of W. 54th could hold, but it seemed small to me from when we were there.
The only other studios I've been to is the Sullivan (twice, for a What's My Line taping in 1970 and a failed Stiller & Meara sitcom pilot in 1986), and an NBC studio for an NFL Live broadcast in 1986. The stage on the Sullivan absolutely dwarfed the WML? set; even at age eight I was surprised at how tiny the actual set area was. The Sullivan also had way more seats than necessary for the show; we moved from the balcony to the lower level between taping without any problems.
I suppose if Goodson had his heart set on it, they'd tape Feud wherever they had to in the city. ("From the Brooklyn Navy Yard...")
-
[quote name=\'calliaume\' date=\'May 14 2005, 09:35 AM\']
I suppose if Goodson had his heart set on it, they'd tape Feud wherever they had to in the city. ("From the Brooklyn Navy Yard...")
[snapback]85418[/snapback]
[/quote]
I could see this happening........("From the Brooklyn Navy Yard, it's a TRUE 'Family Feud'........Introducing the Gambino family.......versus.......the Bonnano family..")
-
I could see this happening........("From the Brooklyn Navy Yard, it's a TRUE 'Family Feud'........Introducing the Gambino family.......versus.......the Bonnano family..")
Funny you should say that, MadTV actually did a Louie-era parody featuring the Sopranos playing against a non-mob family...guess who won? :-)
Chuck Donegan (The Illustrious "Chuckie Baby")
-
There was an article in Variety in December of 87 announcing that the NBC O&Os were picking up the new FF as an access replacement for the sitcom checkerboard that was started in Sept 87. KNBC was disappointed that the highly-touted checkerboard was only one share higher during sweeps than the previous season's time slot occupant. That show? "Card Sharks." My conjecture: KNBC, at least, probably wanted a fresh face.
-
[quote name=\'Jimmy Owen\' date=\'May 15 2005, 09:01 AM\']There was an article in Variety in December of 87 announcing that the NBC O&Os were picking up the new FF as an access replacement for the sitcom checkerboard that was started in Sept 87.
[snapback]85475[/snapback]
[/quote]
Although WCAU in Philly was 8 years away from being an NBC O&O (It was still CBS in 87/88), it did carry the sitcom checkerboard in 1987, and subsequently the syndie "Feud" starting 9/19/88.