Author Topic: Good hosts that didn't fit their shows (Read 14742 times)

Argo · « **Reply #30 on:** October 16, 2010, 11:57:02 PM »

[quote name=\'BillCullen1\' post=\'249220\' date=\'Oct 14 2010, 10:07 PM\']Adding to the list:

Bill Cullen hosting The Love Experts
Peter Tomarken hosting Bargain Hunters
Peter Marshall hosting Yahtzee
Monty Hall hosting Split Second

All of these seemed like odd fits to me.[/quote]

Its really too bad that Monty didnt bring back Tom Kennedy for the revival of Split Second.

Argo · « **Reply #31 on:** October 17, 2010, 12:05:08 AM »

[quote name=\'whewfan\' post=\'249288\' date=\'Oct 16 2010, 04:50 AM\']I also saw a Bergeron HS and once at the start of the show he got into a brief chat with one of the celebs and forgot where he was. Someone off camera told him he had to introduce the contestants. However, that only happened ONCE, so I guess Tom forgot if the contestants were introduced or not.[/quote]

This immediately comes to mind heh

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bHcHoB805Y#t=3m27s

Johnissoevil · « **Reply #32 on:** October 17, 2010, 05:51:50 AM »

Michael Burger on Match Game '98. I saw his work on Family Challenge, he was great, and in the case of Match Game, he proved that despite the format, he was a natural fit for the show itself and could've hosted the 70s version well (of course, Match Game will always be Gene Rayburn's show, however). I've seen some claim that he "sucked" just because of his association with the show, something I will never for the life of me understand.

whewfan · « **Reply #33 on:** October 17, 2010, 06:39:04 AM »

I don't think it was Michael that didn't fit as much as the PANEL didn't fit. I've said it before, but the panel seemed to be "lets just pull names out of a hat and whomever we pull out is on the panel"

Vicki Lawrence was an obvious choice considering her longtime association with game shows, even though she was only on the original Match Game twice. However I noticed as the series progressed she seemed more and more bored. Nell Carter did absolutely nothing, other than write "pee pee" on her card whenever she could. George Hamilton, I think, TRIED to make something out of the show, but sitting next to Nell he had little to work with. Don't get me started on Judy Tenuta... she was always trying to steal the spotlight, she was LOUD, OBNOXIOUS, and can't play an accordion to save her life! The original MG panel at least meshed together, and they never tried to top each other or steal the spotlight. The MG 98 panel was just a random assortment of celebs that did their own thing. It didn't work.

The show, however, did have interesting contestants. One of them was Matthew, a Jewish contestant that wore a very colorful yamalca (forgive me if I spelled that wrong). Judy was "sending vibes" to him and he, in return, sent vibes back to Judy, making the funniest faces. When the contestant is funnier than the panel, there's something wrong.

WarioBarker · « **Reply #34 on:** October 17, 2010, 09:45:06 AM »

[quote name=\'whewfan\' post=\'249327\' date=\'Oct 17 2010, 06:39 AM\']I don't think it was Michael that didn't fit as much as the PANEL didn't fit. I've said it before, but the panel seemed to be "lets just pull names out of a hat and whomever we pull out is on the panel"[/quote]
I watched the thing in first-run, and I didn't think the show was bad at all. The panel was nice and had regulars, with guests every week. Looking back...not so much.

... Does anybody else recall a nameplate on the 1998-99 version reading "GUEST"?

BrandonFG · « **Reply #35 on:** October 17, 2010, 10:04:27 AM »

[quote name=\'Argo\' post=\'249323\' date=\'Oct 16 2010, 11:57 PM\']Its really too bad that Monty didnt bring back Tom Kennedy for the revival of Split Second.[/quote]
I wonder how much of it was budget vs. scheduling. I'm guessing Monty knew he could save a few dollars by a) hosting himself and b) shooting in Canada vs. L.A.

