Tom Kennedy (1927-2020) - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Zoneboy · 10-11-2020, 06:46 PM

https://deadline.com/2020/10/tom-ken...93-1234595495/

Television host Tom Kennedy, who hosted game shows Split Second, Name That Tune, and You Don’t Say!, died October 7 at age 93, according to his friend, Steve Beverly. No cause of death was given.

Born James Edward Narz in Louisville, Kentucky Kennedy attended the University of Missouri before heading to Hollywood in 1947, to join brother Jack Narz.

His first break was as a game show host in the showThe Big Game in 1958 and Dr. I.Q. in the 1958-59 season. But his first major success was You Don’t Say!, which lasted six seasons from 1963 to 1969 on NBC, and was later revived by ABC in 1975.

Kennedy’s longest stint came with the syndicated revival of Name That Tune, which aired once per week (expanded to twice a week for its final season) from 1974 to 81.

His other hosting credits included Break the Bank and 50 Grand Slam, both in 1976; To Say the Least from 1977-78; Whew! from 1979-80; Body Language from 1984 to 1986; a syndicated nighttime version of The Price Is Right from 1985-86; and Worldplay from 1986-87.

Kennedy also hosted Password Plus from 1980 to 1982 following the illness (and later death) of Allen Ludden.

Shifting gears, Kennedy hosted talk show The Real Tom Kennedy Show in 1970, and appeared as a panelist on To Tell the Truth.

Beyond hosting, Kennedy also was an actor, winning appearances on That Girl and The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, and dramas Cannon and Hardcastle and McCormick, among other series.

He was also the announcer on Betty White’s comedy Date With the Angels from 1957 to 1958.

Survivors include children Linda Ann Narz, son James Narz Jr., and daughter Courtney Ellen Narz, as well as daughter-in-law Linda Papulis Narz, granddaughter Abigail Norah Narz and his sister, Mrs. Mary Lovett Scully of Las Vegas, NV.
No memorial service is planned, but donations are asked to the American Cancer Society.

PhoenixAcres · 10-11-2020, 09:09 PM

Rest in peace

Hawkee · 10-12-2020, 01:38 AM

Tom Kennedy has passed away? What a surprise because he was well known in the game show world. I read that he was the original host of Split Second but I never knew that Tom Kennedy hosted Password after Allen Ludden passed away. Tom Kennedy was a stage name that he started to use but I can't remember what his actual name was but he was a great guy that everyone liked. Now that he's in heaven joining Monty Hall Regis Philbin Bud Collyer and Allen Ludden in the game show host hall of fame I bet people will learn more about Tom Kennedy's game shows. I wonder if Buzzr will do a Tom Kennedy tribute soon?
Bestie

Bonniegirl · 10-12-2020, 01:50 AM

Sad to hear of his passing !

May he Rest in peace !

bmasters9 · 10-12-2020, 03:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LaBestia

Tom Kennedy was a stage name that he started to use but I can't remember what his actual name was but he was a great guy that everyone liked.

He was born James Edward Narz on Feb. 26, 1927 in Louisville, KY.

howilu · 10-12-2020, 09:40 AM

Tom Kennedy was born Jim Narz, the brother of fellow game show host Jack Narz and he changed his name to avoid confusion with his brother. I remember most of the shows he hosted, including the show that put him on the map You Don't Say. It started in Los Angeles on KTLA with Jack Barry hosting but when NBC picked it up for their daytime lineup, they felt that Barry was still damaged goods due to the quiz show scandal so that opened the door for Kennedy and it became his first big success, running for seven and a half years until it was canceled in a revamping of NBC's daytime schedule.

One show he hosted I felt he got a raw deal. He hosted the Barry-Enright revival of Break the Bank in April of 1976 on ABC and it was a highly rated show. But Fred Silverman, who disliked game shows, canceled it after 15 weeks in order for the network to expand their soap operas One Life to Live and General Hospital. The show was brought back in syndication that fall but Jack Barry hosted instead of Kennedy because Kennedy was hosting Name That Tune.

