Game show hosts you've met

[JMFabiano]

Todd Newton and David Ruprecht when they did TPIR Live in Vegas. 

[Mr. Brown]

I met Bob Barker when he came to Drury to donate a bunch of his Emmys and a million dollars. I teach one of his program’s classes, so I got to have a little bit of one on one time with him before the presentation.

Hard to believe he is going to be 100 this year.

[Hastin]

I got to meet and introduce David Ruprecht for a bunch of kids at the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, and helped him run a little trivia show - just the nicest man possible. Tom Kennedy, Betty White, and others at the final Game Show Congress.
Pat Finn was at the San Diego County Fair hosting Family Feud Live! several years back, and I got to talk to him about The Joker's Wild. Met and chatted with Chris Harrison after a Millionaire taping (just after they rebooted the classic format), and he seemed really informed about the show's history - for sure.

[nowhammies10]

Met Todd Newton after a Price Live show back in '13. I had a T-shirt made for the occasion and he autographed it for me.

Also met Mark L. Walberg after seeing him at Wheel of Fortune Live last fall. Both were super chill and seemed like they'd be fun to swap stories with over a few beers.

[alfonzos]

Drew Carey - First encounter: He auditioned to do standup at a Cleveland comedy club 1981. Second encounter: Taping of NPR's "Go Fact Yourself."

J. Keith Van Stratton - A few years ago, at a party held by a certain game show author. Then again at the "Go Fact Yourself" taping.

Tom Kennedy - At a meeting of the Game Show Congress. I held the door open for him but he turned away in anger.

Wink Martindale - I demonstrated a couple of game show formats I developed and worked with him for a year before he fired me.

Pat Sajak - He was keeping company with a reporter who worked at KABC where I was a videotape editor. She brought him by to exchange pleasantries.

[TLEberle]

Not too many—aside from Our MattO, met both Phil Moore and J. Keith at Throwdown ‘19 in Glendale, and though she’s certainly know more as an antagonist Anne Hegerty at TCONA 2016. About the only other outreach was a tweet to Hunter March about hosting running in the family blood and he either liked or replied which was all I could ask for.

[Jimmy Owen]

Ray Combs and Soupy Sales.

[cmjb13]

Ray Combs and Soupy Sales.

I’m curious, how was Ray and how did you meet him?

[knagl]

Met and talked to:

- Todd Newton (a couple of times after TPIR Live! events, he was very nice)

- Frank Nicotero (very brief conversation after a taping day of Millionaire in Las Vegas)

- I think I said "hi" to Donny Osmond as he walked passed us backstage at a Donnymid mall event, but if I did we didn't actually have any real conversation beyond that.

Game show host-adjacent conversations with:

- Charlie O'Donnell (during some down time on a Wheel taping in Vegas)

- Randy West (a couple of occasions)

Seen in person but didn't get to talk to: Regis, Chris Harrison*, Monty Hall**, Mark L. Walberg, Howie Mandel, Pat & Vanna.

*I did talk to Harrison as a contestant on the long-forgotten GSN original Mall Masters at Mall of America, but per the OP that doesn't count for this thread. I included him in the list though since I also attended a Millionaire taping where he was the host.

** I certainly tried to meet Monty after he hosted a Let's Make a Deal event at the local casino many years ago. When the show was over I went up to the stage as he was starting to walk away in the hopes of being able to say hi. Despite the fact that I could still see him at the edge of the stage, I was told that, "Mr. Hall has already left.", and that was that.

[Jimmy Owen]

Ray Combs and Soupy Sales.

I’m curious, how was Ray and how did you meet him?

Ray was cool, he was doing an appearance at The Lion Stoe in Toledo.. I have a signed 8x10 glossy. This was in 1991. They did a Family Feud stage show at the store. Just there long enough to shake his hand and get the picture.

[BillCullen1]

I thought about this for a couple of days. We're going back 30 years and more. But here are the hosts I met.

Bill Cullen - I met my username on several occasions. But I had quality time with him in the parking lot after a Love Experts taping. We talked for a few minutes, he actually remembered me from New York. He made the move to L.A. because "that's where the jobs were." He liked the weather and didn't miss the cold winters.

Alex Trebek - I met him at a Jeopardy tryout around 1991. After the test, the two ladies went over when to expect to hear, etc. Then they said "And here is the host of our show" and Alex walked out. An unexpected surprise. He answered questions and people lined up for a brief one-on-one. I told him I didn't think I did well on the test. He said to "Take the test again. A lot of champions didn't pass the test the first time they took it."

