-
There have been some great game show finales -- many due to the true emotional value with the hosts spilling their guts thanking everyone and shedding tears.
I know of two hosts that stick out who treated final shows as if they were just another episode -- maybe a short generic mention of the show being the final show and that's it. The two that come to mind for me are Bill Cullen and Tom Kennedy.
Bill Cullen never really got emotional on show finales, mainly because he would probably be back on within a few weeks hosting another show, if not the following Monday.
Perhaps with the exception of Split Second (when Tom was humbled by Monty Halls cameo and review of Tom's work), and Wordplay (his final show), Tom never really said much on the show finales.
Anyhoo, do you prefer hosts who take a moment or two to thank those who gave them the job, those who thank the viewers (or lack of) who watched every day and those who personally thank those who worked behind the scenes? Or do you prefer those who treat the gig as if it was a temp position like Bill & Tom who take the high road on finales (call it 'professionalism').
Any other hosts that downplayed finales more often than not?
-
It seems as though Gene Rayburn's gigs always ended without closure.
Then there are the shows where the shows were in the can and had to be wrapped up in post production ('70s $otC, LVG, etc.) It's hard to get emotional when you don't know it's over.
I think it depends on the show, some hosts may be relieved that it's over.
-
[quote name=\'TimK2003\' date=\'May 29 2005, 06:58 PM\']Perhaps with the exception of Split Second (when Tom was humbled by Monty Halls cameo and review of Tom's work), and Wordplay (his final show), Tom never really said much on the show finales.
[snapback]86952[/snapback]
[/quote]
Not sure I completely buy that--Kennedy was pretty eloquent on the final P+; paying a little tribute to Ludden and even doing his own credit roll as the final music bed played (a full credit roll was not run on that particular ep). I'd certainly agree that it wasn't emotional, but I think you're giving his final moments on P+ somewhat short shrift.
Really, if you think about it, other than Dawson (FF85), Eubanks (CS89/NEWLYWED) and Convy (SP), I think most hosts were rather calm, cool and collected for whatever finale they did (I wouldn't call Perry's CS and $otC finales "emotional," but YMMV). Maybe I'm overlooking someone, although one doesn't spring to mind off the top.
Doug
-
An obvious choice for that category would be Chuck Henry.
-
[quote name=\'Jimmy Owen\' date=\'May 29 2005, 07:07 PM\']It seems as though Gene Rayburn's gigs always ended without closure.
Then there are the shows where the shows were in the can and had to be wrapped up in post production ('70s $otC, LVG, etc.) It's hard to get emotional when you don't know it's over.
I think it depends on the show, some hosts may be relieved that it's over.
[snapback]86954[/snapback]
[/quote]
Did 'Match Game' end in '82 with no word as to weather or not they would be back, hence no closure?
-
[quote name=\'PaulD\' date=\'May 29 2005, 10:00 PM\']
Did 'Match Game' end in '82 with no word as to weather or not they would be back, hence no closure?
[snapback]86965[/snapback]
[/quote]
Yup! Was just a normal goodbye...Keep in mind that back in '82, MG was "bicycled"...
-
[quote name=\'aaron sica\' date=\'May 29 2005, 09:50 PM\'][quote name=\'PaulD\' date=\'May 29 2005, 10:00 PM\']
Did 'Match Game' end in '82 with no word as to weather or not they would be back, hence no closure?
[snapback]86965[/snapback]
[/quote]
Yup! Was just a normal goodbye...Keep in mind that back in '82, MG was "bicycled"...
[snapback]86968[/snapback]
[/quote]
Not to mention that MG79 was cancelled by CBS with already-taped shows that went unaired--that is until GSN went ahead and aired them. No clear mention of the final intended-for-CBS taping was realized (speculation abounded, as Marcia Wallace asked, "Is this the last one?" but it was never clearly stated, as she could also have been referring to the final show of the taping week). Hence again, no closure (and if I'm not mistaken, the show ended in the middle of a game).
Doug
-
I haven't yet seen the final ep. of the original J!, but I have seen the '78 version's finale, and Art Fleming was pretty staid about the whole thing. Of course, that version only lasted 5 months vs. 12 years, but I would think his first send-off would be similar--classy, to the point, and grateful to both the viewers and the show staff.
Alex Trebek, on the other hand, seemed to actually ENJOY his final shows. Of course, we all know about the infamous HR finale, but his final ep. of Battlestars was rather amusing as well. At the top of the show he remarked, "Welcome to the new...and soon to be the old Battlestars!" The show was also rather funny in and of itself, with both Charles Nelson Reilly and Betty White involved in a game-deciding capture with a long string of incorrect guesses by the contestants (very much like the "YOU FOOL!" incident that happened on HS 15 years later). At the end of the show he noted that they didn't get a chance to talk to Stuart Damon... "but since this is our last show, we never will! Goodbye everybody!"