May he rest in peace.

SledgeBarone · 10-12-2020, 01:59 PM

Rest in peace.

Not a huge favorite of mine, but he was definitely one of the most versatile game show hosts in the business.

It sounds like cancer was the cause of death, since the family is asking for donations to the American Cancer Society.

Here's one of my favorite episodes of a show he hosted:

OH Nuts! · 10-12-2020, 02:02 PM

I used to love You Don’t Say a lot. He was a great game show host. May he R.I.P.

MA · 10-12-2020, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SledgeBarone

Rest in peace.

Not a huge favorite of mine, but he was definitely one of the most versatile game show hosts in the business.

It sounds like cancer was the cause of death, since the family is asking for donations to the American Cancer Society.

Here's one of my favorite episodes of a show he hosted:

I read that he had not been well in recent months.

Hawkee · 10-13-2020, 01:46 AM

Tom Kennedy was Jack Narz's brother? I knew about that from my game show encylopedia. Probably Jim Narz liked the name Tom Kennedy because it sounded gentleman-like and so that's why he chose it. I would've picked Jimmy Narz if I were him
Bestie

Zoneboy · 10-13-2020, 04:49 AM

I always liked Tom Kennedy and the game shows he hosted especially Name That Tune. He's my third favorite host behind Peter Tomarken and Bert Convy.

Hawkee · 10-25-2020, 02:29 AM

Buzzr did a wonderful tribute message to Tom Kennedy complete with clips from some of Tom Kennedy's most popular game shows and ending with a neat picture of Tom Kennedy with the words "TOM KENNEDY 1927-2020" and then a message saying the following "Buzzr Pays Tribute To Tom Kennedy Today and it was a fantastic tribute message to Tom. Wonder why GSN doesn't do this for game show hosts when they have passed away? But Buzzr knows how to honor game show legends properly
Bestie

10-11-2020, 06:46 PM	#1
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,338	Tom Kennedy (1927-2020) https://deadline.com/2020/10/tom-ken...93-1234595495/ Television host Tom Kennedy, who hosted game shows Split Second, Name That Tune, and You Don’t Say!, died October 7 at age 93, according to his friend, Steve Beverly. No cause of death was given. Born James Edward Narz in Louisville, Kentucky Kennedy attended the University of Missouri before heading to Hollywood in 1947, to join brother Jack Narz. His first break was as a game show host in the showThe Big Game in 1958 and Dr. I.Q. in the 1958-59 season. But his first major success was You Don’t Say!, which lasted six seasons from 1963 to 1969 on NBC, and was later revived by ABC in 1975. Kennedy’s longest stint came with the syndicated revival of Name That Tune, which aired once per week (expanded to twice a week for its final season) from 1974 to 81. His other hosting credits included Break the Bank and 50 Grand Slam, both in 1976; To Say the Least from 1977-78; Whew! from 1979-80; Body Language from 1984 to 1986; a syndicated nighttime version of The Price Is Right from 1985-86; and Worldplay from 1986-87. Kennedy also hosted Password Plus from 1980 to 1982 following the illness (and later death) of Allen Ludden. Shifting gears, Kennedy hosted talk show The Real Tom Kennedy Show in 1970, and appeared as a panelist on To Tell the Truth. Beyond hosting, Kennedy also was an actor, winning appearances on That Girl and The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, and dramas Cannon and Hardcastle and McCormick, among other series. He was also the announcer on Betty White’s comedy Date With the Angels from 1957 to 1958. Survivors include children Linda Ann Narz, son James Narz Jr., and daughter Courtney Ellen Narz, as well as daughter-in-law Linda Papulis Narz, granddaughter Abigail Norah Narz and his sister, Mrs. Mary Lovett Scully of Las Vegas, NV. No memorial service is planned, but donations are asked to the American Cancer Society.

