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Author Topic: Highest Profile Game Show Host?  (Read 5000 times)

Jeremy Nelson

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Highest Profile Game Show Host?
« on: January 15, 2020, 02:48:11 PM »
With Jimmy Kimmel getting the gig as the new host of Millionaire, it got me wondering- what game show host had the highest “celebrity” profile when signing up to host a game show? Historically there have been a number of hosts who sign on before (Johnny Carson) or after (Joel McHale) their career peak, but who signed on during that sweet spot in the middle?

I’m thinking Ellen and Michael Strahan come to mind, but I’m not even sure Michael was as popular as he is now when he signed on for Pyramid.
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tpirfan28

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Re: Highest Profile Game Show Host?
« Reply #1 on: January 15, 2020, 02:58:22 PM »
Regis?
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Fedya

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Re: Highest Profile Game Show Host?
« Reply #2 on: January 15, 2020, 03:35:54 PM »
Groucho Marx?
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clemon79

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Re: Highest Profile Game Show Host?
« Reply #3 on: January 15, 2020, 04:14:56 PM »
Quote from: Jeremy Nelson on January 15, 2020, 02:48:11 PM
or after (Joel McHale) their career peak

Joel might not agree with this statement.
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BrandonFG

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Re: Highest Profile Game Show Host?
« Reply #4 on: January 15, 2020, 04:24:47 PM »
Quote from: Jeremy Nelson on January 15, 2020, 02:48:11 PM
I’m thinking Ellen and Michael Strahan come to mind, but I’m not even sure Michael was as popular as he is now when he signed on for Pyramid.
I'd make a case for Michael. He had Regis's old job alongside Kelly Ripa, plus the FOX NFL gig.

How about Drew Carey or Wayne Brady? Neither were what I'd considered "washed-up" when they took on their respective shows? At that point, Wayne was only a few years removed from his infamous Chappelle's Show sketch.
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Mike Tennant

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Re: Highest Profile Game Show Host?
« Reply #5 on: January 15, 2020, 04:30:37 PM »
How about Steve Allen taking over IGAS in 1964?  It might not have been his career peak, but he was certainly still in demand at the time; he'd just left the syndicated Steve Allen Show and would get new talk/variety series later in the decade.
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Chuck Sutton

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Re: Highest Profile Game Show Host?
« Reply #6 on: January 15, 2020, 05:33:52 PM »
Anthony Anderson,  blackish was his first successful staring role.
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calliaume

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Re: Highest Profile Game Show Host?
« Reply #7 on: January 15, 2020, 06:11:21 PM »
Alec Baldwin was nominated for an Academy Award and won two Emmys for his acting before hosting Match Game.
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Joe Mello

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Re: Highest Profile Game Show Host?
« Reply #8 on: January 15, 2020, 06:14:21 PM »
I like Groucho and Baldwin as answers. I'd also like to add that Ryan Seacrest hosted a quiz show after he became Ryan Seacrest.
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Chuck Sutton

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Re: Highest Profile Game Show Host?
« Reply #9 on: January 15, 2020, 06:39:20 PM »
Baldwin?  It is a running gag on Match Game that his career is in such decline he has to host a game show to pay the bills.
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Matt Ottinger

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Re: Highest Profile Game Show Host?
« Reply #10 on: January 15, 2020, 06:41:01 PM »
Most histories will say that Groucho was in something of a career slump before agreeing to do You Bet Your Life.  Make no mistake, Groucho was still one of the most famous stars of his time, the Marx Brothers were still making movies, and the game only reinforced his personal stardom.  But the question was looking for that "sweet spot in the middle", and it's not like Groucho went straight from Duck Soup to hosting a quiz.  It was definitely "after their career peak".

Although we're too close to it to judge, you could make an argument that Elizabeth Banks is enjoying career success on many fronts (the Charlie's Angels misfire notwithstanding) while hosting a game show currently.
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Mr. Matté

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Re: Highest Profile Game Show Host?
« Reply #11 on: January 15, 2020, 07:17:57 PM »
Does the current president count?
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BrandonFG

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Re: Highest Profile Game Show Host?
« Reply #12 on: January 15, 2020, 08:51:16 PM »
Quote from: Mr. Matté on January 15, 2020, 07:17:57 PM
Does the current president count?
Heard he got as high as 15 the other day...

If anything, The Apprentice seemed to revive his career and make him a household name. So....no?
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SamJ93

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Re: Highest Profile Game Show Host?
« Reply #13 on: January 15, 2020, 10:44:53 PM »
Jamie Foxx always seemed like a surprisingly high-profile choice to host Beat Shazam.

And without going into politics re: Trump...I don't really consider The Apprentice a game show, though I'm open to an argument that it is...
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Jeremy Nelson

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Re: Highest Profile Game Show Host?
« Reply #14 on: January 15, 2020, 11:06:13 PM »
Even if The Apprentice counted, Trump was in a career slump by that time- he was the laughingstock of the real estate world doing Pizza Hut commercials to stay relevant.
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