I actually think this a good way to go out...hey, you're off the air anyway, why not ham it up just for the heck of it? For anyone who has seen them...were Alex's goodbyes on his other shows (TTTT, Double Dare) in a similar, humorous vein?
--Sam
-
[quote name=\'SamJ93\' date=\'May 29 2005, 10:04 PM\']I actually think this a good way to go out...hey, you're off the air anyway, why not ham it up just for the heck of it? For anyone who has seen them...were Alex's goodbyes on his other shows (TTTT, Double Dare) in a similar, humorous vein?
[snapback]86970[/snapback]
[/quote]
Not at all. The DD finale was kind of a rush job, with Trebek announcing that the person who was ahead won $5000. The TTTT91 finale was played very straight (with Trebek saying that he had the feeling TTTT would be back in some incarnation and that he hoped to be associated with it if it did).
Doug
-
Does anybody remember the last session of the NBC "Match Game"? It was my favorite show during the 1960s, but I missed the swan song.
-
[quote name=\'SamJ93\' date=\'May 29 2005, 08:04 PM\']Alex Trebek, on the other hand, seemed to actually ENJOY his final shows. Of course, we all know about the infamous HR finale,
[/quote]
It's only infamous if you actually think he was intoxicated. I've seen the bits that have been talked about for so long, and it completely boggles me that anyone ever even came to that conclusion in the first place, because all of that was simply Trebek being Trebek in the 70's.
Frankly, I think we as a community would do well to squelch this fallacy as soon as possible. We should start by letting it rest.
-
Yup! Was just a normal goodbye...Keep in mind that back in '82, MG was "bicycled"...
Guess it wasn't worth pedaling for another season. :-D
But I digress...as per CBSTVCity on the old-school ATGS, there were some subtle signs that it was the last show: during Gene's close, you can hear CNR saying "Gene, thank you, thank you...", and Betty has her attention directed towards Gene during the credits.
Chuck Donegan (The Illustrious "Chuckie Baby")
-
[quote name=\'clemon79\' date=\'May 30 2005, 02:58 AM\']It's only infamous if you actually think he was intoxicated. I've seen the bits that have been talked about for so long, and it completely boggles me that anyone ever even came to that conclusion in the first place, because all of that was simply Trebek being Trebek in the 70's.
Frankly, I think we as a community would do well to squelch this fallacy as soon as possible. We should start by letting it rest.
[snapback]86990[/snapback]
[/quote]
So let me get this straight--Trebek ISN'T a raging alcoholic?
Just kidding!
-
Chuck Henry without a doubt, he looked liked he was ready to end it when he started the show. Never mind the horrible contestants they threw at him. That was insult to injury. lol.
I think one of the best goodbyes was Bruce Forsythe's on Hot Streak. Taking the time to thank the American work ethic and what not. It was really classy.
-
[quote name=\'Neumms\' date=\'May 31 2005, 08:46 PM\']
So let me get this straight--Trebek ISN'T a raging alcoholic?
Just kidding!
[snapback]87303[/snapback]
[/quote]
An ATGS post in 2000 states that Chris Jaunsen had an interview with HR78-80 co-host Becky Price, also a girlfriend of Alex at the time(supposedly helped to break up his first marriage). Becky says that Trebek was not drunk, and just acted goofy. The link he had to the interview is out of date.
-
An ATGS post in 2000 states that Chris Jaunsen had an interview with HR78-80 co-host Becky Price, also a girlfriend of Alex at the time(supposedly helped to break up his first marriage). Becky says that Trebek was not drunk, and just acted goofy.
Oh, and don't ask Trebek if he was drunk during an audience Q&A session at J!...as one of our regs found out the hard way, he'll get aloof and pissy, much like George Lucas when asked about the God-awful "Star Wars Holiday Special".
Chuck Donegan (The Illustrious "Chuckie Baby")
-
[quote name=\'ChuckNet\' date=\'Jun 1 2005, 06:42 PM\']Oh, and don't ask Trebek if he was drunk during an audience Q&A session at J!...as one of our regs found out the hard way, he'll get aloof and pissy
[/quote]
I'd get aloof and pissy too if someone was dumbass enough to ask about idiotic false rumors about being drunk on TV.
I mean, really, think for a second, what kind of response did they expect? I applaud him for not using four-letter words.
