Missed Hosting Opportunities

[Jeremy Nelson]

Have you ever watched a game show and thought "gee, (blank) would have been a perfect fit to host this"?

If so, what host would you have liked to have seen host a different show?

[TLEberle]

Tom Kennedy on Super Password.

[BrandonFG]

They haven't done any games that I can recall*, but I've thought for years that Bob Costas or Keith Olbermann** would do well at Jeopardy! or Millionaire. The latter's prickly demeanor could be an issue, though.

/*Actually, didn't Costas guest host Millionaire?
//**With Dan doing Sports J!, you could have a bit of a "Big Show" reunion

[Jimmy Owen]

Have you ever watched a game show and thought "gee, (blank) would have been a perfect fit to host this"?

If so, what host would you have liked to have seen host a different show?

Back in 76. I thought that it would be better if Jim Peck had hosted FF and Richard Dawson hosted Hot Seat.  Mainly because I wanted Jim to have the better show, but Richard probably would have been able to handle the interviews on HS in a jaunty, fun way.

[BillCullen1]

I thought Bill Rafferty would have been a better fit for Family Feud than Ray Combs, though Combs did a good job.

[BrandonFG]

I thought Bill Rafferty would have been a better fit for Family Feud than Ray Combs, though Combs did a good job.

Being that Ray Combs' Feud made up a large portion of my childhood, I had to think about this one. But, having seen Rafferty's other game shows-Every Second Counts more than anything-I could see this. I think both have a similar sense of humor.

[TLEberle]

Given from what I've read that Ray wanted it to be Ray Combs featuring Family Feud, it's an interesting idea where Bill is willing to let the game do what it does.

Trivial Pursuit: America Plays wouldn't have won any Emmys with Mark L. Walberg at the helm, but he brings talent to everything he does, and I wanted to see more than just the few minutes of the pilot we got.

[Nick]

On the Family Feud bandwagon, I say Geoff Edwards.  His rapid-fire wit evidenced in other hosting gigs would have been an excellent fit for Feud.  Oh, what could have been.

[Sodboy13]

Mike Adamle on the American Gladiators reboot. He was working for an NBC O&O the whole dang time.

[PYLdude]

Mike Adamle on the American Gladiators reboot. He was working for an NBC O&O the whole dang time.

Vince McMahon might have had a problem with that.

Maybe not early on but certainly later when he was an active participant in storylines.

[whewfan]

On the Family Feud bandwagon, I say Geoff Edwards.  His rapid-fire wit evidenced in other hosting gigs would have been an excellent fit for Feud.  Oh, what could have been.

Actually Geoff was considered, but Treasure Hunt prevented Geoff from doing anything else. As for Tom Kennedy and Super Password, yeah it could've worked, but I think Tom was doing double duty with Body Language and TPIR at that time. Bert was a great host, but I think towards the end, Bert was spending too much time goofing off with the celebs, but then again they only wanted one bonus game per show, so time had to be filled somehow.

I don't know why Bill Rafferty didn't get more game shows under his belt. Every Second Counts was without a doubt his best show. Was he doing Card Sharks and Blockbusters at the time when Ray was doing Feud?

[Chief-O]

On the Family Feud bandwagon, I say Geoff Edwards.  His rapid-fire wit evidenced in other hosting gigs would have been an excellent fit for Feud.  Oh, what could have been.

Actually Geoff was considered, but Treasure Hunt prevented Geoff from doing anything else.

I don't think TH had anything to do with that.....pulled this from Adam Nedeff's page:

I had a call to come in and do an audition for "Family Feud." They offered me the pilot at that time. But I already had a deal pending with Bob Stewart (to do the pilot that became "Shoot for the Stars"). And I said "no" to them. What I got nervous about was that Regis Philbin had just done a show called "The Neighbors" that was not very good. I never saw it, but when somebody described it to me, it sounded like what they wanted to do with "Family Feud." So I said no.

[BrandonFG]

Was he doing Card Sharks and Blockbusters at the time when Ray was doing Feud?

No...Feud came along in the summer of 1988. Blockbusters and nighttime Card Sharks were canceled in spring and fall '87, respectively.

[TLEberle]

As for Tom Kennedy and Super Password, yeah it could've worked, but I think Tom was doing double duty with Body Language and TPIR at that time.

My point is that Tom is a better fit for Super Password because he had already done it, and Bert Convy is less bad (note I didn't say "great") on Body Language because there's fewer chances for him to stuff things up. Also, Tom absolutely could have done Super Password and Nighttime Price is Right simultaneously. As it happens, I think Bill Rafferty would have been a better fit for Wordplay given his comedic leanings.

[Neumms]

On the Family Feud bandwagon, I say Geoff Edwards.  His rapid-fire wit evidenced in other hosting gigs would have been an excellent fit for Feud.  Oh, what could have been.

Geoff would've been great on the CBS Card Sharks. He was funny and could play up excitement. Or he'd have been way better than Bob Hilton on the Orlando LMAD.