Author Topic: Forgotten hosts (Read 6446 times)

Matt Ottinger · « **Reply #15 on:** November 13, 2008, 10:04:58 PM »

[quote name=\'SRIV94\' post=\'201563\' date=\'Nov 13 2008, 08:24 PM\']
[quote name=\'DoorNumberFour\' post=\'201555\' date=\'Nov 13 2008, 05:35 PM\']
I pray that was purposely funny.
[/quote]
I fear that it wasn't.[/quote]
See, I read it completely differently. Unlike a lot of his non-comic contemporaries (Dennis James springs to mind), I think Parks "got" that he was a relic from a different era, and knew perfectly well how ridiculous it was for him to sing a contemporary song. So he sang it in a ridiculous way. I was laughing with him.

davemackey · « **Reply #16 on:** November 13, 2008, 10:12:11 PM »

[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'201575\' date=\'Nov 13 2008, 10:04 PM\']
[quote name=\'SRIV94\' post=\'201563\' date=\'Nov 13 2008, 08:24 PM\']
[quote name=\'DoorNumberFour\' post=\'201555\' date=\'Nov 13 2008, 05:35 PM\']
I pray that was purposely funny.
[/quote]
I fear that it wasn't.[/quote]
See, I read it completely differently. Unlike a lot of his non-comic contemporaries (Dennis James springs to mind), I think Parks "got" that he was a relic from a different era, and knew perfectly well how ridiculous it was for him to sing a contemporary song. So he sang it in a ridiculous way. I was laughing with him.
[/quote]
Robair and I saw this on air in 1976 and were cracking up. To our 15-year-old minds, this was a goof. But later, we realized that Bert was truly losing it.

Robair · « **Reply #17 on:** November 13, 2008, 10:13:58 PM »

Oh, did I mention I had the consummate misfortune to actually see that thing live on TV? And it burnt itself into my conscious. I cannot listen to the original without seeing Bert Parks open his mouth a full frickin' second before he sings "Open the door". Might explain a lot, actually...

Matt Ottinger · « **Reply #18 on:** November 13, 2008, 10:33:20 PM »

[quote name=\'davemackey\' post=\'201577\' date=\'Nov 13 2008, 10:12 PM\']Robair and I saw this on air in 1976 and were cracking up. To our 15-year-old minds, this was a goof. But later, we realized that Bert was truly losing it.[/quote]
[quote name=\'Robair\' post=\'201578\' date=\'Nov 13 2008, 10:13 PM\']Oh, did I mention I had the consummate misfortune to actually see that thing live on TV? And it burnt itself into my conscious. I cannot listen to the original without seeing Bert Parks open his mouth a full frickin' second before he sings "Open the door". Might explain a lot, actually...[/quote]
Ah, Mackey memories.

calliaume · « **Reply #19 on:** November 13, 2008, 10:39:55 PM »

Part of me wonders how Bert Parks continued to host Miss America throughout the '70s, but since it's now airing at 3 A.M. on The Petticoat Junction Channel, I guess maybe the traditionalists insisted.

Going back to the original question, I would have liked to have seen Nick Clooney a chance to host something a little more intelligent. And it would be nice to see Bill Rafferty again.

Winkfan · « **Reply #20 on:** November 13, 2008, 11:20:04 PM »

Quote from: GameShowGuru on November 13, 2008, 10:04:55 PM

One forgotten host I would like to see is Bill Malone, host of the original Supermarket Sweep. Sadly he was killed in a car accident in 1974, so we won't see any retrospective interviews from him.

There is an episode of Bill's "follow-up" show, entitled The Honeymoon Race, that IS on the trading circuit. I managed to get that one from one of my trades with "Chuckie Baby' Donegan.

You can also add Steve Dunne to that list of forgotten hosts. You may not care, but I've named a "syndrome" after this man. It means a host doesn't get more credit than he deserves.

And might I also add that Wayne Cox, Al DuBois, and David Ruprecht are in danger of being added to that list as well; unless they already are.

Cordially,
Tammy

mmb5 · « **Reply #21 on:** November 13, 2008, 11:22:08 PM »

[quote name=\'MikeK\' post=\'201545\' date=\'Nov 13 2008, 04:59 PM\']
[quote name=\'mmb5\' post=\'201539\' date=\'Nov 13 2008, 03:58 PM\']There is one Leyden-hosted episode of Call My Bluff that GSN has aired.[/quote]
Does anybody know when this happened? I don't recall GSN airing Call My Bluff.
[/quote]
Sorry, I meant Get the Message.

TimK2003 · « **Reply #22 on:** November 14, 2008, 09:10:07 AM »

Put me down for Jim Peck being "forgotten". Moreso the "true" Jim Peck, since in the only available programs that are/were available from GSN, we see him either as a 'substitute host' (Jokers Wild) or the 'host of a gawd-awful show' (3's A Crowd).

Most of us will only get to see the real Jim in the handful of eps in the trading/YouTube rounds from the good shows he hosted that he helmed from beginning to end. (You Don't Say, Second Chance, The Big Showdown,...)