10-12-2020, 01:38 AM	#3
Hawkee Michael Fassbender Fanatic Moderator Forum Star Join Date: Jan 17, 2016 Location: California Posts: 10,736	Tom Kennedy has passed away? What a surprise because he was well known in the game show world. I read that he was the original host of Split Second but I never knew that Tom Kennedy hosted Password after Allen Ludden passed away. Tom Kennedy was a stage name that he started to use but I can't remember what his actual name was but he was a great guy that everyone liked. Now that he's in heaven joining Monty Hall Regis Philbin Bud Collyer and Allen Ludden in the game show host hall of fame I bet people will learn more about Tom Kennedy's game shows. I wonder if Buzzr will do a Tom Kennedy tribute soon? Bestie
	__________________ Hawkee and Aguilar, Hoping to be a great team

10-11-2020, 09:09 PM	#2
PhoenixAcres Member Moderator Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 26, 2016 Location: United States Posts: 6,824	Rest in peace

10-12-2020, 01:50 AM	#4
Bonniegirl AKA Hazel Horvath Forum Addict Join Date: Jul 10, 2014 Posts: 65,418	Sad to hear of his passing ! May he Rest in peace !

10-12-2020, 09:40 AM	#6
howilu Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 20, 2003 Location: St. Louis Park, MN Posts: 1,958	Tom Kennedy was born Jim Narz, the brother of fellow game show host Jack Narz and he changed his name to avoid confusion with his brother. I remember most of the shows he hosted, including the show that put him on the map You Don't Say. It started in Los Angeles on KTLA with Jack Barry hosting but when NBC picked it up for their daytime lineup, they felt that Barry was still damaged goods due to the quiz show scandal so that opened the door for Kennedy and it became his first big success, running for seven and a half years until it was canceled in a revamping of NBC's daytime schedule. One show he hosted I felt he got a raw deal. He hosted the Barry-Enright revival of Break the Bank in April of 1976 on ABC and it was a highly rated show. But Fred Silverman, who disliked game shows, canceled it after 15 weeks in order for the network to expand their soap operas One Life to Live and General Hospital. The show was brought back in syndication that fall but Jack Barry hosted instead of Kennedy because Kennedy was hosting Name That Tune. May he rest in peace.

10-12-2020, 01:59 PM	#7
SledgeBarone Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 01, 2020 Posts: 1,930	Rest in peace. Not a huge favorite of mine, but he was definitely one of the most versatile game show hosts in the business. It sounds like cancer was the cause of death, since the family is asking for donations to the American Cancer Society. Here's one of my favorite episodes of a show he hosted:

10-12-2020, 02:02 PM	#8
OH Nuts! Member Forum King Join Date: Feb 15, 2005 Posts: 133,383	I used to love You Don’t Say a lot. He was a great game show host. May he R.I.P.

10-13-2020, 01:46 AM	#10
Hawkee Michael Fassbender Fanatic Moderator Forum Star Join Date: Jan 17, 2016 Location: California Posts: 10,736	Tom Kennedy was Jack Narz's brother? I knew about that from my game show encylopedia. Probably Jim Narz liked the name Tom Kennedy because it sounded gentleman-like and so that's why he chose it. I would've picked Jimmy Narz if I were him Bestie

10-13-2020, 04:49 AM	#11
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,338	I always liked Tom Kennedy and the game shows he hosted especially Name That Tune. He's my third favorite host behind Peter Tomarken and Bert Convy.

10-25-2020, 02:29 AM	#12
Hawkee Michael Fassbender Fanatic Moderator Forum Star Join Date: Jan 17, 2016 Location: California Posts: 10,736	Buzzr did a wonderful tribute message to Tom Kennedy complete with clips from some of Tom Kennedy's most popular game shows and ending with a neat picture of Tom Kennedy with the words "TOM KENNEDY 1927-2020" and then a message saying the following "Buzzr Pays Tribute To Tom Kennedy Today and it was a fantastic tribute message to Tom. Wonder why GSN doesn't do this for game show hosts when they have passed away? But Buzzr knows how to honor game show legends properly Bestie