Tom was in-between Body Language and Wordplay at the time, and was wrapping up the syndicated TPiR. I wonder if Monty even offered the position, but Tom declined because what he had going on and didn't want the commute...speculation is fun 24 years later! ;-)

Neumms · « **Reply #36 on:** October 17, 2010, 12:03:22 PM »

[quote name=\'whewfan\' post=\'249327\' date=\'Oct 17 2010, 05:39 AM\']I don't think it was Michael that didn't fit as much as the PANEL didn't fit. I've said it before, but the panel seemed to be "lets just pull names out of a hat and whomever we pull out is on the panel"

Vicki Lawrence was an obvious choice considering her longtime association with game shows, even though she was only on the original Match Game twice.[/quote]

One of their mistakes was booking four-fifths of the panel to the entire run before they ever started. They should have allowed themselves some trial and error as far as who worked together and who didn't.

Vicki did do the ABC Ross Shaffer version a bunch of times, didn't she?

Jeremy Nelson · « **Reply #37 on:** October 17, 2010, 02:20:38 PM »

[quote name=\'whewfan\' post=\'249327\' date=\'Oct 17 2010, 05:39 AM\']The original MG panel...never tried to top each other or steal the spotlight.[/quote]
Disagrees.

That being said, I think Michael Burger didn't have much to work with. The panel was unlikeable, and the material relied way too heavily on Bill Clinton questions. For a show like Match Game, those are deal breakers, and something that no host would be able to fix.

And why is there a queasy emoticon on my post?

whewfan · « **Reply #38 on:** October 17, 2010, 02:36:22 PM »

Richard Dawson, IMO, didn't exactly try to steal the spotlight. He was a bright, funny guy (at least up until early '78) and didn't take up any more time to do schtick than Brett and Charles. The only "territory" that seemed to be Richard's was the Super Match. If he was called on third (and this happened a fair number of times) and didn't have an answer, he'd come up with an answer that fit the blank but wasn't likely to match. On a couple of occasions his answer DID pop up and he made the moment memorable. Anyone remember "Burns and Cuts" or "Admiral Color TV?"

Shifting back to the topic at hand, there were certainly several GT shows where Richard Dawson wouldn't fit as a host. While this isn't a GT show I thought Masquerade Party was restrictive of his talents, although it was entertaining enough.

J.R. · « **Reply #39 on:** October 17, 2010, 04:58:44 PM »

[quote name=\'Jeremy Nelson\' post=\'249340\' date=\'Oct 17 2010, 01:20 PM\']The panel was unlikeable, and the material relied way too heavily on Bill Clinton questions.[/quote]
You know it's 1998 when every punchline is "Interns LOL!"

Saw it a ton when GSN ran the first season of Hollywood Squares last year.

Ian Wallis · « **Reply #40 on:** October 17, 2010, 05:37:18 PM »

Quote

You know it's 1998 when every punchline is "Interns LOL!"

Saw it a ton when GSN ran the first season of Hollywood Squares last year.

I guess the first season will always feel dated because of that.

Fedya · « **Reply #41 on:** October 17, 2010, 07:38:38 PM »

When they rerun 80s episodes of Pyramid and the word is INTERN, I always find myself cluing, "Monica Lewinsky was an..."

Jay Temple · « **Reply #42 on:** October 19, 2010, 01:28:10 AM »

[quote name=\'Fedya\' post=\'249354\' date=\'Oct 17 2010, 06:38 PM\']When they rerun 80s episodes of Pyramid and the word is INTERN, I always find myself cluing, "Monica Lewinsky was an..."[/quote]
I have the same reaction to the Winner's Circle category "WHAT PEE WEE HERMAN SAYS". It's always interesting when an item like that comes up.

clemon79 · « **Reply #43 on:** October 19, 2010, 01:41:23 AM »

[quote name=\'Jay Temple\' post=\'249408\' date=\'Oct 18 2010, 10:28 PM\']I have the same reaction to the Winner's Circle category "WHAT PEE WEE HERMAN SAYS".[/quote]
"Here I am jackin' off in this porno theater...."

MikeK · « **Reply #44 on:** October 19, 2010, 03:44:35 PM »

[quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'249409\' date=\'Oct 19 2010, 01:41 AM\'][quote name=\'Jay Temple\' post=\'249408\' date=\'Oct 18 2010, 10:28 PM\']I have the same reaction to the Winner's Circle category "WHAT PEE WEE HERMAN SAYS".[/quote]
"Here I am jackin' off in this porno theater...."[/quote]
Pfft. Like THAT narrowed it down much...