Chuck Woolery Says Not All was Well with Wheel of Fortune - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Zoneboy · 12-04-2007, 05:03 AM

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It's not that Chuck Woolery needed the job. Despite being replaced from hosting "Wheel of Fortune," arguably the most successful game show ever, Chuck Woolery is still considered by many to be the king of game shows. He revealed just recently, near the end of November, that he left because of a severe rift with Merv Griffin which made it impossible for the two to coexist peacefully in the same work environment.

Woolery says that he was replaced in 1981 because he felt Merv Griffin created a hostile work environment and refused to give Woolery the raise that he demanded. According to Woolery's side of the story, in 1981 he demanded a raise from $65,000 a year to about $500,000 a year because the NBC hit game show was drawing about a 44 share, and other hosts of game shows were making the higher amount. Griffin counter offered with around $400,000, and NBC (not wanting to lose a popular host) stepped in and offered to pay the other $100,000.

Apparently that made Merv Griffin furious, and he threatened to take the show to CBS, so NBC withdrew the offer. That led to hostile feelings between both Woolery and Griffin. Griffin fired Woolery and replaced him with Pat Sajak as host.

Why did this story stay under wraps for so long? According to Woolery, who went on to host "Scrabble," "The Dating Game," and "Greed," said it was out of respect because he didn't want a mess while Merv Griffin was alive, and he knew that could hurt both of them. After that mess, the two men never spoke again before Merv Griffin died, in August of 2007. Woolery still continues to host, and is host of the top rated game show on the Game Show Network: "Lingo."

wiseguy182 · 12-04-2007, 06:32 AM

Chuck Woolery is not the "king of game shows" in my opinion.

I find him to be extremely arrogant. but he got put in his place on an episode of Scrabble.

Here's how it went down:

Chuck Woolery: So, Aaron, did you get what you wanted for Christmas?
Aaron: Uh, NO, considering I'm Jewish.
Chuck Woolery: oh, well, ha ha ha, that was good. I was going to skim right over that, but that was good. So Jason, uh Aaron, did you get what you wanted for Hannukah?
Aaron: No, it's not that time of the year yet, Chuck.

Some King of game shows.

He also knocked on, what I consider to be the greatest game show ever, Press Your Luck, saying he thought it was stupid, and wouldn't have hosted it for millions of dollars. But Love Connection really isn't even a game show, and Lingo is pretty lame IMO. It's just a glorified version of bingo. Meanwhile, Press your luck is a cult classic, and big bucks no whammies is still chanted by many to this day, even though some kids today hadn't even been born yet by the time it went off the air.

friendsfan77 · 12-04-2007, 01:00 PM

While we did get to see him do Scrabble, I was pretty disappointed to discover what happened with him on WoF and with Merv. He is my favorite host on that. It's funny though, if only he had waited a little over a year and a half longer...

wiseguy182 · 12-04-2007, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by friendsfan77

While we did get to see him do Scrabble, I was pretty disappointed to discover what happened with him on WoF and with Merv. He is my favorite host on that. It's funny though, if only he had waited a little over a year and a half longer...

The competition isn't exactly stiff, though: Pat Sajak has no enthusiasm at all and has no business hosting a game show.

I'm not entirely sure what happened with him and Merv, but being that Chuck is pretty arrogant, I can see it being a result of his inflated ego.

but i really like your avatar.

Mikado · 12-04-2007, 11:44 PM

Chuck Woollery was certainly a MUCH better host on that show than Sajak, in fact, i stopped watching that show soon after Sajak took over, and never watched again.....and never will!

friendsfan77 · 12-05-2007, 12:31 AM

I don't think Pat is that bad; but I do agree Chuck was a much more lively host on WoF. I do agree that Chuck didn't do a good thing by stepping down from that show and how that was handled by him.

Quote:

Originally Posted by wiseguy182

but i really like your avatar.

thanks!

Coffeecup · 12-08-2007, 10:59 PM

I am just amazed Wheel of Fortune has gone on so long. It must be 30years ago Chuck was hosting. I thought he did fine on Greed a few years ago.

