The Game Show Forum
The Game Show Forum => The Big Board => Topic started by: Matt Ottinger on October 02, 2006, 04:51:26 PM
-
There ended up being 59 individuals who were named on at least two ballots, so we'll count down those 59 names over the next few days. Meanwhile, some names that didn't make the list, starting with:
Notables who received no votes on any ballot:
Bill Anderson
Bob Clayton
Ralph Edwards
Dick Enberg
Vicki Lawrence
Greg Lee
Dick Martin
Ed McMahon
Don Morrow
Ken Ober
David Ruprecht
Ryan Seacrest
Mike Wallace
Gene Wood
-
[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'133201\' date=\'Oct 2 2006, 04:51 PM\']Ryan Seacrest
[/quote]
Do I agree with this decision? We'll find out...
...after the break.
Actually, scrap that. That makes me smile inside because I feel his hosting skills are sub-par and he only gets by on a bit of a charisma and good looks.
[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'133201\' date=\'Oct 2 2006, 04:51 PM\']Vicki Lawrence
Ed McMahon
David Ruprecht
Gene Wood
[/quote]
Those not being on anyone's list kind of surprise me. They were all pretty good with their respective shows. Then again, with a list of only twenty, that would be pretty difficult to include everyone who was semi-good on the list.
-
Seacrest? Out!
-
[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'133201\' date=\'Oct 2 2006, 03:51 PM\']
Bob Clayton
Dick Enberg
Ken Ober
Gene Wood
[/quote]
These 4 I had on my list...of 50 (I know Matt's only looking for the top 20, but I had to figure out my top 50), and it was still a hard list to create & rank.
Here's how I ranked those above...
37) Ken Ober (Probably #1 if we were only ranking MTV hosts)
38) Gene Wood (higher had he hosted more shows and announced less)
39) Dick Enberg (like football games, he knew how to make bad shows still somewhat exciting...Oh My!!)
45) Bob Clayton (Concentration was the first show I remember watching regularly when I was a kid, and by that time Bob was at the helm. And like Gene, had he traded in a few shows he was announcer for a couple of hosting gigs, he would've gottten a better ranking).
BTW, I probably would have had Whisperin' Bill Anderson as #51 with Vicki at#52 -- they were on my initial list of 55-60. I told Matt O. he was at #53, but coulda been higher had he ever hosted a national show :-P
-
THE ONE POINT CLUB
The following individuals each received one vote at #20 on a single ballot:
Bob & Ray (The Name’s the Same)
Jimmy Carr (Distraction)
Gordon Elliott (To Tell the Truth)
Henry Morgan (sub, I’ve Got a Secret)
J.D. Roth (Fun House)
Paul Reubens (as Troy Stevens in You Don’t Know Jack!)
-
I know I had Ralph Edwards on my list before I whittled it down to 20. There are two reasons he didn't make it: (1) His most well-known TV hosting gig was This Is Your Life, which to me doesn't qualify as a game show; and (2) I've never seen or heard him hosting Truth or Consequences, so I can't really judge his game show hosting abilities. The man is much to be admired for his skills as a host as well as a creator and producer (not to mention his humility coupled with business acumen in turning over the reins of TorC to Bob Barker); but when you only get 20 choices (and this is not a complaint--I actually liked the small number), somebody is going to get left out. I do kind of feel bad that he didn't get a single vote, though, especially considering some of the oddballs who did.
Of the remaining ones, I'm most surprised at the absence of Ruprecht, given that there seems to be a sizable Supermarket Sweep contingent here,.
-
[quote name=\'chad1m\' post=\'133202\' date=\'Oct 2 2006, 02:13 PM\']Actually, scrap that. That makes me smile inside because I feel his hosting skills are sub-par and he only gets by on a bit of a charisma and good looks.[/quote] And the Beatles were popular for only one reason: they were good singers.
C'mon. It's clear the guy's a good host. I doubt his hosting would suffer if the Greater Los Angeles area suddenly rain out of hair gel. There's a reason he had the radio gig, Idol, and that On-Air show all at the same time.
And yes, I also saw him hosting Click. Exactly once. When I saw it, I thought, "Hey, they've managed to completely duplicate the final round from Ruckus, except it's dragged out over three rounds and the questions are uninteresting. Yawn." <click>
-
Well, I screwed up. Unlike the show list, I was able to go a long period of time without obsessing over doing this list -- so much so, that I completely forgot about it until late Saturday night, when I e-mailed what I had.
Yesterday, I realized that the list I sent did not include a certain eightysomething animal activist who currently has a show.
Granted, I'd dock him quite a few slots on character issues, but there's no excuse IMO for me not putting him at least 14th.
BTW, the foreign host I was considering adding to the list was Brucie - I would have slotted him at #10 or so based on his whole body of work. But for "Hot Streak" alone? Not so much.
-
Notables who received no votes on any ballot:
Dick Martin
Not surprised about Dick Martin. He was an OK panelist on Match Game and Password Plus, but I didn't think he was a very good game-show host.
-
[quote name=\'Ian Wallis\' post=\'133275\' date=\'Oct 3 2006, 08:51 AM\']Not surprised about Dick Martin. He was an OK panelist on Match Game and Password Plus, but I didn't think he was a very good game-show host.[/quote]
Based on Mindreaders alone, the phrase "hosting at gunpoint" comes to mind. It's amazing to me to see the huge difference between his demeanor there and on other shows.
-
Not that I'm clamoring to see repeats of it (though having a few more would be nice) but did Martin nix any potential repeats of Mindreaders? I can't imagine those wouldn't still exist in the Goodson vault.
-
I can't imagine those wouldn't still exist in the Goodson vault.
I recall Mandel mentioning in a post that while scouring the library's catalog, the Mindreaders tapes are simply nowhere to be found.
--Jamie
-
[quote name=\'Jimmy Fiono Coyne\' post=\'133320\' date=\'Oct 3 2006, 12:57 PM\']
I recall Mandel mentioning in a post that while scouring the library's catalog, the Mindreaders tapes are simply nowhere to be found.
[/quote]
They're in Clementson's basement. :)
-
[quote name=\'Robert Hutchinson\' post=\'133306\' date=\'Oct 3 2006, 02:13 PM\']
[quote name=\'Ian Wallis\' post=\'133275\' date=\'Oct 3 2006, 08:51 AM\']Not surprised about Dick Martin. He was an OK panelist on Match Game and Password Plus, but I didn't think he was a very good game-show host.[/quote]
Based on Mindreaders alone, the phrase "hosting at gunpoint" comes to mind. It's amazing to me to see the huge difference between his demeanor there and on other shows.
[/quote]
How was he as host of The Cheap Show? That program was never carried in my town.
-
[quote name=\'Don Howard\' post=\'133345\' date=\'Oct 3 2006, 08:15 PM\']
How was he as host of The Cheap Show? That program was never carried in my town.
[/quote]
He was OK, but the show was pretty bad. It was a one-joke show. He was prob'ly better on it - it was supposed to be a spoof - than on Mindreaders.
-
Others receiving a vote on only a single ballot (listed alphabetically):
Jack Bailey (Queen for a Day)
Johnny Carson (Who Do You Trust?)
John Davidson (Hollywood Squares)
Clifton Fadiman (Information, Please)
Bruce Forsyth (Bruce Forsyth’s Hot Streak)
Pat Finn (Shop ’Til You Drop)
Ralph Garman (The Joe Schmo Show, and as Derek Newcastle in Joe Schmo 2)
Phil Keoghan (The Amazing Race)
Pat Kiernan (World Series of Pop Culture)
Bill Leyden (Your First Impression)
Lohman & Barkley (Lohman & Barkley's Name Droppers)
Sal Masekela (Ballbreakers)
Mike O’Malley (Nickelodeon GUTS)
Julielinh Parker (Beat the Clock)
Jerry Springer (Greed, UK)
Chris Tarrant (Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, UK)
J. Keith VanStraaten (Beat the Geeks)
Vanna White (Wheel of Fortune)
Bobby Van (Make Me Laugh)
-
[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'133357\' date=\'Oct 3 2006, 10:54 PM\']Bobby Van (Make Me Laugh)
[/quote]
Don't forget Showoffs! Or is it for the better we do?
-
Dick Martin wasn't blatantly BAD on Mindreaders, but he was quite awkward. Mindreaders had much bigger problems than Dick, to wit, the audience didn't care about celebrities guessing how three nobodies responded to a question.
-
[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'133357\' date=\'Oct 3 2006, 10:54 PM\']
Others receiving a vote on only a single ballot (listed alphabetically):
Phil Keoghan (The Amazing Race)
[/quote]
And it wasn't me this time
-
[quote name=\'chad1m\' post=\'133358\' date=\'Oct 3 2006, 09:56 PM\']
Don't forget Showoffs! Or is it for the better we do?
[/quote]
No, we need Showoffs to help block the memory of The Fun Factory.
-
[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'133357\' date=\'Oct 3 2006, 09:54 PM\']
Others receiving a vote on only a single ballot (listed alphabetically):
Jack Bailey (Queen for a Day)
Johnny Carson (Who Do You Trust?)
[/quote]
These two made it all the way to my next-to-last draft, but got knocked off when I remembered some others. It was painful to leave these guys off since I've especially felt Bailey is one of the most underrated hosts of all time.
-
[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'133201\' date=\'Oct 2 2006, 03:51 PM\']
There ended up being 59 individuals who were named on at least two ballots, so we'll count down those 59 names over the next few days. Meanwhile, some names that didn't make the list, starting with:
Notables who received no votes on any ballot:[/quote]
I know of one other notable who I assume received no votes: Jackie Gleason, who apologized for the single week of You're in the Picture. Has anyone here seen it to know whether his hosting was part of why it stunk?
-
Let's not forget Mike O'Malley's outstanding work on Get the Picture, either.
I still love that show, but watching that episode online a while back--yeah, Mike wasn't the best host ever.
-
I recall Mandel mentioning in a post that while scouring the library's catalog, the Mindreaders tapes are simply nowhere to be found.
Well, if you're going to lose a show, it might as well be that one.
(In all fairness, I've only seen the clip on Page-O-Clips.... but then again, that was almost too much)
-
No, we need Showoffs to help block the memory of The Fun Factory.
Ahhh....memories of lunch-time watching when I was a kid!
Honestly, I didn't think Fun Factory was too bad for its time - it was different than any other game on at the time, but I understand the sentiments. I was actually dubbing an episode of this to DVD last weekend, and my wife saw it for the first time and didn't think much of it. Still, the two episodes GSN ran of it are neat gems to have!
For the record, I wasn't the one who put Bobby Van on the list...but I think I know who might have :)
-
[quote name=\'Jay Temple\' post=\'133379\' date=\'Oct 4 2006, 12:08 AM\']
I know of one other notable who I assume received no votes: Jackie Gleason, who apologized for the single week of You're in the Picture. Has anyone here seen it to know whether his hosting was part of why it stunk?
[/quote]
I have both the one episode of You're in the Picture and the following week's apology. Jackie did all right, it's what he had to work with that sucked so mightily. He got off some one-liner hints to the puzzles that the panel couldn't have possibly figured out, and did a live Kellogg's commercial from his desk. It's the following week's show that is certainly a must have, as Jackie almost shocks the audience with his honesty about what happened the week before.
Jackie did all right hosting his one game show half hour, but not well enough to catapult him past the Cullens, Barkers, Marshalls, Rayburns and other seasoned veterans.
-
Remember that just as on Family Feud, it took at least two votes to make our survey. Credits are representative, not all-inclusive. And speaking of seasoned veterans:
[color=\"#CC33CC\"]59 Guy Smiley[/color]
What's My Part?, Beat the Time, The Triangle is Right
(4 points, 2 of 68 ballots cast)
A piece of felt got more votes than Ryan Seacrest.
[color=\"#CC33CC\"]58 Anne Robinson[/color]
Weakest Link
(7, 3/68)
[color=\"#CC33CC\"]57 Joe Garagiola[/color]
To Tell the Truth, Sale of the Century, Joe Garagiola's Memory Game
(9, 4/68)
We were unkind to hosts with their names in the titles. Bruce Forsyth and Lohman & Barkley each only got one vote.
[color=\"#CC33CC\"]53 Bob Goen[/color]
Wheel of Fortune, Blackout, That's the Question
(13 2/68)
-
This means that not only did Todd Russell get at least two votes, but he made the top 55. YES!
-
[quote name=\'cweaver\' post=\'133374\' date=\'Oct 3 2006, 11:24 PM\']
[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'133357\' date=\'Oct 3 2006, 09:54 PM\']
Others receiving a vote on only a single ballot (listed alphabetically):
Jack Bailey (Queen for a Day)
Johnny Carson (Who Do You Trust?)
[/quote]
These two made it all the way to my next-to-last draft, but got knocked off when I remembered some others. It was painful to leave these guys off since I've especially felt Bailey is one of the most underrated hosts of all time.
[/quote]
I'll come clean. I'm the one who voted for Carson.
Again, this was more a tribute to his career than anything--he was the epitome of the word "host" regardless of the format. Thus, I felt he belonged on the list--even though my only experience with WHO DO YOU TRUST is seeing short clips.
That doesn't mean that Jay Leno got any support for "Battle Of The Jaywalking All Stars" or David Letterman getting any support for THE RIDDLERS or "Will It Float" (although isn't Dave technically playing the role of host and contestant?). :)
Doug -- and the countdown to 2300 continues
-
[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'133408\' date=\'Oct 4 2006, 09:46 AM\']
And speaking of seasoned veterans:
[color=\"#CC33CC\"]59 Guy Smiley[/color]
What's My Part?, Beat the Time, The Triangle is Right
(4 points, 2 of 68 ballots cast)
[/quote]
Nice picture in the Northwest Corner. Now I've seen everything. At least Pat O'Brien got the honor first.
ADDENDUM: The above sentence was typed when there was a photo of Guy Smiley up there.
-
[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'133408\' date=\'Oct 4 2006, 09:46 AM\']
A piece of felt got more votes than Ryan Seacrest.
[/quote]
That's the line of the day, folks. Mad props to our mod! Take a bow!
-
[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'133357\' date=\'Oct 3 2006, 09:54 PM\']
Others receiving a vote on only a single ballot (listed alphabetically):
<<SNIP>>
Pat Kiernan (World Series of Pop Culture)
<<SNIP>>[/quote]And WB's "Studio 7", the show that forced Aaron Sorkin to rename his show "Studio 60 on th Sunset Strip".
-
[quote name=\'Don Howard\' post=\'133411\' date=\'Oct 4 2006, 09:34 AM\']
[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'133408\' date=\'Oct 4 2006, 09:46 AM\']
And speaking of seasoned veterans:
[color=\"#CC33CC\"]59 Guy Smiley[/color]
What's My Part?, Beat the Time, The Triangle is Right
(4 points, 2 of 68 ballots cast)
[/quote]
Nice picture in the Northwest Corner. Now I've seen everything. At least Pat O'Brien got the honor first.
[/quote]
The more I look at Mr. Smiley, the more he starts to look like Jim Perry!
-
[quote name=\'TimK2003\' post=\'133433\' date=\'Oct 4 2006, 01:16 PM\']
The more I look at Mr. Smiley, the more he starts to look like Jim Perry![/quote]
Mr. Smiley's Wikipedia entry also compares him to Jim Perry. Has to be a coincidence, though, since Mr. Smiley joined Sesame Street in 1970, and at that time Mr. Perry was still a minor Canadian TV personality.
-
[quote name=\'Don Howard\' post=\'133409\' date=\'Oct 4 2006, 09:58 AM\']
This means that not only did Todd Russell get at least two votes, but he made the top 55. YES!
[/quote]
Provided for your convenience: The answers.com definition of the word "notable" (http://\"http://www.answers.com/notable&r=67\").
-
A piece of felt got more votes than Ryan Seacrest.
Well, I'm sure we're also saluting whoever had a hand in Guy's success.
And Guy would probably have done a better job on FF than Louie Anderson.
-
[quote name=\'DrBear\' post=\'133449\' date=\'Oct 4 2006, 12:04 PM\']
Well, I'm sure we're also saluting whoever had a hand in Guy's succeass.
[/quote]
There, fixed that for you. ;)
-
[quote name=\'DrBear\' post=\'133449\' date=\'Oct 4 2006, 03:04 PM\']Well, I'm sure we're also saluting whoever had a hand in Guy's success.[/quote]
Whoever? WHOEVER??? That's almost a bannable offense.
It was, in fact, the big guy. Mr. H himself brought Guy to life.
-
[quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'133452\' date=\'Oct 4 2006, 02:16 PM\']
[quote name=\'DrBear\' post=\'133449\' date=\'Oct 4 2006, 12:04 PM\']
Well, I'm sure we're also saluting whoever had a hand in Guy's succeass.
[/quote]
There, fixed that for you. ;)
[/quote]
Straight Lines R Us.
[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'133453\' date=\'Oct 4 2006, 02:22 PM\']
[quote name=\'DrBear\' post=\'133449\' date=\'Oct 4 2006, 03:04 PM\']Well, I'm sure we're also saluting whoever had a hand in Guy's success.[/quote]
Whoever? WHOEVER??? That's almost a bannable offense.
[/quote]
Me go TTD room now. Me no grammar doctor.
-
[quote name=\'DrBear\' post=\'133462\' date=\'Oct 4 2006, 04:16 PM\']
Me go TTD room now. Me no grammar doctor.[/quote]
Me be not angry about words. Me be sad about lack of Muppet knowledge.
-
[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'133445\' date=\'Oct 4 2006, 02:28 PM\']
[quote name=\'Don Howard\' post=\'133409\' date=\'Oct 4 2006, 09:58 AM\']
This means that not only did Todd Russell get at least two votes, but he made the top 55. YES!
[/quote]
Provided for your convenience: The answers.com definition of the word "notable" (http://\"http://www.answers.com/notable&r=67\").
[/quote]
Oh, fiddlesticks. Well, since you can accept Lee Bowman not being notable, I can live with Todd Russell not being in there. I suppose John Reed King is off the radar as well. The biz of show can be so cruel.
-
[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'133408\' date=\'Oct 4 2006, 09:46 AM\']
[color=\"#CC33CC\"]53 Bob Goen[/color]
Wheel of Fortune, Blackout, That's the Question
(13 2/68)
[/quote]
I first remember him from The Perfect Match. I watched on CBS mornings when did not have class in Law School(I read it was not all inclusive but still thought I would mention it)
-
I hadn't been watching out for ties, so Bob Goen actually gets credit for being tied for 53rd. I'm sure he's thrilled. Now let's kick it old-school:
[color=\"#CC33CC\"]53 Steve Allen[/color]
I've Got A Secret
(13 2/68)
I'm sure Steve would rather be remembered for many other things than hosting a game show.
[color=\"#CC33CC\"]53 Robert Q. Lewis[/color]
The Name's the Same
(13 2/68)
I'm sure Robert would be delighted that he's remembered at all.
[color=\"#CC33CC\"]53 Betty White[/color]
Just Men
(13 2/68)
Yeah, but if it was a survey about game show players...
[color=\"#CC33CC\"]52 Jack Clark[/color]
(14 2/68)
Cross-Wits, Dealer's Choice
Yeah, but if it was a survey about game show announcers...
[color=\"#CC33CC\"]51 Chuck Barris[/color]
The Gong Show
(15 2/68)
Yeah, but...oh, whatever.
-
[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'133519\' date=\'Oct 4 2006, 10:57 PM\']
[color=\"#CC33CC\"]51 Chuck Barris[/color]
The Gong Show
(15 2/68)
Yeah, but...oh, whatever.
[/quote]
OK, I admit I'm probably as big a fan of GONG as anyone on the board, if not more so. And Chuckie did a fine job of hosting once he warmed up to the role. So naturally most would think that I'm one of the two who had Barris in their top 20. That's not the case. I did consider him, but he didn't make my final cut.
Anybody want to come clean? :)
Doug -- and the countdown to 2300 continues
-
I'll come clean, lol
Yes I voted for Chuckie baby. I also voted for Jerry Springer and Paul Reubens. Big whoop, wanna fight about it? :)
I thought Jerry did a helluva job on UK's Greed and Paul was the cheezy, a'typical model of a game show host YDKJ was looking for. Just my two cents.
-
All right, I'll admit it ...
I'm the guy who voted for Bill Leyden.
-
Hmmm...only ONE vote for Jack Bailey? I wonder what kind of addle-pated geezer would insert him in such a list?
-
I'm pleased to hear that three other people on this board recognized the greatness that is Joe Garagiola.
-
Time to bring up again Donny Osmond meeting Bruce Vilanch for the first time in a hallway at the Osmond Entertainment Center in Orem, Utah, as Bruce has just been hired to write "Donny and Marie":
DONNY: You look like a Muppet.
BRUCE: Well, Jim Henson had his hand up my ass just last night.
I'll be here all week.
-
[quote name=\'The Ol' Guy\' post=\'133547\' date=\'Oct 5 2006, 10:15 AM\']
Hmmm...only ONE vote for Jack Bailey? I wonder what kind of addle-pated geezer would insert him in such a list?
[/quote]
Probably the same kind of old coot who admitted having seriously considered him in an earlier post.
-
I put Chuck Barris at #20.
-
[quote name=\'Monarx\' post=\'133591\' date=\'Oct 5 2006, 04:27 PM\']
I put Chuck Barris at #20.
[/quote]
So the other person put him at #7!!! wow
-
cweaver Posted Today, 02:29 PM
QUOTE(The Ol' Guy @ Oct 5 2006, 10:15 AM)
Hmmm...only ONE vote for Jack Bailey? I wonder what kind of addle-pated geezer would insert him in such a list?
Probably the same kind of old coot who admitted having seriously considered him in an earlier post.
There's at least one less old geezer around here than you think.... :-)
-
While we're all admitting to unusual host choices...
I'm the guy that put Clifton Fadiman on the list.
-
[quote name=\'RMF\' post=\'133616\' date=\'Oct 5 2006, 05:21 PM\']
While we're all admitting to unusual host choices...[/quote]
And I'm the guy who voted for J.D. Roth.
-
OK, since we're confessing, I had the single vote for Bob & Ray.
-
For what It's worth Here's my top 20 as sent to Matt with a a bit of comment for each one..
Bill Cullen-1-Can Be No One Else
Gene Rayburn-2-Personable with a bit of an edge especially in MG 73, etc.
