Before They Were Stars...They Were Game Show Contestants! - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

poof · 10-16-2011, 01:18 PM

1. Dr. Joyce Brothers -- The most notable of all examples, Joyce Brothers, an aspiring psychologist, appeared on a 1955 episode of "The $64,000 Question," answering questions about Basketball; she won the $64,000 and went on to greater fame as a notable psychologist and advice columnist, even appearing as a celebrity player on other game shows such as "Hollywood Squares."

2. Bob Saget -- In 1979, as an aspiring stand-up comic, 23-year-old Bob Saget, 8 years before finding fame as Danny Tanner on the hit 1980s sitcom "Full House," was the winning bachelor on an episode of "The Dating Game." Bob would eventually become a game show host himself as the original host of the hit TV game show "America's Funniest Home Videos." In 2006, after a 9-year break from game shows, Bob returned to game show hosting duties as the original host of "1 vs. 100" for 2 years on NBC.

3. Bobby Jacoby -- In 1988, 2 years before being cast opposite Michael Gross and Kevin Bacon in the hit 1990 movie "Tremors," Bobby Jacoby, believe it or not, was a civilian contestant on Nickelodeon's "Double Dare," an episode you can watch on YouTube in 4 separate parts thanks to http://www.youtube.com/user/cool245flashmail. His episode was The Big Boppers vs. The Radical Raisins, and Bobby, calling himself R.J. (as in his given name, Robert Jacoby), with his episode partner Lisa, won a trip to the "Double Dare" Obstacle Course along with $220 and 7 out of 8 prizes.

4. Kirstie Alley -- Nearly a decade before earning greater fame as an actress on NBC's "Cheers," Kirstie Alley, then an interior designer, was a civilian contestant on the hit TV game show "Match Game." That same year, Kirstie was also a contestant on "Password Plus."

5. Candice Bergen -- In 1958, 30 years before finding fame in her own right as "Murphy Brown" on the hit 1980s sitcom of the same name, 12-year-old Candice Bergen was a civilian contestant on "You Bet Your Life."

Any more future celebrities you can think of who appeared on game shows before earning greater fame will be greatly appreciated.

Zoneboy · 10-16-2011, 01:22 PM

Dr. Joyce Brothers' expertise was boxing, not basketball.

poof · 10-16-2011, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zoneboy

Dr. Joyce Brothers' expertise was boxing, not basketball.

My mistake, Zoneboy. Thank you for correcting me.

howilu · 10-16-2011, 02:12 PM

Before Jenny Jones became famous as a comedienne and talk show host, she was a contestant on Press Your Luck.

Heidi Dawn · 10-16-2011, 02:26 PM

I have a few - John Ritter, Farrah Fawcett, Suzanne Somers, and Arnold Schwarzenegger have appeared on The Dating Game. Clips of their appearances are on YouTube.

Vanna White and Linda Cardellini both appeared on The Price Is Right as contestants. Vanna didn't make it out of contestant's row, but Linda won a fireplace and didn't win her pricing game or make it to the showcase.

megamanj2004 · 10-18-2011, 01:25 AM

Naomi Judd was a contestant on the original version of HS w/ Peter Marshall before she became a celebrity player on Tom Bergeron's HS.

Shortly before he found acting success and before he was a celebrity partner, David Graff was a civvie player on The $20,000 Pyramid w/ Patti Duke Astin and co-incidentally would later play against Patti Duke Astin on the '80s Pyramid. In fact Dick Clark even played the clip of his run on The $20K Pyramid on there.

Before he was Mr. Belding on Saved by the Bell, Dennis Haskins was a contestant on Scrabble.

ikhuri · 10-24-2011, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by howilu

Before Jenny Jones became famous as a comedienne and talk show host, she was a contestant on Press Your Luck.

And Match Game in 1981.

ikhuri · 10-24-2011, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heidi Dawn

I have a few - John Ritter, Farrah Fawcett, Suzanne Somers, and Arnold Schwarzenegger have appeared on The Dating Game. Clips of their appearances are on YouTube.

Vanna White and Linda Cardellini both appeared on The Price Is Right as contestants. Vanna didn't make it out of contestant's row, but Linda won a fireplace and didn't win her pricing game or make it to the showcase.

What year was Linda on The Price is Right?

Imad

Vahan · 10-24-2011, 11:57 PM

I think it was 1997.

