Barker TPIR coming to Pluto TV 12/1/20 (Confirmed)

[BrandonFG]

Not to in any way diminish what Barker said (I posted a few things back in 2020), but I’m surprised that hosts were still so casually sexist even in the mid-80s, as women has long proven they were more than just housewives or eye candy. I’ve seen it on a few shows of the era where the hosts are dismissive or talk to female contestants like they’re five.

[Sodboy13]

A decade prior, but Jack Narz constantly refers to the adult female contestants as "girls" on Now You See It.

[TLEberle]

Not to in any way diminish what Barker said (I posted a few things back in 2020), but I’m surprised that hosts were still so casually sexist even in the mid-80s, as women has long proven they were more than just housewives or eye candy. I’ve seen it on a few shows of the era where the hosts are dismissive or talk to female contestants like they’re five.

I think we have to view these shows with a backward-eye and know that times change and mores change and decide whether to enjoy it or not.

/the women were certainly lining up to win a car, trip or thousands in cash, not that it excuses ol' Bob.

[BrandonFG]

Of course, and I'm never one to huff and puff over what was said on an old TV show. Different era, etc.

Still makes me raise an eyebrow at times, looking at it through a 2022 lens.

[tvmitch]

While growing up and watching lots of 80s daytime shows, I remember my Mom did not like Barker at all. She didn't mind the other game shows (except that PYL was too loud!) - but she just didn't like Barker. Watching these episodes from this era, I can see why.

Must have been an interesting dynamic between Barker and the rest of them during this time. Given the ratings, Barker probably felt like he could get away with it. Can't think of any other hosts of the era that were as overt with comments like this.

[TLEberle]

Allen Ludden?

[Jimmy Owen]

While growing up and watching lots of 80s daytime shows, I remember my Mom did not like Barker at all. She didn't mind the other game shows (except that PYL was too loud!) - but she just didn't like Barker. Watching these episodes from this era, I can see why.

Must have been an interesting dynamic between Barker and the rest of them during this time. Given the ratings, Barker probably felt like he could get away with it. Can't think of any other hosts of the era that were as overt with comments like this.

Most hosts were like this. Gene "Pretty Dimples" Rayburn, Richard "The Kissing Bandit" Dawson, Allen "Hi Doll" Ludden......

[chargeradiocom]

While growing up and watching lots of 80s daytime shows, I remember my Mom did not like Barker at all. She didn't mind the other game shows (except that PYL was too loud!) - but she just didn't like Barker. Watching these episodes from this era, I can see why.

Must have been an interesting dynamic between Barker and the rest of them during this time. Given the ratings, Barker probably felt like he could get away with it. Can't think of any other hosts of the era that were as overt with comments like this.

Most hosts were like this. Gene "Pretty Dimples" Rayburn, Richard "The Kissing Bandit" Dawson, Allen "Hi Doll" Ludden......

I hear you, and I think those guys were relics of their time. But Dawson did his kissing with consent, and Ludden was always respectful of female contestants on camera as I can recall, the “doll” thing notwithstanding. Neither of them were as blatantly disrespectful as Barker could be at times. I’ll grant you Rayburn.

[Casey]

While growing up and watching lots of 80s daytime shows, I remember my Mom did not like Barker at all. She didn't mind the other game shows (except that PYL was too loud!) - but she just didn't like Barker. Watching these episodes from this era, I can see why.

Must have been an interesting dynamic between Barker and the rest of them during this time. Given the ratings, Barker probably felt like he could get away with it. Can't think of any other hosts of the era that were as overt with comments like this.

Most hosts were like this. Gene "Pretty Dimples" Rayburn, Richard "The Kissing Bandit" Dawson, Allen "Hi Doll" Ludden......

How many people did Allen Ludden say "Hi Doll" to, aside from his mother-in-law?

[Unrealtor]

While growing up and watching lots of 80s daytime shows, I remember my Mom did not like Barker at all. She didn't mind the other game shows (except that PYL was too loud!) - but she just didn't like Barker. Watching these episodes from this era, I can see why.

Must have been an interesting dynamic between Barker and the rest of them during this time. Given the ratings, Barker probably felt like he could get away with it. Can't think of any other hosts of the era that were as overt with comments like this.

Most hosts were like this. Gene "Pretty Dimples" Rayburn, Richard "The Kissing Bandit" Dawson, Allen "Hi Doll" Ludden......

I hear you, and I think those guys were relics of their time. But Dawson did his kissing with consent, and Ludden was always respectful of female contestants on camera as I can recall, the “doll” thing notwithstanding. Neither of them were as blatantly disrespectful as Barker could be at times. I’ll grant you Rayburn.

Let's also remember that "Doll" was Allen's nickname for Betty's mother, so I'd consider it very different from the other examples since it's directed at a specific person who he knows well. Also, I don't think Betty would let him get away with much.