-
[quote name=\'gwarman2005\' date=\'May 31 2005, 06:00 PM\']I think one of the best goodbyes was Bruce Forsythe's on Hot Streak. Taking the time to thank the American work ethic and what not. It was really classy.
[snapback]87306[/snapback]
[/quote]
And I guess one of the worst was Ray Combs on his last (syndicated) Family Feud. His "goodbye" was something like "You know, it's a damn fine way to go out" after the contestant got zero points in Fast Money. After the final break both families were on stage, but Ray had already exited the studio; no goodbye or "thanks for six fun years on the Feud; see you next time" from him.
Of course Ray getting replaced by Richard Dawson (which did nothing to Feud's sagging ratings) would be the beginning of the end for him.
Jonathan Allen
-
[quote name=\'johnnya2k3\' date=\'Jun 2 2005, 02:04 AM\']"thanks for six fun years on the Feud; see you next time" from him.
[/quote]
He got fired.
What "next time"?
I don't expect to be cheery when I get my first pinkslip either.
-
[quote name=\'Modor\' date=\'Jun 1 2005, 11:18 PM\'][quote name=\'johnnya2k3\' date=\'Jun 2 2005, 02:04 AM\']"thanks for six fun years on the Feud; see you next time" from him.
[/quote]
He got fired.
What "next time"?
[snapback]87460[/snapback]
[/quote]
He meant "in reruns."
But yes, Ray's firing from Feud would lead to his car accident, the end of his marriage, the closing of his two Cincinnati comedy clubs, foreclosure of his house, the disastrous "Family Challenge", and of course, his suicide.
Jonathan Allen
-
[quote name=\'johnnya2k3\' date=\'Jun 2 2005, 04:46 AM\'][quote name=\'Modor\' date=\'Jun 1 2005, 11:18 PM\'][quote name=\'johnnya2k3\' date=\'Jun 2 2005, 02:04 AM\']"thanks for six fun years on the Feud; see you next time" from him.
[/quote]
He got fired.
What "next time"?
[snapback]87460[/snapback]
[/quote]
He meant "in reruns."
But yes, Ray's firing from Feud would lead to his car accident, the end of his marriage, the closing of his two Cincinnati comedy clubs, foreclosure of his house, the disastrous "Family Challenge", and of course, his suicide.
Jonathan Allen
[snapback]87464[/snapback]
[/quote]
......which was 9 years ago today.
-
Allen Ludden at the end of CBS Password. But, boy, did he make up for it at the finish of the ABC version. One of the best sign-offs ever.
Plus, Steve Allen at the close of 1960s I've Got A Secret. It was more like, "Let's get this over with".
-
As far as IGAS, there was some ambiguity that the show was indeed over, so a quick farewell segment was tacked to a previously taped show. CBS pulled the show rather abruptly in mid-season. I'd agree that it wasn't a "proper goodbye" after such a long run.
-
[quote name=\'Don Howard\' date=\'Jun 2 2005, 11:24 AM\']Allen Ludden at the end of CBS Password. But, boy, did he make up for it at the finish of the ABC version. One of the best sign-offs ever.
Plus, Steve Allen at the close of 1960s I've Got A Secret. It was more like, "Let's get this over with".
[snapback]87486[/snapback]
[/quote]
Ludden may've been more loquacious on what actually aired on the network, but we'll never really know since what we see today are the edited-for-syndication versions.
There were other circumstances about "IGAS"' ending, but it's no secret that Allen considered the gig strictly a clock-puncher, if a clock-puncher requiring several transcontinental airplane flights a year. I think Garry Moore always kept in mind that even though the variety show was more prestigious (while still popular), "IGAS" was the breadwinner in the household, especially after he got a piece of the show.
-
[quote name=\'clemon79\' date=\'Jun 1 2005, 08:48 PM\'][quote name=\'ChuckNet\' date=\'Jun 1 2005, 06:42 PM\']Oh, and don't ask Trebek if he was drunk during an audience Q&A session at J!...as one of our regs found out the hard way, he'll get aloof and pissy
[/quote]
I'd get aloof and pissy too if someone was dumbass enough to ask about idiotic false rumors about being drunk on TV.
I mean, really, think for a second, what kind of response did they expect? I applaud him for not using four-letter words.
[snapback]87436[/snapback]
[/quote]
Honestly, I was expecting a "No, here's what happened..." chuckling anecdote, i.e. something an old comedian named Morty would talk about on some nostalgia special. The logic I was using then escapes me but I was thinking Alex might have actually known about the rumor.