Tom Kennedy-3-Very good host..Lasted a long time
Bob Barker-4-Two long running shows..well loved
Monty Hall-5-He made Let's Make A Deal
Allen Ludden-6-Intelligent yet pleasant..
Jack Narz-7-A Pro
Garry Moore-8-Went from the active I've Got a Secret to the somewhat
sedentary To Tell The Truth (Synd.) Did both well
John Daly-9-Perfect for What's My Line? Well rounded with News experience
Bud Collyer-10-Radio Pro In The 40's..Did more than one style of Game Show
well..
Hugh Downs-11-He Was Concentration..Put in many long days as Host of Today
as well as Concentration
Art Fleming-12-Great Choice for Jeopardy..Was a dramatic actor in the 50's
and a radio host in St.Louis Later
Peter Marshall-13-He could work with stars and "civilians" equally well
Alex Trebek-14-Good hosting skills, Could be a bit aloof i have heard
Chuck Woolery-15-Likable, Could host anything
Dick Clark-16-Pioneer for Pyramid-He ran the game well
Bob Eubanks-17-Best at the Newlywed Game-Also hosted Card Sharks
Jim Lange-18-He was great at the Dating Game
Bert Convy-19-Very Friendly..A great sense of humor
Marc Summers-20-Good with kids..Nice run with Nick's Double Dare
What I did was wrote down the names as they came to mind then ranked them..
Tim Lones
-
I'll confess to the lone Bruce Forsyth vote. But damn it, I loved that show. And I'll admit I forgot to put Pat Sajak in somewhere.
-
I don't think I'ver heard any one mention him, but I'm interested to find out if/where Larry Blyden appears on this list. I know he didn't host much, but in his three seasons on What's My Line, he was terrific. I think if he had gotten the chance, he'd have been a great fit for Showoffs, and possibly more shows down the line.
-Rick Z
-
Coming clean then?
I put Betty White as 19, I'll admit it. Why? She was the first woman, IIRC, to really be the true "emcee" of a game show, AND, she even won an emmy for it, the first woman to do so. Now I'd bet if she had gotten some slightly stronger formats, she could've won a few more...
-
[color=\"#CC33CC\"]50 George Gray[/color]
Extreme Gong, Weakest Link
(18 2/68)
Extreme Gong, people. Extreme Gong! How quickly we forget.
[color=\"#CC33CC\"]49 Art Linkletter[/color]
People Are Funny, House Party
(19 2/68)
Linkletter's best game show? The one in Champagne for Caesar. Unlimited jackpot. Rent it.
[color=\"#CC33CC\"]48 Jan Murray[/color]
Treasure Hunt, Dollar a Second, Charge Account
(20 2/68)
Too many of us remember him as the corny old guy on Squares. In his day, he was huge.
[color=\"#CC33CC\"]47 Ben Stein[/color]
Win Ben Stein's Money
(20 4/68)
Not one of the four of you mentioned Kimmel. They shared the Emmy, you know.
[color=\"#CC33CC\"]46 Bil Dwyer[/color]
Dirty Rotten Cheater, I've Got a Secret
(22 3/68)
His stint on Last Comic Standing proved that as a stand-up comic, he makes a pretty good game show host.
-
[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'133641\' date=\'Oct 6 2006, 12:26 AM\']
[color=\"#CC33CC\"]49 Art Linkletter[/color]
People Are Funny, House Party
(19 2/68)
Linkletter's best game show? The one in Champagne for Caesar. Unlimited jackpot. Rent it.
[/quote]
This is the guy I was concerned about our not remembering. He was such a pioneer and I have always believed he was a strong influence on Bob Barker in particular. I just wish he'd made the top 20.
-
I don't mind saying it. I had the sole Henry Morgan vote. I really liked the way he hosted I've Got A Secret. There was just as much camaraderie and professionalism with him as host as when Garry was there, and I just wish he had more hosting opportunities (He hosted Draw to Win before becoming a panelist...but I listed him for his work on Secret; do any eps of Draw exist?).
I was considering Bob and Ray (they were in my primary list), but no dice. From approximately coast to coast, only one The Name's The Same host made my list.
-
[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'133641\' date=\'Oct 6 2006, 12:26 AM\']
[color=\"#CC33CC\"]49 Art Linkletter[/color]
People Are Funny, House Party
(19 2/68)
[/quote]
I was this[/b] close to listing Happy Hogan for his star turn on the memorable "Masquerade for Money"...too bad it didn't have a longer run.
-
[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'133641\' date=\'Oct 6 2006, 12:26 AM\']
[color=\"#CC33CC\"]47 Ben Stein[/color]
Win Ben Stein's Money
(20 4/68)
Not one of the four of you mentioned Kimmel. They shared the Emmy, you know.
[/quote]
I'm sorry... :-)
Then again, I wasn't sure if you were going to treat Stein/Kimmel as a tandem team like Bob & Ray, since both duos were were never split up on other shows. My Bad.
-
I'm glad to see people haven't forgotten Art Linkletter. He was really good in his day, and Champagne for Caesar is a hoot (directed by Beverly Hillbillies director Richard Whorf).
There are four other emcees who deserve at least honorable mention; I hope y'all didn't pass them by. Someone has already mentioned Larry Blyden in discussion so that takes care of one of them.
-
[quote name=\'chris319\' post=\'133668\' date=\'Oct 6 2006, 10:11 AM\']There are four other emcees who deserve at least honorable mention; I hope y'all didn't pass them by. Someone has already mentioned Larry Blyden in discussion so that takes care of one of them.[/quote]
Blyden made the list.
-
I'd like to amend my list and add "William Shatner". I haven't seen the show yet, but he will easy blow Trebek, Barker, OHurley, Cullen, and the rest out of the universe.
Can I change my list? Please? Pretty Please?
-
[color=\"#CC33CC\"]50 George Gray[/color]
Extreme Gong, Weakest Link
(18 2/68)
Extreme Gong, people. Extreme Gong! How quickly we forget.
George could host two more runs of Extreme Gong, and he'd still rule. He was That Good on Weakest Link. Good enough to place on my top twenty, no, but he was wonderfully cast for that show.
[color=\"#CC33CC\"]47 Ben Stein[/color]
Win Ben Stein's Money
(20 4/68)
Not one of the four of you mentioned Kimmel. They shared the Emmy, you know.
Yeah, but Ben did all of the heavy lifting on that show. Kimmel's contribution was the not-so-subtle dig at Ben after explaining the bonus round, and managing to not trip over his tongue on the questions in round two. Of the two of 'em, Ben actually looked and sounded like he was an actual game show host.
[color=\"#CC33CC\"]46 Bil Dwyer[/color]
Dirty Rotten Cheater, I've Got a Secret
(22 3/68)
His stint on Last Comic Standing proved that as a stand-up comic, he makes a pretty good game show host.
This left me scratching my head, because everything Bil has done has been very good. Again, not good enough to score any points on my list, but it warms my heart to see that these three guys each got some votes.
And I thought Pat Kiernan's job on Studio 7 was good enough to get on the chart, World Series of Pop Culture left zero doubt.
-
[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'133641\' date=\'Oct 6 2006, 01:26 AM\'][color=\"#CC33CC\"]46 Bil Dwyer[/color]
Dirty Rotten Cheater, I've Got a Secret
(22 3/68)[/quote]
Time for my first confession in regards to this list... I had Dwyer at #20 on my list. He did a phenomenal job on one of the better shows of this decade, Dirty Rotten Cheater. From what I've caught of him on IGaS, he's done a good job. He's also a very nice guy in person, but that did not affect my voting in any way.
-
[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'133641\' date=\'Oct 6 2006, 12:26 AM\']
[color=\"#CC33CC\"]46 Bil Dwyer[/color]
Dirty Rotten Cheater, I've Got a Secret
(22 3/68)
[/quote]
I think he's the best of the modern era, so I'm surprised more people didn't vote for him.
/* Yes, I voted for him.
He's #6 on my list.
Per the previous post, that means another person voted for him at #15.
I will post my full list after Ottinger reveals #1.
If anybody is DYING to see it before then, email me.
I probably wouldn't send it anyways.
Yes, this is my slashie mod. */
-
[color=\"#CC33CC\"]45 Bert Parks[/color]
Break the Bank, Stop the Music
(23 3/68)
...and, of course, the Miss America Pageant.
[color=\"#CC33CC\"]44 Kevin O'Connell[/color]
Go
(24 5/68)
Just think how high he might have ranked if the entirety of his game show career was more than a few weeks!
[color=\"#CC33CC\"]42 Mark L Walberg[/color]
Temptation Island, Russian Roulette
(26 5/68)
[color=\"#CC33CC\"]42 Larry Blyden[/color]
Personality, The Movie Game, What's My Line?
(26 6/68)
A career cut much too short. I miss Linda's old tribute site.
[color=\"#CC33CC\"]41 Hal March[/color]
The $64,000 Question, It's Your Bet
(27 3/68)
-
[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'133786\' date=\'Oct 7 2006, 10:02 AM\']
[color=\"#CC33CC\"]42 Larry Blyden[/color]
Personality, The Movie Game, What's My Line?
(26 6/68)
A career cut much too short. I miss Linda's old tribute site.
[/size]
[/quote]
I've only seen WML, and frankly, he was the weakest host of that show that I've seen. (Read: He didn't take it seriously enough.) However, that same trait probably served him well on the other two, based on their EOTVGS entries.
-
[quote name=\'Jay Temple\' post=\'133800\' date=\'Oct 7 2006, 05:45 PM\']
[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'133786\' date=\'Oct 7 2006, 10:02 AM\']
[color=\"#CC33CC\"]42 Larry Blyden[/color]
Personality, The Movie Game, What's My Line?
(26 6/68)
A career cut much too short. I miss Linda's old tribute site.
[/size]
[/quote]
I've only seen WML, and frankly, he was the weakest host of that show that I've seen. (Read: He didn't take it seriously enough.) However, that same trait probably served him well on the other two, based on their EOTVGS entries.
[/quote]
Wasn't Blyden a sub for Bill Cullen on Three on a Match?
Brian
Lasting expressions?
-
[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'133786\' date=\'Oct 7 2006, 10:02 AM\']
[color=\"#CC33CC\"]42 Mark L Walberg[/color]
Temptation Island, Russian Roulette
(26 5/68)
[/quote]
I thought Walberg did an incredible job on "Russian Roulette." He really brought the personalities out of the contestants, as opposed to, say, Dylan Lane or Donny Osmond. On that show, that skill was vital.
I think I heard on "That's the Question" that he now hosts "Antique Roadshow"--is that right? Am I the only one who thinks there should be a game show element to it, where someone comes up in line and says "I'll give you $200 for that wooden box," and then you find out it's worth $1,000?
-
[quote name=\'Jay Temple\' post=\'133800\' date=\'Oct 7 2006, 04:45 PM\']
I've only seen WML, and frankly, he was the weakest host of that show that I've seen. (Read: He didn't take it seriously enough.) However, that same trait probably served him well on the other two, based on their EOTVGS entries.
[/quote]
I'd politely disagree. He WOULD have been wrong for WML in the John Daly era; that show emphasized an uptown, polite parlor game feel. But the syndie WML was designed to be more like "I've Got A Secret" with the game leading up to funny demonstrations of such things as pancake flipping. And Blyden fit in much better with that where Daly (and Wally Bruner, for that matter) didn't.
(come to think of it, did Bruner get any votes?)
-
[quote name=\'Neumms\' post=\'133803\' date=\'Oct 7 2006, 05:58 PM\']
[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'133786\' date=\'Oct 7 2006, 10:02 AM\']
[color=\"#CC33CC\"]42 Mark L Walberg[/color]
Temptation Island, Russian Roulette
(26 5/68)
[/quote]
I thought Walberg did an incredible job on "Russian Roulette." He really brought the personalities out of the contestants, as opposed to, say, Dylan Lane or Donny Osmond. On that show, that skill was vital.
I think I heard on "That's the Question" that he now hosts "Antique Roadshow"--is that right? Am I the only one who thinks there should be a game show element to it, where someone comes up in line and says "I'll give you $200 for that wooden box," and then you find out it's worth $1,000?
[/quote]
You are correct.
-
[quote name=\'tomobrien\' post=\'133664\' date=\'Oct 6 2006, 08:42 AM\']
I was this[/b] close to listing Happy Hogan for his star turn on the memorable "Masquerade for Money"...too bad it didn't have a longer run.
[/quote]
Was this before or after his job as Tony Stark's limo driver?
And we're back............for you who were in the L.A. area at the time, did Kevin O'Connell maintain his weathercasting assignment when Go was on the air or did he leave and return after taping the last show of the series?
-
[quote name=\'DrBear\' post=\'133816\' date=\'Oct 7 2006, 07:06 PM\']
[quote name=\'Jay Temple\' post=\'133800\' date=\'Oct 7 2006, 04:45 PM\']
I've only seen WML, and frankly, he was the weakest host of that show that I've seen. (Read: He didn't take it seriously enough.) However, that same trait probably served him well on the other two, based on their EOTVGS entries.
[/quote]
I'd politely disagree. He WOULD have been wrong for WML in the John Daly era; that show emphasized an uptown, polite parlor game feel. But the syndie WML was designed to be more like "I've Got A Secret" with the game leading up to funny demonstrations of such things as pancake flipping. And Blyden fit in much better with that where Daly (and Wally Bruner, for that matter) didn't.[/quote]
Fair enough, if that was the goal. I'll concede that he did a good job of creating the mood that they wanted; I just liked it better in the Daly/Bruner era.
-
The one complaint I had with Larry's hosting style is that he would sometimes carry on the postgame interviews or stunts way too long IMO to the point where the game itself became a near irrelevancy at times.
-
[color=\"#CC33CC\"]40 Jeff Probst[/color]
Rock and Roll Jeopardy, Survivor
(28 3/68)
[color=\"#CC33CC\"]39 Howie Mandel[/color]
Deal or No Deal
(31 3/68, including one first-place vote)
[color=\"#CC33CC\"]38 Hugh Downs[/color]
Concentration
(32 4/68)
What do Hugh Downs and Howie Mandel have in common? Just one game show each. That and the unfortunate incident with the rubber glove on the Today show back in '67...
[color=\"#CC33CC\"]37 Todd Newton[/color]
Whammy!, Hollywood Showdown
(39 8/68)
[color=\"#CC33CC\"]36 John O'Hurley[/color]
Family Feud, To Tell The Truth
(50 9/68)
Interesting that as a modern host, he's already helmed two classics.
-
What do Hugh Downs and Howie Mandel have in common?
They both shaved their heads at one time in their adult lives (but Hugh didn't go on camera when his was shaved).
Hugh Downs was great on Concentration, but he isn't one of the two remaining emcees I hope haven't been forgotten, who at least deserve honorable mention.
-
[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'134012\' date=\'Oct 9 2006, 10:42 PM\']
[color=\"#CC33CC\"]39 Howie Mandel[/color]
Deal or No Deal
(31 3/68, including one first-place vote)
[/quote]
I'm not gonna knock Howie's hosting ability...but he's not THAT good.
-
I finally got a chance to catch O'Hurley's Feud the other day. Am I the only that notices that he doesn't seem that interested in the game? It's like the Chuck Henry mentallity, as soon as he came out it looks like he regretted signing the contract.
-
[quote name=\'gwarman2005\' post=\'134045\' date=\'Oct 10 2006, 08:20 PM\']
I finally got a chance to catch O'Hurley's Feud the other day. Am I the only that notices that he doesn't seem that interested in the game? It's like the Chuck Henry mentallity, as soon as he came out it looks like he regretted signing the contract.
[/quote]
You sure you are looking at O'Hurley Feud and not Anderson Feud???
-
[color=\"#CC33CC\"]35 Bill Rafferty[/color]
Blockbusters, Card Sharks, Every Second Counts
(50 8/68)
Working against him: His best-known shows are associated with better-known hosts.
[color=\"#CC33CC\"]34 Meredith Viera[/color]
Who Wants To Be A Millionaire
(52 9/68)
Our highest ranking female host, by far.
[color=\"#CC33CC\"]33 Dennis James[/color]
Name That Tune, The Price Is Right, Cash and Carry
(57 7/68, including one first place vote)
If Cullen is the Dean, then Dennis James is the Professor Emeritus.
[color=\"#CC33CC\"]32 Jim Peck[/color]
The Big Showdown, Second Chance, 3's a Crowd
(86 18/68)
Never flashy but always solid, and usually better than his shows.
Notice the huge jump in total votes, though most of us had him low on our lists (five at #20).
[color=\"#CC33CC\"]31 Jim Lange[/color]
The Dating Game, Bullseye, Name That Tune
(87 16/68)
Deserving of a spot for his longevity, but has he ever really been anybody's favorite?
The consensus starts to build as we get into the top thirty and the biggest names in our genre's history!
-
[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'134125\' date=\'Oct 11 2006, 10:31 AM\']
[color=\"#CC33CC\"]
34 Meredith Viera
Who Wants To Be A Millionaire
(52 9/68)
Our highest ranking female host, by far.
[[/quote]
The first from my list. i had her realtively high at #11. She had the tough task of suceeding Regis and was a sucess.
-
[quote name=\'gwarman2005\' post=\'134045\' date=\'Oct 10 2006, 08:20 PM\']
I finally got a chance to catch O'Hurley's Feud the other day. Am I the only that notices that he doesn't seem that interested in the game? It's like the Chuck Henry mentallity, as soon as he came out it looks like he regretted signing the contract.
[/quote]
I haven't seen any other post here remotely like that nor have I seen any behavior like that when I watched Feud myself. I've only caught one other criticism of O'Hurley at the board and even that one noted his being comfortable with the format, which is the opposite of what you suggested.
-
[quote name=\'Chuck Sutton\' post=\'134144\' date=\'Oct 11 2006, 01:07 PM\']
[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'134125\' date=\'Oct 11 2006, 10:31 AM\']
[color=\"#CC33CC\"]
34 Meredith Viera
Who Wants To Be A Millionaire
(52 9/68)
Our highest ranking female host, by far.
[[/quote]
The first from my list. i had her realtively high at #11. She had the tough task of suceeding Regis and was a sucess.
[/quote]
I am surprised she was up that high. I don't care if she has been successful as Millionaire host. She's a lousy emcee, and I will contend that to the day I die. Bad move, 9 balloteers. It's a shame that much better hosts like Hugh Downs and Bill Rafferty (who just made my top 20) are lower.
-
I am surprised she was up that high. I don't care if she has been successful as Millionaire host. She's a lousy emcee, and I will contend that to the day I die. Bad move, 9 balloteers.
What's so bad about Meredith Vieira (don't hold back, now)?
-
[quote name=\'chris319\' post=\'134155\' date=\'Oct 11 2006, 02:54 PM\']
I am surprised she was up that high. I don't care if she has been successful as Millionaire host. She's a lousy emcee, and I will contend that to the day I die. Bad move, 9 balloteers.
What's so bad about Meredith Vieira (don't hold back, now)?
[/quote]
I havent watched Millionaire that much daily, but when I have I think Meredith is the best thing about the show..I've said this in the past, that even If I won no money on Millionaire, a highlight would be just to talk to, shake hands or get a sympathetic hug from Meredith..
-
[quote name=\'cweaver\' post=\'134150\' date=\'Oct 11 2006, 01:57 PM\']
[quote name=\'gwarman2005\' post=\'134045\' date=\'Oct 10 2006, 08:20 PM\']
I finally got a chance to catch O'Hurley's Feud the other day. Am I the only that notices that he doesn't seem that interested in the game? It's like the Chuck Henry mentallity, as soon as he came out it looks like he regretted signing the contract.
[/quote]
I haven't seen any other post here remotely like that nor have I seen any behavior like that when I watched Feud myself. I've only caught one other criticism of O'Hurley at the board and even that one noted his being comfortable with the format, which is the opposite of what you suggested.
[/quote]
Honestly, of the shows I saw, you can only stand to hear the phrase, "Let's have some fun now." for so long that you think he's trying to remind himself of that. Sorry folks, I just don't think this was the best format for him. I could see him taking Alex's place on J!. Just my two cents.
-
Oddly enough, I didn't have any of those five (35-31) on my list. While I don't dislike any of them, I just found 20 others that I thought were better.
I know a lot of people don't think much of Jim Lange. Personally I don't mind him. I've enjoyed his work on most of the shows he's done.
Even though I watch WWTBAM every night, I just don't think Merideth belongs in the top 20....yet....but I think she does a good job on the show.
-
[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'134125\' date=\'Oct 11 2006, 09:31 AM\']
[color=\"#CC33CC\"]32 Jim Peck[/color]
The Big Showdown, Second Chance, 3's a Crowd
(86 18/68)
[color=\"#CC33CC\"]31 Jim Lange[/color]
The Dating Game, Bullseye, Name That Tune
(87 16/68)
[/quote]
Am I the only one who gets these two confused?
-
[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'134012\' date=\'Oct 9 2006, 07:42 PM\'][color=\"#CC33CC\"]40 Jeff Probst[/color]Rock and Roll Jeopardy, Survivor
(28 3/68)[/quote]I liked him on R&R Jeopardy!, he's great on Survivor, but being on a top fifty list? I dunno.
[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'134012\' date=\'Oct 9 2006, 07:42 PM\'][color=\"#CC33CC\"]39 Howie Mandel[/color]Deal or No Deal
(31 3/68, including one first-place vote)[/quote]Even his place on a top list is doubtful, given that he's done only one show. But then again people voted for Ross Perot too. That's one of the perils of democracy.
[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'134125\' date=\'Oct 11 2006, 07:31 AM\'][color=\"#CC33CC\"]35 Bill Rafferty[/color]Blockbusters, Card Sharks, Every Second Counts(50 8/68)
Working against him: His best-known shows are associated with better-known hosts.[/quote] I certainly didn't hold that against him. He was by far better than Eubanks on Card Sharks, and he did bring something new to Blockbusters. I gave him points because I like his style, and wished that he had more jobs.
[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'134012\' date=\'Oct 9 2006, 07:42 PM\'][color=\"#CC33CC\"]34 Meredith Vieira[/color]Who Wants To Be A Millionaire(52 9/68)
Our highest ranking female host, by far.[/quote] And I would gladly give her "best female host," hands down, but she's only had one job so far.