10-16-2011, 01:18 PM	#1
poof Banned Banned!! Occasional Poster Join Date: Sep 27, 2011 Posts: 23	Before They Were Stars...They Were Game Show Contestants! 1. Dr. Joyce Brothers -- The most notable of all examples, Joyce Brothers, an aspiring psychologist, appeared on a 1955 episode of "The $64,000 Question," answering questions about Basketball; she won the $64,000 and went on to greater fame as a notable psychologist and advice columnist, even appearing as a celebrity player on other game shows such as "Hollywood Squares." 2. Bob Saget -- In 1979, as an aspiring stand-up comic, 23-year-old Bob Saget, 8 years before finding fame as Danny Tanner on the hit 1980s sitcom "Full House," was the winning bachelor on an episode of "The Dating Game." Bob would eventually become a game show host himself as the original host of the hit TV game show "America's Funniest Home Videos." In 2006, after a 9-year break from game shows, Bob returned to game show hosting duties as the original host of "1 vs. 100" for 2 years on NBC. 3. Bobby Jacoby -- In 1988, 2 years before being cast opposite Michael Gross and Kevin Bacon in the hit 1990 movie "Tremors," Bobby Jacoby, believe it or not, was a civilian contestant on Nickelodeon's "Double Dare," an episode you can watch on YouTube in 4 separate parts thanks to http://www.youtube.com/user/cool245flashmail. His episode was The Big Boppers vs. The Radical Raisins, and Bobby, calling himself R.J. (as in his given name, Robert Jacoby), with his episode partner Lisa, won a trip to the "Double Dare" Obstacle Course along with $220 and 7 out of 8 prizes. 4. Kirstie Alley -- Nearly a decade before earning greater fame as an actress on NBC's "Cheers," Kirstie Alley, then an interior designer, was a civilian contestant on the hit TV game show "Match Game." That same year, Kirstie was also a contestant on "Password Plus." 5. Candice Bergen -- In 1958, 30 years before finding fame in her own right as "Murphy Brown" on the hit 1980s sitcom of the same name, 12-year-old Candice Bergen was a civilian contestant on "You Bet Your Life." Any more future celebrities you can think of who appeared on game shows before earning greater fame will be greatly appreciated.

10-16-2011, 01:22 PM	#2
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: 34,416	Dr. Joyce Brothers' expertise was boxing, not basketball.
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10-16-2011, 02:26 PM	#5
Heidi Dawn Muppets Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 01, 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 883	I have a few - John Ritter, Farrah Fawcett, Suzanne Somers, and Arnold Schwarzenegger have appeared on The Dating Game. Clips of their appearances are on YouTube. Vanna White and Linda Cardellini both appeared on The Price Is Right as contestants. Vanna didn't make it out of contestant's row, but Linda won a fireplace and didn't win her pricing game or make it to the showcase.
	__________________ Complete Series Box Sets I own: MASH, Three's Company, Gilligan's Island, The Dukes Of Hazzard, The Golden Girls, The Monkees, The Brady Bunch, Full House, I Dream Of Jeannie, Bewitched, Taxi, Gimme A Break, Dallas, Charlie's Angels, Joanie Loves Chachi, Laverne & Shirley, Mork & Mindy, The Cosby Show, The Facts of Life, Family Ties, Diff'rent Strokes, Green Acres.

10-18-2011, 01:25 AM	#6
megamanj2004 Member Senior Member Join Date: Dec 21, 2004 Posts: 2,361	Naomi Judd was a contestant on the original version of HS w/ Peter Marshall before she became a celebrity player on Tom Bergeron's HS. Shortly before he found acting success and before he was a celebrity partner, David Graff was a civvie player on The $20,000 Pyramid w/ Patti Duke Astin and co-incidentally would later play against Patti Duke Astin on the '80s Pyramid. In fact Dick Clark even played the clip of his run on The $20K Pyramid on there. Before he was Mr. Belding on Saved by the Bell, Dennis Haskins was a contestant on Scrabble.
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10-16-2011, 02:12 PM	#4
howilu Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 20, 2003 Location: St. Louis Park, MN Posts: 1,963	Before Jenny Jones became famous as a comedienne and talk show host, she was a contestant on Press Your Luck.

10-24-2011, 11:57 PM	#9
Vahan Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 14, 2008 Posts: 2,712	I think it was 1997.