Who Wants to Host a Game Show? So Many - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Zoneboy · 10-06-2008, 06:15 PM

Link

So you want to be a game show host? Get in line.

These days it seems as if every B-list actor is angling for the job. The latest crop includes the fellow who played Will Smith’s cousin on “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” (does Alfonso Ribeiro ring any bells?) and the guy who played Tim Allen’s sidekick on “Home Improvement” — this one is for the washer and dryer — anyone? Anyone? (Richard Karn).

For the networks, game shows are winners because they are inexpensive to produce, appealing to viewers and can be sold in the same format around the world. For actors, the job can be a good way to revive a flagging career — think of Howie Mandel, who had a failed talk show and a stalled acting career before starring in “Deal or No Deal” on NBC during prime time.

In the last year, Kevin Belinkoff, vice president for original programming at the Game Show Network, has been peppered with résumés from performers, some of them well known. Barely a day goes by without an agent or talent manager suggesting that he hire a client.

But picking a host (like being a host) is not that easy. Plenty of people with big followings — from the tennis player John McEnroe to Paul Reubens (a k a Pee-wee Herman) — have gone down to defeat in the game show arena.

“A bad host can ruin a good game,” Mr. Belinkoff said, “but a great host can’t rescue a game that’s flawed. Ultimately, the game is what’s important.”

Now that most networks have at least one prime-time game show and the format has become a staple on cable, “agents call and suggest people in a way they didn’t use to,” said Michael Davies, executive producer of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” and chief executive of a company responsible for shows like “Win Ben Stein’s Money,” “Power of 10” and “Chain Reaction.”

The star-making power of game shows is well known — early in his career, Johnny Carson had two game shows, “Earn Your Vacation” and “Who Do You Trust?” — but it seems to have intensified in recent years. Regis Philbin was famous as half of the morning talk show “Regis and Kathie Lee” (now “Regis and Kelly”) but his profile rose exponentially when he became host of the prime-time “Millionaire” from 1999 to 2002. Mr. Mandel was something less than a household name before he rose to prominence in “Deal or No Deal,” which had its debut in 2005 and has made him a highly paid star.

But it is not just the potential payoff that has grown. So has the workload. “The demands on this generation of hosts have never been greater,” said Andrew Glassman, executive producer of GSN’s “Bingo America,” whose first host was Patrick Duffy, best known as Bobby Ewing on “Dallas.” For the second season, the mantle has passed to Mr. Karn. (GSN explains the handoff gingerly: “Richard is a perfect fit for all the exciting changes viewers will see,” adding, “Patrick Duffy was a terrific host and we loved working with him.”)

“The shows are much more complicated than in the past,” said Mr. Glassman. “There are complex stunts, there is expensive lighting and numerous music cues.”

If the lighting is more dramatic now, so are the games. “There wasn’t much back story on the shows of the ’50s and ’60s,” said Mr. Davies. “You asked contestants what they did and where they were from. But now as a host on a lot of shows you have to build a contestant’s back story and a conflict and that final moment of ‘Will they or won’t they?’ ”

Hosts, he said, must be mindful of the nuances that will add drama. “If we have a very successful businessman who’s taking a risk of $125,000 on ‘Millionaire,’ it’s not a big moment,” he said. “You put a teacher who’s a single parent in that exact same situation, and that’s a moment to be handled differently.”

Mr. Karn, who was the host of “Family Feud” before “Bingo America,” suggests that being a good game show host is being “the better part of yourself.” Barbara Bloom, senior vice president for daytime programming at CBS, likens a good game show host to a good cocktail party date. “They connect with you, they guide you through the event and stay by your side,” she said.

A background in broadcasting helps. “All the great TV game show hosts of the ’50s and ’60s — Monty Hall, Gene Rayburn, Bill Cullen, Garry Moore, Bob Eubanks, Tom Kennedy — they all got their starts in radio,” said Fred Wostbrock, co-author of “The Encyclopedia of TV Game Shows.” “They were tremendous communicators. They were skilled ad-libbers.”

Meredith Vieira, a former correspondent on “60 Minutes” and a co-host of “The View,” said that being a broadcast journalist was great preparation for her job as the host of “Millionaire” since 2002. “As a reporter, you have to be a good listener and have the ability to ask the right questions to draw someone out,” she said. “That’s so much of what I do on the show.”

friendsfan77 · 10-07-2008, 03:36 PM

I think Alfonso would be fine on Catch-21 if he turned the volume down and didn't feel the need to shout everything. It's really obvious in the bonus round. It's like Todd Newton post-Hollywood Showdown. I hate it when hosts act like caricatures.

Patrick Duffy I thought did a pretty good job I think on Bingo America. Though I do think Richard Karn is a bit better and I think what helps Karn is that unlike on FF there are no phrases to shout repeatedly on a regular basis. "I'M DOUBLING/TRIPLING THE POINTS" got so annoying.

Love Meredith on Millionaire.

Chocolate Moose · 10-07-2008, 03:41 PM

it looks like a fun job !

howierules86 · 10-08-2008, 03:48 PM

I haven't seen Catch-21 or Bingo America, so I can't comment on those shows, but I do have to say that my liking of "Millionaire" was ruined when Meredith Vieira's version started. The loss of the Fastest Finger competition and Regis Philbin really killed it for me. (Thank goodness for "Super Millionaire" & "Million Dollar Password" later on!) I think that this synd. version of "Millionaire" has gone on way too long and should get axed very soon.