[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'134012\' date=\'Oct 9 2006, 07:42 PM\'][color=\"#CC33CC\"]31 Jim Lange[/color]The Dating Game, Bullseye, Name That Tune(87 16/68)
Deserving of a spot for his longevity, but has he ever really been anybody's favorite?[/quote]<sob>
-
[quote name=\'chris319\' post=\'134155\' date=\'Oct 11 2006, 02:54 PM\']
I am surprised she was up that high. I don't care if she has been successful as Millionaire host. She's a lousy emcee, and I will contend that to the day I die. Bad move, 9 balloteers.
What's so bad about Meredith Vieira (don't hold back, now)?
[/quote]
You wanna know what I find so bad about Meredith, Chris? Okay, but remember...you asked for it.
As I've previously stated, there are more than a few reasons why I can't stand Millionaire. The primary reason, as it has been since I first watched the syndie show- Meredith sucks. And why does she suck? I'll give you a few reasons:
1) She brings nothing to the table in regards to being excited for the contestant when they start to climb the ladder and get up to the higher level questions. Yeah, I can understand how Regis put some people off (at times, he did seem a little over the top), but I expect a host to at least show some sort of sign that they're grasping the concept that the player's moving up. Every single time I've seen the show (admittedly not as much as in the past, due in part to the lousy timeslot it's in in NYC, but I do try to catch it when I can), Meredith gives off this vibe that she doesn't care whether the contestant wins $1,000 or $25,000. I can't speak for anyone else but myself, but she doesn't seem to get that you need to give a little more effort that what she does when a contestant is going for an upper level question.
2) Related to this, her hosting style drags the show down. When she acts like she doesn't give a crap, how is a viewer supposed to care if a contestant is doing well? There's more than a few that can look past that and appreciate what the contestant is doing, but to another group of people, they might just say "Oh, he just won $100,000. Why should I care?"
3) She's too boring to listen to. This goes hand in hand with #2, with her coming off like she doesn't give a crap. Whether you agree with point #2 or not, what you can't ignore is her tone of voice, which doesn't change at all throughout the course of the show (save for the end of a contestant's run when she has to yell over the crowd when she sends the contestant on their merry way).
I'm not gonna knock her effort- she is trying. But from what I can see, she keeps failing to keep my interest as a host. And that, IMO, is the main mark of a crappy host.
-
So everything I'm reading there stems from your belief that she doesn't empathize with the contestants while they are playing their game. And I'm sorry, I just don't see it. I've always thought she was fine in that regard.
Sounds to me like you're knocking her because she doesn't do the Geoff Edwards "You...are...RIGHT!!!!" thing. Which is your right, but I think you'll find that opinion isn't shared by many.
-
And truth be told, just because Meredith isn't as over the top as Regis has a positive effect on me. I rather like that she's calm, cool and collected. Although Regis did seem to have a little better ability to come up with a witty line.
I didn't think of Tutu LaRue for my top 20, but only because there were 20 hosts I liked better (and Reege happened to be one of them).
Doug
-
My only gripe with Meredith is a tiny, microscopic one - she doesn't pronounce the entire show's name.
For example, when a new contestant starts, Regis would say "OK, let's play 'Who Wants to be a Millionaire'" whereas Meredith just says, "OK, let's play 'Millionaire'".
For some reason, and just the tiniest bit, it rubs me the wrong way. :)
-
[quote name=\'aaron sica\' post=\'134245\' date=\'Oct 12 2006, 07:40 AM\']
For example, when a new contestant starts, Regis would say "OK, let's play 'Who Wants to be a Millionaire'" whereas Meredith just says, "OK, let's play 'Millionaire'".
For some reason, and just the tiniest bit, it rubs me the wrong way. :)
[/quote]
So did it "rub you the wrong way" when Richard Dawson would refer to his show only as "the Feud"? 'Cuz there's no difference at all.
-
[quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'134246\' date=\'Oct 12 2006, 10:52 AM\']
So did it "rub you the wrong way" when Richard Dawson would refer to his show only as "the Feud"? 'Cuz there's no difference at all.
[/quote]
It didn't rub me the wrong way when he did it, because he was the first host of the show and originated it. Regis was the first US Millionaire host so I got used to hearing things his way, and when I heard Meredith shortened it, it bothered me a little bit - not enough to rant and rave about it (I figured I would bring it up however, since Meredith was coming under fire a bit), to cause me to stop watching, or to cause me to toss my T.V. set out the window.
It's not just Regis and Meredith however; the same could be said for a lot of shows over the years where one host was established with a show, and then a new version started with a different host when it ran concurrently with the old version (85 Price is Right, first $25K Pyramid, etc.). Along the same lines of my Meredith gripe is Tom Kennedy calling the TPiR train a "choo-choo". Bothered me a little bit but very insignificant. I guess it's just the idea of "someone different" hosting a show where someone else has or is hosting the same show on a different station, network, etc.
-
[quote name=\'aaron sica\' post=\'134247\' date=\'Oct 12 2006, 08:02 AM\']
Along the same lines of my Meredith gripe is Tom Kennedy calling the TPiR train a "choo-choo". Bothered me a little bit but very insignificant. I guess it's just the idea of "someone different" hosting a show where someone else has or is hosting the same show on a different station, network, etc.
[/quote]
Yeah, I still don't get it. I certainly respect your right to have any opinion you like, but I totally don't see where Meredith being the second, fifth, or eighth host of the show has a thing to do with anything.
-
I understand it, although it doesn't bother me. The first way we see something done, whether it's done well or not, is the way that sticks in our mind as the way to do it.
In recent decades, with new baseball teams and franchises moving, a lot of markets got their first experience to daily hometown play-by-play, and got the feeling that was how it should be done. When a new person, inevitably, took over, there seemed to be a lot of time needed to adjust.
If you grew up in St. Louis with Harry Caray, Jack Buck's style was going to be foreign to you - and if you grew up with Buck, his replacement (whose name escapes me) was going to cause some listening shock.
I don't think Richard Dawson was the best possible host for Family Feud, for example, but he established all the precedents, and seeing Ray Combs or Richard Karn or John O'Hurley do it in their fashion still triggers a little "this isn't quite right" in the back of my mind, no matter how well it's done.
-
I don't think Richard Dawson was the best possible host for Family Feud
I hate to hijack the thread so to speak, but do you think "Feud" would have been as big a smash if it were under the direction of...let's say two people who have oft been connected to it pre-Dawson in our circles - Geoff Edwards or Jack Narz? Jack especially I could see keeping the game a'movin' and not allowing for a lot of the humor that made the show popular.
I hate to drum up THIS sentiment again, but the only person I could see handling "Feud" in any way similar to Dawson would be Bill Cullen (of course, necessitating some pretty huge staging/etc changes).
-Jason
-
[quote name=\'DrBear\' post=\'134250\' date=\'Oct 12 2006, 11:43 AM\']
I understand it, although it doesn't bother me. The first way we see something done, whether it's done well or not, is the way that sticks in our mind as the way to do it.
[/quote]
Most well said, Good Doctor. :) That's what I was trying to say but it came out as one long jumbled paragraph. :)
-
[quote name=\'JasonA1\' post=\'134252\' date=\'Oct 12 2006, 10:53 AM\']
I don't think Richard Dawson was the best possible host for Family Feud
I hate to hijack the thread so to speak, but do you think "Feud" would have been as big a smash if it were under the direction of...let's say two people who have oft been connected to it pre-Dawson in our circles - Geoff Edwards or Jack Narz? Jack especially I could see keeping the game a'movin' and not allowing for a lot of the humor that made the show popular.
[/quote]
Geoff might've kept things moving faster, but anyone who remembers "Jackpot" would know that he would find time to insert humor when he could. He wouldn't have been like Dawson, but he wouldn't have stuck to dry mechanics like glue, either.
-
[quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'134243\' date=\'Oct 12 2006, 10:11 AM\']
So everything I'm reading there stems from your belief that she doesn't empathize with the contestants while they are playing their game. And I'm sorry, I just don't see it. I've always thought she was fine in that regard.
Sounds to me like you're knocking her because she doesn't do the Geoff Edwards "You...are...RIGHT!!!!" thing. Which is your right, but I think you'll find that opinion isn't shared by many.
[/quote]
Addresing point one, I guess we each see different things.
Addressing point two...I don't know if I'd go THAT far, but almost anything else would be better than what she does.
-
I don't think Richard Dawson was the best possible host for Family Feud
I was going to wait until he showed up in our countdown, but Dawson didn't make it to my Top 20. I think in order to be considered one of the "best" hosts, you need to have a certain warmth and accepting of all people, and to make them feel comfortable to be there. To me, Dawson wasn't like that.
Oh, he had his moments - he was usually very polite and welcoming when meeting the families for the first time, but there were so many stories we've heard about his out-of-control ego, his putting down of contestants and celebrities off-camera, and his over touchie-feeliness with the women. Plus, some of his remarks to the contestants on the show could be taken several ways.
I enjoy watching Feud, but personally I enjoy the Ray Combs version a bit more than Dawson's. I never thought he was that great of a host.
-
I'll stand by what I said...but:
The show in many ways was built around Dawson in its format - the staging, the banter with families and so on. Had G-T had another host in mind, the staging might have been different - say, two fences with the host staying at the podium - the tone might have been different - more "feud" than "family" - and so on. For that matter, how does a British comedian fit in with the "down-home, fiddle music" trappings of the original Feud? But it worked.
And it's the way we expect Feud to be - through four other hosts.
PS-Dawson did make my Top 20.
-
[quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'134243\' date=\'Oct 12 2006, 09:11 AM\']
So everything I'm reading there stems from your belief that she doesn't empathize with the contestants while they are playing their game. And I'm sorry, I just don't see it. I've always thought she was fine in that regard.
[/quote]
I think she's fine that way too. I saw her one day not long ago when a contestant appeared nervous, then heavily relieved, after sweating and correctly getting an expensive question. She appeared nervous right along with him. And she winced when he missed a question later. I didn't see anything suggesting she couldn't care less.
-
[quote name=\'PYLdude\' post=\'134241\' date=\'Oct 12 2006, 06:54 AM\']1) She brings nothing to the table in regards to being excited for the contestant when they start to climb the ladder and get up to the higher level questions. [/quote] Oh, I disagree. Watch some of the first season stuff when there were people actually winning $250k, $500k and the jackpot. She was as immersed in the game as any host I had seen in years.
Yeah, I can understand how Regis put some people off (at times, he did seem a little over the top),
Regis committed the greatest sin that a game show host can commit: he put himself ahead of the game and the contestants. He would think nothing of poking fun at the contestant's foibles, or even their name. And it was downright offensive at times. And then there's the business of "You've won $500,000!" right after the chosen answer turns yellow.
Meredith gives off this vibe that she doesn't care whether the contestant wins $1,000 or $25,000. I can't speak for anyone else but myself, but she doesn't seem to get that you need to give a little more effort that what she does when a contestant is going for an upper level question.
I think that's just your own opinion, since you already don't like her, you're crafting reasons.
I think the problem is what other people have already said: the focus of the show has changed from the questions to the contestants. When people only win $25,000, or quit with $16,000 time and time again, it's hard to get excited, since it's just going to happen again next time.
So I give her credit for taking the show in a different direction than Regis, but she's not Top 20 material yet.
-
Meredith isn't as dramatic as Regis, but she is excited for the contestants. I used to have the same criticism of Meredith, but it doesn't matter to me as much.
-
Letting Richard's off-camera antics as we know them shouldn't let you form an opinion on his hosting. Heck, a lot of people seem to hold Allen Ludden in the highest regard despite anything that's been said about his attitude off camera. If that put him out of your top 20, yet the ON-camera antics of Ray Combs didn't hurt his reputation for you...
Say what you will about Richard...and I grew up watching Ray and was ecstatic to see his version back on GSN and still like him despite this...but when I finally caught a Combs for the first time since initial airing, I saw him do something that was incredibly out of character for a game show host. A contestant gave a really lame answer. Not the so-bad-it's-funny answer, just so lame it didn't even fit the question. His sister down the line cheers him on anyway, and Ray mocked her accent saying "oh yeah that's a goooood one" and gave some winks to the camera. It was funny for me as a viewer and for the studio audience as well, but for the family who was at home watching the broadcast later, it probably made them feel like garbage. And that's not the only time - it seemed to be a theme for Ray to just put down the contestants for the sake of a laugh.
Suggesting Richard Dawson is the only host who spoke derisively of his contestants after the fact would be a bit naive. I'm sure at least one host had something to say about contestant caliber on their shows. But at the very least there's Bob Barker who quite openly mocks his contestants on the air.
...
Okay, bad example.
-Jason
-
I think it's safe to say that we're going to have this debate when 3 names come up:
Richard Dawson, Bob Barker, and Patrick Wayne. They're all in the top 20, right, Michi-Matt?
-
[quote name=\'tvwxman\' post=\'134295\' date=\'Oct 12 2006, 04:39 PM\']
Richard Dawson, Bob Barker, and Patrick Wayne. They're all in the top 20, right, Michi-Matt?[/quote]
None of them have been mentioned yet, have they?
-
[color=\"#CC33CC\"]30 Groucho Marx[/color]
You Bet Your Life
(90 13/68)
The one, the only.
[color=\"#CC33CC\"]29 Ray Combs[/color]
Family Feud, Family Challenge
(108 12/68)
[color=\"#CC33CC\"]28 Art James[/color]
The Who, What or Where Game, The Magnificent Marble Machine, Say When!!
(119 18/68)
A lot like Jim Peck, dependable but without a distinct style. Loved him in Mallrats.
[color=\"#CC33CC\"]27 Regis Philbin[/color]
Who Wants to Be A Millionaire, The Neighbors
(155 21/68)
[color=\"#CC33CC\"]26 Bud Collyer[/color]
Beat the Clock, To Tell The Truth
(162 20/68)
-
[color=\"#CC33CC\"]28 Art James[/color]
The Who, What or Where Game, The Magnificent Marble Machine
(119 18/68)
A lot like Jim Peck, dependable but without a distinct style. Loved him in Mallrats.
Hey, don't forget Say When!!
-
[quote name=\'chris319\' post=\'134305\' date=\'Oct 12 2006, 05:56 PM\']
[color=\"#CC33CC\"]28 Art James[/color]
The Who, What or Where Game, The Magnificent Marble Machine, Say When!!
(119 18/68)
A lot like Jim Peck, dependable but without a distinct style. Loved him in Mallrats.
Hey, don't forget Say When!!
[/quote]
Consider it not-forgotten!
-
Bud was an easy vote for me, because of his warmth and sincerity, and the fact that he had two hits in shows that were far apart in tone.
-
[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'134303\' date=\'Oct 12 2006, 04:46 PM\']
[color=\"#CC33CC\"]30 Groucho Marx[/color]
You Bet Your Life
(90 13/68)
The one, the only.
[/quote]
This is how I made up for leaving YBYL off my top 50.
And TCM is spotlighting Groucho tonight, including airing a Dick Cavett interview with him from 1969.
Doug
-
[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'134303\' date=\'Oct 12 2006, 05:46 PM\']
[color=\"#CC33CC\"]28 Art James[/color]
The Who, What or Where Game, The Magnificent Marble Machine, Say When!!
(119 18/68)
A lot like Jim Peck, dependable but without a distinct style. Loved him in Mallrats.
[/quote]
And I loved his blue tuxedo in that film.
And I despise Ben Affleck to this day for mocking him.
-
[quote name=\'Don Howard\' post=\'134332\' date=\'Oct 12 2006, 06:59 PM\']
And I despise Ben Affleck to this day for mocking him.
[/quote]
Really? When there are SO MANY other good reasons to despise him? :)
-
[quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'134334\' date=\'Oct 12 2006, 10:12 PM\']
[quote name=\'Don Howard\' post=\'134332\' date=\'Oct 12 2006, 06:59 PM\']
And I despise Ben Affleck to this day for mocking him.
[/quote]
Really? When there are SO MANY other good reasons to despise him? :)
[/quote]
"I sued Ben Affleck -- Aw, do I even need a reason?"
--"Weird Al" Yankovic, I'll Sue Ya
-
Actually, didn't Jason Lee's character get the bigger digs at Art's character? ("Richard Dawson, why don't you just go back to your podium until it's time to play the Feud, all right!?")
-Jason
-
[quote name=\'Eric Paddon\' post=\'134310\' date=\'Oct 12 2006, 05:58 PM\']
Bud was an easy vote for me, because of his warmth and sincerity, and the fact that he had two hits in shows that were far apart in tone.
[/quote]
Bud was an easy "leave-off" for me. He never came across as sincere to me, particularly when he started "blessing" departing contestants. And there were times when his comments to Roxanne seemed to have just a bit of an "edge" to them.
I'm glad enough people remembered Art James to give him a decent rating. Too bad that more of his work (and yes, I'm including "Say When!!") isn't around to appreciate.
-
[quote name=\'tomobrien\' post=\'134341\' date=\'Oct 12 2006, 09:56 PM\']
[quote name=\'Eric Paddon\' post=\'134310\' date=\'Oct 12 2006, 05:58 PM\']
Bud was an easy vote for me, because of his warmth and sincerity, and the fact that he had two hits in shows that were far apart in tone.
[/quote]
Bud was an easy "leave-off" for me. He never came across as sincere to me, particularly when he started "blessing" departing contestants.
[/quote]
I left him off, too, for the same reason. On TTTT, he never seemed to have a rapport with the panel, and if anyone said anything funny, he seemed peeved.
He was even phonier on "Beat the Clock." Does anyone else find it odd that people such as Steve Beverly knock modern-day shows like "Weakest Link" for being mean-spirited, but seem to love BtC, in which wives threw cream pies at their husbands' heads? (I guess that's not precisely directed at Collyer.)
-
[quote name=\'Neumms\' post=\'134345\' date=\'Oct 12 2006, 08:24 PM\']He was even phonier on "Beat the Clock." Does anyone else find it odd that people such as Steve Beverly knock modern-day shows like "Weakest Link" for being mean-spirited, but seem to love BtC, in which wives threw cream pies at their husbands' heads? (I guess that's not precisely directed at Collyer.)[/quote]I suppose there's a difference between "All in good fun, and playing for $500," and "Out for blood and a million dollars."
-
[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'134307\' date=\'Oct 12 2006, 06:43 PM\']
[quote name=\'chris319\' post=\'134305\' date=\'Oct 12 2006, 05:56 PM\']
[color=\"#CC33CC\"]28 Art James[/color]
The Who, What or Where Game, The Magnificent Marble Machine, Say When!!
(119 18/68)
A lot like Jim Peck, dependable but without a distinct style. Loved him in Mallrats.
Hey, don't forget Say When!!
[/quote]
Consider it not-forgotten!
[/quote]
And let's not forget his announcing (and filling in for Hugh Downs) on Concentration.
Brian
Indianapolis is the capital of Michigan?
-
[quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'134334\' date=\'Oct 12 2006, 10:12 PM\']
[quote name=\'Don Howard\' post=\'134332\' date=\'Oct 12 2006, 06:59 PM\']
And I despise Ben Affleck to this day for mocking him.
[/quote]
Really? When there are SO MANY other good reasons to despise him? :)
[/quote]
Indeed there are, Chris. My Top Fifty reasons for despising The Aff will be revealed in future sigs. Watch for those and collect them all. It was Jason Lee who said those lines? Doggone pledge drive has caused cloud cover in my memories. Well, Ben remains guilty by association.
-
Collyer was last on my list of 20. I gave him some props for being one of the members of the golden age, but yes, he always sounded like he was in front of a radio microphone in his own bubble - like a carnival barker. Not a lot of warmth. However, I've never doubted his "God Bless You", as he was a Sunday School teacher and wrote two books of rather simple but honest Christian based poetry.
Of course, these days, if a host tried that, the ACLU and the nets would be all over him and make him say,
"Thank you, and whoever may, or may not, be your guiding source in whatever religion, or non-religion, you adhere to, wish you a nice day."
-
I forgot if I put Collyer in my top 20 or not, but I do remember agonizing over where to put him because of "Beat the Clock." While I agree for the most part he was a bit phony, he seemed truly excited when a contestant knocked off a bonus or otherwise difficult stunt. Beyond that, he also had a perfect hold on that format. He never lost his place, always hit his marks, etc. Having command over that many stunts per night is a feat.
-Jason
-
[quote name=\'TLEberle\' post=\'134284\' date=\'Oct 12 2006, 03:27 PM\']
[quote name=\'PYLdude\' post=\'134241\' date=\'Oct 12 2006, 06:54 AM\']1) She brings nothing to the table in regards to being excited for the contestant when they start to climb the ladder and get up to the higher level questions. [/quote] Oh, I disagree. Watch some of the first season stuff when there were people actually winning $250k, $500k and the jackpot. She was as immersed in the game as any host I had seen in years.[/quote]
I watched a LOT of the first season. I didn't notice. Maybe it was just me not paying attention (in other words, point conceded).
Regis committed the greatest sin that a game show host can commit: he put himself ahead of the game and the contestants. He would think nothing of poking fun at the contestant's foibles, or even their name. And it was downright offensive at times. And then there's the business of "You've won $500,000!" right after the chosen answer turns yellow.
I agree with that completely.
Meredith gives off this vibe that she doesn't care whether the contestant wins $1,000 or $25,000. I can't speak for anyone else but myself, but she doesn't seem to get that you need to give a little more effort that what she does when a contestant is going for an upper level question.
I think that's just your own opinion, since you already don't like her, you're crafting reasons.
You're putting words in my mouth. I never said I didn't like her. Outside of Millionaire, I do. She's a good moderator, a good commentator, and a lousy game show host. Just because I don't hold the opinion that she's a good host doesn't mean that I don't like her.
I think the problem is what other people have already said: the focus of the show has changed from the questions to the contestants. When people only win $25,000, or quit with $16,000 time and time again, it's hard to get excited, since it's just going to happen again next time.
That may be the case, but you can't let your lack of enthusiasm shine through when things like that happen. Meredith has a problem with that, and she needs to fix it.
I give her credit for trying, don't get me wrong, and I think she's great in making conversation with the contestants. As for actual game conducting skills, she lacks a lot more than a lot of people are willing to admit.
-
I think the problem is what other people have already said: the focus of the show has changed from the questions to the contestants. When people only win $25,000, or quit with $16,000 time and time again, it's hard to get excited, since it's just going to happen again next time.
