Rich Fields -- How Does He Rate?

[chris319]

How would you rate Rich Fields as a game show announcer? Here is your chance to make your opinion known.

[TimK2003]

He sounds like Bob Hilton on steroids, after a 4 pack of Red-Bull.

[chris319]

[quote name=\'TimK2003\' post=\'122436\' date=\'Jun 25 2006, 06:23 AM\']
He sounds like Bob Hilton on steroids, after a 4 pack of Red-Bull.
[/quote]
I should let you write the poll responses from now on :-)

[TonicBH]

I personally find Rich's voice somewhat obnoxious, and he obviously doesn't have that good a voice to raise without it sounding like he's screaming.

I was hoping for Randy West, even Art Sanders, to become announcer. Hell, I probably would've sufficed with Burton Richardson (I know many will disagree with me) or Paul Boland. Rich just doesn't really have the pipes for Price. Maybe another show.

[PYLW]

I think if he'd tone it down a little, he'd be fine.

[tvwxman]

Rich has two speeds, fast and off. He needs to develop a better range of excitment...to me, that's too evident during the GSM.

He seems like a nice guy, and in his pre show warmup, he talks with great admiration of how Johnny Olsen gave him his first shot 'auditioning' for TPIR 25 years ago, but it's like he's been given the keys to the Cadillac, and all he has is his learner's permit.

That said, he's a lucky bastard. If I knew they were looking for a weather personality to try announcing, I'Da sent a resume.

[chris319]

Johnny Olson gave him his first shot 'auditioning' for TPIR 25 years ago

Beg pardon?

[clemon79]

The best announcer ever! Better even than Johnny Olson.     [ 1 ]  

Apparently Rich reads the board. Who knew?

[Adam Nedeff]

[quote name=\'chris319\' post=\'122458\' date=\'Jun 25 2006, 01:26 PM\']

Johnny Olson gave him his first shot 'auditioning' for TPIR 25 years ago

Beg pardon?
[/quote]

Rich tells this story during his warm-up. He sat in the audience twenty-five years ago, and when Johnny O. asked if there were any questions from the audience, Rich asked if he could try his hand at announcing, so Johnny let him yell "Come on down!"

[chris319]

[quote name=\'Adam Nedeff\' post=\'122460\' date=\'Jun 25 2006, 11:00 AM\']
[quote name=\'chris319\' post=\'122458\' date=\'Jun 25 2006, 01:26 PM\']

Johnny Olson gave him his first shot 'auditioning' for TPIR 25 years ago

Beg pardon?
[/quote]

Rich tells this story during his warm-up. He sat in the audience twenty-five years ago, and when Johnny O. asked if there were any questions from the audience, Rich asked if he could try his hand at announcing, so Johnny let him yell "Come on down!"
[/quote]
Wow.

[chris319]

Apparently Rich reads the board.

So does Gilbert Gottfried and his family.

Between CBS and Fremantle, I think this kind of market research is easily worth five large.

[FeudDude]

I recently went back and watched some late season 32 episodes, and I actually thought Rich sounded a lot better back then - he sounded enthusiastic without screaming everything at the top of his lungs, and he didn't sound as nasally either.  And the same goes for his recent work on the non-TPiR episodes of GSM.   So it's clear that he's capable of being a good announcer (albeit not quite as good as Randy West would've been) when he actually shows control of his voice.  He's just gotten into a rut on TPiR where he doesn't seem to care how he sounds, and I guess the producers don't either.

[quote name=\'TimK2003\' post=\'122436\' date=\'Jun 25 2006, 09:23 AM\']
He sounds like Bob Hilton on steroids, after a 4 pack of Red-Bull.
[/quote]

Nah, that's Paul Boland.

[TimK2003]

[quote name=\'Adam Nedeff\' post=\'122460\' date=\'Jun 25 2006, 01:00 PM\']
Rich tells this story during his warm-up. He sat in the audience twenty-five years ago, and when Johnny O. asked if there were any questions from the audience, Rich asked if he could try his hand at announcing, so Johnny let him yell "Come on down!"
[/quote]


Hell, when I was in the audience for Super Password 19 years ago, and I had mentioned that I worked in radio, Gene Wood let me say the opening spiel (It's Password...It's Super Password!!!) during a shooting break.  

But unlike Rich, I don't claim that as my "big break", or any break for that matter.

[Adam Nedeff]

[quote name=\'TimK2003\' post=\'122467\' date=\'Jun 25 2006, 04:01 PM\']
[quote name=\'Adam Nedeff\' post=\'122460\' date=\'Jun 25 2006, 01:00 PM\']
Rich tells this story during his warm-up. He sat in the audience twenty-five years ago, and when Johnny O. asked if there were any questions from the audience, Rich asked if he could try his hand at announcing, so Johnny let him yell "Come on down!"
[/quote]


Hell, when I was in the audience for Super Password 19 years ago, and I had mentioned that I worked in radio, Gene Wood let me say the opening spiel (It's Password...It's Super Password!!!) during a shooting break.  

But unlike Rich, I don't claim that as my "big break", or any break for that matter.
[/quote]

Maybe I didn't tell it right, but Rich didn't take this as a serious "big break" from the way he told the story. He told it in a vein of "here's an interesting thing about me..."

[narzo]

One thing is everyones assuming he's being loud and "screaming" of his own choosing.  It's entirely possible that this is the sound they want and he's doing what he's being told.  

It's no longer an audience of housewives politely clapping.  The crowd is loud, possibly obnixious, and there could be a producer there telling Rich to fit in with the level of excitment the audience puts out these days.

Bob Barker was interviewed by radio hosts Don and Mike a few months ago and he was highly complimentary of the work Rich is doing.  I think you're hearing what the "suits" want.