10-06-2008, 06:15 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: 34,413	Who Wants to Host a Game Show? So Many Link So you want to be a game show host? Get in line. These days it seems as if every B-list actor is angling for the job. The latest crop includes the fellow who played Will Smith’s cousin on “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” (does Alfonso Ribeiro ring any bells?) and the guy who played Tim Allen’s sidekick on “Home Improvement” — this one is for the washer and dryer — anyone? Anyone? (Richard Karn). For the networks, game shows are winners because they are inexpensive to produce, appealing to viewers and can be sold in the same format around the world. For actors, the job can be a good way to revive a flagging career — think of Howie Mandel, who had a failed talk show and a stalled acting career before starring in “Deal or No Deal” on NBC during prime time. In the last year, Kevin Belinkoff, vice president for original programming at the Game Show Network, has been peppered with résumés from performers, some of them well known. Barely a day goes by without an agent or talent manager suggesting that he hire a client. But picking a host (like being a host) is not that easy. Plenty of people with big followings — from the tennis player John McEnroe to Paul Reubens (a k a Pee-wee Herman) — have gone down to defeat in the game show arena. “A bad host can ruin a good game,” Mr. Belinkoff said, “but a great host can’t rescue a game that’s flawed. Ultimately, the game is what’s important.” Now that most networks have at least one prime-time game show and the format has become a staple on cable, “agents call and suggest people in a way they didn’t use to,” said Michael Davies, executive producer of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” and chief executive of a company responsible for shows like “Win Ben Stein’s Money,” “Power of 10” and “Chain Reaction.” The star-making power of game shows is well known — early in his career, Johnny Carson had two game shows, “Earn Your Vacation” and “Who Do You Trust?” — but it seems to have intensified in recent years. Regis Philbin was famous as half of the morning talk show “Regis and Kathie Lee” (now “Regis and Kelly”) but his profile rose exponentially when he became host of the prime-time “Millionaire” from 1999 to 2002. Mr. Mandel was something less than a household name before he rose to prominence in “Deal or No Deal,” which had its debut in 2005 and has made him a highly paid star. But it is not just the potential payoff that has grown. So has the workload. “The demands on this generation of hosts have never been greater,” said Andrew Glassman, executive producer of GSN’s “Bingo America,” whose first host was Patrick Duffy, best known as Bobby Ewing on “Dallas.” For the second season, the mantle has passed to Mr. Karn. (GSN explains the handoff gingerly: “Richard is a perfect fit for all the exciting changes viewers will see,” adding, “Patrick Duffy was a terrific host and we loved working with him.”) “The shows are much more complicated than in the past,” said Mr. Glassman. “There are complex stunts, there is expensive lighting and numerous music cues.” If the lighting is more dramatic now, so are the games. “There wasn’t much back story on the shows of the ’50s and ’60s,” said Mr. Davies. “You asked contestants what they did and where they were from. But now as a host on a lot of shows you have to build a contestant’s back story and a conflict and that final moment of ‘Will they or won’t they?’ ” Hosts, he said, must be mindful of the nuances that will add drama. “If we have a very successful businessman who’s taking a risk of $125,000 on ‘Millionaire,’ it’s not a big moment,” he said. “You put a teacher who’s a single parent in that exact same situation, and that’s a moment to be handled differently.” Mr. Karn, who was the host of “Family Feud” before “Bingo America,” suggests that being a good game show host is being “the better part of yourself.” Barbara Bloom, senior vice president for daytime programming at CBS, likens a good game show host to a good cocktail party date. “They connect with you, they guide you through the event and stay by your side,” she said. A background in broadcasting helps. “All the great TV game show hosts of the ’50s and ’60s — Monty Hall, Gene Rayburn, Bill Cullen, Garry Moore, Bob Eubanks, Tom Kennedy — they all got their starts in radio,” said Fred Wostbrock, co-author of “The Encyclopedia of TV Game Shows.” “They were tremendous communicators. They were skilled ad-libbers.” Meredith Vieira, a former correspondent on “60 Minutes” and a co-host of “The View,” said that being a broadcast journalist was great preparation for her job as the host of “Millionaire” since 2002. “As a reporter, you have to be a good listener and have the ability to ask the right questions to draw someone out,” she said. “That’s so much of what I do on the show.”
	__________________ '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.

10-07-2008, 03:41 PM	#3
Chocolate Moose Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 21, 2007 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 4,900	it looks like a fun job !
	__________________ How long a minute is, depends on what side of the bathroom door you're on.

10-07-2008, 03:36 PM	#2
friendsfan77 - Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 02, 2004 Location: Duluth, GA Posts: 3,165	I think Alfonso would be fine on Catch-21 if he turned the volume down and didn't feel the need to shout everything. It's really obvious in the bonus round. It's like Todd Newton post-Hollywood Showdown. I hate it when hosts act like caricatures. Patrick Duffy I thought did a pretty good job I think on Bingo America. Though I do think Richard Karn is a bit better and I think what helps Karn is that unlike on FF there are no phrases to shout repeatedly on a regular basis. "I'M DOUBLING/TRIPLING THE POINTS" got so annoying. Love Meredith on Millionaire.

10-08-2008, 03:48 PM	#4
howierules86 Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Dec 05, 2007 Location: Opelika, AL Posts: 29,718	I haven't seen Catch-21 or Bingo America, so I can't comment on those shows, but I do have to say that my liking of "Millionaire" was ruined when Meredith Vieira's version started. The loss of the Fastest Finger competition and Regis Philbin really killed it for me. (Thank goodness for "Super Millionaire" & "Million Dollar Password" later on!) I think that this synd. version of "Millionaire" has gone on way too long and should get axed very soon.