Jimmy Owen · « **Reply #23 on:** November 14, 2008, 10:12:07 AM »

[quote name=\'mmb5\' post=\'201583\' date=\'Nov 13 2008, 11:22 PM\']
[quote name=\'MikeK\' post=\'201545\' date=\'Nov 13 2008, 04:59 PM\']
[quote name=\'mmb5\' post=\'201539\' date=\'Nov 13 2008, 03:58 PM\']There is one Leyden-hosted episode of Call My Bluff that GSN has aired.[/quote]
Does anybody know when this happened? I don't recall GSN airing Call My Bluff.
[/quote]
Sorry, I meant Get the Message.
[/quote]

Oh yeah, Frank Buxton. Another forgotten host, though he did write the classic Password episode of "Odd Couple"

Tim L · « **Reply #24 on:** November 14, 2008, 03:09:16 PM »

[quote name=\'Jimmy Owen\' post=\'201600\' date=\'Nov 14 2008, 10:12 AM\']
[quote name=\'mmb5\' post=\'201583\' date=\'Nov 13 2008, 11:22 PM\']
[quote name=\'MikeK\' post=\'201545\' date=\'Nov 13 2008, 04:59 PM\']
[quote name=\'mmb5\' post=\'201539\' date=\'Nov 13 2008, 03:58 PM\']There is one Leyden-hosted episode of Call My Bluff that GSN has aired.[/quote]
Does anybody know when this happened? I don't recall GSN airing Call My Bluff.
[/quote]
Sorry, I meant Get the Message.
[/quote]

Oh yeah, Frank Buxton. Another forgotten host, though he did write the classic Password episode of "Odd Couple"
[/quote] And also voiced the lead character in one of my favorite cartoon series as a kid..Batfink..("Your bullets cannot harm me..My wings are like a shield of steel")

davemackey · « **Reply #25 on:** November 15, 2008, 11:54:14 AM »

[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'201579\' date=\'Nov 13 2008, 10:33 PM\']
[quote name=\'davemackey\' post=\'201577\' date=\'Nov 13 2008, 10:12 PM\']Robair and I saw this on air in 1976 and were cracking up. To our 15-year-old minds, this was a goof. But later, we realized that Bert was truly losing it.[/quote]
[quote name=\'Robair\' post=\'201578\' date=\'Nov 13 2008, 10:13 PM\']Oh, did I mention I had the consummate misfortune to actually see that thing live on TV? And it burnt itself into my conscious. I cannot listen to the original without seeing Bert Parks open his mouth a full frickin' second before he sings "Open the door". Might explain a lot, actually...[/quote]
Ah, Mackey memories.
[/quote]
And within a minute of one another, in our respective houses some 12 miles apart. Spooky.

whewfan · « **Reply #26 on:** November 15, 2008, 06:21:34 PM »

How about... Ron Ely?

In the beginning of the run of Face the Music, I think Ron had a bit of the "Patrick Wayne" syndrome, bellowing out "YOU ARE RIGHT!!!!!!!" when a player got the solution to a puzzle, and it's just the beginning of the game!

Still, he had some genuine charm and class, especially with the ladies. As the series progressed, Ron became much looser with the contestants and frequently joked about Tommy Oliver's orchestra, which was known to play off key.

Combine this with lights that flashed out of sync (or sometimes not at all), the obvious insert of the set from the PILOT of FTM at the start of the show, as well as precorded shots of Ron and contestant in silouhette at the end.

davemackey · « **Reply #27 on:** November 15, 2008, 06:54:57 PM »

[quote name=\'Tim L\' post=\'201622\' date=\'Nov 14 2008, 03:09 PM\']
[quote name=\'Jimmy Owen\' post=\'201600\' date=\'Nov 14 2008, 10:12 AM\']
Oh yeah, Frank Buxton. Another forgotten host, though he did write the classic Password episode of "Odd Couple"
[/quote] And also voiced the lead character in one of my favorite cartoon series as a kid..Batfink..("Your bullets cannot harm me..My wings are like a shield of steel")
[/quote]
If Buxton did nothing but those two things in his life, he'd be a hero. I loved the Odd Couple/Password mashup, and don't get me started on Batfink.

However, he also rode herd over not ONE, but TWO of the more informative kids' shows of the 60's/70's... "Discovery '67", which aired on ABC, and "Hot Dog", for NBC. For the latter, Buxton drew on his connection/friendship with Woody Allen, who was one of the show's hosts. (Buxton was one of those involved with Allen's redubbed spy spoof, "What's Up Tiger Lily". Len "Karate" Maxwell was also on that project too.) The other hosts were Arte Johnson and JoAnne Worley, who were on the network elsewhere at the time. Buxton was in partnership with Lee Mendelson, who was the producer of the "Peanuts" specials, for "Hot Dog".

geno57 · « **Reply #28 on:** November 16, 2008, 01:02:08 AM »

[quote name=\'davemackey\' post=\'201727\' date=\'Nov 15 2008, 05:54 PM\']
(Frank Buxton) also rode herd over not ONE, but TWO of the more informative kids' shows of the 60's/70's... "Discovery '67", which aired on ABC, and "Hot Dog", for NBC. [/quote]

I absolutely loved "Discovery" ... which I think ran from '63 to '67. Still hear the theme music in my head. Anybody got it?

Eric Paddon · « **Reply #29 on:** November 16, 2008, 01:26:43 AM »

Jim McKrell belongs on this list. "Celebrity Sweepstakes" was a fairly successful show for its time, and yet after that, nothing in the way of significant hosting. One longer lasting legacy of his is a hilarious bit part in the pilot episode of "Moonlighting" as Cybill Shepherd's dinner date that Bruce Willis gets her away from.