Richard Dawson is King of the Game Shows - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Zoneboy · 09-24-2008, 03:14 AM

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The man with the million-dollar kiss is much more than a B-level actor who boasts the comedic timing of Charlie Chaplin combined with the lips and moves of Tom Jones on a sweaty stage in Las Vegas.

Yes, my friends — it's all true.

Richard Dawson is a game show god.

May we worship him forever — or until the Game Show Network gets cancelled (which will never happen).

Not only is Dawson considered one of the greatest hosts, and game show invitees, in the history of the genre, he probably is one of the most popular Brits ever to grace North America's shores.

At one point, he was as well known as Lady Diana and the Queen, as well as Queen, for coming from the Home Country.

During the mid- and late-1970s, Dawson, who is now lounging in semi-retirement, was the main host for the daytime, and night-time, versions of Family Feud.

The Feud was a game show so simple in content, but so challenging in conception, it had contestants losing their minds over questions which a Grade 5 student would have an answer for.

Last I checked, Africa was not a country and Canada was not a state, but both were provided as answers on vintage episodes of Dawson's now-legendary television show.

For those of you who (still) have no idea who I am talking about, let me build him for you.

Imagine all the wit of Neil Patrick Harris, combined with the direct comedy of Jon Stewart, the fabric stylings of George Hamilton, and the body of Regis Philbin.

Can you picture him now? If you can't, maybe you should call Betty White to straighten you out.

For small-screen fans, Richard could do it all — and in less than 30 minutes.

During his time before, and during his tenure on FF, Dawson would also appear on the Match Game – the ribald daytime show which would allow hyperactive, and sometimes dim-witted, contestants a chance to fill in the blanks to randy-themed questions posed by host Gene Rayburn, in hopes the six celebrity panelists would come up with the same answer.

Dawson was so good at this show, and in the Super Match and big money portions of the game, the producers of Match Game were (eventually) forced to change the rules after the third full season so that contestants would not go to Richard, time-and-time again, in their quest to go home with all the loot available to them.

Why Richard Dawson became a kissing bandit of the highest respect may be lost to history, but R.D. was always dynamite with the ladies — and a few men who seemed to want to get into the action, and good luck, of having a quick platonic snog with the host-with-the-most.

Richard Dawson, to my knowledge, did not appear in any major movie or television series during his game-show tenure in the 1970s and early 1980s.

He was so big back then, he didn't need a second stage.

We game-show fanatics respect Richard so much that many of us still believe Dawson should have received a Best Supporting Actor nomination for his appearance in the action movie classic The Running Man (1987) for, essentially, playing himself with a tinge of (Joel) Silver to boot.

Survey says? Richard Dawson is still number one — and we love him for it!

AB · 09-24-2008, 06:12 PM

^ So true!

Don Howard · 10-13-2008, 10:22 PM

As much as I appreciate and respect Richard's work on those shows, I've got to give the title of "king" to Bill Cullen.

09-24-2008, 03:14 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: 34,411	Richard Dawson is King of the Game Shows Link The man with the million-dollar kiss is much more than a B-level actor who boasts the comedic timing of Charlie Chaplin combined with the lips and moves of Tom Jones on a sweaty stage in Las Vegas. Yes, my friends — it's all true. Richard Dawson is a game show god. May we worship him forever — or until the Game Show Network gets cancelled (which will never happen). Not only is Dawson considered one of the greatest hosts, and game show invitees, in the history of the genre, he probably is one of the most popular Brits ever to grace North America's shores. At one point, he was as well known as Lady Diana and the Queen, as well as Queen, for coming from the Home Country. During the mid- and late-1970s, Dawson, who is now lounging in semi-retirement, was the main host for the daytime, and night-time, versions of Family Feud. The Feud was a game show so simple in content, but so challenging in conception, it had contestants losing their minds over questions which a Grade 5 student would have an answer for. Last I checked, Africa was not a country and Canada was not a state, but both were provided as answers on vintage episodes of Dawson's now-legendary television show. For those of you who (still) have no idea who I am talking about, let me build him for you. Imagine all the wit of Neil Patrick Harris, combined with the direct comedy of Jon Stewart, the fabric stylings of George Hamilton, and the body of Regis Philbin. Can you picture him now? If you can't, maybe you should call Betty White to straighten you out. For small-screen fans, Richard could do it all — and in less than 30 minutes. During his time before, and during his tenure on FF, Dawson would also appear on the Match Game – the ribald daytime show which would allow hyperactive, and sometimes dim-witted, contestants a chance to fill in the blanks to randy-themed questions posed by host Gene Rayburn, in hopes the six celebrity panelists would come up with the same answer. Dawson was so good at this show, and in the Super Match and big money portions of the game, the producers of Match Game were (eventually) forced to change the rules after the third full season so that contestants would not go to Richard, time-and-time again, in their quest to go home with all the loot available to them. Why Richard Dawson became a kissing bandit of the highest respect may be lost to history, but R.D. was always dynamite with the ladies — and a few men who seemed to want to get into the action, and good luck, of having a quick platonic snog with the host-with-the-most. Richard Dawson, to my knowledge, did not appear in any major movie or television series during his game-show tenure in the 1970s and early 1980s. He was so big back then, he didn't need a second stage. We game-show fanatics respect Richard so much that many of us still believe Dawson should have received a Best Supporting Actor nomination for his appearance in the action movie classic The Running Man (1987) for, essentially, playing himself with a tinge of (Joel) Silver to boot. Survey says? Richard Dawson is still number one — and we love him for it!
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09-24-2008, 06:12 PM	#2
AB Member Eternal Member Forum Icon Join Date: Dec 26, 2006 Location: The South Posts: 59,428	^ So true!

10-13-2008, 10:22 PM	#3
Don Howard Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Oct 13, 2008 Location: Dover, Ohio Posts: 55	As much as I appreciate and respect Richard's work on those shows, I've got to give the title of "king" to Bill Cullen.