That may be the case, but you can't let your lack of enthusiasm shine through when things like that happen. Meredith has a problem with that, and she needs to fix it.
What you see as a lack of enthusiasm I see as staying in control. We're long past the age of Bert Parks and Bud Collyer where hosts have to be manic and over-the-top. What's wrong with "You've won $4,000, well done."? I don't think she should be saying "YOU'VE WON $1,000!" every time. I like that she's relaxed, and I don't think it detracts from her performance.
-
[quote name=\'tomobrien\' post=\'134341\' date=\'Oct 12 2006, 10:56 PM\']
[quote name=\'Eric Paddon\' post=\'134310\' date=\'Oct 12 2006, 05:58 PM\']
Bud was an easy vote for me, because of his warmth and sincerity, and the fact that he had two hits in shows that were far apart in tone.
[/quote]
Bud was an easy "leave-off" for me. He never came across as sincere to me, particularly when he started "blessing" departing contestants. [/quote]
I always find it odd that an outgrowth of one's religious faith, which in Bud's case was quite genuine, is always dismissed somehow as a sign of phoniness on the part of some. It puts me in mind of how more people seemed to have nastier things to say about clean-living Gary Carter on the 1986 Mets then they did about some of his foul-mouthed teammates.
I don't see anything phony in Bud's work on either BTC or TTTT. And I think those who say he had no rapport with the TTTT panel aren't watching the program carefully enough, or else they're letting themselves be influenced too much by the fact that yes, Garry Moore certainly had a closer rapport with his panel in the 70s, but I always saw Bud laugh it up or join in the merrriment when something came up from the panel.
-
[quote name=\'Eric Paddon\' post=\'134542\' date=\'Oct 14 2006, 10:29 PM\']
I always find it odd that an outgrowth of one's religious faith, which in Bud's case was quite genuine, is always dismissed somehow as a sign of phoniness on the part of some. It puts me in mind of how more people seemed to have nastier things to say about clean-living Gary Carter on the 1986 Mets then they did about some of his foul-mouthed teammates.
I don't see anything phony in Bud's work on either BTC or TTTT. And I think those who say he had no rapport with the TTTT panel aren't watching the program carefully enough, or else they're letting themselves be influenced too much by the fact that yes, Garry Moore certainly had a closer rapport with his panel in the 70s, but I always saw Bud laugh it up or join in the merrriment when something came up from the panel.
[/quote]
All in how you perceive him. You saw him as genuine, to me he came off as holier-than-thou. I never perceived him as being particularly warm or engaging on TTTT, either. What I do admire him for was, like others have mentioned, being able to handle the logistical duties of hosting BTC smoothly--which, given the rigors of live television, could sometimes be a three-ring circus.
-
I'd sure like to know what "holier-than-thou" means in that context.
If anyone came off as having a higher opinion of themselves on TTTT in the Collyer era IMO, it was Kitty Carlisle who always struck me as being overly snobbish and elitist in her demeanor. Only in the 70s did she come off as less haughty and more friendly.
-
[color=\"#CC33CC\"]25 Tom Bergeron[/color]
Hollywood Squares, Dancing With the Stars, Granite State Challenge
(177 23/68)
[color=\"#CC33CC\"]24 Jack Barry[/color]
Twenty-One, The Joker's Wild, Winky Dink and You
(184 23/68)
[color=\"#CC33CC\"]23 Marc Summers[/color]
Double Dare, History IQ, WinTuition
(187 23/68)
[color=\"#CC33CC\"]22 Bert Convy[/color]
Tattletales, Super Password
(213 31/68)
[color=\"#CC33CC\"]21 Art Fleming[/color]
Jeopardy!
(226 29/68)
-
Bert Convy higher than Jack Barry? Very interesting, indeed.
-
On the Collyer thing, I wish I'd been clearer that I don't mind the blessing of the contestants (I believe there's a Lutheran church on Fairfax that still does that the first Sunday of each month) but his self-absorption and pomposity in general I don't like.
Some might find it unsavory that on TTTT he offered blessings while doling out cartons of Salems, but I'll let it go. I also find it warm and gracious that Red Skelton offered a "God bless" when he signed off. And frankly, if Sajak or Barker wanted to do it, I don't think anyone would stop him.
But boy does it cheese me off that that blood-sucking Presbyterian Marc Summers finished 23rd.
-
[quote name=\'chad1m\' post=\'134604\' date=\'Oct 15 2006, 09:50 PM\']
Bert Convy higher than Jack Barry? Very interesting, indeed.
[/quote]
While Jack Barry was certainly a famous emcee, he's not considered a particularly talented one. There's his terribly forced suspense building, for one thing.
And, for heavens' sakes, the night on "Twenty-One" when the guy who was supposed to take a dive didn't, Barry screwed up, helping prove the game was rigged. Not even Jim Caldwell screwed up in such a way that killed the whole quiz show genre.
-
on "Twenty-One" when the guy who was supposed to take a dive didn't, Barry screwed up, helping prove the game was rigged.
I am not familiar with this incident. Would you care to elaborate?
I would have placed Bert Convy ahead of Jack Barry.
-
I am not familiar with this incident. Would you care to elaborate?
Contestant James Snodgrass, who mailed the answers to himself, was instructed to give the answer Ralph Waldo Emerson to a question with the correct answer of Emily Dickinson.
Jack, expecting to hear "Ralph Waldo Emerson," immediately called the answer incorrect after Snodgrass responded, but reversed himself after realizing a few seconds later that Snodgrass said "Emily Dickinson."
--Jamie
-
[quote name=\'chris319\' post=\'134621\' date=\'Oct 15 2006, 10:00 PM\']
on "Twenty-One" when the guy who was supposed to take a dive didn't, Barry screwed up, helping prove the game was rigged.
I am not familiar with this incident. Would you care to elaborate?
I would have placed Bert Convy ahead of Jack Barry.[/quote]I would have put one of my father's dogs ahead of Bert Convy, but that's just me after watching a 'highlight reel' of Bert's goofs on Super Password. Yeah, he was good on low-stakes games where there was more goofing around than serious games, but there was no excuse for the sheer volume of mistakes that he would make time and again on Super Password.
-
[quote name=\'Jimmy Fiono Coyne\' post=\'134625\' date=\'Oct 16 2006, 01:15 AM\']
I am not familiar with this incident. Would you care to elaborate?
Contestant James Snodgrass, who mailed the answers to himself, was instructed to give the answer Ralph Waldo Emerson to a question with the correct answer of Emily Dickinson.
Jack, expecting to hear "Ralph Waldo Emerson," immediately called the answer incorrect after Snodgrass responded, but reversed himself after realizing a few seconds later that Snodgrass said "Emily Dickinson."
--Jamie
[/quote]
Just wondering if you have a source for this. My understanding was that Quiz Show completely made that up.
-
[quote name=\'Adam Nedeff\' post=\'134629\' date=\'Oct 16 2006, 12:10 AM\']
[quote name=\'Jimmy Fiono Coyne\' post=\'134625\' date=\'Oct 16 2006, 01:15 AM\']
I am not familiar with this incident. Would you care to elaborate?
Contestant James Snodgrass, who mailed the answers to himself, was instructed to give the answer Ralph Waldo Emerson to a question with the correct answer of Emily Dickinson.
Jack, expecting to hear "Ralph Waldo Emerson," immediately called the answer incorrect after Snodgrass responded, but reversed himself after realizing a few seconds later that Snodgrass said "Emily Dickinson."
--Jamie
[/quote]
Just wondering if you have a source for this. My understanding was that Quiz Show completely made that up.
[/quote]
It doesn't jibe with the fact that Enright was the mastermind of the rigging and Barry merely continued to play the role of emcee. If that were the case, Barry wouldn't have known what Snodgrass had been instructed to say and would likely have called "Emily Dickinson" correct.
-
I would have put one of my father's dogs ahead of Bert Convy, but that's just me after watching a 'highlight reel' of Bert's goofs on Super Password.
Clearly I haven't watched enough episodes of Super Password. Perhaps his goofs were early symptoms of his illness?
-
[quote name=\'Jimmy Fiono Coyne\' post=\'134625\' date=\'Oct 15 2006, 10:15 PM\']
Contestant James Snodgrass, who mailed the answers to himself, was instructed to give the answer Ralph Waldo Emerson to a question with the correct answer of Emily Dickinson.
Jack, expecting to hear "Ralph Waldo Emerson," immediately called the answer incorrect after Snodgrass responded, but reversed himself after realizing a few seconds later that Snodgrass said "Emily Dickinson."
[/quote]
Just one of many flights of fancy invented for the movie "Quiz Show". The movie was NOT a documentary.
Randy
tvrandywest.com
-
[quote name=\'TLEberle\' post=\'134627\' date=\'Oct 16 2006, 12:18 AM\']
I would have put one of my father's dogs ahead of Bert Convy, but that's just me after watching a 'highlight reel' of Bert's goofs on Super Password. [/quote]
Unless the audience saw that reel every single day they tuned into Super Password--and the GSN reruns prove otherwise, from what I've seen--a blooper reel is probably not the fairest way to judge a host overall.
I don't think Bert made my list at all, I'm just sayin'...
-
Bert Convy higher than Jack Barry? Very interesting, indeed.
Neither made my list. Not that I didn't like them, it's just that I found 20 others I thought were better. While I liked Jack's shows, he didn't seem to be that good at ad-libbing. One incident that comes to mind is when he was promoting the new CBS shows in March 1973 - Hollywood's Talking and $10,000 Pyramid - his explanations of the new shows just looked awkward.
I did have Tom Bergeron and Art Fleming in the lower part of my Top 20. Marc Summers I didn't think of at all - and I think its because his best-known show is a kids' show, and I was never really into those.
-
[quote name=\'Adam Nedeff\' post=\'134629\' date=\'Oct 16 2006, 12:10 AM\']
[quote name=\'Jimmy Fiono Coyne\' post=\'134625\' date=\'Oct 16 2006, 01:15 AM\']
Jack, expecting to hear "Ralph Waldo Emerson," immediately called the answer incorrect after Snodgrass responded, but reversed himself after realizing a few seconds later that Snodgrass said "Emily Dickinson."
[/quote]
Just wondering if you have a source for this. My understanding was that Quiz Show completely made that up.
[/quote]
Yeah, I was gonna say, if he was citing that from Quiz Show and Quiz Show alone, we've already had that discussion some time ago, and repeatedly.
-
[quote name=\'Ian Wallis\' post=\'134636\' date=\'Oct 16 2006, 08:00 AM\']
I did have Tom Bergeron and Art Fleming in the lower part of my Top 20.
[/quote]
Me too and I'm shocked Fleming didn't rate higher overall. I attribute this to 1) not enough younger people having seen him in action on Jeopardy! and 2) our voters wanted to reward versatility. His days as a balcony/floor announcer on Dr. I. Q. never showed him doing very much and are largely lost to the ages anyway, and even I never got to hear him host College Bowl on CBS Radio in the late 1970s because no affiliates carried it where I lived. And honestly I can't picture someone like him hosting Beat the Clock or The Price is Right. But he was really, really, really good at what he actually did, a true class act.
-
[quote name=\'Ian Wallis\' post=\'134636\' date=\'Oct 16 2006, 09:00 AM\']
Bert Convy higher than Jack Barry? Very interesting, indeed.
Neither made my list. [/quote]
Barry wasn't on my list and Convy was #20, so technically, yeah, I had one above the other. I liked the earlier comment that Convy was very good in a relaxed, low-stakes environment (like Tattletales). I don't think Jack Barry was very good in much of anything. I'm also surprised Art Fleming ranked as high as he did. Sure, we have fondness for the old original show, and he was certainly enthusiastic about his role, but I always found him to be very awkward.
-
Convy may've not had much range, but for the most part, what he was called upon to do he did well. Barry, on the other hand, owed most of his work to the fact that he was his own employer.
Collyer is like Bert Parks to me--they were OK for their time, but they don't hold up that well today. For me, "TTTT"'s height was in its syndicated days with Garry Moore--and I even like Moore's work there more than I did "IGAS," because he was more informal and casual on "TTTT"--and like "IGAS," you knew that his rapport with the regular panelists was the same on and off camera.
-
Yeah, I was gonna say, if he was citing that from Quiz Show and Quiz Show alone, we've already had that discussion some time ago, and repeatedly.
I'm citing a PBS Documentary entitled The American Experience: The Quiz Show Scandal.
It explains how James Snodgrass mailed himself the questions and the answers to himself and touches on the aforementioned question on American Poetry.
Edit: I knew I had this lying around somewhere. Excerpt from Primetime and Misdemeanors, a letter Snodgrass sent to himself:
To Whom It May Concern
The following are the questions for the first game on the television quiz program to take place at 9'o clock Monday evening May 20, 1957.....
According to the plan I am to miss the first question, specifically the lines by Emily Dickinson. I've been told to answer Ralph Waldo Emerson. I have decided not to "take the fall" but to answer the question correctly.
--Jamie
-
[quote name=\'Jimmy Fiono Coyne\' post=\'134651\' date=\'Oct 16 2006, 09:51 AM\']
It explains how James Snodgrass mailed himself the questions and the answers to himself and touches on the aforementioned question on American Poetry.
[/quote]
Aha. Probably a somewhat better source. :)
-
I'd highly recommend watching that documentary and reading Primetime and Misdemeanors. Very informative indeed.
--Jamie
-
[quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'134652\' date=\'Oct 16 2006, 12:56 PM\']
[quote name=\'Jimmy Fiono Coyne\' post=\'134651\' date=\'Oct 16 2006, 09:51 AM\']
It explains how James Snodgrass mailed himself the questions and the answers to himself and touches on the aforementioned question on American Poetry.
[/quote]
Aha. Probably a somewhat better source. :)[/quote]
Two issues at work, though. It's well documented that Snodgrass went to those lengths to be able to prove fraud. It's also likely -- and probably provable -- that he decided not to take the fall and answered that question correctly.
Separate from that is the issue of whether Jack Barry screwed up because he was expecting a wrong answer. That's the part that was probably Quiz Show invention. As others have mentioned. conventional wisdom is that Barry wasn't directly involved in the rigging, so he wouldn't have been ready for a particular answer one way or the other.
Unless that episode is available, the specific accusation that Barry screwed up on the live show is NOT provable and is only based on the dramatic movie.
-
I had Convy in my Top 20 as well -- perhaps near #10 (I do not have my list handy, but that's about right).
Sure, Bert had his share of moments on Super Password (i.e. blurting out the answers, etc...), but he played up his faults on the show, which made it more entertaining.
And out of the bevy of people who hosted the Win, Lose or Draw incarnations, I would have to say that Bert was my favorite -- Miss Vicki a close second.
And Bert was to Tattletales as Gene Rayburn was to Match Game.
Not to mention I like his songs from the days when he sang with The Cheers (I have 2 or 3 of them on CD).
-
Unless that episode is available, the specific accusation that Barry screwed up on the live show is NOT provable and is only based on the dramatic movie.
Well, now I have even more reason to go to the revamped Museum of Broadcast Communications in Chicago...take a look at this episode available in their archives:
"Contestants of this popular quiz show were placed in isolation and earned cash for correctly answering questions asked by host Jack Berry. In this episode, Jack Snodgrass and Hank Bloomgarden return after two weeks due to an error in scoring. Snodgrass would later provide the evidence that proved the game show was fixed by mailing himself copies of the questions and answers provided to him prior to the show."
I have no idea whether this is the episode in question, but if it's not, this may give us some hope that it could exist out there.
Anthony
-
I have no idea whether this is the episode in question, but if it's not, this may give us some hope that it could exist out there.
This episode is actually in private collections. While I don't have it myself, I don't believe there's any trace of such an incident in this particular episode.
--Jamie
-
The full transcript of that broadcast can be found in Kent Anderson's 1978 book on the scandal and indeed, Barry did not have that kind of dramatic reaction to Snodgrass answering "Emily Dickinson". That was just one of many frauds concocted by Robert Redford for the movie that ultimately was as guilty of the same thing that the original quiz rigging was guilty of, i.e. giving undeserved fame and credit to someone to elevate his stature (in this case, with Richard Goodwin, a man who was a trivial bit player in the original investigation getting credit for the work that was done by Joseph Stone and the New York D.A.'s office, and I suspect the reason for this had much to do with partisan politics since Goodwin has long had a reputation as an icon to 60s radicals).
-
According to Primetime and Misdemeanors, Snodgrass was ruled incorrect by answering "sacrum" instead of "sacral."
Bloomgarten, however, was ruled correct by answering "coccyx" instead of "coccygeal," thereby winning the game.
Doctors and nurses protested and they were given a rematch. Only this time, Snodgrass wasn't given the answers and he lost.
It's a safe bet that Redford decided to get creative on the Emerson / Dickinson response.
--Jamie
-
[quote name=\'Ian Wallis\' post=\'134636\' date=\'Oct 16 2006, 09:00 AM\']
Bert Convy higher than Jack Barry? Very interesting, indeed.
Neither made my list. Not that I didn't like them, it's just that I found 20 others I thought were better. While I liked Jack's shows, he didn't seem to be that good at ad-libbing. One incident that comes to mind is when he was promoting the new CBS shows in March 1973 - Hollywood's Talking and $10,000 Pyramid - his explanations of the new shows just looked awkward.[/quote]
Which is a little weird because Jack Barry produced "Hollywood's Talking". And he didn't even know what the hell it was about!
-
If you've ever seen Jack Barry ad-lib, you'd be shocked if he could ad-lib his own name. He obviously explained "Break the Bank" without cue cards, because that was akin to what I remember of his plug for "Hollywood's Talking." He and Monty Hall are two people who really needed the net of a game going on at all times.
-Jason
-
I personally didn't think Barry was a particularly bad host, but he didn't make my Top 20 probably partly because of the scandals, and I just felt there were 20 other hosts that had more of an impact on me than Barry did...
Convy was number 17 on mine, I wish he would've been able to host MG90. WLoD, SP, and TT were great shows, and rarely have I seen an episode of any of the three where I wasn't laughing at him at one point. He's fun to watch, and it probably was a riot to be a contestant on one of his shows, with the crazy things that sometimes happened on them (calling Rip Taylor!).
-
[quote name=\'Eric Paddon\' post=\'134673\' date=\'Oct 16 2006, 01:54 PM\']The full transcript of that broadcast can be found in Kent Anderson's 1978 book on the scandal and indeed, Barry did not have that kind of dramatic reaction to Snodgrass answering "Emily Dickinson". That was just one of many frauds concocted by Robert Redford for the movie that ultimately was as guilty of the same thing that the original quiz rigging was guilty of, i.e. giving undeserved fame and credit to someone to elevate his stature (in this case, with Richard Goodwin, a man who was a trivial bit player in the original investigation getting credit for the work that was done by Joseph Stone and the New York D.A.'s office, and I suspect the reason for this had much to do with partisan politics since Goodwin has long had a reputation as an icon to 60s radicals).[/quote]I think that calling Quiz Show "guilty of perpetrating frauds" is completely over the line. If you were to draft a movie that stuck to the actual events by the letter, it would be boring as hell. Waiting two years to go from Stempel vs. Van Doren to when the dominoes started to fall would not make for a good dramatic presentation. It would make for a great documentary, but that's already been done once.
Redford took some creative liberties to make a drama based on actual events, but nowhere in the film does it say "this is exactly as things happened". And it does what it intends; to tell the story to a generation of people who wouldn't have heard or seen anything about it otherwise. I'll happily cut him some slack.
-
Redford took some creative liberties to make a drama based on actual events, but nowhere in the film does it say "this is exactly as things happened". And it does what it intends; to tell the story to a generation of people who wouldn't have heard or seen anything about it otherwise. I'll happily cut him some slack.
Robert Redford was not the screenwriter of Quiz Show so those liberties were not his to take. Quiz Show was written in large part by Richard Goodwin, who had a clear interest in revising history. The producer of Quiz Show was one Julian Krainin, who was also a producer of the PBS documentary. Quiz Show takes real people and real events and distorts the roles of various individuals, namely Goodwin and Stone. At best Quiz Show is a self-serving piece of historical revisionism concocted by Richard Goodwin.
Redford did a deplorable job of casting. The only two characters I found even remotely convincing were Paul Scofield as Mark Van Doren and David Paymer, whom I found really convincing as Dan Enright. Ralph Fiennes as Charles Van Doren and Christopher McDonald as Jack Barry were downright laughable.
-
Redford took some creative liberties to make a drama based on actual events, but nowhere in the film does it say "this is exactly as things happened".
Especially since the questions they asked on the real Twenty-One were usually multi-part questions, and they weren't depicted that way in the film. Also, while Stempel did miss the "Marty" question, it was early in the game in which he lost, and not the deciding question.
While I really enjoyed Quiz Show, and I think it was a fairly accurate recreation of events of that time, the specific details have to be taken with a grain of salt.
-
[quote name=\'Ian Wallis\' post=\'134705\' date=\'Oct 17 2006, 05:59 AM\']
Especially since the questions they asked on the real Twenty-One were usually multi-part questions, and they weren't depicted that way in the film.
[/quote]
At key moments, no, but I could swear in the montage where Van Doren rack up win after win, there are quite a few "I'll answer the seventh part third, Jack" moments in there.
-
[quote name=\'chris319\' post=\'134698\' date=\'Oct 17 2006, 02:20 AM\']
Redford did a deplorable job of casting. The only two characters I found even remotely convincing were Paul Scofield as Mark Van Doren and David Paymer, whom I found really convincing as Dan Enright. Ralph Fiennes as Charles Van Doren and Christopher McDonald as Jack Barry were downright laughable.
[/quote]
Granted you might know Barry if not Van Doren, but, as far as the movie goes, I found them terrific. McDonald played Barry better than Barry himself. Now the guy from "Northern Exposure" as Goodwin, on the other hand, I'll give you.
And as the guy who brought up the Snodgrass episode as an example of lousy hosting, my apologies. I saw the movie more recently than I've read the book.
-
[quote name=\'Ian Wallis\' post=\'134705\' date=\'Oct 17 2006, 07:59 AM\']
I think it was a fairly accurate recreation of events of that time, the specific details have to be taken with a grain of salt.
[/quote]
I would agree, and one should likely never, ever point to a docudrama of any kind as an authoritative reference like they would a dictionary or almanac.
-
I had Convy on my list in the low teens. He definitely had his own unique style, which is much of what I graded on. Maybe the first self-depricating host.