-
[quote name=\'clemon79\' date=\'Jun 1 2005, 09:48 PM\'][quote name=\'ChuckNet\' date=\'Jun 1 2005, 06:42 PM\']Oh, and don't ask Trebek if he was drunk during an audience Q&A session at J!...as one of our regs found out the hard way, he'll get aloof and pissy
[/quote]
I'd get aloof and pissy too if someone was dumbass enough to ask about idiotic false rumors about being drunk on TV.
I mean, really, think for a second, what kind of response did they expect? I applaud him for not using four-letter words.
[snapback]87436[/snapback]
[/quote]
During a break in the J! ToC taping in Atlanta some years back, I raised my hand to ask Trebek a question. It wasn't that question, but nevertheless Randy immediately turned pale, thinking that it was... so I briefly considered asking it anyway, just to see Randy's (and Trebek's) reaction. :-) I refrained.
Randy told me afterward that "someone" had asked it but he never said who it was... guess that mystery's solved.
-
[quote name=\'Adam Nedeff\' date=\'Jun 2 2005, 09:44 AM\']Honestly, I was expecting a "No, here's what happened..."
[/quote]
"Here's what happened?" Nothing happened. HE WASN'T DRUNK.
Headline: "TREBEK DENIES BEING DRUNK ON 'ROLLERS' FINALE"
"Have you stopped beating your wife?"
The correct answer is what he did: ignore that someone was so dense, insulting, and disrespectful as to ask the question to start with.
-
[quote name=\'clemon79\' date=\'Jun 2 2005, 01:20 PM\'][quote name=\'Adam Nedeff\' date=\'Jun 2 2005, 09:44 AM\']Honestly, I was expecting a "No, here's what happened..."
[/quote]
The correct answer is what he did: ignore that someone was so dense, insulting, and disrespectful as to ask the question to start with.
[snapback]87498[/snapback]
[/quote]
Even after a barrel full of years later, we still have the whole "was Alex Trebek drunk" bit? Yahn. Makes me wants to gets drunks just by the amounts of times this subject has been brought up. <hickup>
Alex and most other people (including me) would either not say a word or say how stupid it is to ask a question like that although some people on this board think that I'm hittin' the sauce quite often with the feedback I provide :)
Right clemon79? ;)
-
[quote name=\'saussage\' date=\'Jun 2 2005, 04:42 PM\']although some people on this board think that I'm hittin' the sauce quite often with the feedback I provide :)
Right clemon79? ;)
[/quote]
Not once have I ever thought you were intoxicated while posting.
-
Norm Bleumenthal's "The TV Game Shows" book mentions "one famous host who shall remain nameless" who owned a piece of one show that he hosted, and when the last show was being taped, one contestant had a large payoff riding on her answer to a question, and the host's fixation on taking home more cash for himself drove him to psych her into giving a wrong answer, whereupon he delighted in her misfortune.
He never was asked to host another game show after this distasteful display of unprofessionalism. I've often wondered who he was or what show it happened on.
-
[quote name=\'clemon79\' date=\'Jun 2 2005, 07:59 PM\'][quote name=\'saussage\' date=\'Jun 2 2005, 04:42 PM\']although some people on this board think that I'm hittin' the sauce quite often with the feedback I provide :)
Right clemon79? ;)
[/quote]
Not once have I ever thought you were intoxicated while posting.
[snapback]87564[/snapback]
[/quote]
I'm just joking around with you although I feel like Foster Brooks at times :)
I don't really drink but some who have read my comments must think that I might be on something. At least I'm not on the same stuff that Paul Reudens was on when he did YDKJ... I would cringe what he could've done if he knew when the last taping occured. :)
What a finale that would've been. He'd problably have a Donald Trump transplant yelling at everyone after the show was done: "YOU'RE FIRED!" then he'd say the same to himself :)
I seem to be a little out there compared to some with my opinions but that's probably because I'm not in the biz and can be nutty as a fruitcake :)
Hey! Who wants some cereal? 100 posts! Woohoo. Time for a new sig.
-
[quote name=\'saussage\' date=\'Jun 2 2005, 06:56 PM\']I seem to be a little out there compared to some with my opinions but that's probably because I'm not in the biz and can be nutty as a fruitcake :)
[/quote]
I don't think you're insane, either.
-
[quote name=\'clemon79\' date=\'Jun 2 2005, 09:15 PM\'][quote name=\'saussage\' date=\'Jun 2 2005, 06:56 PM\']I seem to be a little out there compared to some with my opinions but that's probably because I'm not in the biz and can be nutty as a fruitcake :)
[/quote]
I don't think you're insane, either.
[snapback]87581[/snapback]
[/quote]
Common... work with me. :)
What am I then?
