Hosts who fit their show perfectly

[ChuckNet]

I always liked Geoff's sense of humor. I remember one show where one of the contestants was pregnant. He asked her when her baby was due, after she answered, he said "in some of our cities you've already had your baby!!"

Jack Barry made a similar comment on a 1971 ep of Juvenile Jury that featured LA Mayor Sam Yorty, who was then considering a Presidential run...he said "in some cities, by the time this show airs, you may already be President!"

Chuck Donegan (The Illustrious "Chuckie Baby")

[The Ol' Guy]

That is one of the interesting things - talking about "building a set around him" - that made the shows Bill hosted - especially later on - feel more relaxed than others. There's just something about Bill sitting on the set vs. standing that changes a lot of the dynamics. Kinda like you get the feel that you're playing the game with friends in the living room and no one's making a big deal about "being the center-of-attention star." It could let the game - however lame - step up and be what it is without undue focus on the host. A lot of that was his personality - but think about your average stand-up host. They get a lot of focus - their movement, if any, on the set (like Feud or Price), or being the center person in control (like Password)...come to think of it, you got some of that same effect with TTTT and a couple of other sit-down shows. Maybe I'm goofy, but sit-down hosts seem less obtrusive and make the game stand out more. Yes, there may be one or two exceptions, but I'm going for general.
Am I ready for the home, or is this logical?

[TLEberle]

[quote name=\'Winkfan\' date=\'Oct 11 2004, 02:52 PM\']Some other examples:

Jack Barry on The Joker's Wild

(rest of Tammy's list snipped, partly because I disagree, but moreso because they're irrelevant to my point at hand...)[/quote]

Frankly, I can't stand Jack.  I've only seen him on TJW, and from the reruns at best, but his loud, nasal voice and sense of melodrama on every freakin' spin irritates me.  But I suppose when you own the production company you get to make the rules.

[DrBear]

Back in the calm, heady days of a.t.-g.s. I remember a thread about Whether it's the host or the show that makes for a succesful run.

That said, consider how some of the "peanut butter" hosts did getting away from their "jelly" games. Peter Marshall tried but never got a solid follow-up to HS. Ditto Allen Ludden on Password.

Then again, Bill Cullen had plenty of successes, even though two or three of his games could be considered perfect for him.  And even then, he wouldn't fit every type of game - imagine a friendly 60s style host doing "Russian Roulette," f'instance.

Oh, and while we're thinking of perfect fits, could anybody other than Bruce Forsyth have hosted "Bruce Forsyth's Hot Streak?" (Hmm..."Ben Stein's Hot Streak" ... man, what an AWFUL mental picture!)

[clemon79]

[quote name=\'DrBear\' date=\'Oct 13 2004, 11:04 AM\']Oh, and while we're thinking of perfect fits, could anybody other than Bruce Forsyth have hosted "Bruce Forsyth's Hot Streak?" (Hmm..."Ben Stein's Hot Streak" ... man, what an AWFUL mental picture!)

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Hot Streak wasn't much more than a standard communication game. Tom Kennedy would have done a fine job with it. Wouldn't have had that Brucie flair, of course, but we quickly saw that that Brucie flair is good for just about....13 weeks.

[Jimmy Owen]

[quote name=\'DrBear\' date=\'Oct 13 2004, 01:04 PM\']

That said, consider how some of the "peanut butter" hosts did getting away from their "jelly" games. Peter Marshall tried but never got a solid follow-up to HS. Ditto Allen Ludden on Password.

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[/quote]                             Wasn't there some hand-wringing back in the day when Allen left the proven "G.E. College Bowl" to host the less-cerebral "Password"?

[DrBear]

[quote name=\'Jimmy Owen\' date=\'Oct 13 2004, 04:45 PM\']  Wasn't there some hand-wringing back in the day when Allen left the proven "G.E. College Bowl" to host the less-cerebral "Password"?

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I had forgotten that; there was a bit. Of course, we get a lot of folks on this board today who think Ludden's Password is too cerebral, although they prefer the word "boring."

Hmmm...
"cerebral"
"Boring"
DING DING DING!!!

[ChuckNet]

I had forgotten that; there was a bit. Of course, we get a lot of folks on this board today who think Ludden's Password is too cerebral, although they prefer the word "boring."

Even TVG said that, following Password's debut...their review, as per Jeff Graham? "The whole thing's so dull, it almost makes you long for the good old days of the scandals".

Guess not everyone can be right all the time...LOL

Chuck Donegan (The Illustrious "Chuckie Baby")

[Combs Feud aficionado]

Ray Combs on Family Feud
Bob Barker on The Price Is Right
Bob Eubanks on Card Sharks
Gene Rayburn on Match Game

[Passepartout]

Don't forget Jim Lange the Dating Game!

[tyshaun1]

[quote name=\'Combs Feud aficionado\' date=\'Mar 30 2005, 03:20 PM\']Bob Eubanks on Card Sharks

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Sez you. I know they wanted more comedy on the revival, but that would require the host to be actually funny.

Tyshaun

[Combs Feud aficionado]

[quote name=\'tyshaun1\' date=\'Mar 30 2005, 06:10 PM\'][quote name=\'Combs Feud aficionado\' date=\'Mar 30 2005, 03:20 PM\']Bob Eubanks on Card Sharks

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Sez you. I know they wanted more comedy on the revival, but that would require the host to be actually funny.

Tyshaun

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I don't subscribe to the mentality that "the first host is always the best."

[Neumms]

[quote name=\'Passepartout\' date=\'Mar 30 2005, 05:49 PM\']Don't forget Jim Lange the Dating Game!

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Why exactly would anyone remember Jim Lange? (Except for the red tux.) That's one game where there's practically nothing for the host to do. Johnny Jacobs could have hosted from off-camera. When Woolery did the revival, he'd at least toss in an aside every once in a while.

Jim seems like a nice guy, he looked terrific on the game show moments special, and granted, he's no Jim Caldwell, but he didn't bring much to any show he hosted. Great velvet voice, but no wit.

[tvrandywest]

[quote name=\'Neumms\' date=\'Mar 30 2005, 05:31 PM\']Why exactly would anyone remember Jim Lange? (Except for the red tux.) That's one game where there's practically nothing for the host to do. Johnny Jacobs could have hosted from off-camera. When Woolery did the revival, he'd at least toss in an aside every once in a while.

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It wasn't until Bob Eubanks contrasted his job on NG with Jim's on DG did I realize how little there was for Lange to do. Jim did it well, had the right look, and lent his personal style to the show, but it was the least "host intensive" game ever.

Jim said "And here they are", while Bob was deep in the muck as he mud wrestled with these people for a laugh or embarrassing moment. It seems the hardest part would be sensing when to keep prying and probing with a couple looking for a laugh, or just move on to the next twosome.

Both these guys fit their shows very well; I'd hate to see them switch!


Randy
tvrandywest.com

[zachhoran]

[quote name=\'Neumms\' date=\'Mar 30 2005, 08:31 PM\'][quote name=\'Passepartout\' date=\'Mar 30 2005, 05:49 PM\']Don't forget Jim Lange the Dating Game!

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Why exactly would anyone remember Jim Lange? (Except for the red tux.) That's one game where there's practically nothing for the host to do. Johnny Jacobs could have hosted from off-camera. When Woolery did the revival, he'd at least toss in an aside every once in a while.

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Elaine Joyce and Jeff MacGregor also did more in-game interacting than Lange did.