Now, he was the wrong guy for "Password," especially as it's so established with a totally different kind of host, yet he still made it work for a pretty long run. It could have gone as badly as Davidson on the Pyramid (or Fleming on "Beat the Clock"), but didn't.
-
Only CBS "Password" lasted longer than Bert's version, that's gotta count for something.
-
McDonald played Barry better than Barry himself.
Christopher McDonald is Irish. Jack Barry was Jewish. That's too much of a disconnect for me, especially given that the public knew Barry through thousands of TV appearances. It would be like having Dick Van Dyke play the late Allen Funt.
-
[quote name=\'chris319\' post=\'134724\' date=\'Oct 17 2006, 12:03 PM\']
McDonald played Barry better than Barry himself.
Christopher McDonald is Irish. Jack Barry was Jewish. That's too much of a disconnect for me, especially given that the public knew Barry through thousands of TV appearances. It would be like having Dick Van Dyke play the late Allen Funt.
[/quote]
And yet, when one watches Quiz Show and listens to McDonald deliver his lines as Barry, he sounds eerily like Barry, almost as if he were channeling the man. Grouse all you like, I thought McDonald had Barry spot on.
-
[color=\"#6600CC\"]20 Jack Narz[/color]
Now You See It, Beat the Clock, Dotto
(231 27/68)
Fewer votes, but higher ranks from the people who remembered.
[color=\"#6600CC\"]19 John Daly[/color]
What's My Line?, It's News To Me
(279 29/68)
Highest ranked of the three in the top forty who were game show hosts and newspeople concurrently (Viera, Downs).
[color=\"#6600CC\"]18 Garry Moore[/color]
I've Got A Secret, To Tell The Truth
(295 30/68)
For whatever reason, tied with Jim Peck for the most total votes at #20 (5 of them).
[color=\"#6600CC\"]17 Richard Dawson[/color]
Family Feud, Masquerade Party
(314 36/68)
First one to appear on at least half the ballots. I'm sure Masquerade Party helped.
[color=\"#6600CC\"]16 Pat Sajak[/color]
Wheel of Fortune
(324 33/68)
Is Wheel the easiest gig in game shows, or does Sajak just make it look that way?
-
[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'134747\' date=\'Oct 17 2006, 04:32 PM\']
Is Wheel the easiest gig in game shows, or does Sajak just make it look that way?
[/quote]
See Byrnes, Edd. ;)
-
[quote name=\'TLEberle\' post=\'134697\' date=\'Oct 17 2006, 02:00 AM\']
I think that calling Quiz Show "guilty of perpetrating frauds" is completely over the line. If you were to draft a movie that stuck to the actual events by the letter, it would be boring as hell. Waiting two years to go from Stempel vs. Van Doren to when the dominoes started to fall would not make for a good dramatic presentation. It would make for a great documentary, but that's already been done once.
Redford took some creative liberties to make a drama based on actual events, but nowhere in the film does it say "this is exactly as things happened". And it does what it intends; to tell the story to a generation of people who wouldn't have heard or seen anything about it otherwise. I'll happily cut him some slack.
[/quote]
I have no problem with compressing things, but the fraud part is in making Richard Goodwin this odor-free paragon of virtue finding out all about this by himself. Goodwin was being given credit for another man's work, in this case Joseph Stone. If the film compressed things exactly as they did and properly gave credit to Stone and had him as the protagonist, I would have had no problem with that. But in the end, just as Van Doren was made a hero by the nation for something he didn't deserve credit for, the movie made a hero of Goodwin for something he didn't deserve credit for. No difference in my book.
-
[quote name=\'chris319\' post=\'134724\' date=\'Oct 17 2006, 03:03 PM\']
McDonald played Barry better than Barry himself.
Christopher McDonald is Irish. Jack Barry was Jewish. That's too much of a disconnect for me, especially given that the public knew Barry through thousands of TV appearances. It would be like having Dick Van Dyke play the late Allen Funt.
[/quote]
And yet McDonald also played another Jewish broadcaster, Mel Allen in the Billy Crystal cable movie *61 and was just as convincing there IMO as he was when he played Jack Barry.
-
[quote name=\'Eric Paddon\' post=\'134753\' date=\'Oct 17 2006, 02:04 PM\']
[quote name=\'chris319\' post=\'134724\' date=\'Oct 17 2006, 03:03 PM\']
McDonald played Barry better than Barry himself.
Christopher McDonald is Irish. Jack Barry was Jewish. That's too much of a disconnect for me, especially given that the public knew Barry through thousands of TV appearances. It would be like having Dick Van Dyke play the late Allen Funt.
[/quote]
And yet McDonald also played another Jewish broadcaster, Mel Allen in the Billy Crystal cable movie *61 and was just as convincing there IMO as he was when he played Jack Barry.
[/quote]
Grand. I'll call Bruce Willis and tell him he's got the role of Paul Lynde if they ever do a biopic.
-
Clearly McDonald was felt to have made a good enough impact to be convincing as a broadcast personality and two famous ones at that.
-
[quote name=\'chris319\' post=\'134765\' date=\'Oct 17 2006, 02:59 PM\']
[quote name=\'Eric Paddon\' post=\'134753\' date=\'Oct 17 2006, 02:04 PM\']
[quote name=\'chris319\' post=\'134724\' date=\'Oct 17 2006, 03:03 PM\']
McDonald played Barry better than Barry himself.
Christopher McDonald is Irish. Jack Barry was Jewish. That's too much of a disconnect for me, especially given that the public knew Barry through thousands of TV appearances. It would be like having Dick Van Dyke play the late Allen Funt.
[/quote]
And yet McDonald also played another Jewish broadcaster, Mel Allen in the Billy Crystal cable movie *61 and was just as convincing there IMO as he was when he played Jack Barry.
[/quote]
Grand. I'll call Bruce Willis and tell him he's got the role of Paul Lynde if they ever do a biopic.
[/quote]
Make sure you call Steve Carell first, Chris. :P
-
[quote name=\'Eric Paddon\' post=\'134771\' date=\'Oct 17 2006, 03:54 PM\']
Clearly McDonald was felt to have made a good enough impact to be convincing as a broadcast personality and two famous ones at that.
[/quote]
That's a ridiculous statement. You could just as easily say he was miscast by two different directors if you didn't like him in Quiz Show OR 61* (to be fair I haven't seen 61*).
-
My point is he wasn't miscast in either and that he did fine in both parts. And I think it is worth noting that he proved more than once that the objection raised that the idea of him playing a broadcast personality who happened to be Jewish because he isn't is a pretty weak one overall in light of his track record.
-
[quote name=\'chad1m\' post=\'134749\' date=\'Oct 17 2006, 04:38 PM\']
[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'134747\' date=\'Oct 17 2006, 04:32 PM\']
Is Wheel the easiest gig in game shows, or does Sajak just make it look that way?
[/quote]
See Byrnes, Edd. ;)
[/quote]
Loved him on $weep$take$. Not sure why the tuxedo only lasted for the first month or so.
-
[color=\"#6600CC\"]15 Peter Tomarken[/color]
Press Your Luck, Wipeout, Hit Man
(340 39/68, including one first place vote)
[color=\"#6600CC\"]14 Bob Eubanks[/color]
The Newlywed Game, Card Sharks, Dream House
(351 43/68)
[color=\"#6600CC\"]13 Geoff Edwards[/color]
Jackpot, Starcade, Shoot for the Stars
(361 38/68)
[color=\"#6600CC\"]12 Peter Marshall[/color]
The Hollywood Squares, Reel to Reel Picture Show, All-Star Blitz
(393 43/68)
[color=\"#6600CC\"]11 Wink Martindale[/color]
Tic Tac Dough, Gambit, Debt
(497 49/68, including one first place vote)
-
I have to say that I find it interesting that we're up to the Top 10 and still only seeing straggling first-place votes. You'd think we would get someone who at least had a couple-three by now. Were the results THAT polarized?
-
[quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'134983\' date=\'Oct 19 2006, 12:23 PM\']
I have to say that I find it interesting that we're up to the Top 10 and still only seeing straggling first-place votes. You'd think we would get someone who at least had a couple-three by now. Were the results THAT polarized?[/quote]
Yes. As you'll see, there is a very distinct "Big Six", and then there's everybody else.
-
I think it's a good guess that most of the remaining 60 or so votes will be split among 3-4 candidates, with a few stragglers in the top 10. Knowing this group, we can pretty much guess who they will be. Unlike the game shows, we've seen pretty much everybody who will be in the top 20 at one time or another, even if not on the show where they made their name, so we're familiar with their work.
-
[quote name=\'DrBear\' post=\'134986\' date=\'Oct 19 2006, 11:28 AM\']
I think it's a good guess that most of the remaining 60 or so votes will be split among 3-4 candidates, with a few stragglers in the top 10. Knowing this group, we can pretty much guess who they will be. [/quote]
Great. With only nine names left in my "unaccounted for" list, that means I left someone major off.
I feel like Chris Farley talking to Paul McCartney right now.
Doug
-
Re. 15-11; Marshall, Eubanks and Martindale all finished in my top 10; I had Edwards at 16 and Tomarken at 19.
While I know there is some disliking of Bob Eubanks around here, I'm a bit surprised that Peter Marshall and Wink Martindale didn't finish a bit higher. I know that Peter's work on the original Squares is highly respected. Wink's done so many shows, and he seems like a very easy-going likable guy that I thought for sure he'd be a Top 10 finisher.
Unless I've missed something, that means Allen Ludden finished in the top 10. I have nothing against him, and I certainly respect the results of the voting, but considering he's best-known for one main show and Wink's hosted so many and done them well, doesn't that make Wink a better overall host?
-
[quote name=\'Ian Wallis\' post=\'134988\' date=\'Oct 19 2006, 09:37 AM\']
While I know there is some disliking of Bob Eubanks around here,
[/quote]
Gotta say, having watched the episode of Diamond Head that Jamie posted on the Page 'O' Clips yesterday, I think it's completely justified. But, of course, opinions vary. :)
(My God, that was a bad show. My memories of it were SO clouded with the Swirling Money Booth.)
-
I'd disagree about Ludden being known for one show (remember College Bowl?) but I think some credit has to be given for success on a network (espec. in prime time) vs. success in syndication. Maybe it's a math formula:
1 yr. network=? in syndication.
-
[quote name=\'DrBear\' post=\'134992\' date=\'Oct 19 2006, 09:44 AM\']
I'd disagree about Ludden being known for one show (remember College Bowl?)
[/quote]
I'm too young to remember College Bowl (lemme tell you, it's a refreshing change lately to be able to say THAT), but I absolutely remember him on Liar's Club, and vaguely remember Stumpers. So at least some of us have seen him do stuff other'n Password.
-
[quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'134993\' date=\'Oct 19 2006, 12:46 PM\']
I'm too young to remember College Bowl (lemme tell you, it's a refreshing change lately to be able to say THAT), but I absolutely remember him on Liar's Club, and vaguely remember Stumpers. So at least some of us have seen him do stuff other'n Password.
[/quote]
Thanks to the "Those Wonderful TV Game Shows" special that NBC ran in '84, that's when I knew he was known for more than just Password when they ran that tribute to him. At the time, I was under the impression from the clip they showed of "Stumpers" (under the "here's Allen Ludden at his finest", saying goodbye ),that it was a long-running show.. Mind you I was 9 and didn't know all the history of game shows that I do now. :)
-
So Peter's number 12, eh? Good for him. I put him higher obviously.
-
[quote name=\'Ian Wallis\' post=\'134988\' date=\'Oct 19 2006, 12:37 PM\']
Unless I've missed something, that means Allen Ludden finished in the top 10. I have nothing against him, and I certainly respect the results of the voting, but considering he's best-known for one main show and Wink's hosted so many and done them well, doesn't that make Wink a better overall host?
[/quote]
On the surface that seems like sound logic, but let's keep in mind that Wink hosted a bunch of his own creations. Who else was he going to cast as emcee?
-
[quote name=\'Ian Wallis\' post=\'134988\' date=\'Oct 19 2006, 12:37 PM\']
Unless I've missed something, that means Allen Ludden finished in the top 10. I have nothing against him, and I certainly respect the results of the voting, but considering he's best-known for one main show and Wink's hosted so many and done them well, doesn't that make Wink a better overall host?
[/quote]
It's quality over quantity sometimes, Ian.
I could use the "more than Ludden" argument you make (sans the well done part) and say that Wil Shriner should be considered a better overall host. I know that wasn't what you said, but that's a counterpoint that could be made.
-
Interesting results for 11-15. I would've almost been willing to put money on that Martindale and Marshall would've been in Top 10 overall...
Marshall was number 10 for me, with Martindale at 13, Tomarken at 12, and Eubanks at 15. So then, around this area of the list, my opinions pretty closely matched the final results. Whether that's coincidental or just plain weird, I'm not sure of...
-
Personally I'm a little dissapointed that my pick for number 1, Dennis James, didn't get higher. I thought he was THE pioneer of all game show hosts for television. It all started with Cash And Carry. My way of thinking was that every host after him in someway must have picked something up from his style and it all snowballed to the shows of today. Now, I'm in no way knocking any other host or his style, but look at it from a family tree kind of view. It kind of branched off Dennis at the beginning of the TV game show. I know there were radio games and all that, but if we're looking at a tv point of view then I would have thought that Dennis would get the nod.
-
"Pioneer" does not mean "great", though. I think Oregon Trail taught us all that.
-
I reallly think most people who DO remember Dennis James from the early years remember him more for doing pro wrestling.
Or maybe for his Kellogg's ads. ("OK? OK!")
And yes, I am old.
-
[quote name=\'gwarman2005\' post=\'135077\' date=\'Oct 20 2006, 12:04 AM\']
Personally I'm a little dissapointed that my pick for number 1, Dennis James, didn't get higher. I thought he was THE pioneer of all game show hosts for television. [/quote]
He was, and rightly so. He proved game show hosts could be genuine, not plastic like say, Bert Parks.
-
On the surface that seems like sound logic, but let's keep in mind that Wink hosted a bunch of his own creations. Who else was he going to cast as emcee?
Al Dubois?
-
[color=\"#6600CC\"]10 Chuck Woolery[/color]
Wheel of Fortune, Scrabble, Lingo
(546 54/68)
[color=\"#6600CC\"]9 Monty Hall[/color]
Let's Make A Deal
(571 53/68)
[color=\"#6600CC\"]8 Jim Perry[/color]
Sale of the Century, Card Sharks, Definition
(608 51/68)
[color=\"#6600CC\"]7 Allen Ludden[/color]
Password, College Bowl
(670 57/68)
And now you know which ones we considered the "Big Six". They'll be revealed daily the rest of the week, with each of them getting time in the northwest corner logo.
-
Placing Allen Ludden ahead of Monty Hall is a serious slap in the face to Monty Hall.
-
[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'135365\' date=\'Oct 23 2006, 07:31 AM\']
[color=\"#6600CC\"]7 Allen Ludden[/color]
Password, College Bowl
(670 77/68)
[/quote]
Wow. 77 votes out of 68? What is this, Chicago? :-D
Doug
-
[quote name=\'chris319\' post=\'135370\' date=\'Oct 23 2006, 09:59 AM\']
Placing Allen Ludden ahead of Monty Hall is a serious slap in the face to Monty Hall.
[/quote]
Why do you think Allen Ludden is so bad that putting him two spaces ahead of Monty Hall in the top 10 would be a "slap in the face"? I've always thought he was a great host. Different style than Monty but that doesn't really make him vastly inferior I wouldn't think.
-
[quote name=\'SRIV94\' post=\'135371\' date=\'Oct 23 2006, 11:04 AM\']
[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'135365\' date=\'Oct 23 2006, 07:31 AM\']
[color=\"#6600CC\"]7 Allen Ludden[/color]
Password, College Bowl
(670 77/68)
[/quote]
Wow. 77 votes out of 68? What is this, Chicago? :-D
Doug[/quote]
Not sure what happened there. It's probably 57, but I'll check and corect it when I get home.
-
[quote name=\'cweaver\' post=\'135372\' date=\'Oct 23 2006, 11:20 AM\']
[quote name=\'chris319\' post=\'135370\' date=\'Oct 23 2006, 09:59 AM\']
Placing Allen Ludden ahead of Monty Hall is a serious slap in the face to Monty Hall.
[/quote]Why do you think Allen Ludden is so bad that putting him two spaces ahead of Monty Hall in the top 10 would be a "slap in the face"? [/quote]
My impression from Chris and others is that one's professional opinion of Allen Ludden is inversely proportional to the amount of time one has spent around Allen Ludden.
-
[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'135373\' date=\'Oct 23 2006, 11:14 AM\']
Not sure what happened there. It's probably 57, but I'll check and corect it when I get home.
[/quote]
No biggie. I just couldn't resist. :)
And turns out Hall was my glaring omission. I liked him, and he was certainly considered but just missed my final cut (had I added five more spots, Hall would've made it). At least I didn't omit one of the Big Six (at least, I *think* I didn't).
Doug
-
OK...six left on my list that haven't been rated, six left to go here.
What really surprises me is how high Jim Perry ranked - he wasn't on my list at all. Part of it may be I never really liked Card Sharks - to me it's got just a bit more strategy than "Deal of No Deal." And I thought Perry had too strong a style for a fairly trifling game. I probably would have preferred him in a faster-paced quiz setting. And I don't remember him doing anything else. (I never saw his version of "Sale" as I have mentioned elsewhere, and I think that would have fit him much better; the only version I ever saw was the Jack Kelly version and that turned me off completely.)
I also had Allen Ludden ranked higher - I don't know about individual personalities, but I just went with what came on the screen. After all, I'm just a simple game show fan who's been frozen in a glacier for thousands of years.
-
[quote name=\'DrBear\' post=\'135380\' date=\'Oct 23 2006, 02:14 PM\']
What really surprises me is how high Jim Perry ranked - he wasn't on my list at all. Part of it may be I never really liked Card Sharks - to me it's got just a bit more strategy than "Deal of No Deal." And I thought Perry had too strong a style for a fairly trifling game. I probably would have preferred him in a faster-paced quiz setting. And I don't remember him doing anything else. (I never saw his version of "Sale" as I have mentioned elsewhere, and I think that would have fit him much better; the only version I ever saw was the Jack Kelly version and that turned me off completely.)
[/quote]
If you didn't vote for him, and didn't like him, and don't know how people have felt about his hosting abilities, that's your own ignorance.
I'm surprised he didn't place a little higher, but he is much deserving of the the top 10 spot he got. I know I had him there.
I must raise this question now, because of the last line of your post, Doc, and Chris' bitch about Ludden outranking Hall (Ludden made my list, Hall didn't- I didn't like LMAD all that much, and whatever else I saw of Monty Hall I wasn't terribly impressed by)- how much of the opinions are clouded by personal opinions or misdeeds of other hosts?
-
[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'135374\' date=\'Oct 23 2006, 11:17 AM\']
My impression from Chris and others is that one's professional opinion of Allen Ludden is inversely proportional to the amount of time one has spent around Allen Ludden.
[/quote]
Wow, yikes.
Anyway, all I have to go on is what I saw at home and that's how I made my list. Seeing as how I've only actually seen one host do his job from studio level in my life (Chuck Woolery), spoke to one more on the phone (Art Fleming) and corresponded to a third via email (Peter Marshall) any list I would make based on personal experience/knowledge would be short/lame.
-
[quote name=\'cweaver\' post=\'135372\' date=\'Oct 23 2006, 08:20 AM\']
[quote name=\'chris319\' post=\'135370\' date=\'Oct 23 2006, 09:59 AM\']
Placing Allen Ludden ahead of Monty Hall is a serious slap in the face to Monty Hall.
[/quote]
Why do you think Allen Ludden is so bad that putting him two spaces ahead of Monty Hall in the top 10 would be a "slap in the face"? I've always thought he was a great host. Different style than Monty but that doesn't really make him vastly inferior I wouldn't think.
[/quote]
The simple answer is that Monty handled complex formats much more skillfully than Allen handled simple formats. I say this after having just seen Monty in the Video Village clip, and of course his work on LMAD is legendary. My personal feelings about Allen after working with him for two years were held aside.
-
[quote name=\'chris319\' post=\'135387\' date=\'Oct 23 2006, 02:06 PM\']
The simple answer is that Monty handled complex formats much more skillfully than Allen handled simple formats. I say this after having just seen Monty in the Video Village clip, and of course his work on LMAD is legendary. My personal feelings about Allen after working with him for two years were held aside.
[/quote]
That's cool, I just never saw a particularly wide gap in the quality of their hosting styles. I think I actually ranked Hall higher on my list but I was still always fond of the Ludden I saw on TV. I had just dubbed Let's Make a Deal for a trade and then got back Hall's two known existing Video Village eps when I made my list. But I'm writing this after just having heard Ludden again on the first two radio episodes of what was then called College Quiz Bowl (1953). I thought Ludden handled things as smoothly as he could despite neither he nor the producers yet knowing quite what to do if someone rang in before he finished a tossup question.
-
That's cool, I just never saw a particularly wide gap in the quality of their hosting styles. I think I actually ranked Hall higher on my list but I was still always fond of the Ludden I saw on TV.
I didn't dislike what I saw on TV either, but when making my list I tried to think of the whole body of work that each one did, and how they pulled it off. I had three major hosts that didn't make my top 20 - Richard Dawson, Jack Barry, and Allen Ludden. Again, not necessarily because I didn't like them (we've discussed Dawson and Barry earlier in this thread), but because, taking all things into account, I found 20 I thought were better.
When I first started making my list I was surprised at how many worthy candidates there were. I think I started with 59, and had to eliminate in several rounds to get down to 20. I thought Jack and Allen would have made the lower part of my top 20, but in the end neither one did.
-
Password is a fairly simple format to emcee. Let's Make A Deal has a lot going on -- every show is different. The testament to Monty's skill as an emcee is that he made doing a show like LMAD look so easy, practically effortless.
-
Monty is so good that he was tapped to host two Goodson shows (BTC and, as a sub, Password) while running a competing game show factory.
-
I think Allen's and Monty's ranks are by-products of what they are most associated with. Sure Monty may be the better handler, but I think there are more people who would take Password over Let's Make a Deal, which could explain the positioning
Also of note is that's it's two frigging ranks, which means little to none, especially since neither are the Big Six.