Mikado · 12-08-2007, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by friendsfan77

I don't think Pat is that bad...

I do!

snl 70s show fan · 12-12-2007, 12:23 AM

i never really cared for pat ether

McFly121 · 12-16-2007, 06:05 AM

A jump from 65k to 400k in one year, and you're still not satisfied? Can't feel sympathy there. Still a fan of Chuck's though, always a competent host.

Never understand the flack Sajak gets. He's quick-witted and pulls for contestants "Get outtttta thereeee! Ooh!...Fifty-seven thouuusand, two-hundred dollars!" Don't know what else you want out of host.

mstewart · 12-16-2007, 04:27 PM

I have fond memores of WOF when Chuck was hosting the show. I loved Susan Stafford. The chemistry between them was great. I don't care that much for Pat nor Vanna. Since they took the shopping element out of the show it's not quite the same anymore to me.

friendsfan77 · 12-16-2007, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by McFly121

Never understand the flack Sajak gets. He's quick-witted and pulls for contestants "Get outtttta thereeee! Ooh!...Fifty-seven thouuusand, two-hundred dollars!" Don't know what else you want out of host.

If you ask me who was truly BAD at hosting the show, then I would say none other than Rolf Benirschke himself. I wasn't sad to find out that Bob Goen replaced him on the daytime show. Even Rolf says he wasn't that great on the show.

wiseguy182 · 12-17-2007, 02:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by McFly121

Never understand the flack Sajak gets. He's quick-witted and pulls for contestants "Get outtttta thereeee! Ooh!...Fifty-seven thouuusand, two-hundred dollars!" Don't know what else you want out of host.

how bout a little of enthusiasm?

howierules86 · 12-17-2007, 12:33 PM

Chuck Woolery's in my Top 10 favorite game show hosts of all-time, so this is good to know.

McFly121 · 12-19-2007, 01:04 PM

Well, any of those fill-ins during Sajak's talk show were tough to get through. Seeing how Goen is on "That's the Question", it's more his speed. Rapid-fire clues requiring quick concentration, as opposed to Wheel's laid back style, which suits Sajak's humor.

You don't want enthusiasm every second, otherwise it would feel forced and chirpy-perky. Pat is good with a joke and excited at the big totals. *Shrug*

12-04-2007, 05:03 AM	#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: 34,381	Chuck Woolery Says Not All was Well with Wheel of Fortune Link It's not that Chuck Woolery needed the job. Despite being replaced from hosting "Wheel of Fortune," arguably the most successful game show ever, Chuck Woolery is still considered by many to be the king of game shows. He revealed just recently, near the end of November, that he left because of a severe rift with Merv Griffin which made it impossible for the two to coexist peacefully in the same work environment. Woolery says that he was replaced in 1981 because he felt Merv Griffin created a hostile work environment and refused to give Woolery the raise that he demanded. According to Woolery's side of the story, in 1981 he demanded a raise from $65,000 a year to about $500,000 a year because the NBC hit game show was drawing about a 44 share, and other hosts of game shows were making the higher amount. Griffin counter offered with around $400,000, and NBC (not wanting to lose a popular host) stepped in and offered to pay the other $100,000. Apparently that made Merv Griffin furious, and he threatened to take the show to CBS, so NBC withdrew the offer. That led to hostile feelings between both Woolery and Griffin. Griffin fired Woolery and replaced him with Pat Sajak as host. Why did this story stay under wraps for so long? According to Woolery, who went on to host "Scrabble," "The Dating Game," and "Greed," said it was out of respect because he didn't want a mess while Merv Griffin was alive, and he knew that could hurt both of them. After that mess, the two men never spoke again before Merv Griffin died, in August of 2007. Woolery still continues to host, and is host of the top rated game show on the Game Show Network: "Lingo."
	__________________ 'Twas The Night Before Christmas And All Through The Full House Not A Creature Was Stirring, Not Even Mighty Mouse. All My Children We're Nestled All Snug In Their Beds While Visions Of Sugarbakers Danced In Their Heads.

