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John Barbour on The Gong Show
Bob Hastings on Dealer's Choice
Blake Emmons on The New Chain Reaction
What are others? And why? And where are they now?
The same question could be asked about some announcers, producers or directors dismissed early in their show's tenure.
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[quote name=\'Don Howard\' date=\'Jun 2 2005, 12:02 PM\']John Barbour on The Gong Show
Bob Hastings on Dealer's Choice
Blake Emmons on The New Chain Reaction
What are others? And why? And where are they now?
The same question could be asked about some announcers, producers or directors dismissed early in their show's tenure.
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I'll give you a good directing example. Terry Kyne was GONG's first director (he had just come off working DIAMOND HEAD). Now, granted when you have a new show the pacing is always going to be a lot of slower as the show tries to establish itself, but I always thought there was a marked difference betwene Kyne's last week of directing GONG (roughly 2½ months into the run) and John Dorsey's first week, when the pacing seemed to pick up instantly. Dorsey was a veteran of several Barris shows, so maybe Chuckie felt a certain comfort level in working with him (I'm guessing that Kyne was a Chris Bearde choice rather than a Chuck Barris choice for director as to why Dorsey didn't get the job from Day One).
I seem to recall seeing somewhere that there might've been a bit of a power struggle between Barris and Bearde, although I'm not positive about that. Wouldn't surprise me if that were the case.
Doug
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Sonny Fox had admitted on the PBS docu on the scandals that he was fired from "$64,000 Challenge." He also lost his job on "The Movie Game" for reasons unknown. The only show Sonny hosted from start to finish was "Way Out Games" in 76-77.
Dick Stewart was fired from "Dream Girl" for reasons Tammy Warner can elaborate.
I have also read that Gene Rayburn was fired from "Play Your Hunch" after the ratings went down while he was hosting. I'm not sure if that holds water because if that were the actual reason that might preclude getting the job on MG. By all accounts Gene did get fired from BTB
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[quote name=\'Don Howard\' date=\'Jun 2 2005, 01:02 PM\']The same question could be asked about some announcers, producers or directors dismissed early in their show's tenure.
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Bob Hastings on "Dealer's Choice" was (and still is) a fine actor but he had no idea how to host a game show. Constant hyperactivity burns viewers out as well. Jack Clark brought things down to earth and the show prospered under his watch.
There was a different director for the first episode of "What's My Line?", Paul Monroe, who was replaced two weeks later on the second episode with Franklin Heller, who directed most of the rest of the run (with the exception of a handful of Frank Satenstein and Paul Alter fill-ins).
Doug: yes, there was indeed a power struggle between Barris and Bearde, so much so that Barris eventually had all traces of Bearde removed from the program. It also explains why Gary Owens found himself out of the syndicated "Gong" hosting job at the end of the 1976-1977 syndicated season. According to an article I had read somewhere, Chuck had noted in the termination letter that Owens was at a disadvantage hosting a show that was destined to be hosted by its creator - namely Chuck Barris (which may also explain Barbour).
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Speaking of Barris, Bob Eubanks was almost an early casualty. I had read that Barris was about to fire him because he just wasn't "getting it", then all of a sudden he improved...and the rest is history.
According to an article I had read somewhere, Chuck had noted in the termination letter that Owens was at a disadvantage hosting a show that was destined to be hosted by its creator - namely Chuck Barris (which may also explain Barbour).
I read that too - and I'm pretty sure it was in TVGuide sometime in the late '70s. I can try to dig through my collection to find the exact date - unless Jimmy or Aaron beat me to it!
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How soon we forget Rolfe Bener...whatever his last name is.
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[quote name=\'jmangin\' date=\'Jun 2 2005, 04:53 PM\']How soon we forget Rolfe Bener...whatever his last name is.
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Seruiously, was CBS interested only if there would be a new host or was it more Merv's decision?
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[quote name=\'jmangin\' date=\'Jun 2 2005, 02:53 PM\']How soon we forget Rolfe Bener...whatever his last name is.
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Rolf Benirshke wasn't fired. His show got cancelled, and he wasn't considered when the show was brought back.
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[quote name=\'whoserman\' date=\'Jun 2 2005, 03:59 PM\'] His show got cancelled, and he wasn't considered when the show was brought back.
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OUCH!
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Add to that list Bob Hilton from LMAD '90.
(Edited due to finding out after posting this that a different story was told, hence not having a definite answer as to what really happened)
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[quote name=\'Johnissoevil\' date=\'Jun 2 2005, 06:59 PM\']Add to that list Bob Hilton from LMAD '90. NBC went to Monty Hall and requested that Hilton be let go and that he take the show back over.
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Is that how it happened? Cite your source please (i'm not doubting you, i've just never heard it like THAT)....
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My understanding was it was Monty himself that decided to fire Hilton. The one thing Monty did NOT want to do was to step in and do the show himself. I remember on LMAD 90 that Monty made it clear he was only doing the show temporarily. (which would explain why he was billed as the "special guest host".)Monty wanted to find potential people that could host the show, and let the viewers decide who they like... unfortunately the show was cancelled before he got that chance.
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John Dorsey directed the Gong Show pilot in San Francisco. Perhaps Terry Kyne directed it until Dorsey was available?
Why did Whew! have three directors?
I know of a major figure who was taken off a show but for years no one on the Internet has been able to identify that person.