/Perry could probably outhost them both, so there. :P
-
[color=\"#009900\"]6 Dick Clark[/color] (811, 59/68, including three first-place votes)
The Pyramid
The Challengers
It Takes Two
The Krypton Factor
Missing Links
The Object Is
Scattergories
Winning Lines
Challenge of the Child Geniuses
-
I want a word with the nine people whose ballots were Dickless. :)
-
[quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'135442\' date=\'Oct 24 2006, 10:45 AM\']
I want a word with the nine people whose ballots were Dickless. :)[/quote]
Turns out six of them had Richard Dawson on their lists. So technically, only three were completely Dickless.
-
[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'135443\' date=\'Oct 24 2006, 10:12 AM\']
[quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'135442\' date=\'Oct 24 2006, 10:45 AM\']
I want a word with the nine people whose ballots were Dickless. :)[/quote]
Turns out six of them had Richard Dawson on their lists. So technically, only three were completely Dickless.
[/quote]
There's a Bonnie Bernstein joke in there somewhere.
/Way too obscure, unless you follow TV sports religiously.
Doug
-
[quote name=\'SRIV94\' post=\'135444\' date=\'Oct 24 2006, 08:23 AM\']
There's a Bonnie Bernstein joke in there somewhere.
[/quote]
I'd hit it like a linebacker on Matt Hasselbeck's knee.
/oof
-
[quote name=\'clemon79 & Matt Ottinger\' post=\'135442\' date=\'Oct 24 2006, 09:45 AM\']
I want a word with the nine people whose ballots were Dickless. :)
Turns out six of them had Richard Dawson on their lists. So technically, only three were completely Dickless.
[/quote]
Apparently, those three had their Dick's out when they made their 20th choice! :-p
-
[quote name=\'TimK2003\' post=\'135464\' date=\'Oct 24 2006, 02:28 PM\']
[quote name=\'clemon79 & Matt Ottinger\' post=\'135442\' date=\'Oct 24 2006, 09:45 AM\']
I want a word with the nine people whose ballots were Dickless. :)
Turns out six of them had Richard Dawson on their lists. So technically, only three were completely Dickless.
[/quote]
Apparently, those three had their Dick's out when they made their 20th choice! :-p
[/quote]
I'm not touching those with a ten-foot pole. :)
-
Well, I, for one, Dicked my ballot.
-
[quote name=\'TimK2003\' post=\'135464\' date=\'Oct 24 2006, 02:28 PM\']
Apparently, those three had their Dick's out when they made their 20th choice! :-p
[/quote]
Brooke Burns got votes?!
-
[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'135443\' date=\'Oct 24 2006, 10:12 AM\']
[quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'135442\' date=\'Oct 24 2006, 10:45 AM\']
I want a word with the nine people whose ballots were Dickless. :)[/quote]
Turns out six of them had Richard Dawson on their lists. So technically, only three were completely Dickless.
[/quote]
"Clark or Dawson... which is THE BIGGER DICK?"
Oh no, here comes Bill Anderson with his instrument again...
-
Always with the Wagstaff around here . . .
-
[quote name=\'mcsittel\' post=\'135497\' date=\'Oct 24 2006, 04:42 PM\']
[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'135443\' date=\'Oct 24 2006, 10:12 AM\']
[quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'135442\' date=\'Oct 24 2006, 10:45 AM\']
I want a word with the nine people whose ballots were Dickless. :)[/quote]
Turns out six of them had Richard Dawson on their lists. So technically, only three were completely Dickless.
[/quote]
"Clark or Dawson... which is THE BIGGER DICK?"
Oh no, here comes Bill Anderson with his instrument again...
[/quote]
I have to share this memory because of your comment. When I was in college, one of the people in my circle of friends was from South America and was always saying, in his accent, "You deek!" Some of us imagined a game show, of unspecified format, looking something like the Match Game set, hosted by my friend. "Join our stars ... Dick Clark ... Dick Gautier ... Angie Dickinson ... Dick Dawson ... and Dick Martin ... on Deek-Speak! ... And here's the host of Deek-Speak, H.F.!" He would walk in like Gene Rayburn and greet the panel, "Hello, you Deeks!"
-
And you could include Tim Allen ... his real name is Tim Dick.
-
[color=\"#009900\"]5 Alex Trebek[/color] (833, 64/68, including three first-place votes)
Jeopardy!
The $128,000 Question
Battlestars
Classic Concentration
Double Dare
High Rollers
Pitfall
To Tell The Truth
The Wizard of Odds
National Geographic Bee
-
[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'135524\' date=\'Oct 25 2006, 08:11 AM\']
[color=\"#009900\"]5 Alex Trebek[/color] (833, 64/68, including three first-place votes)
[/quote]
And I thought for sure Alex was going to come in at number SEVENNnnaahhh. :-p
-
I had Trebek at number 13 on my list. I'm betting that if it weren't for J! he'd be a lot lower on most people's lists. I'm not saying he's bad by any means. He's perfect for the modern incarnation of J!. Without it, he'd be remembered as just another game show host.
Of course, this is true for many of the folks on our list. Would Art Fleming have made it without the original J!, or Richard Dawson without FF? Uncle Bill is one of the few exceptions to this rule.
-
Would Art Fleming have made it without the original J!, or Richard Dawson without FF?
Of course not. For all intents and purposes, those were the only shows those two had. You can say the same (with different shows of course) for Bob Barker, Allen Ludden, Monty Hall, Dick Clark, etc.
As for Alex, I voted for him mostly on the basis of his other shows. He's not much of a host on J, more of "the guy who reads the answers." But I was a fan of him on High Rollers and his versatilty in going from J to a format like Classic Concentration.
-Jason
-
[quote name=\'JasonA1\' post=\'135528\' date=\'Oct 25 2006, 09:26 AM\']
He's not much of a host on J, more of "the guy who reads the answers."
[/quote]
What, do you want him to lace up the figure skates and jump over barrels?
-
[quote name=\'Neumms\' post=\'135531\' date=\'Oct 25 2006, 07:48 AM\']
What, do you want him to lace up the figure skates and jump over barrels?
[/quote]
You've got to admit, it would make a hell of an entrance.
-
[quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'135532\' date=\'Oct 25 2006, 11:02 AM\']
[quote name=\'Neumms\' post=\'135531\' date=\'Oct 25 2006, 07:48 AM\']
What, do you want him to lace up the figure skates and jump over barrels?
[/quote]
You've got to admit, it would make a hell of an entrance.
[/quote]
I would suggest jumping a shark, but then that would be the beginning of the end of the show.
-
[quote name=\'JasonA1\' post=\'135528\' date=\'Oct 25 2006, 09:26 AM\']
Would Art Fleming have made it without the original J!, or Richard Dawson without FF?
Of course not. For all intents and purposes, those were the only shows those two had. You can say the same (with different shows of course) for Bob Barker, Allen Ludden, Monty Hall, Dick Clark, etc.
[/quote]
Bzzz. Barker doesn't belong in your list--as he had long runs as host of two notable game shows (TPiR and ToC).
And if you want to split hairs, Clark doesn't really belong in your list either. Yes, PYRAMID was his major game show and very few, if any, other game shows he did had that kind of notoriety. But I don't think you can ignore the job he did on BANDSTAND, even though it wasn't a game show. As far as pure hosts went (whether game or music/variety, heck, even the Blooper shows), Clark was as good as any.
Doug
-
My point with that was not to lessen the accomplishments of those people, but to show how useless it is to trot "would they have...if it hadn't been for..." out when you disapprove of a host on the list.
-Jason
-
[quote name=\'JasonA1\' post=\'135535\' date=\'Oct 25 2006, 10:30 AM\']
My point with that was not to lessen the accomplishments of those people, but to show how useless it is to trot "would they have...if it hadn't been for..." out when you disapprove of a host on the list.
[/quote]
Point taken. I withdraw the question.
Oh, too late. :)
Doug
-
[quote name=\'JasonA1\' post=\'135528\' date=\'Oct 25 2006, 09:26 AM\']
Would Art Fleming have made it without the original J!, or Richard Dawson without FF?
Of course not. For all intents and purposes, those were the only shows those two had. You can say the same (with different shows of course) for Bob Barker, Allen Ludden, Monty Hall, Dick Clark, etc.[/quote]
I could definitely see that argument for Fleming (whose only other game show hosting gig was the forgotten radio College Bowl in the late 1970s) but Monty Hall did stamp his character on Video Village and Dick Clark hosted a number of game shows outside Pyramid. Ludden, of course did The Liar's Club as well as the original radio and television versions of College Bowl. On a list I made recently from what I know, of the hosts who've hosted the same game show the longest uninterrupted period of time, Barker apparently ranks first and fourth (don't forget Truth or Consequences). These men may be remembered for one thing in particular but to call them "one trick ponies" would be inaccurate.
]As for Alex, I voted for him mostly on the basis of his other shows. He's not much of a host on J, more of "the guy who reads the answers." But I was a fan of him on High Rollers and his versatilty in going from J to a format like Classic Concentration.
I like Alex on the other shows too, especially High Rollers but to say he's just "the guy who reads the answers" and nothing more is something of a slap. With that many questions in that short a time and to keep track of the contestants, their scores, etc. doesn't look like it would be easy at all.
-
[quote name=\'JasonA1\' post=\'135535\' date=\'Oct 25 2006, 11:30 AM\']
My point with that was not to lessen the accomplishments of those people, but to show how useless it is to trot "would they have...if it hadn't been for..." out when you disapprove of a host on the list. [/quote]
And my point was not to denigrate Trebek, who is very good at what he does, only to explain some of the thinking that went into my decision about where to rank him on my list. He's still on my list, just not quite so high. I don't "disapprove" of his appearance on the list or even of his ranking.
Also, I think it can be fairly said that all our lists are biased toward those people who hosted the shows we really like. I tend to prefer shows with lots of interaction between the host and the participants (whether contestants or celebrities), and even between the host and the audience. Therefore, guys like Barker, Rayburn, Hall, and Dawson rank pretty high on my list, whereas someone like Trebek, who is mostly known for hosting a show where (as was said earlier) he just reads answers and says "right" or "wrong" (and, yes, I know that's overly simplistic and his job is much, much harder than it looks) doesn't make my top ten.
-
[quote name=\'Mike Tennant\' post=\'135538\' date=\'Oct 25 2006, 11:57 AM\']Also, I think it can be fairly said that all our lists are biased toward those people who hosted the shows we really like. [/quote]
I think that's very true, and in my opinion, it's particularly true when it comes to Art Fleming. To Q&A fans of my generation, he was all but worshipped. But when I go back and look at the handful of shows that survive, I can't help but think that he just wasn't very good at all. I have a similar feeling about Peter Marshall, though Marshall made my Top 20 and Fleming didn't.
-
[quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'135532\' date=\'Oct 25 2006, 11:02 AM\']
[quote name=\'Neumms\' post=\'135531\' date=\'Oct 25 2006, 07:48 AM\']
What, do you want him to lace up the figure skates and jump over barrels?
[/quote]
You've got to admit, it would make a hell of an entrance.
[/quote]
No better than coming out of the drive slot of that gigantic computer...
-
But when I go back and look at the handful of shows that survive, I can't help but think that he just wasn't very good at all. I have a similar feeling about Peter Marshall, though Marshall made my Top 20 and Fleming didn't.
Would you care to extrapolate? I can see it for Peter, sure, but I'm curious as to what specifically makes you think Art Fleming isn't that good. (Not to say I disgaree with your opinion, I'm just curious)
-Jason
-
[quote name=\'JasonA1\' post=\'135542\' date=\'Oct 25 2006, 01:01 PM\']Would you care to extrapolate? I can see it for Peter, sure, but I'm curious as to what specifically makes you think Art Fleming isn't that good. (Not to say I disgaree with your opinion, I'm just curious)[/quote]
Tricky, because my opinions tend to go against the traditional ones. Where most people saw him as warm and friendly, I saw a very robotic delivery of a series of prepared phrases. More, he seemed to use the exact same phrases in the exact same cadence every single time. There's a reason why "The answer is..." became much more of a catchphrase during his version of the show than during Trebek's. It's pretty much the only way he EVER revealed a clue!
Believe me, I know from experience that a host has to use the same language over and over to describe game elements, but to me it was more than that. Even his apparent ad-libs seemed planned. If the clue was looking for a female star, for example, you cound count on him just about every time to refer to her as "a fine actress and a lovely lady." When it gets to the point that you expect to hear phrases like that (said exactly the same way every time), something's wrong.
-
[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'135551\' date=\'Oct 25 2006, 12:52 PM\']
If the clue was looking for a female star, for example, you cound count on him just about every time to refer to her as "a fine actress and a lovely lady."
[/quote]
That is better than, "yeah, I did her once." But I see your point, and I'm starting to question my ranking of Peter. (I haven't seen enough Fleming to rate him.)
The thing about Peter's version of the Squares is that he was so in control, the show never got out of control. For such a terrific panel, it's hard to say any particular episode stands out from any other. Certain zingers do, but the proceedings were fairly robotic.
Maybe Bergeron's the better host--he was looser and he had the ability to make a good joke bigger.
-
[quote name=\'Neumms\' post=\'135561\' date=\'Oct 25 2006, 12:31 PM\']
That is better than, "yeah, I did her once."
[/quote]
That would RULE.
"Who is Rosemary Clooney?"
"Yeah, I hit that. Select again."
-
[quote name=\'Neumms\' post=\'135561\' date=\'Oct 25 2006, 02:31 PM\']
The thing about Peter's version of the Squares is that he was so in control, the show never got out of control. For such a terrific panel, it's hard to say any particular episode stands out from any other. Certain zingers do, but the proceedings were fairly robotic.
[/quote]
Point taken, but that's what appealed to me about Marshall. It'd be so easy to lose control in that situation (see Davidson, John), and then you lose sight of the fact that there's a game going on.
For the record, Marshall and Bergeron both made my list. Davidson got points docked for hugging me.
Doug
-
[quote name=\'Neumms\' post=\'135561\' date=\'Oct 25 2006, 03:31 PM\']The thing about Peter's version of the Squares is that he was so in control, the show never got out of control. For such a terrific panel, it's hard to say any particular episode stands out from any other. Certain zingers do, but the proceedings were fairly robotic.
[/quote]
Yeah, but not all of that was Peter's fault. He was under orders to keep the game moving along by a producer who seemed to think we cared who won the tic-tac-toe game. Peter was also not a funny person in his own right. I definitely think Bergeron is the better host of the two by far, and probably one of the greatest hosts ever.
(I had Bergeron at #10 on my list, and BTW I lied before. Turns out I didn't have Marshall in my top 20 after all. Not sure why I thought I did.)
-
For the record, Marshall and Bergeron both made my list. Davidson got points docked for hugging me.
I won't ask...
I definitely think Bergeron is the better host of the two by far, and probably one of the greatest hosts ever.
Although I seem to be one of the few who actually liked Davidson's version of Squares, I didn't even consider John to be one of the 50 best hosts of all time. For the record, I had Marshall at 8 and Bergeron at 13. I think Tom could have finished even higher had he hosted other shows, or been in it for a longer time. I know he was on Fox After Breakfast (that was the name of the show, right), but I'm not sure that was even carried in my area, so my first exposure to him was through Squares.
-
[quote name=\'Ian Wallis\' post=\'135573\' date=\'Oct 25 2006, 03:11 PM\']
For the record, Marshall and Bergeron both made my list. Davidson got points docked for hugging me.
I won't ask...
[/quote]
No need to. (http://\"http://gameshow.ipbhost.com/index.php?showtopic=6451&st=0&p=67072&#\")
Doug
-
[quote name=\'Ian Wallis\' post=\'135573\' date=\'Oct 25 2006, 04:11 PM\']I know he was on Fox After Breakfast (that was the name of the show, right), but I'm not sure that was even carried in my area, so my first exposure to him was through Squares.[/quote]
If you had seen him on FX's Breakfast Time (the cable precursor to Fox After Breakfast) you would have been even more impressed. From that to Squares to AFV to B-List Celebrity Dance-Off, he's basically been good in just about every hosting role he's been given.
-
[quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'135564\' date=\'Oct 25 2006, 03:48 PM\']
[quote name=\'Neumms\' post=\'135561\' date=\'Oct 25 2006, 12:31 PM\']
That is better than, "yeah, I did her once."
[/quote]
That would RULE.
"Who is Rosemary Clooney?"
"Yeah, I hit that. Select again."
[/quote]
This sounds like it could be adapted to a Rich List format.
But I digress.
/who could host?
-
[quote name=\'ChrisLambert!\' post=\'135488\' date=\'Oct 24 2006, 12:12 PM\']
Brooke Burns got votes?!
[/quote]
Unless if they thought it was Brooke Burke, but she's engaged and pregnant.
As far as the list is concerned...I think we know who #1 will be; only thing I can tell you is that even in his age, he still has it.
Jonathan Allen
-
[quote name=\'johnnya2k3\' post=\'135618\' date=\'Oct 25 2006, 05:57 PM\']
As far as the list is concerned...I think we know who #1 will be; only thing I can tell you is that even in his age, he still has it.
[/quote]
I think you're making an _awful_ lot of assumptions. You may end up being right, but I certainly don't think it's a foregone conclusion.
-
[quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'135564\' date=\'Oct 25 2006, 03:48 PM\']
[quote name=\'Neumms\' post=\'135561\' date=\'Oct 25 2006, 12:31 PM\']
That is better than, "yeah, I did her once."
[/quote]
That would RULE.
"Who is Rosemary Clooney?"
"Yeah, I hit that. Select again."
[/quote]
I can see it now. Fleming and Pardo hittin' the town after a five-show session looking for chicks.
Oh, Jack McGee at The National Register would have a field day with that one.
It'd make him forget all about that green creature.
-
Yeah, I can see them workin' as a team...
"How'd you like to go for a Daily Double?"
/right side of the handbasket please
-
Interesting, I expected Trebek and Clark to be higher, like 2 or 3-ish...
For those who care, I put Dick at 2 and (hold on!) Alex at 1. Why? With Dick, pure and simple, he balanced the lighter and more dramatic parts of Pyramid better than just about anyone else I've ever seen host such a game (yes, even Bill on Pyramid). He'd let the stars and contestants dominate the show, run it to near perfection, and still be witty...
With Alex, every show I've seen him host, he's always surprised me with how versatile and seemingly genuine he was (except for those times on Wheel, but...). He's done EVERYTHING in game shows, from word games like CC, which I think he hosted the best of all of them, to luck with High Rollers, pure trivia like Battlestars and Jeopardy, and even panel, with TTTT. All of them, in my mind, wouldn't have been as much fun without him at the helm. He can keep the game running well, can still be fall-on-the-floor funny, and make it all look effortless.
-
[quote name=\'wheelloon\' post=\'135644\' date=\'Oct 25 2006, 09:55 PM\']
from word games like CC
[/quote]
Huh?
-
[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'135551\' date=\'Oct 25 2006, 10:52 AM\']More, he seemed to use the exact same phrases in the exact same cadence every single time. There's a reason why "The answer is..." became much more of a catchphrase during his version of the show than during Trebek's. It's pretty much the only way he EVER revealed a clue![/quote]Yeah, and Dick Clark would almost always lead in to the Winner's Circle with "Here is your first subject..." On the one episode of Art's Jeopardy! I saw, I didn't mind "The answer is..." as much because the show is supposed to move at such a pace that anything much more than a single lead-in would drag down the game. I certainly didn't hold it against him in my ballot. Then again, I've only seen one episode, and not the nearly 2,600 that he hosted.
Believe me, I know from experience that a host has to use the same language over and over to describe game elements, but to me it was more than that. Even his apparent ad-libs seemed planned. If the clue was looking for a female star, for example, you cound count on him just about every time to refer to her as "a fine actress and a lovely lady." When it gets to the point that you expect to hear phrases like that (said exactly the same way every time), something's wrong.
See, I would turn this into a drinking game of sorts. "He said 'Nicely solved!' Everyone chug!"
-
[color=\"#009900\"]4 Gene Rayburn[/color] (837, 62/68, including three first-place votes)
Match Game
Make the Connection
Choose Up Sides
Break the Bank
Dough Re Mi
Movie Masters
The Amateur's Guide to Love
-
[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'135656\' date=\'Oct 26 2006, 09:15 AM\']
[color=\"#009900\"]4 Gene Rayburn[/color] (837, 62/68, including three first-place votes)
Match Game
Make the Connection
Choose Up Sides
Break the Bank
Dough Re Mi
Movie Masters
The Amateur's Guide to Love
[/quote]
Yeah for Gene!
Brian
Lasting expressions?
-
And for the first time in this whole frapping list,my ranking and the group's ranking...
matches. (sound of 10,000 votes and card flips over to say MATCH)
-
[quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'135648\' date=\'Oct 26 2006, 01:06 AM\']
[quote name=\'wheelloon\' post=\'135644\' date=\'Oct 25 2006, 09:55 PM\']
from word games like CC
[/quote]
Huh?
[/quote]
Well, sure: words like "TAKE" and "CAR" figured prominently in the play of Classic Concentration. ;)
-
[quote name=\'Clay Zambo\' post=\'135672\' date=\'Oct 26 2006, 09:35 AM\']
Well, sure: words like "TAKE" and "CAR" figured prominently in the play of Classic Concentration. ;)
[/quote]
Ah, yes. Well, okay then, I suppose if you're one of our members who finds reading words to be a challenge, then perhaps Classic Concentration could be classified as a word game. I get it now. :)
-
In all fairness, while I, too, don't think "word game" when I think of Classic Concentration, a rebus puzzle is a type of word game. So I don't think wheelloon was that far off.
As far as Trebek is concerned, he placed in my top ten not just because he hosted such a wide range of shows, but also because he always knew how to suit his style to the given game -- he has a real appreciation for the rhythms of whatever game he's tasked with. And he's versatile while still conveying a strong personality across the board, unlike a more bland Jim Lange type. Trebek on High Rollers was more excitable and free-wheeling than Trebek on Jeopardy!, but there's a trademark Trebek wit throughout his body of work. I think that's an extraordinary accomplishment for a host.
-
[quote name=\'DrBear\' post=\'135663\' date=\'Oct 26 2006, 09:48 AM\'] And for the first time in this whole frapping list,my ranking and the group's ranking...
matches. (sound of 10,000 votes and card flips over to say MATCH) [/quote]
How ironiccoincidental, I matched here, too. And I can also say "I matched with Richard Dawson."