Bob Clayton - during his announcing days on Pyramid, I got to talk briefly to him several times when he was leaving after the taping. A couple of times, I hailed a taxi for him. I sometimes found out things like pilots Bob Stewart was working on and when tickets would be available. A very nice and down-to-earth guy. Shame how he died. IIRC, Clayton and Cullen both lived in the same apartment complex at Sutton Place on NYC's east side.

I met Dick Clark and Geoff Edwards on several occasions since they taped shows in NYC.

Then there are hosts who I got close enough to for an autograph. No real long talk except to say "Thanks. I watch your show all the time." Usually happened as they were leaving the studio.

Garry Moore - TTTT taping
Gene Rayburn - TTTT taping
Joe Garagiola - TTTT taping
Jack Narz - TTTT taping
Allen Ludden - WML taping
Monty Hall - some special he did in NYC, don't remember other than that
Bob Eubanks - pilot he did in NYC, don't remember the title
Tom Kennedy - Arthritis telethon
Dennis James - Cerebral Palsy telethon

In La-la Land

Bob Barker - going into Studio 33
Johnny Olson - leaving Studio 33
Nipsey Russell - Rhyme and Reason taping
Wink Martindale - TTD taping
Richard Dawson - MG taping, before FF
Charles N Reilly - MG taping, he hosted Sweethearts

I may have forgotten a couple but there you go. Most of them are in that great game show in the sky. I have to look for those autograph books.

[rebelwrest]

I've two hosts personally, both when then came to Charleston, WV

October 2015: Todd Newton when he came for "Price is Right" Live.  He must have met everyone in the audience because there were SEVERAL technical problems that caused a few stop downs.  The videos for the smaller prizes/products wouldn't play, so they ended up awarding all 5 Plinko chips and all 4 punches to the board.

June 2014: Peter Marshall and this was for the "West Virginia Squares" for the Charleston, WV Fes-tiv-all.  It was the most incompetent production I've ever seen and 90% of the audience left after the first half.  It wasn't Peter's fault, everything else failed him.

 

[BrandonFG]

Forgot one…I kinda met Phil Moore at a Nickelodeon live show in 1993. Won a Nick hat because I knew Moira Quirk was the ref on “Guts”.

[tvwxman]

Oh boy....i've had a charmed life thanks to my game show work and work on morning tv....

Game Show Host meetings:

Meetings :
Bob Barker  (backstage at “Fun and Games” Show , 11years old
Janice Pennington / Dian Parkinson , Hollywood Squares (Florida)
Louie Anderson (Hollywood Squares)
Vanna White (Mall opening)
Anne Robinson (contestant, Weakest Link)
Monty Hall
John o Hurley  (Golf tournament, Mohegan sun)
Rod Roddy (NAPTE 1999)
Leah Remini (NATPE 1999)
Larry Anderson
Roger Lodge

Friends with:

Marc Summers
Alan Kalter
J Keith van Stratten

Got to interview for newscast/morning shows:
Alex Trebek

Pat Sajak
Tom Bergeron
Chris Harrison
Mark L Walberg
Dick Clark
Jimmy Kimmel
John Davidson
Jon Bauman
Bill Cosby

Worked with on Price is Right Live / Lets Make a Deal Live:

Todd Newton
David Ruprecht
Alan Thicke
Joey Fatone
JD Roberto
Jerry Springer

Worked with on Pilots / Productions:

Ken Jennings (pilot for “Ken Jennings Vs the Rest of the World”)
Michael Strahan (run-throughs for Pyramid)
Jane Lynch (run-throughs for Weakest Link)
Ryan Seacrest (voice over for “Million Second Quiz”)

Spoke to on phone (Thanks Stu Shostak):

Jack Narz
Geoff Edwards

Oh, and ran into Frank Nicotero on a beach in Hawaii....while he was part of a crew interviewing people for "Street Smarts". I don't believe he had been named host yet, and was at the time the 'roving reporter'.

[nowhammies10]

Spoke to on phone (Thanks Stu Shostak):

Jack Narz
Geoff Edwards

If we're counting "spoke to on the phone" then add in Wink Martindale to that list. I called into Stu's show many moons ago and got to talk to him for a few.