richard dawson
8 Memorably Wacky 'Family Feud' Answers (VIDEO)
'Family Feud''s ability to set up absurd answers with innocuous questions makes it a clip bonanza for YouTube.About once a month, the long-running game show has a clip go viral because the contestant's answer is unbelievably dumb, silly or inappropriate.
And the show's sixth host, Steve Harvey, milks the craziness for all it's worth, mugging to the cameras and acting offended when things go even the slightest bit off-kilter.
While Harvey's overacting and sense of comedic timing make him perfect for the online generation, 'Family Feud' has a long and stories history of producing countless WTF answers. Check out these eight memorable moments ...
Five Creepy Game Show Hosts
Game show hosts by their very job description creep me down to the bone. It's just in their nature. They have to go out of their way to make ordinary people look comfortable, even though they have never been on television. Some housewife from Minnesota who is one number away from owning a new Ford Focus is so nervous, she could fly into an eye-bleeding seizure at any moment. Enter the host. He has to step in and calm her down before that happens.
However, there is a fine line between comforting someone and invading their personal space with the force of a German infantry. These are the hosts who put that creepy feeling you get whenever you hear the phrase, "Come on down!"
10 Greatest Game Show Hosts in History
Hosting a game show is something of an art. You've got to be amiable but authoritative, and you've got to make it look easy. You've got to look happy when a contestant walks away with thousands of dollars (or even millions, at this point) and you've got to look contrite when a contestant loses -- especially if due to a bad answer. You've got to project warmth, seem approachable and always appear ready for fun, even when enforcing the rules.Since the first quiz shows of the late 1940s, through the infamous scandals of the 1950s, up until the present day of huge cash prizes, game-show hosting has been an amazing long-term gig for the people -- almost always men -- who get the job. Who, then, are the 10 greatest game-show hosts in history? Check out our after the jump.
Love Connection is not one of the best game shows of all-time
Ah, another day, another list. This one is from PopCrunch, and it lists the 25 Best Game Shows of All-Time. And yes, it will provoke discussion and hair-pulling.It's not a bad list actually, as these things go. It's a little predictable (and I certainly wouldn't have included Love Connection, Deal or No Deal, or Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader?), but there are some good choices here. Press Your Luck was a great show (though it should be higher on the list), and it's hard to argue with how high shows like Jeopardy and The Price is Right are. I also like that they included The Mole (the first two Anderson Cooper-hosted seasons) and Remote Control.
Is a new Match Game on the way?
Interesting story in The Hollywood Reporter today: Fremantle Media, who owns American Idol, The Price is Right, and a number of popular game shows, is looking to revive Match Game.That's right folks: in this era where no section of TV history is left unscathed, everyone's favorite shag-carpeted, wokka-wokka game show from the seventies might be coming to a TV near you soon. Fremantle is currently talking with cable networks about a revival of the show and is also looking for an executive producer, and will hire talent after the EP is brought on board.
Brett Somers dead at 83
Veteran Match Game panelist Brett Somers has died at age the age of 83.
I was going to say that Somers "was" married to Jack Klugman, but an interesting fact: even though they separated in 1974, while The Odd Couple was on the air, they never divorced! Somers played Klugman's ex-wife on the show.
Besides her many game show appearances, Somers also guest starred on The Love Boat, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Love, American Style, Barney Miller, Battlestar Galactica (the original), The F.B.I., The Defenders, Ben Casey, Naked City, and many other shows.
Somers died of cancer in Westport, CT on Saturday. Her co-star Charles Nelson Reilly died earlier this year.
Update: GSN is having a marathon this Saturday from 9am to 4pm, featuring Somers' Match Game appearances and a Password where she guested with Jack Klugman.
Would you watch Match Game on DVD?
Now, I used to watch Match Game when I was a kid. It was a cheesy, goofy, slightly racy (I knew all that even when I was 8 and 9 years old) celeb-filled 70s game show that was good for a laugh or two during the day. But now comes word that a Best of Match Game 4-disc set is coming November 21, and I don't know how I feel about that.Does someone really want to sit down on their couch and throw in a DVD of a game show? I mean, if they had some "classic" episodes, then it might be worth taking a look at, but is there really enough material here for 4 discs? Maybe it has a lot of extras on it, like interviews with some of the cast, and maybe a fast "Dumb Dora" montage. That might be funny.
Match Game fans, will you buy this set?
(Oh, and the answer to the question on the cover? "Iron," obviously!)
J. Peterman to host Family Feud
Yeah, OK, I know his name is John O'Hurley, but he was freakin' funny as hell on Seinfeld, so...O'Hurley will take over Family Feud hosting duties from Richard Karn, who took over from Louie Anderson, who took over from Ray Combs, who took over from Richard Dawson. (Did I miss anyone? I think Dawson came back for a short time in there somewhere?) I guess I should announce right now that I will be taking over hosting duties from O'Hurley in 2009.
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