-
[quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'135622\' date=\'Oct 25 2006, 08:51 PM\']
I think you're making an _awful_ lot of assumptions. You may end up being right, but I certainly don't think it's a foregone conclusion.
[/quote]
I don't think he'll be #1 either but I predicted he'd make the top three (specifically #2) and got heavily pummelled (in another thread) for being ridiculous enough to put him anywhere near that high. I'm sure now that we know he *did* place close to that high there's going to be some gnashing of teeth, perhaps even rioting from those who were so heavily disagreeable before.
-
[quote name=\'cweaver\' post=\'135705\' date=\'Oct 26 2006, 02:48 PM\']
I don't think he'll be #1 either but I predicted he'd make the top three (specifically #2) and got heavily pummelled (in another thread) for being ridiculous enough to put him anywhere near that high. I'm sure now that we know he *did* place close to that high there's going to be some gnashing of teeth, perhaps even rioting from those who were so heavily disagreeable before.
[/quote]
Well, I didn't get a ballot in, so I certainly have no right to complain about the results, but I can say with certainty that there is no-way-no-how that I would have put the WGMC in my top three, and maybe not in my top 5. If the question had been asked in 1990, I probably would have, but I think his reputation has dimished a great deal in the last 10-15 years or so, with the advent of things like the Internet that facilitate communication and make it much harder to hide negative personality traits.
So, yeah. The whole Voltaire thing: disagree with what you say, absolutely defend your right to say it. :)
-
[quote name=\'Stripey\' post=\'135688\' date=\'Oct 26 2006, 03:45 PM\']
In all fairness, while I, too, don't think "word game" when I think of Classic Concentration, a rebus puzzle is a type of word game. So I don't think wheelloon was that far off.
[/quote]
Not taking such big words as CAR and TAKE into account, I thank you for understanding what I was trying to get at and backing me a bit on it. ;)
Exactly as to what kind of game show Classic Concentration would best fit (could be word, could be memory, could be luck) is another discussion for another time, but my main point still remains. Trebek has done a wide range of shows, with a wide range of formats, during his career and he did them very well, IMHO...
Gene, though primarily known for one show, did it so well that he does deserve a spot in the top 10, I believe. I would also like to believe that his stylings could've worked well for many other games, as well, and that we never really got to see all of what he had to offer to the GS world.
-
[quote name=\'wheelloon\' post=\'135710\' date=\'Oct 26 2006, 06:17 PM\']Exactly as to what kind of game show Classic Concentration would best fit (could be word, could be memory, could be luck) is another discussion for another time[/quote]
Puzzle game. "The object of the game is to solve the puzzle." Just like Wheel of Fortune. Neither are word games.
Anything else I can arbitrarily decide for you?
-
there is no-way-no-how that I would have put the WGMC in my top three, and maybe not in my top 5. If the question had been asked in 1990, I probably would have, but I think his reputation has dimished a great deal in the last 10-15 years
Then you're not judging him as an emcee. WGMC is among the best. Barker the executive producer is a monster, IMVHO, who will hopefully get his come-uppance in the next life.
-
[quote name=\'chris319\' post=\'135717\' date=\'Oct 26 2006, 04:39 PM\']
Then you're not judging him as an emcee. WGMC is among the best. Barker the executive producer is a monster, IMVHO, who will hopefully get his come-uppance in the next life.
[/quote]
Fair enough, but did you not do the same with Allen Ludden? Honestly, if I didn't hear the stories from you, I would have no idea he was an asshole.
EDIT: You did say your personal feelings for him didn't enter into your ranking. Mea culpa.
Nonetheless, I think it's perfectly valid to take into account how a host gets along with their coworkers, as that is absolutely part of the job, yes?
-
Nonetheless, I think it's perfectly valid to take into account how a host gets along with their coworkers, as that is absolutely part of the job, yes?
Not on the air, it isn't. On the air, everything's peachy keen. Even Mr. Clementson has said in past posts he respects Barker's work as an emcee, but doesn't care for him personally.
-Jason
-
[quote name=\'JasonA1\' post=\'135727\' date=\'Oct 26 2006, 05:38 PM\']
Not on the air, it isn't. On the air, everything's peachy keen. Even Mr. Clementson has said in past posts he respects Barker's work as an emcee, but doesn't care for him personally.
[/quote]
That's not my point. My point is that the definition of what constitutes "being an emcee" is subjective. Someone wants to consider it only the part that the viewer sees, they're welcome to do that, but I think it's no less valid of an opinion to consider all aspects of the job.
-
Perhaps - but that's not an option for the vast majority of us. We aren't backstage; we don't get to see temper tantrums or star ego exhibitions; we aren't the ones getting yelled at. We hear rumors in entertainment reports or tell-all books; that's hearsay evidence. All we can go by is what's on the screen.
-
[quote name=\'DrBear\' post=\'135729\' date=\'Oct 26 2006, 06:29 PM\']
Perhaps - but that's not an option for the vast majority of us. We aren't backstage; we don't get to see temper tantrums or star ego exhibitions; we aren't the ones getting yelled at. We hear rumors in entertainment reports or tell-all books; that's hearsay evidence. All we can go by is what's on the screen.
[/quote]
Well, and that's your opinion. I'm just saying there are others.
-
Bob Barker didn't get any points on my ballot mainly because his hosting has degenerated so far over the past decade or so. From the "A game went kablooey? You win the prize anyway!" to his oh-so-predictable bit of "It's funny because I said I'm going to push the reveal button, but really I'm going to pull back an inch from it," that I really don't like. If he were to have retired in...say 1995 or so, he'd probably be way at the top of the list for me.
Here's an interesting bit. For years and years, I've loathed Bob Eubanks for a whole list of reasons. Being at the parents's house, I stayed to watch an episode of Bob's Card Sharks. And as far as being the host, he fits perfectly. Maybe it was selective memory on my part, but for that episode, he was genial, in control of the game, cognizant of the rules, able to read the questions properly...he nailed it on all cylinders. Every complaint I ever had about the guy was absent in that half hour. Sure, he's no Jim Perry, and I still like Bill Rafferty better in that role, but Bob's stock went up a little bit yesterday.
-
I think it's perfectly valid to take into account how a host gets along with their coworkers, as that is absolutely part of the job, yes?
Absolutely, but it isn't Barker the emcee who is alleged to have fired staffers and cast members because they wouldn't perjure themselves for him in a deposition or because they called a radio show in support of Holly Hallstrom. It is Barker the executive producer who is alleged to have done those things.
If you want an emcee who is a total jackass off camera and on, look for one who walks out of tapings, who quibbles with the producer both off camera and on, who has people banned from the set, who has no regard for bringing a show in on time, and whom no producer in his right mind would ever hire IMO. I think you know who I'm talking about.
-
If you want an emcee who is a total jackass off camera and on, look for one who walks out of tapings, who quibbles with the producer both off camera and on, who has people banned from the set, who has no regard for bringing a show in on time, and whom no producer in his right mind would ever hire IMO. I think you know who I'm talking about.
Yes...and that's why that particular person didn't make my list!
-
[color=\"#009900\"]3 Tom Kennedy[/color] (896, 61/68, including three first-place votes)
50 Grand Slam
Body Language
Break the Bank
Doctor I.Q.
It's Your Bet
Name That Tune
Password Plus
The Price Is Right
Split Second
To Say the Least
Whew!
Wordplay
You Don't Say
I have to say this was a pleasant surprise for me. In the early stages of the voting, it even looked like he had a chance at #2. Outside of our group, he's hardly a household name, and even in the forum we don't really talk about him all that much. Still, he's second only to Cullen in the number of our top-50 shows he's been associated with.
-
3 Tom Kennedy
Excellent! Personally, I thought he'd finish No. 2. That's where he was on my list, anyway.
I guess that means we know who the top 2 are...and presumably, in what order.
Nice job everyone!!
-
[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'135766\' date=\'Oct 27 2006, 10:12 AM\']
[color=\"#009900\"]3 Tom Kennedy[/color] (896, 61/68, including three first-place votes)
I have to say this was a pleasant surprise for me. In the early stages of the voting, it even looked like he had a chance at #2. Outside of our group, he's hardly a household name, and even in the forum we don't really talk about him all that much. Still, he's second only to Cullen in the number of our top-50 shows he's been associated with.
[/quote]
I don't have my list in front of me right now, but I know I had Tom at either #3 or #4. There's no question in my mind that he belongs at or near the top of the list.
He may not be a household name, but most people over the age of 30 would likely recognize his face, and almost all of them recognize "I can name that tune in two notes."
Why do we not talk about him much? One reason, I think, is that he doesn't turn up on GSN that often, so we don't have opportunities to bring up something we noticed in his work just this morning. Reason number two is that he's so good we just take his work for granted, in much the same way that we don't really talk about Bill Cullen's abilities that often. Reason number three is that he seems to have been as genuine and nice off camera as on; thus, there's not much to discuss about him outside of his on-camera self, unlike the many discussions we have had about crankier off-camera personalities such as Ludden, Dawson, and Barker.
-
[quote name=\'Ian Wallis\' post=\'135774\' date=\'Oct 27 2006, 08:33 AM\']
Excellent! Personally, I thought he'd finish No. 2. That's where he was on my list, anyway.
I guess that means we know who the top 2 are...and presumably, in what order.
[/quote]
I'm thinking that if Number 2 is who I think it's gonna be, then Number 2 couldn't be a more appropriate place for him. :)
-
Yup, had him at No. 3 myself. And he's equally as talented as Nos. 1 and 2 (assuming Jimmy Pardo didn't sneak in ahead of the top two) but didn't have:
1. A long panel career as well as all the hosting job
2. A show that threatens to last forever.
-
I had TK at number 2, so I thought obviously he was great, and I am not adverse to him being at #3 overall.
-
[quote name=\'Monarx\' post=\'135807\' date=\'Oct 27 2006, 03:22 PM\']
I had TK at number 2, so I thought obviously he was great, and I am not adverse to him being at #3 overall.
[/quote]
So far this is the highest ranking reveal to be identical to its place on my own list. And I have a feeling #1 and #2 will do the same.
-
Matt, in the ongoing voting thread you said this at one point:
Remarkably, through twenty ballots, only 57 total names have been mentioned. Very few strays.
The person in first is the person you think it is. The person in second might surprise you.
I'm curious as to who was #2 at that point and was he the same #2 on the final list?
-
[quote name=\'cweaver\' post=\'135887\' date=\'Oct 28 2006, 12:44 AM\']Matt, in the ongoing voting thread you said this at one point:
The person in first is the person you think it is. The person in second might surprise you.
I'm curious as to who was #2 at that point and was he the same #2 on the final list?[/quote]
It was Kennedy at the time who was in the number two position. As I said earlier today, I'm thrilled he ended up as high as he did, but I am surprised by it, even though he was #2 on my own list.
-
I am not adverse to him being at #3 overall.
averse[/b]
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/averse (http://\"http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/averse\")
-
[quote name=\'chris319\' post=\'135892\' date=\'Oct 28 2006, 02:14 AM\']
I am not adverse to him being at #3 overall.
averse[/b]
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/averse (http://\"http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/averse\")
[/quote]
Adverse (http://\"http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/adverse\") seems to work just as well, unless I'm missing something.
-
[color=\"#009900\"]2 Bob Barker[/color] (990, 63/68, including nine first-place votes)
The Family Game, others
-
[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'135907\' date=\'Oct 28 2006, 10:43 AM\']
[color=\"#009900\"]2 Bob Barker[/color] (990, 63/68, including nine first-place votes)
The Family Game, others
[/quote]
Man, and he was really really good on that show, from what I hear. What is he up to now?
(We all now know who #1 is, if it wasn't already deadly obvious. Here's hoping he was on all 68 ballots.)
-
[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'135907\' date=\'Oct 28 2006, 09:43 AM\']
[color=\"#009900\"]2 Bob Barker[/color] (990, 63/68, including nine first-place votes)
The Family Game, others
[/quote]
A-ha!
In a previous thread I mentioned "it would seem" Barker would be a lock to be in the top two (qualified it in case I was wrong) and boy did I hear about that. I guess we can now say he officially has a lock on number 2, this is the poll itself talking now. And he deserves it, for his longevity and the talent he's shown in that time. I don't know of any other host who could've made The Price is Right last that long, and I just don't think you can ignore his record breaking and record setting achievements and expect to be taken seriously. And I never, ever bought the "jack of all trades is inherently better than a trained craftsman" argument (i.e. he only hosted two or three shows), I think both types are equally good at what they do.
When I caught hell about it in the other thread, I later noticed it was the same few people saying it over and over again. Seems to be like what I call the Limbaugh Theory: if you make enough vehement noise you can appear to represent most people even though it couldn't be further from the truth. I know everyone's entitled to their very strong opinions about whether Barker should even be in the top 10 (as several insisted he shouldn't be) but I expect some mea culpas to start flying over whether it was ridiculous for me to predict he'd be in the top two.
-
I made sure to go back to the original post where this all started (http://\"http://gameshow.ipbhost.com/index.php?showtopic=11330&st=399#\") before I responded. Your response here seems to be much bigger than somebody who qualified his statement with "it would seem." There wasn't much of an "uproar" over your suggestion; in the thread, two people responded directly to your post (one of which was me) and a few others responded to the responses therein, and the whole thing was maybe 7 posts.
I can't speak for the others in the thread, but I'll reiterate my position - that I (not speaking for everybody else as you'd like, so I "lose" in this instance) thought he wasn't top two material. That I personally would rank people above him.
-Jason
-
[quote name=\'JasonA1\' post=\'135915\' date=\'Oct 28 2006, 11:59 AM\']
I made sure to go back to the original post where this all started (http://\"http://gameshow.ipbhost.com/index.php?showtopic=11330&st=399#\") before I responded. Your response here seems to be much bigger than somebody who qualified his statement with "it would seem." [/quote]
Yeah, I hardly see that thread as "catching hell". A quick accounting suggests a handful of people agreed with you and a handful didn't. I don't think anybody was specifically challenging your prediction, since it doesn't take a psychic to know that no matter how some of us feel about him, Barker was going to be very, very high on the list.
Anyway, hardly an uproar, and not a personal attack among them. No one called you or your prediction "ridiculous" and most were simply giving their opinions about why they thought Barker didn't deserve to be ranked so high. Those opinions are every bit as valid today as they were last month, they just don't happen to match the poll results.
For the record, if you asked everybody who voted, "Do you think Bob Barker belongs in the top two?" a significant majority (42 out of 68) would say "No". Plenty of folks had him third or fourth or fifth though. Polls are funny things.
-
[quote name=\'Monarx\' post=\'135897\' date=\'Oct 28 2006, 12:59 AM\']
[quote name=\'chris319\' post=\'135892\' date=\'Oct 28 2006, 02:14 AM\']
I am not adverse to him being at #3 overall.
averse[/b]
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/averse (http://\"http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/averse\")
[/quote]
Adverse (http://\"http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/adverse\") seems to work just as well, unless I'm missing something.
[/quote]The adjectives adverse and averse are related both etymologically and semantically, each having “opposition” as a central sense. Adverse is seldom used of people but rather of effects or events, and it usually conveys a sense of hostility or harmfulness: adverse reviews; adverse winds; adverse trends in the economy. Related nouns are adversity and adversary: Adversities breed bitterness. His adversaries countered his every move. Averse is used of persons and means “feeling opposed or disinclined”; it often occurs idiomatically with a preceding negative to convey the opposite meaning “willing or agreeable,” and is not interchangeable with adverse in these contexts: We are not averse to holding another meeting. The related noun is aversion: She has a strong aversion to violence. Averse is usually followed by to, in older use occasionally by from.
-
Oh, come now, Chris C. Next you'll be telling me there ain't no such word as "ain't." :)
Doug -- and the countdown to 2400 continues
-
Well, I can settle with Bob Barker being #2. Aren't we forgetting he did "Truth or Consequences" prior to TPIR?
I guess we now know who the top spot belongs to.
Jonathan Allen
-
[quote name=\'johnnya2k3\' post=\'135933\' date=\'Oct 28 2006, 11:29 AM\']
Well, I can settle with Bob Barker being #2. Aren't we forgetting he did "Truth or Consequences" prior to TPIR?
[/quote]
No, the voters just didn't think he deserved to be #1. Period.
Why is this such a difficult thing for you to come to terms with?
(Frankly, I'm most amused that five voters didn't include His Royal Bobness AT ALL. I wouldn't have done that myself, but it's amusing.)
-
[quote name=\'cweaver\' post=\'135910\' date=\'Oct 28 2006, 08:05 AM\']
but I expect some mea culpas to start flying over whether it was ridiculous for me to predict he'd be in the top two.
[/quote]
Expect to be waiting a while, then. 'Cuz I just don't see it.
/Bo Snerdly, who's our next caller? Where's my Oxycontin?
//this place creates drama just fine without some people making it up out of whole cloth, thanks
-
Thanks, Chris! :-)
-
Add to Barker's resume the early local radio shows, one that Ralph Edwards caught and started him in tv, plus the pageants, bake-offs and things he hosted other than game shows, you can see why some put him so high on the list as a legendary host. But a lot of people kept it television game shows only, and #2 is very appropriate in a historical sense - considering the #1 choice has brought more personality, goodwill, wit and warmth to the table than Bob has ever manage to scrape up. And most have agreed.
-
[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'135923\' date=\'Oct 28 2006, 11:52 AM\']
Anyway, hardly an uproar, and not a personal attack among them. No one called you or your prediction "ridiculous" and most were simply giving their opinions about why they thought Barker didn't deserve to be ranked so high. Those opinions are every bit as valid today as they were last month, they just don't happen to match the poll results.[/quote]
OK first of all, mea culpa on the mea culpas.
Secondly I never meant to imply or say anyone responded especially nastily or personally attacked me, they certainly never did. In fact their responses--and this whole process--has been rather fun and I took none of this personally, I was talking smack (and apologies for going over the line if I did).
These people did disagree, yes, and some aired some strong opinions concerning a "sinking ship" and using words like "insufferable." (That's what I meant by "vehement noise," but evidently I used the term "caught hell" rather loosely.) And it was my indicating Bob Barker at #2 that seemed to set some of them off. In fact here's what JasonA1 said:
For me anyway, it was your saying Barker had a lock on number two that got me to respond. If you had said top 10, you'd have no issue with me. But with Tom Kennedy, Dick Clark and hosts (har har) of others out there, saying he had number 2 was a bit of stretch IMO.
Polls may be funny things, but obviously it wasn't that much of a stretch. I know there are some around here who just don't like Bob Barker (or like him but not that much) and even figure he may have squandered his place in television history (not a bad point, actually) but I think the poll shook out just like it should.
-
[quote name=\'johnnya2k3\' post=\'135933\' date=\'Oct 28 2006, 11:29 AM\']I guess we now know who the top spot belongs to.[/quote]
Yes, and I think many congratulations are in order for our #1 host: Michael Carrington!
-
Actually, I was surprised Bob Saget got so many votes so quickly.
-
[color=\"#009900\"]1 Bill Cullen[/color] (1240, 66/68, including 43 first-place votes)
Winner Take All, Hot Potato, several in between
Not even close. Besides the 43 first-place votes, there were ten second-place votes and ten more that had him in the top five. In other words, only five out of 68 had him lower than fifth place, and that includes the two people who inexplicably left him off their lists completely. Not bad for a guy who hasn't been with us for sixteen years.
-
I recently received an old time radio cassette of Cullen hosting a 1954 Stop the Music. I was very surprised at how funny he was--not pleasant-host funny but actually laugh-out-loud funny--interacting with the contestants. (I don't remember if it's the same one Matt has on his site, in a clip.) Bert Parks gets all the attention on that show but Cullen was a considerably better host IMHO.
-
This will be a lovely series of posts to file away and present to the powers that be at GSN when they decide to do their own Top 20 Hosts marathon and arbitrarily put someone like Graham Elwood first.
You want to know how to become a master communicator, interviewer, panel moderator, announcer, or raconteur? Study the great Bill Cullen.
-
And once again, here we go. I compiled the complete list of our top votes so everyone doesn't have to go through every single page to find them again. (Keep in mind two votes were needed to make the list.)
59. Guy Smiley
58. Anne Robinson
57. Joe Garagiola
53. Bob Goen
53. Steve Allen
53. Robert Q. Lewis
53. Betty White
52. Jack Clark
51. Chuck Barris
50. George Gray
49. Art Linkletter
48. Jan Murray
47. Ben Stein
46. Bil Dwyer
45. Bert Parks
44. Kevin O'Connell
42. Mark L. Walberg
42. Larry Blyden
41. Hal March
40. Jeff Probst
39. Howie Mandel
38. Hugh Downs
37. Todd Newton
36. John O' Hurley
35. Bill Rafferty
34. Meredith Vieira
33. Dennis James
32. Jim Peck
31. Jim Lange
30. Groucho Marx
29. Ray Combs
28. Art James
27. Regis Philbin
26. Bud Collyer
25. Tom Bergeron
24. Jack Barry
23. Marc Summers
22. Bert Convy
21. Art Fleming
20. Jack Narz
19. John Charles Daly
18. Garry Moore
17. Richard Dawson
16. Pat Sajak
15. Peter Tomarken
14. Bob Eubanks
13. Geoff Edwards
12. Peter Marshall
11. Wink Martindale
10. Chuck Woolery
9. Monty Hall
8. Jim Perry
7. Allen Ludden
6. Dick Clark
5. Alex Trebek
4. Gene Rayburn
3. Tom Kennedy
2. Bob Barker
1. Bill Cullen
-
Here's my list, board's rank in parentheses.
1) Bill Cullen (1)
Not surprising.
2) Tom Kennedy (3)
I'm glad he got up to #3.
3) Geoff Edwards (13)
Surprised he was this low.
4) Bob Barker (2)
5) Jim Perry (8)
6) Dick Clark (6)
7) Allen Ludden (7)
8) Marc Summers (23)
9) Gene Rayburn (4)
10) Monty Hall (9)
11) Jeff Probst (40)
12) Wink Martindale (11)
13) Alex Trebek (5)
14) Peter Tomarken (15)
15) Bert Convy (22)
16) Richard Dawson (17)
17) Chuck Woolery (10)
18) Peter Marshall (12)
19) Art Fleming (21)
20) Chuck Barris (51)
-
[quote name=\'DrBear\' post=\'135998\' date=\'Oct 29 2006, 10:13 AM\']
Actually, I was surprised Bob Saget got so many votes so quickly.
