[quote name=\'whewfan\' date=\'Jun 2 2004, 06:02 PM\'] [quote name=\'chris319\' date=\'Jun 2 2004, 05:14 PM\'] You have someone else in mind? Think Bob's not going to hang it up or keel over [/quote]
As I said, I am not saying Rich COULDN'T do the job. Maybe he'd do fine. I just don't know if it's a good idea to get someone that (to my knowledge) does not have previous experience with audience participation. Bob already had about 16 years experience doing audience participation with Truth or Consequences when TPIR debuted in '72. You can't just throw in someone and expect him to do well (case in point, Doug Davidson)
As for my list of possible candidates .... Todd Newton, whom got rave reviews as host of TPIR Live in Vegas. Marc Summers hosted What Would You Do?, which is very much like Truth or Consequences, and he was a writer for Barker's Truth or Consequences.
Of course, announcers have filled in for hosts before. Art James filled in for Hugh Downs, and Bob Clayton, who was the second Concentration announcer, eventually got the nod as the host to replace Hugh. [/quote]
Rich does have some hosting experience as a sub host for Flamingo Fortune (which is as close to audience participation as it gets, since contestants are picked by lottery drawings), plus there's almost no better way to gain experience to host TPIR than by watching Barker do it everyday. So what Chris says does makes sense, but hey, when you've downed a couple of beers, lots of things begin to make sense. :-)
Tyshaun