Early in his career Chuck Woolery aspired to be a singer, and it was during that era of endeavor that he first met Merv Griffin. He guested on Griffin’s talk show in 1973, and Merv was impressed not so much with Woolery’s singing as with his affable personality and the way he connected with an audience. A year later when Griffin started pitching a new TV game show based on the pen-and-paper game “hangman,” he invited Woolery to audition for the host position. Wheel of Fortune was picked up by NBC in 1975 and quickly became one of television’s most popular game shows.

All was hunky-dory for the next seven years, until Chuck had the temerity to ask Merv Griffin for a raise. Woolery felt that his $65,000 salary should be comparable to the big shooters (like Bob Barker and Richard Dawson) over at Goodson-Todman, who were reportedly earning $500,000 per year. Griffin countered with an offer of $400,000 and, in an unusual move, NBC pledged to make up the difference. However, for some reason that offer rubbed Griffin the wrong way, and he threatened to move Wheel to CBS. NBC backed down and Griffin handed Woolery his walking papers. The two men, who had once been good friends, never spoke to one another again for the rest of Merv Griffin’s life.

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I'm not really sure who was at fault, but it sounds like Griffin could have handled the situation a bit better. Even so, Chuck Woolery was screwed out of a legacy: I was born in 1980, and for me, Pat Sajak and Wheel of Fortune are synonymous. I only know Chuck Woolery from lame shows like Scrabble and The Love Connection (and whatever that short-lived primetime show he hosted on Fox was called).

There are a few videos on YouTube of the Woolery era. Before watching them, I'd never seen any footage of him hosting. Pretty cool.

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[QUOTE=AKA]I'm not really sure who was at fault, but it sounds like Griffin could have handled the situation a bit better. Even so, Chuck Woolery was screwed out of a legacy: I was born in 1980, and for me, Pat Sajak and Wheel of Fortune are synonymous. I only know Chuck Woolery from lame shows like Scrabble and The Love Connection (and whatever that short-lived primetime show he hosted on Fox was called).

There are a few videos on YouTube of the Woolery era. Before watching them, I'd never seen any footage of him hosting. Pretty cool.



Scrabble was not lame and Love Connection was in Syndication not FOX. also if you think that Scrabble on NBC was lame to you then can you tell us why it is?

Love Connection was in Syndication not FOX
I didn't say it was on Fox. Go back and re-read my post. Turns out the Fox show whose title I couldn't remember was Greed (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greed_(game_show)).

also if you think that Scrabble on NBC was lame to you then can you tell us why it is?
Am I allowed to not like it, or do I have to defend my opinion?

I didn't say it was on Fox. Go back and re-read my post. Turns out the Fox show whose title I couldn't remember was Greed (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greed_(game_show)).


Am I allowed to not like it, or do I have to defend my opinion?

1.i'm sorry about that

2.is it because it's too much like Wheel of Fortune or is the format boring to you.

I think you hit the nail on the head: though I don't remember the show too well (I was 12 when it ended in 1993 and didn't catch it in reruns), I remember finding it boring. I found Wheel of Fortune much more exciting, and would much rather play "Scrabble" the board game than watch the game show.

What I meant by "lame," though, was that Scrabble, The Love Connection and Greed are mostly forgotten, while Wheel of Fortune has been a television juggernaut for over three decades. Most people around my age and younger have no idea that Chuck Woolery even hosted Wheel, and associate Pat Sajak with the show.

Again, Mr. Woolery was cheated out of a legacy.

Welcome to the boards, by the way. :)

well don't get me wrong but i like Wheel of Fortune too it is also one of me all-time favorite game shows but i guess the original 1984-1990 version of NBC's Scrabble is the most fondly remembered version of all time.

but since you think that most people forgotten about Scrabble, Love Connection, and Greed i guess that GSN's Lingo should be added on the list as well too huh?


also thank you for inviting me to this board i appreciate it very much.