12-04-2007, 06:32 AM	#2
wiseguy182 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 11, 2006 Location: Wendy's salad bar Posts: 7,030	Chuck Woolery is not the "king of game shows" in my opinion. I find him to be extremely arrogant. but he got put in his place on an episode of Scrabble. Here's how it went down: Chuck Woolery: So, Aaron, did you get what you wanted for Christmas? Aaron: Uh, NO, considering I'm Jewish. Chuck Woolery: oh, well, ha ha ha, that was good. I was going to skim right over that, but that was good. So Jason, uh Aaron, did you get what you wanted for Hannukah? Aaron: No, it's not that time of the year yet, Chuck. Some King of game shows. He also knocked on, what I consider to be the greatest game show ever, Press Your Luck, saying he thought it was stupid, and wouldn't have hosted it for millions of dollars. But Love Connection really isn't even a game show, and Lingo is pretty lame IMO. It's just a glorified version of bingo. Meanwhile, Press your luck is a cult classic, and big bucks no whammies is still chanted by many to this day, even though some kids today hadn't even been born yet by the time it went off the air.
	__________________ "Dottie had said, in the event I got transferred that she was not interested in going with me. I wasn't expecting her to go with me. And wouldn't have even wanted her to I guess."

12-16-2007, 06:05 AM	#10
McFly121 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 18, 2004 Location: calif Posts: 812	A jump from 65k to 400k in one year, and you're still not satisfied? Can't feel sympathy there. Still a fan of Chuck's though, always a competent host. Never understand the flack Sajak gets. He's quick-witted and pulls for contestants "Get outtttta thereeee! Ooh!...Fifty-seven thouuusand, two-hundred dollars!" Don't know what else you want out of host.
	__________________ "That was Bob's donut!"

12-04-2007, 01:00 PM	#3
friendsfan77 - Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 02, 2004 Location: Duluth, GA Posts: 3,165	While we did get to see him do Scrabble, I was pretty disappointed to discover what happened with him on WoF and with Merv. He is my favorite host on that. It's funny though, if only he had waited a little over a year and a half longer...

12-04-2007, 11:44 PM	#5
Mikado Main st bridge Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 06, 2005 Posts: 25,880	Chuck Woollery was certainly a MUCH better host on that show than Sajak, in fact, i stopped watching that show soon after Sajak took over, and never watched again.....and never will!

12-08-2007, 10:59 PM	#7
Coffeecup coffeecup. Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 17, 2003 Location: snoozeville Posts: 3,183	I am just amazed Wheel of Fortune has gone on so long. It must be 30years ago Chuck was hosting. I thought he did fine on Greed a few years ago.

12-12-2007, 12:23 AM	#9
snl 70s show fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Jun 14, 2005 Location: in the forman basment Posts: 2,454	i never really cared for pat ether

12-16-2007, 04:27 PM	#11
mstewart mstewart Senior Member Join Date: Jan 25, 2002 Location: California Posts: 1,780	I have fond memores of WOF when Chuck was hosting the show. I loved Susan Stafford. The chemistry between them was great. I don't care that much for Pat nor Vanna. Since they took the shopping element out of the show it's not quite the same anymore to me.

12-17-2007, 12:33 PM	#14
howierules86 Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Dec 05, 2007 Location: Opelika, AL Posts: 29,656	Chuck Woolery's in my Top 10 favorite game show hosts of all-time, so this is good to know.

12-19-2007, 01:04 PM	#15
McFly121 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 18, 2004 Location: calif Posts: 812	Well, any of those fill-ins during Sajak's talk show were tough to get through. Seeing how Goen is on "That's the Question", it's more his speed. Rapid-fire clues requiring quick concentration, as opposed to Wheel's laid back style, which suits Sajak's humor. You don't want enthusiasm every second, otherwise it would feel forced and chirpy-perky. Pat is good with a joke and excited at the big totals. Shrug