MGHS first-week celebs - Game Show Forum

MGHS first-week celebs, Was this why ratings weren't great?

pyrfan View Member Profile	Apr 26 2004, 04:15 PM Post #1
Group: Members Posts: 263 Joined: 29-June 03 Member No.: 241	Looking back on "Match Game/Hollywood Squares Hour's" first week on the air, I have to say that they didn't exactly launch it with a lot of star power. I know that big, big stars have never been a mainstay of game shows in general, but they could have upped the wattage a little bit for the premiere week. Take another look at that week's guests: Twyla Littleton, Bill Daily, Barbi Benton, Jimmie Walker, Alison Arngrim, Skip Stephenson, Tom Villard, and -- in the center square -- Phil Proctor. Not to take anything away from Phil, who is a very talented comedian and actor, but I can't help but think that many people across America watched that first episode and, upon seeing the center square, uttered "Phil who?" The closest things to household names on the panel were Jimmie Walker and Barbi Benton (but most people probably know her as Hugh Hefner's one-time paramour and nothing else). I'd never heard of Twyla before (or since); Alison, Jimmie, and Bill had been in successful series in the past but weren't on anything at the time. The only two people on the panel who had regular series gigs were Tom, then on "We Got It Made," and Skip, whose "Real People" had long ago ceased to be hot. Don't get me wrong -- I loved discovering new faces on MGHS and on other game shows. MGHS was the first place I ever saw Arsenio Hall, Edie McClurg, and others. And with format and host problems, I don't know if the show would have had a long run anyway, but I think they could have put a lot more thought into their guests for the opening week. If it were me, I would have tried to get semi-big-name guests who had played previous incarnations of both games, like Bonnie Franklin, Dr. Joyce Brothers, Betty White, Edward Asner, and others. What does everyone else think? Brendan

Jimmy Owen View Member Profile	Apr 26 2004, 05:02 PM Post #2
Group: In the Biz Posts: 5078 Joined: 18-June 03 From: Bay City, MI Member No.: 72	My first thought when seeing Phil Proctor was "Where's Bergman??!!??" :) When it comes right down to it, in 1983, nothing could stop the juggernaut called "General Hospital." I don't know if bigger stars would have made a difference.

uncamark

Apr 26 2004, 05:08 PM

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QUOTE (Jimmy Owen @ Apr 26 2004, 05:02 PM)

My first thought when seeing Phil Proctor was "Where's Bergman??!!??" :) When it comes right down to it, in 1983, nothing could stop the juggernaut called "General Hospital." I don't know if bigger stars would have made a difference.

And ultimately, the show was just one big placeholder for "Santa Barbara," even if NBC wouldn't admit it back then. Probably having Cosby, Michael J. Fox, Ted Danson, Shelley Long, Daniel J. Travanti and Michael Conrad (from the killer NBC Thursday night lineup of the time) on the same week wouldn't have made any difference in the ratings--as if it would've ever happened.

Jamey Greek

Apr 26 2004, 05:16 PM

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QUOTE (pyrfan @ Apr 26 2004, 04:15 PM)

Looking back on "Match Game/Hollywood Squares Hour's" first week on the air, I have to say that they didn't exactly launch it with a lot of star power. I know that big, big stars have never been a mainstay of game shows in general, but they could have upped the wattage a little bit for the premiere week.

Take another look at that week's guests: Twyla Littleton, Bill Daily, Barbi Benton, Jimmie Walker, Alison Arngrim, Skip Stephenson, Tom Villard, and -- in the center square -- Phil Proctor. Not to take anything away from Phil, who is a very talented comedian and actor, but I can't help but think that many people across America watched that first episode and, upon seeing the center square, uttered "Phil who?" The closest things to household names on the panel were Jimmie Walker and Barbi Benton (but most people probably know her as Hugh Hefner's one-time paramour and nothing else). I'd never heard of Twyla before (or since); Alison, Jimmie, and Bill had been in successful series in the past but weren't on anything at the time. The only two people on the panel who had regular series gigs were Tom, then on "We Got It Made," and Skip, whose "Real People" had long ago ceased to be hot.

Don't get me wrong -- I loved discovering new faces on MGHS and on other game shows. MGHS was the first place I ever saw Arsenio Hall, Edie McClurg, and others. And with format and host problems, I don't know if the show would have had a long run anyway, but I think they could have put a lot more thought into their guests for the opening week. If it were me, I would have tried to get semi-big-name guests who had played previous incarnations of both games, like Bonnie Franklin, Dr. Joyce Brothers, Betty White, Edward Asner, and others.

What does everyone else think?

Brendan

No, Big Stars wouldn't have made a difference Having, Peter Marshall as host of Hollywood Squares wouldn't either. However, if Peter Marshall hosted, Gene would have let the series air in reruns. Because, from my understanding Peter and Gene were very good friends and would have enjoyed working with one another. Gene may have been reluctant to do it in the first place I understand he was hosting a Saturday radio show at the time, but Gene and Peter would have been a good team!

Another thing is this, Phil Proctor is now the voice of Howard Deville Phil and Lil's father on Rugrats. BTW, Former Charlie's Angels star Bosley, and Regular MG Panelist David Doyle voiced Grandpa until he died. He was followed by Former Couch Potatoes and MG90 regular Joe Alaskey.

Winkfan

Apr 26 2004, 06:28 PM

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QUOTE (Jamey Greek @ Apr 26 2004, 02:16 PM)

However, if Peter Marshall hosted, Gene would have let the series air in reruns. Because, from my understanding Peter and Gene were very good friends and would have enjoyed working with one another. Gene may have been reluctant to do it in the first place I understand he was hosting a Saturday radio show at the time, but Gene and Peter would have been a good team!

So would Gene and Chuck Woolery, I think if it weren't for that sneaky Eric Leiber, Chuck would have been a good choice for the HSQ segment. Besides, they would've needed a 'straight-man' like Chuck to balance the zaniness of Geno.

Cordially,
Tammy Warner--the 'Loretta Swit of the Big Board!'

zachhoran

Apr 26 2004, 06:31 PM

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QUOTE (Winkfan @ Apr 26 2004, 06:28 PM)

So would Gene and Chuck Woolery, I think if it weren't for that sneaky Eric Leiber, Chuck would have been a good choice for the HSQ segment. Besides, they woud've needed a 'straight-man' like Chuck to balance the zaniness of Geno.

THis would have made CHuck unavailable for Scrabble if it were to happen. Tom Kennedy or maybe even Bert Convy might have worked OK(Bert wouldn't happen due to his Tattletales committments)

Jimmy Owen View Member Profile	Apr 26 2004, 06:43 PM Post #7
Group: In the Biz Posts: 5078 Joined: 18-June 03 From: Bay City, MI Member No.: 72	This may be heresy, but since Gene reportedly didn't want to do the show, and they were going with a newcomer in Jon Bauman, why not have a newbie in for Gene. That way, it would be like a fresh start. Maybe one of the other guys from Sha-Na-Na so there would be more rapport between the hosts.

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