Your thoughts on the 5 hosts of the Game Show Concentration - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

simmytbone · 09-24-2013, 03:03 PM

Hey guys, just so you know:

August 25, 2013 mark 55 years of the debut of Concentration

and so, in honor of 55 years of Concentration, I would like to know:

Your thoughts on the 5 hosts of Concentration

Hugh Downs (The Today Show and abc's 20/20)
The late Bob Clayton (Announcer for Bob Stewart Game Shows)
The late Ed McMahon (Johnny Carson's Sidekick, Jerry Lewis' Friend and Dick Clark's Pal)
The late Jack Narz (Now You See It and Tom Kennedy's Brother)
Alex Trebek (High Rollers, Battlestars and of course JEOPARDY!)

Please share your thoughts on all of them

GameShowFan66 · 11-20-2013, 12:38 PM

Only saw youtube clips with Downs & Clayton, they seemed good. Never saw Ed McMahon hosting it.

I remember fondly Jack Narz hosting. I always liked his style & demeanor.

Trebek was alright, but sometimes he'd get a bit too chatty in between turns. I seem to recall at least one incident where a contestant kind of reprimanded him for being a bit too chatty.

chriskennedy82 · 02-14-2014, 02:55 AM

Alex Trebek amazed me on Classic Concentration!

I loved Jack Narz on Concentration all the way however! Narz was always superb!

Also Art James could be counted as the host of Concentration as he had done fill ins as host, especially on the 1961 Nighttime version from the Ziegfeld Theater.

- Chris

comedyfreak · 02-27-2014, 04:11 PM

I only remember seeing Jack Narz as host. They really need to release a best of dvd with each host.

MrCleveland · 03-21-2014, 05:30 PM

I only remember Alex Trebek...

I wish this show would be revived...with John O'Hurley as the host.

AMackII · 11-01-2025, 12:34 PM

Alex Trebek and Jack Narz (Tied) : 10
Downs : 8
Bob Clayton : 5
Ed McMahon : 3

icecream · 11-01-2025, 06:24 PM

Alex Trebek version rocks. Jack Narz version was really boring. I haven't seen the others. Ed McMahon as a game show host would probably be fun.

Dude111 · 11-01-2025, 06:39 PM

I say Hugh Downs,wasnt he the original host?

ThisLittlePiggy · 11-02-2025, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dude111

I say Hugh Downs,wasnt he the original host?

Yes, he was my favorite also.

cd637299 · 11-03-2025, 06:20 PM

As someone born in 1959 and practically raised on Concentration—the original—Downs and Clayton were the ones I knew best as a kid.

Bob Clayton got his start in Miami television, where I live. I wanna say he commuted back and forth for a few years to NYC.

Bob hosted the game show “Make a Face” in 1961-62. He was also Downs’ announcer for years.

I may be the only vote for Clayton. He had more of a “game show host” personality than Downs. Watch on YouTube the ending of Concentration’s 1969 Challenge of Champions, and you will see what I mean. Downs was okay but way too low-key and serious.

Narz was good at what was given him; as was Trebek, although the dumbed-down 25-square screen made the games much too quick. As to Ed McMahon, I was in school during the short time he hosted.

If only, if only, there was more surviving video of the 1958-73 version. Hmmph!

cd

KurtfromPitts · 01-28-2026, 02:03 PM

I vote for Hugh Downs. First host I saw on Concentration and IMO the definitive one

09-24-2013, 03:03 PM	#1
simmytbone Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 17, 2009 Posts: 1,514	Your thoughts on the 5 hosts of the Game Show Concentration Hey guys, just so you know: August 25, 2013 mark 55 years of the debut of Concentration and so, in honor of 55 years of Concentration, I would like to know: Your thoughts on the 5 hosts of Concentration Hugh Downs (The Today Show and abc's 20/20) The late Bob Clayton (Announcer for Bob Stewart Game Shows) The late Ed McMahon (Johnny Carson's Sidekick, Jerry Lewis' Friend and Dick Clark's Pal) The late Jack Narz (Now You See It and Tom Kennedy's Brother) Alex Trebek (High Rollers, Battlestars and of course JEOPARDY!) Please share your thoughts on all of them
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02-27-2014, 04:11 PM	#4
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,058	I only remember seeing Jack Narz as host. They really need to release a best of dvd with each host.
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03-21-2014, 05:30 PM	#5
MrCleveland Drew Carey from Hell Forum Star Join Date: Nov 10, 2007 Location: The City of Cleveland, in The State of Cleveland, in The United States of Cleveland Posts: 14,222	I only remember Alex Trebek... I wish this show would be revived...with John O'Hurley as the host.
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11-01-2025, 06:24 PM	#7
icecream Cat-tastic and Whiskerlicious Forum Celebrity Join Date: Sep 01, 2006 Location: The Catacombs Posts: 20,612	Alex Trebek version rocks. Jack Narz version was really boring. I haven't seen the others. Ed McMahon as a game show host would probably be fun.
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11-20-2013, 12:38 PM	#2
GameShowFan66 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: May 20, 2013 Location: Suburban Philadelphia, PA Posts: 78	Only saw youtube clips with Downs & Clayton, they seemed good. Never saw Ed McMahon hosting it. I remember fondly Jack Narz hosting. I always liked his style & demeanor. Trebek was alright, but sometimes he'd get a bit too chatty in between turns. I seem to recall at least one incident where a contestant kind of reprimanded him for being a bit too chatty.

02-14-2014, 02:55 AM	#3
chriskennedy82 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jul 20, 2013 Posts: 7	Alex Trebek amazed me on Classic Concentration! I loved Jack Narz on Concentration all the way however! Narz was always superb! Also Art James could be counted as the host of Concentration as he had done fill ins as host, especially on the 1961 Nighttime version from the Ziegfeld Theater. - Chris

11-01-2025, 12:34 PM	#6
AMackII Member Forum Star Join Date: Oct 23, 2015 Location: St. Louis Posts: 17,198	Alex Trebek and Jack Narz (Tied) : 10 Downs : 8 Bob Clayton : 5 Ed McMahon : 3

11-01-2025, 06:39 PM	#8
Dude111 Forum Legend Join Date: Nov 05, 2013 Posts: 35,363	I say Hugh Downs,wasnt he the original host?

11-03-2025, 06:20 PM	#10
cd637299 cd637299 Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 14, 2022 Location: South Florida Posts: 844	As someone born in 1959 and practically raised on Concentration—the original—Downs and Clayton were the ones I knew best as a kid. Bob Clayton got his start in Miami television, where I live. I wanna say he commuted back and forth for a few years to NYC. Bob hosted the game show “Make a Face” in 1961-62. He was also Downs’ announcer for years. I may be the only vote for Clayton. He had more of a “game show host” personality than Downs. Watch on YouTube the ending of Concentration’s 1969 Challenge of Champions, and you will see what I mean. Downs was okay but way too low-key and serious. Narz was good at what was given him; as was Trebek, although the dumbed-down 25-square screen made the games much too quick. As to Ed McMahon, I was in school during the short time he hosted. If only, if only, there was more surviving video of the 1958-73 version. Hmmph! cd

01-28-2026, 02:03 PM	#11
KurtfromPitts Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 10, 2006 Location: Carnegie PA Posts: 1,530	I vote for Hugh Downs. First host I saw on Concentration and IMO the definitive one