I try to separate things that were done without negative intent but aren't OK by modern standards from the overt prejudice or abuse of power that you could get away with at the time because the people who it was directed against didn't have enough social clout to put a stop to it. I'd put Jack Narz calling adult women "girls" in the former category, Richard Dawson's kisses and Gene Rayburn's lechery somewhere in between, and a lot of Barker's on- and off-camera behavior into the latter category.

[Jimmy Owen]

While growing up and watching lots of 80s daytime shows, I remember my Mom did not like Barker at all. She didn't mind the other game shows (except that PYL was too loud!) - but she just didn't like Barker. Watching these episodes from this era, I can see why.

Must have been an interesting dynamic between Barker and the rest of them during this time. Given the ratings, Barker probably felt like he could get away with it. Can't think of any other hosts of the era that were as overt with comments like this.

Most hosts were like this. Gene "Pretty Dimples" Rayburn, Richard "The Kissing Bandit" Dawson, Allen "Hi Doll" Ludden......

How many people did Allen Ludden say "Hi Doll" to, aside from his mother-in-law?

To people who did not know the background, the daytime audience.

[chargeradiocom]

While growing up and watching lots of 80s daytime shows, I remember my Mom did not like Barker at all. She didn't mind the other game shows (except that PYL was too loud!) - but she just didn't like Barker. Watching these episodes from this era, I can see why.

Must have been an interesting dynamic between Barker and the rest of them during this time. Given the ratings, Barker probably felt like he could get away with it. Can't think of any other hosts of the era that were as overt with comments like this.

Most hosts were like this. Gene "Pretty Dimples" Rayburn, Richard "The Kissing Bandit" Dawson, Allen "Hi Doll" Ludden......

I hear you, and I think those guys were relics of their time. But Dawson did his kissing with consent, and Ludden was always respectful of female contestants on camera as I can recall, the “doll” thing notwithstanding. Neither of them were as blatantly disrespectful as Barker could be at times. I’ll grant you Rayburn.

Let's also remember that "Doll" was Allen's nickname for Betty's mother, so I'd consider it very different from the other examples since it's directed at a specific person who he knows well. Also, I don't think Betty would let him get away with much.

I try to separate things that were done without negative intent but aren't OK by modern standards from the overt prejudice or abuse of power that you could get away with at the time because the people who it was directed against didn't have enough social clout to put a stop to it. I'd put Jack Narz calling adult women "girls" in the former category, Richard Dawson's kisses and Gene Rayburn's lechery somewhere in between, and a lot of Barker's on- and off-camera behavior into the latter category.

Agreed. The only thing where I might quibble with your categorizations is that I’d probably put Rayburn a few steps ahead of Dawson on the scale, since Dawson’s kissing seemingly was consensual and much of Rayburn’s activity seemingly wasn’t. But otherwise, I think you and I are totally in agreement.

[Casey]

While growing up and watching lots of 80s daytime shows, I remember my Mom did not like Barker at all. She didn't mind the other game shows (except that PYL was too loud!) - but she just didn't like Barker. Watching these episodes from this era, I can see why.

Must have been an interesting dynamic between Barker and the rest of them during this time. Given the ratings, Barker probably felt like he could get away with it. Can't think of any other hosts of the era that were as overt with comments like this.

Most hosts were like this. Gene "Pretty Dimples" Rayburn, Richard "The Kissing Bandit" Dawson, Allen "Hi Doll" Ludden......

How many people did Allen Ludden say "Hi Doll" to, aside from his mother-in-law?

To people who did not know the background, the daytime audience.

Good lord...

[Bryce L.]

While growing up and watching lots of 80s daytime shows, I remember my Mom did not like Barker at all. She didn't mind the other game shows (except that PYL was too loud!) - but she just didn't like Barker. Watching these episodes from this era, I can see why.

Must have been an interesting dynamic between Barker and the rest of them during this time. Given the ratings, Barker probably felt like he could get away with it. Can't think of any other hosts of the era that were as overt with comments like this.

Most hosts were like this. Gene "Pretty Dimples" Rayburn, Richard "The Kissing Bandit" Dawson, Allen "Hi Doll" Ludden......

How many people did Allen Ludden say "Hi Doll" to, aside from his mother-in-law?

To people who did not know the background, the daytime audience.

Good lord...

Don't bring Him into it...

[Jimmy Owen]

While growing up and watching lots of 80s daytime shows, I remember my Mom did not like Barker at all. She didn't mind the other game shows (except that PYL was too loud!) - but she just didn't like Barker. Watching these episodes from this era, I can see why.

Must have been an interesting dynamic between Barker and the rest of them during this time. Given the ratings, Barker probably felt like he could get away with it. Can't think of any other hosts of the era that were as overt with comments like this.

Most hosts were like this. Gene "Pretty Dimples" Rayburn, Richard "The Kissing Bandit" Dawson, Allen "Hi Doll" Ludden......

How many people did Allen Ludden say "Hi Doll" to, aside from his mother-in-law?

To people who did not know the background, the daytime audience.

Good lord...

It does sound crazy, but it was a violation of FCC rules of the time to do shout-outs to individuals.  If something was being broadcast, it had to be to the total audience.