[/quote]
He scored high with Your Mother.
Nice to see my brain blip of leaving Barker off had no effect on the final rankings whatsoever. For the record, on my revised list I ended up slotting him at #10.
-
Here's my own list, board's rank in parantheses:
1. Bill Cullen (1)
2. Bob Barker (2)
3. Tom Kennedy (3)
4. Jack Narz (20)
5. Peter Marshall (12)
6. Monty Hall (9; How about that, I did rank him above Allen Ludden)
7. Art Fleming (21)
8. Dick Clark (6)
9. Gene Rayburn (4)
10. Alex Trebek (5)
11. Allen Ludden (7)
12. Chuck Woolery (10)
13. Art Linkletter (49)
14. Richard Dawson (17)
15. John Daly (19)
16. Meredith Viera (34)
17. Tom Bergeron (25)
18. Pat Sajak (16)
19. John O'Hurley (36)
20. Garry Moore (18)
-
Why not...
1. Bill Cullen (1)
2. Tom Kennedy (3)
3. Alex Trebek (5)
4. Bob Barker (2)
5. Gene Rayburn (4)
6. Wink Martindale (11)
7. Monty Hall (9)
8. Allen Ludden (7)
9. Chuck Woolery (10)
10. Jim Perry (8)
11. Dick Clark (6)
12. Jack Narz (20)
13. Peter Marshall (12)
14. Tom Bergeron (25)
15. John O'Hurley (36)
16. Geoff Edwards (13)
17. Bert Convy (22)
18. Regis Philbin (27)
19. Groucho Marx (30)
20. Bil Dwyer (46)
-
1. Alex Trebek (5)
2. Bob Barker (2)
3. Gene Rayburn (4)
4. Bill Cullen (1)
5. Chuck Woolery (10)
6. Pat Sajak (16)
7. Dick Clark (6)
8. John Charles Daly (19)
9. Peter Marshall (12)
10. Allen Ludden (7)
11. Richard Dawson (17)
12. Tom Kennedy (3)
13. Bert Convy (22)
14. Jim Perry (8)
15. Art Fleming (21)
16. Monty Hall (9)
17. Jack Barry (24)
18. Marc Summers (23)
19. Bud Collyer (26)
20. Bob Eubanks (14)
-
My top 20 shook out this way:
1) Rayburn (4)
2) Cullen (1)
3) Kennedy, Tom (3)
4) Marshall (12)
5) Edwards (13)
6) Woolery (10)
7) Trebek (5)
8) Eubanks (14)
9) Tomarken (15)
10) Convy (22)
11) Perry (8)
12) Clark, Jack (52)
13) Barker (2)
14) Hall (9)
15) James (28)
16) Summers (23)
17) Peck (32)
18) Goen (53)
19) Gray (50)
20) Forsythe (Not On List) -- From what I have read about him and all the shows he hosted, would he be considered the Bill Cullen of the UK?
Not making my list:
Dick Clark -- For some reason, I couldn't put him on my list. I think of him as a little too laid back.
Allen Ludden -- Like Dick Clark, he was widely known for one game show, and a handful of lesser-knowns.
Wink Martindale -- He is so game-show host-est, but that what bugged me about him.
Pat Sajak -- Only one show -- one that could pretty much run on auto-pilot without him.
Richard Dawson -- When he was unhappy, he brought others down with him.
Garry Moore -- Likeable, but there were 20 others I liked more.
John Daly -- Before my time
Jack Narz -- See Garry Moore.
-
Here's my list (with added comments):
1. Bill Cullen (1)
2. Jim Perry (8)
3. Dick Clark (6)
4. Gene Rayburn (4)
5. Tom Kennedy (3)
6. Bil Dwyer (46) (I was surprised to see him so low; I feel he's the best host of the 2000 era.)
7. Marc Summers (23)
8. Alex Trebek (5) (I guess the "High Rollers" finale docked him some.)
9. Peter Tomarken (15)
10. Wink Martindale (11)
11. Jim Peck (32) (Okay, so I may have been biased on this one. But he's still good.)
12. Bob Barker (2) (Even after all those lawsuits, he's #2?)
13. Bob Eubanks (14)
14. Allen Ludden (7)
15. Jim Lange (31)
16. Regis Philbin (27) (The phoenix of the list.)
17. Richard Dawson (17)
18. Chuck Woolery (10)
19. Bert Convy (22)
20. Bill Rafferty (35)
Note about my list: I kept it to people who have hosted more than one game show, as I feel that shows talent more than having just one show.
-
My ballot: 1. Bill Cullen. Did it all, did it well and did it for a long time. (1 in final rankings)
2. Allen Ludden. Excellent combination of intelligence and enthusiasm - he loved
doing both “College Bowl” and “Password” and it showed. (7)
3. Tom Kennedy. Another great generalist, handled the easygoing “You Don’t
Say!” and the speedy “Split Second” with equal success. (3)
4. Gene Rayburn. He did other shows but was perfect for “Match Game.” (4)
5. Bob Barker. Just two shows, but both lasted forever. Might have been higher had
he not stayed so long as to be phoning it in.(2)
6. Garry Moore. The best host of two of the big three panel shows.(18)
7. Alex Trebek. J has overshadowed his past work.(5)
8. Tom Bergeron. Love to see this guy do more shows; he was perfect for “Squares”
and AFV. Which in its own way is a game show. (25)
9. Jack Barry. Can’t stand the guy but his longevity and comeback ability is
astounding.(24)
10. Art Linkletter. Bob Barker’s predecessor in so many ways. (49)
11. Richard Dawson. Hey, if we didn’t include hosts with egos this would be
a short list. Made the most of his big chance. (17)
12. Bud Collyer - not a personal favorite but two huge successes which he ran well.(26)
13. Dick Clark - for “The Object Is” of course...not that Pyramid show. (6)
14. Peter Marshall - for all those years on Squares; he never had another show that
good. (12)
15. Monty Hall - He did do something other than LMAD, didn’t he? (9)
16. Bill Leyden - my token forgotten choice, did a lot of 60s shows and even filled
in for Monty Hall on LMAD a couple of times. One of the first GS hosts I remember.(a one vote wonder)
17. Groucho Marx - consider this; the show didn’t work without him. (30)
18. Art Fleming. If John Daly had ever had to leave WML? he would have been a wonderful
stand in. (21)
19. Chuck Woolery - helped usher in the new era with his aw-shucks style.(10)
20. John Charles Patrick Croghan Daly. Sure, a one-show wonder...but for 17 years. (19)
NOT LISTED in TOP 30
Jim Perry (8) - This goes to "voting for hosts in shows we didn't like." Perry did a good job on two shows - "Sale" and "Sharks" that I never really liked.
Wink Martindale (11) - Too much of a cliche for me...I think his best work is the Orbitz ads.
Geoff Edwards (13) - I know he's a favorite here and from what I hear a nice guy, but his style isn't one that appeals to me.
Bob Eubanks (14) Never saw him in anything good - I never saw him host "Dream House" on a regular basis, and I hated CS and TNG.
Peter Tomarken (15) - Other than PYL, nothing that appealed to me - and there were a lot of hosts who could have succeeded there.
Pat Sajak (16) - Somewhere in the 20-25 range, strictly on longevity.
Jack Narz (20) - Another veteran who never really had the big show that would have moved him up.
Bert Convy (22) - OK on Tattletales, not on SP.
Marc Summers (23)-probably ignorance of Nick shows on my part.
Regis Phiubububinnn (27)-It would be interesting to see what a "real" host would have done with Millionaire. I do respect Regis for managing not to strangle Kathie Lee during all those years.
Art James (28) - Rather like Narz, although I did like the three Ws
Ray Combs (29) - Deserves credit for taking over a show that was so host dominated and doing a good job.
-
[quote name=\'WhammyPower\' post=\'136047\' date=\'Oct 29 2006, 02:09 PM\']
(I guess the "High Rollers" finale docked him some.)[/i]
[/quote]
You gotta be kidding me. TELL ME you're kidding me.
(Can we make "perpetrating the 'Alex Was Drunk' rumor with more than 100 posts under your belt" at LEAST a suspendable offense? Please?)
-
Because everyone cares what I think:
1. Bill Cullen (1)*
2. Geoff Edwards (13)
3. Tom Kennedy (3)*
4. Dick Clark (6)
5. Marc Summers (23)
6. Jim Perry (8)
7. Gene Rayburn (4)
8. Wink Martindale (11)
9. Jack Narz (20)
10. Peter Marshall (12)
11. Peter Tomarken (15)
12. Art Fleming (21)
13. Monty Hall (9)
14. Bob Eubanks (14)*
15. Art James (28)
16. Alex Trebek (5)
17. Bob Barker (2)
18. Allen Ludden (7)
19. John Charles Patrick Croghan Daly (19)*
20. Jim Peck (32)
*position match
Top-20ers not on my list: Chuck Woolery (10), Pat Sajak (16), Richard Dawson (17), Garry Moore (18)
Aside from Chuck Woolery (what the heck do people see in him, anyway?), I seemed to follow the sentiments of the group fairly closely. Did anyone beat four exact position matches?
-
[quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'136049\' date=\'Oct 29 2006, 06:26 PM\']
(Can we make "perpetrating the 'Alex Was Drunk' rumor with more than 100 posts under your belt" at LEAST a suspendable offense? Please?)
[/quote]
I'm sorry if I'm sound like a "Woolery left Wheel"er, but was it proven that Alex was not drunk on the HR Finale? (I don't think he was myself.)
-Joe R.
-
[quote name=\'JRaygor\' post=\'136051\' date=\'Oct 29 2006, 02:57 PM\']
I'm sorry if I'm sound like a "Woolery left Wheel"er, but was it proven that Alex was not drunk on the HR Finale? (I don't think he was myself.)
[/quote]
Christ.
-
Did anyone beat four exact position matches?
I had five. Cullen, Kennedy, Trebek, Jim Perry & Chuck Woolery. I also had Geoff Edwards, Bob Eubanks, and Peter Tomarken in that order like the group did, but placed them each one rank higher than the final list. Shucks.
-Jason
-
[quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'136052\' date=\'Oct 29 2006, 07:08 PM\']
Christ.
[/quote]
Asshole.
-
[quote name=\'JRaygor\' post=\'136055\' date=\'Oct 29 2006, 07:27 PM\']
[quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'136052\' date=\'Oct 29 2006, 07:08 PM\']
Christ.
[/quote]
Asshole.
[/quote]
What was that for? You were basically reiterating the same thing Chris was, that "Trebek being drunk" thing is nothing more than a rumor.
-
I apologize, but I am a very sensitive person and I really don't have much tolerance at being snarked at.
-Joe R.
-
[quote name=\'JRaygor\' post=\'136051\' date=\'Oct 29 2006, 05:57 PM\']
[quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'136049\' date=\'Oct 29 2006, 06:26 PM\']
(Can we make "perpetrating the 'Alex Was Drunk' rumor with more than 100 posts under your belt" at LEAST a suspendable offense? Please?)
[/quote]
I'm sorry if I'm sound like a "Woolery left Wheel"er, but was it proven that Alex was not drunk on the HR Finale? [/quote]
Those who make the accusation bear the burden of proof... otherwise, perhaps I should revoke your posting privileges until you prove that you're not posting while drunk. Oh, and yeah, it's been debunked (http://\"http://groups.google.com/group/alt.tv.game-shows/msg/e1f95b8db7ec8364\").
(For the uninitiated, back in the ATGS days Chris Jaunsen worked with Paul "The Flea" to assemble an impressive list of which shows were known to survive and which weren't. As it happened, he went to school with HR model Becky Price's daughter Brittany.)
[quote name=\'JRaygor\' post=\'136055\' date=\'Oct 29 2006, 06:27 PM\']
[quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'136052\' date=\'Oct 29 2006, 07:08 PM\']
Christ.
[/quote]
Asshole.
[/quote]
Completely uncalled for, Joe. No Isobooth stay this time since you quickly apologized, but watch it in the future.
[quote name=\'JRaygor\' post=\'136058\' date=\'Oct 29 2006, 07:08 PM\']
I apologize, but I am a very sensitive person and I really don't have much tolerance at being snarked at.
[/quote]
I'm not always thrilled with snarkiness either, but that's not an excuse for prolonging a rumor that's been long debunked, or for name-calling when you don't check your facts.
- David
(neither Christ nor an asshole, last time I checked)
-
I think I will lay low for a while. (Again, I'm sorry)
-Joe R.
-
[quote name=\'Steve McClellan\' post=\'136050\' date=\'Oct 29 2006, 05:39 PM\']Aside from Chuck Woolery (what the heck do people see in him, anyway?)[/quote]
I realize some of his faults as a game show host, but he's (all IMO, of course) funny, personable with contestants, and always seems to actually be interested in the game. On Scrabble, for instance, he always kept the players aware of the current situation (when he wasn't tongue-tied), had fun with the punny clues, and so on.
-
[quote name=\'dzinkin\' post=\'136059\' date=\'Oct 29 2006, 07:16 PM\']
- David
(neither Christ nor an asshole, last time I checked)
[/quote]
[color=\"#FF9900\"]Does that make you an egghead?
Is it just me or has the ghost of Randy Amasia possessed some of us on this Halloween season?[/color]
-
[quote name=\'GS Warehouse\' post=\'136075\' date=\'Oct 29 2006, 10:25 PM\'][quote name=\'dzinkin\' post=\'136059\' date=\'Oct 29 2006, 07:16 PM\']
- David
(neither Christ nor an asshole, last time I checked)[/quote]
Does that make you an egghead?
Is it just me or has the ghost of Randy Amasia possessed some of us on this Halloween season?[/quote]
Next time, when you go for the lame joke, at least attribute the quote to the proper person (http://\"http://groups.google.com/group/alt.tv.game-shows/browse_frm/thread/1d4786509041d204/1767f10602bf18d1?lnk=st&q=eggheads+assholes+group%3Aalt.tv.game-shows&rnum=65&hl=en#1767f10602bf18d1\").
-
[quote name=\'Robert Hutchinson\' post=\'136065\' date=\'Oct 29 2006, 08:57 PM\']
I realize some of his faults as a game show host, but he's (all IMO, of course) funny, personable with contestants, and always seems to actually be interested in the game. On Scrabble, for instance, he always kept the players aware of the current situation (when he wasn't tongue-tied), had fun with the punny clues, and so on.
[/quote]
Only once in my life have I ever seen the work of a game show host from studio level. And that was Chuck Woolery, hosting the 1999 edition of the TV Land Ultimate Fan Search. It couldn't have been one of his best days ever hosting game shows, as the people who put this one together apparently operated under 1 Vs. 100 type rules (one little mistake and everyone shuts down the show and panics; 30 minute show took four hours to tape and TV Land President Larry Jones walked out of the taping in a huff).
My brother was allowed during one of the lengthier shutdowns to go outside for a smoke break, where he was joined a short time later by Chuck himself who told him he couldn't believe what all was going on. That's the only indication I saw at any point of Chuck's not being overly thrilled about how everything was going, as the rest of the time he was very highly professional. Every time the show went to break or (quite often) came to a grinding halt, he went straight to the audience to keep us entertained and informed and answer any question we had about anything. (He really seemed to enjoy this, actually.) And he kept a happy face and a professional attitude about the whole thing. I was very impressed on how well he did under especially trying circumstances.
-
[quote name=\'cweaver\' post=\'136087\' date=\'Oct 30 2006, 12:20 AM\']
Only once in my life have I ever seen the work of a game show host from studio level. And that was Chuck Woolery, hosting the 1999 edition of the TV Land Ultimate Fan Search. It couldn't have been one of his best days ever hosting game shows, as the people who put this one together apparently operated under 1 Vs. 100 type rules (one little mistake and everyone shuts down the show and panics; 30 minute show took four hours to tape and TV Land President Larry Jones walked out of the taping in a huff).
My brother was allowed during one of the lengthier shutdowns to go outside for a smoke break, where he was joined a short time later by Chuck himself who told him he couldn't believe what all was going on. That's the only indication I saw at any point of Chuck's not being overly thrilled about how everything was going, as the rest of the time he was very highly professional. Every time the show went to break or (quite often) came to a grinding halt, he went straight to the audience to keep us entertained and informed and answer any question we had about anything. (He really seemed to enjoy this, actually.) And he kept a happy face and a professional attitude about the whole thing. I was very impressed on how well he did under especially trying circumstances.
[/quote]
One of my favorite Chuck stories from the Greed days was when he was chatting it up with the audience off camera; all of a sudden and without warning he goes into his old WoF language: "$500 is the top value on the wheel; watch out for that black space, Bankrupt, because if you hit it, you lose all your cash but not your prizes because once you buy a prize it's yours to keep." He went on further, "I remember that like it was yesterday... but I don't remember any of that Scrabble [stuff]."
And I'll agree that Chuck, indeed almost any emcee, could get upset when things were taking too long for one reason or another. Still, he was usually very affable; he'd join staffers at lunch and chat, and I occasionally would speak with him one-on-one.
-
A little late to the party about posting my list, but here we go:
1. Dick Clark (6)
2. Bill Cullen (1)
3. Bob Barker (2)
4. Alex Trebek (5)
5. Gene Rayburn (4)
6. Chuck Woolery (10)
7. Peter Marshall (12)
8. Tom Kennedy (3)
9. Garry Moore (18)
10. Allen Ludden (7)
11. Bob Eubanks (14)
12. Groucho Marx (30)
13. Pat Sajak (16)
14. Tom Bergeron (25)
15. Wink Martindale (11)
16. Johnny Carson (**)
17. Richard Dawson (17)
18. Regis Philbin (27)
19. Bert Convy (22)
20. Jim Perry (8)
Sorry, Monty.
Doug -- and the countdown to 2400 continues
-
I didn't make a list, but there is one thing I'd like to say - nothing against Bill (not sure where I would put him if I had made a list, but it would be pretty high up), but it was nice to see other hosts' pictures at the top.
-
I was concerned that a couple of emcees would be totally forgotten with the passing of time, but I'm glad to see that Art Linkletter and Hal March at least made the list. They might have ranked higher if more people were more familiar with their work. The only emcee left off the list whom I think deserves at least an honorable mention is Jay Jackson.
If you want an emcee who is a total jackass off camera and on, look for one who walks out of tapings, who quibbles with the producer both off camera and on, who has people banned from the set, who has no regard for bringing a show in on time, and whom no producer in his right mind would ever hire IMO. I think you know who I'm talking about.
Lest anyone think I was referring to Allen Ludden, I should add that this particular jackass became so smug that he was let go from another show from the same production company on which he was a regular performer under contract.
-
I just noticed that the top three hosts of all time all hosted the top game show of all time. I thought that was interesting.
-
[quote name=\'Monarx\' post=\'136130\' date=\'Oct 30 2006, 01:27 PM\']
I just noticed that the top three hosts of all time all hosted the top game show of all time. I thought that was interesting.
[/quote]
Well, Ricki Lake did too, but she did not make our survey.
-
[quote name=\'Jimmy Owen\' post=\'136131\' date=\'Oct 30 2006, 10:51 AM\']
Well, Ricki Lake did too, but she did not make our survey.
[/quote]
Nor Doug Davidson. Which merely shows that the act of hosting TPiR does not make you a better host. :)
-
I'll get you off the hook, Doug. I'll come to the party even later.
1. Cullen - no doubt
2. Barker
3. Narz - versatile, warm, friendly, natural.
4. Kennedy - talent runs in the Narz family
5. James -first tv host, Goodson thought he was good enough for Price at the end.
6.-Parks - energy and enthusiasm
7.-Trebeck - the cold fish who finally warmed up
8.- Bailey - Takes great talent to keep maudlin contestants in check and control the show.
9.- Moore - Humor, professionalism, warmth
10.- Hall - no one since has beaten him at the very demanding LMAD
11.- Bergeron - We can all dream for a change of heart
12.- Daly - watching him and Bennett in a battle of big words was always amusing.
13.-Walberg - has long-term potential
14.-Clark - only negative is he tends to want to be so professional that you don't detect enthusiasm.
15.- Ludden
16.-Garagiola - brings plenty of enthusiasm
17.-Lange - knows enough to stay out of the way of the game
18.-Rayburn - maybe should be higher, but I'm comfy here.
19.-Martindale - if only by sheer numbers.
20.-Collyer - Mr. "always in front of a radio mike".
-
Here's mine:
1 Bill Cullen (1)
2 Bob Barker (2)
3 Richard Dawson (17)
4 Dick Clark (6)
5 Alex Trebek (5)
6 Alan Ludden (7)
7 Gene Rayburn (4)
8 Pat Sajak (16)
9 Peter Marshall (12)
10 Chuck Woolery (10)
11 Bob Eubanks (14)
12 John Daly (19)
13 Garry Moore (18)
14 Tom Kennedy (3)
15 Geoff Edwards (13)
16 Wink Martindale (11)
17 Jim Perry (8)
18 Jim Lange (31)
19 Kevin O'Connell (44)
20 John O'Hurley (36)
The last two were spots that I reserved for people who were good but didn't have much of a résumé. I was pleased to see Tom Kennedy make #3 on the survey and surprised to see that I myself only ranked him #14.
-
Since I sent the list in reverse order, I will post it in the same way:
20. Art Fleming
19. Bob Barker
18. Wink Martindale
17. Peter Marshall
16. Monty Hall
15. Groucho Marx
14. Bert Parks
13. Geoff Edwards
12. Jim Perry
11. Jack Barry
10. John Charles Daly
09. Alex Trebek
08. Gene Rayburn
07. Garry Moore
06. Clifton Fadiman
05. Dick Clark
04. Bud Collyer
03. Allen Ludden
02. Tom Kennedy
01. Bill Cullen
Of the notables that I left off the list, some were ones whom I felt that I had seen or heard an insufficient amount of work in order to make a clear judgement (Jack Narz, Art James), some were lacking in terms of influence (most hosts in the last 25 years or so), some were ones that I had "issues", to put it delicately, with their style of hosting (Dennis James, Richard Dawson), and still others didn't quite make the final cut (Chuck Woolery, Jim Lange).