-
[quote name=\'saussage\' date=\'Jun 2 2005, 07:36 PM\']What am I then?
[/quote]
Y'ever watch "That 70's Show"?
-
I remember being in the audience at the last taping of the original Jeopapdy in 1975. Don Pardo introduced Art Fleming for the "5,375th time" or however many episodes they taped. It was a pleasant enough episode with a few clips. I don't remember if Merv Griffin made an appearance.
I do remember the final "Final Jeopardy." In the category "American Literature", the answer was, "This heroine ended her story by saying, Tomorrow is another day."
At the end, Art Fleming thanked everybody and the final credit roll ran over a shot of a darkened stage with a lamp lit. Charlie Chaplin's "Smile" was playing over the credits.
That I remember this thrity years later is mind boggling.
Happy Friday!
David
-
To take this another route, an example of an overblown finale would be Bill Anderson and Sarah Purcell at the close of The Better Sex. The show was on for six months--seemingly one minute for every month was taken up for the farewell serenade.
In 1985, Richard Dawson did everything but take credit for world peace as Family Feud wrapped.
Loved the Chain Reaction closing show. The "musical chairs" Instant Reaction round followed by the final chain indicating the cancellation was worthy of the time capsule.
-
[quote name=\'Don Howard\' date=\'Jun 3 2005, 10:08 AM\']To take this another route, an example of an overblown finale would be Bill Anderson and Sarah Purcell at the close of The Better Sex. The show was on for six months--seemingly one minute for every month was taken up for the farewell serenade.
[snapback]87651[/snapback]
[/quote]
Which got cut in the Eastern and Central time zones (and probably Pacific) for an extra-long ABC daytime promo, anyway. (We just saw the stage darkened, the contestants sitting on the steps and Bill and Sarah thanking everyone, with Bill's guitar in plain sight, so we knew what get cut.)
-
[quote name=\'clemon79\' date=\'Jun 2 2005, 09:45 PM\'][quote name=\'saussage\' date=\'Jun 2 2005, 07:36 PM\']What am I then?
[/quote]
Y'ever watch "That 70's Show"?
[snapback]87587[/snapback]
[/quote]
Unfortunatly I don't really watch it but if it's the part where there's a circle of friends in the basement, I know EXACTLY what you mean :)
-
While Bob Eubanks was choked up at the ABC NG finale and the CS finale, he didn't show any real emotion for the syndie NG finale (where he walked away with the NG sign) the Dream House finale or the Trivia Trap finale. My best guess for this was, with NG, the show had 8 years on ABC and 3 years in syndication... a nice run. As for Dream House, Bob said in an interview that he had a hunch the show wouldn't work, because they gave away a LOT more furniture than houses, and he said they should've called the show "Dream Furniture". As for Trivia Trap, he didn't understand the logic of eliminating all the wrong answers, when you KNOW the right answer. The idea was, the "trap" was the right answer, which the team tried to avoid. The first format, on some occasions, meant for a quick game, leaving Bob to fill a lot of time at the end of the show. When they changed the format to where the teammates had to each pick the CORRECT answer, the "trap" aspect was gone. Also, the true/false format didn't fit in at all. They should've changed the show's title.
I think for the CS finale, the hardest thing to talk about was Carole Costello, a contestant coordinator that died during the run of CS. It was obvious that Bob was close to the CS staff on and off camera.
The MG syndie finale was interesting. Gene never acknowledged it was the last show, but the antics were more outrageous than usual, and the answers were also edgier. Mc.Lean mentioned having a cold. A contestant insisted on kissing him, and Betty White commented "May I suggest you pass that on to Richard Dawson?" This was one of the FEW shots the panel took at Richard since he left the show. If they knew it was the last show, Gene couldn't really say it because the weeks aired out of the order they were taped.
-
[quote name=\'whewfan\' date=\'Jun 3 2005, 09:30 PM\']While Bob Eubanks was choked up at the ABC NG finale and the CS finale, he didn't show any real emotion for the syndie NG finale (where he walked away with the NG sign) the Dream House finale or the Trivia Trap finale. My best guess for this was, with NG, the show had 8 years on ABC and 3 years in syndication... a nice run.
[snapback]87752[/snapback]
[/quote]
More likely, since Barris abruptly shut down production on all of his shows in early 1980, the last "TNG" taping day was just another day at the office for Eubanks--neither he nor anyone else on the staff knew that they were going to be out of work. And besides, since the shows were bicycled, they would be running out of order almost everywhere, anyway. A lot of syndicated shows have had uneventful last shows for that reason (or because of long lead times between taping and the decision to end production).