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What about Dennis James on the nighttime 'TPIR'? I imagine it was a case of 'sorry Dennis, but the show really belongs to Bob now'.
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[quote name=\'chris319\' date=\'Jun 2 2005, 09:06 PM\']I know of a major figure who was taken off a show but for years no one on the Internet has been able to identify that person.
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Monty Hall-"Keep Talking." ?
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[quote name=\'tvwxman\' date=\'Jun 2 2005, 08:29 PM\'][quote name=\'Johnissoevil\' date=\'Jun 2 2005, 06:59 PM\']Add to that list Bob Hilton from LMAD '90. NBC went to Monty Hall and requested that Hilton be let go and that he take the show back over.
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Is that how it happened? Cite your source please (i'm not doubting you, i've just never heard it like THAT)....
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It was in a Florida newspaper back then (name escapes me, and I forget if it was a Jacksonville or Gainesville paper). At least that's the story they printed.
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[quote name=\'chris319\' date=\'Jun 2 2005, 09:06 PM\']John Dorsey directed the Gong Show pilot in San Francisco. Perhaps Terry Kyne directed it until Dorsey was available?
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Could be the case. Dorsey was directing RHYME & REASON (so for roughly four weeks there could conceivably have been taping conflicts). But Kyne and Bearde had worked together on a few projects in Canada previous to GONG, so it is my humble opinion that Kyne directing GONG was more Bearde's choice than Barris'. Of course, I could be wrong. . . :)
Doug
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Didn't Wink Martindale get his "Dream Girl of '67" gig because the first host was fired? Something about getting his girlfriend a spot as a contestant on the show?
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[quote name=\'SRIV94\' date=\'Jun 2 2005, 10:58 PM\'][quote name=\'chris319\' date=\'Jun 2 2005, 09:06 PM\']John Dorsey directed the Gong Show pilot in San Francisco. Perhaps Terry Kyne directed it until Dorsey was available?
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Could be the case. Dorsey was directing RHYME & REASON (so for roughly four weeks there could conceivably have been taping conflicts). But Kyne and Bearde had worked together on a few projects in Canada previous to GONG, so it is my humble opinion that Kyne directing GONG was more Bearde's choice than Barris'. Of course, I could be wrong. . . :)
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The TV Guide article I recall said that initially, "Gong" was solely Bearde's concept--Barris was in one of his "I've had it with television" funks and was willing to be the financial partner, as he had been with Bearde on "The Bobby Vinton Show." The story is that he changed his mind the day of the pilot, when he arrived from LA late and entered the studio just as something outrageous happened which changed his mind forever.
Supposedly, the agreement was made that Bearde would supervise the syndicated version, while Barris would supervise the network version. Of course, they shared production staff (a lot of which had more Barris connections--Milton DeLugg, for one, had worked on Barris' revival of "Your Hit Parade"). After the first season, Barris decided (with justification) that the network version had the bigger buzz and maneuvered to get Bearde out of the way completely. Despite the barriers, he eventually succeeded--creatively, if not financially.
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The way Ray Combs left 'Family Feud' comes to mind.
I saw once on someone tradeing site that on one episode Ray droped a hint that Dawson was comming back, or at least that he was on his way out.
I have never seen this show. Does anyone have any recollections?
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Why, then, did Dorsey direct the pilot if Kyne got the series?
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[quote name=\'PaulD\' date=\'Jun 2 2005, 09:26 PM\']What about Dennis James on the nighttime 'TPIR'? I imagine it was a case of 'sorry Dennis, but the show really belongs to Bob now'.
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Do please read the title of this thread. "Early host firings". Dennis lasted five years.
[quote name=\'PaulD\' date=\' Jun 3 2005, 4:41PM\']The way Ray Combs left 'Family Feud' comes to mind.
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I beseech thee again. Read the post before replying. Ray lasted six years. Not an early dismissal.
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[quote name=\'chris319\' date=\'Jun 3 2005, 04:48 PM\']Why, then, did Dorsey direct the pilot if Kyne got the series?
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Obviously I can't say for sure--but there are some plausible possibilities. It is possible that scheduling conflicts could have prevented Kyne from directing the pilot and that Dorsey was available (and someone Barris had worked with previously). It's also possible that Bearde didn't like Dorsey even though he directed the pilot and wanted him replaced with someone he had worked with previously (then Barris wins the power struggle and starts bringing more of his people in, including Dorsey). You're a veteran of this more than I am, but is it highly unusual that a producer/director/head writer/performer/et al gets replaced between a pilot and the first intended-for-air episode?
Not trying to argue with you by any means--GONG was a show that I have had a big interest in, so any behind-the-scenes scoop is most appreciated (I'd love to know the full story myself).
Doug
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The earliest firings of course would be those host who were slated to host a series and got replaced at the last minute due to producer decisions. Coming to mind is the newcomer TV Guide said would host Hot Potato in 1984, and those hosts who hosted the pilot of a show that went to series, but not the actual series
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...which brings us to the person who probably lost the most from their last minute switch-- Mike Wallace. He got passed up for a fairly steady 11-year hosting gig by getting canned from "Nothing But the Truth", even though he actually did a pretty passable job on the 11/56 pilot .
Though to be fair, he's had a pretty good run since TTTT originally ended, in 1968. :^)
-Kevin