Via USA Today’s Pop Candy comes this list of the 30 greatest game show hosts of all time. Generally speaking, this is a fine list, and I’m glad to see that such unorthodox hosts as Jeff Probst, Takeshi Kaga (Iron Chef’s pepper-biter), and Muppet Guy Smiley made the cut.
But what fun would such a list be if it didn’t offer grounds to complain? So here goes: No Chuck Woolery? Alex Trebek (shown here when his hair and mustache were at their full ’70s glory) is only No. 5? Tom Bergeron scores higher as Hollywood Squares host than Peter Marshall? Bob Barker (pictured) loses the top spot to Gene Rayburn? I mean, yeah, Match Game was pretty hilarious, and Rayburn’s simian leer fit it nicely, but there are only so many times, Gene, that you and Charles Nelson Reilly can snicker at the rubes before that shtick gets old. Barker, though, deserves some kind of Nobel Prize, not just for his longevity, stamina, and patience, but for his unflagging enthusiasm, getting just as excited over some grocery-shelf product that the poor Price Is Right contestant has to price as he does over new cars. Plus, as the listmaker notes, he got to kick Adam Sandler’s ass. You’ve served your country and its capitalist economy well, Mr. Barker.
Comments (1-15) of 26
I am sure that Peter Tomarkin is up there along with Jim Lange, Allan Lunden and Bob Eubanks. However, Rayburn was hilarious. The whole point of Match Game was to poke fun at the FCC and to see how far the panel could go.
I work at a CBS-affiliated station, and many of my co-workers (especially females) are creeped out by Bob Barker, so I think it’s good he’s not #1.
Chuck should have been up there for Scrabble, that was a decent game. That is an awful picture of Trebek during his “Gabe Kotter” phase. And, oh no Guy Smiley! lol.
Bob Barker is the man! How could he NOT be number one?
Even though it technically is not a game show, I’m going to have to go with Kenny Blankenship and Vic Romano of MXC on Spike TV. Best. Show. Ever.
Where is Dick Clark and the $25,000 Pyramid?
as i went down the list, i thought, ‘gene rayburn had better be in the top five.’ there’s no one better!
Peter Tomarken rocked. Even as we speak he’s up in heaven probably asking his three angelic contestants if they want to “Press your luck or Pass?”
BOB RULES!!!!!!!
Chuck Woolery, anyone?
BOB IS MY HERO…RECOGNIZE!
My favorite of all time is Richard Dawson, the way he would almost make out with every female contestant, that guy should have been spayed or neutered.
bob, (like my other hero, hint hint), got some lovin from a younger chick because of his power, and he was what 60 at the time? my man bobby b!! no, not bobby brown, bob barker
Bob Barker #1, Alex Trebek #2, Gene Rayburn #3
You all can name all the famous ones BUT GEORGIE SCHMIDLAP is beyond a doubt the best anyone has ever seen or heard……….Rotten Ron
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.