Game Show Forum > Semi OT: Game Show host guest star

gsgalaxy82

Jan 8 2004, 02:13 AM

For anyone interested, Celebrity Sweepstakes host Jim McKrell will do a two episode guest apperance on reruns of Dallas on Soapnet, ABC's 24 hour soap opera network, Thursday and Friday, at 1 pm and 6 pm (same episode at both times). The episodes aired in January of 1982, quite awhile after his last game show gig I believe. He did try and start a acting career sometime after that, from what I've heard.

Thought I'd pass it along!
David

zachhoran

Jan 8 2004, 07:27 AM

QUOTE (gsgalaxy82 @ Jan 8 2004, 02:13 AM)

For anyone interested, Celebrity Sweepstakes host Jim McKrell will do a two episode guest apperance on reruns of Dallas on Soapnet, ABC's 24 hour soap opera network, Thursday and Friday, at 1 pm and 6 pm (same episode at both times). The episodes aired in January of 1982, quite awhile after his last game show gig I believe. He did try and start a acting career sometime after that, from what I've heard.

Thought I'd pass it along!
David

Later in the 80s, he did a small role in Michael J. Fox's Teen WOlf movie and as a game show host on an episode of the GOlden Girls, as well as doing a few unsold GS pilots and his Sweethearts and Couch POtatoes announcing gigs.

aaron sica

Jan 8 2004, 07:32 AM

And now this thread has me wondering something, picking my brain trying to remember..

At the time, I had no idea who Jim McKrell was, but he played HIMSELF on a show that used to run on Nickelodeon back in the late '80s (circa 1987/1988). It was part of some anthology series that ran on Nickelodeon back then where they showed specials......The episode w/ McKrell was made in the mid/late '70s..

I'm trying to remember the name of it, but it had to do with a teenage girl who won some kind of contest or something like that, and she got to meet Jim McKrell....That's about all I remember - I'd love to see it again, but I don't remember the name of it....Even a search at us.imdb.com came up blank :)

Don Howard

Jan 8 2004, 11:32 AM

QUOTE (aaron sica @ Jan 8 2004, 07:32 AM)

And now this thread has me wondering something, picking my brain trying to remember..

At the time, I had no idea who Jim McKrell was, but he played HIMSELF on a show that used to run on Nickelodeon back in the late '80s (circa 1987/1988). It was part of some anthology series that ran on Nickelodeon back then where they showed specials......The episode w/ McKrell was made in the mid/late '70s..

I'm trying to remember the name of it, but it had to do with a teenage girl who won some kind of contest or something like that, and she got to meet Jim McKrell....That's about all I remember - I'd love to see it again, but I don't remember the name of it....Even a search at us.imdb.com came up blank :)

I remember this. The program you're thinking of first ran as an installment on the ABC Afterschool Special in the late 1970s. It was a breath of fresh air as it was one of the few afterschool specials that didn't deal with divorce or some kid dying.

calliaume

Jan 8 2004, 10:08 PM

QUOTE (zachhoran @ Jan 8 2004, 07:27 AM)

QUOTE (gsgalaxy82 @ Jan 8 2004, 02:13 AM)

For anyone interested, Celebrity Sweepstakes host Jim McKrell will do a two episode guest apperance on reruns of Dallas on Soapnet, ABC's 24 hour soap opera network, Thursday and Friday, at 1 pm and 6 pm (same episode at both times). The episodes aired in January of 1982, quite awhile after his last game show gig I believe. He did try and start a acting career sometime after that, from what I've heard.

Thought I'd pass it along!
David

Later in the 80s, he did a small role in Michael J. Fox's Teen WOlf movie and as a game show host on an episode of the GOlden Girls, as well as doing a few unsold GS pilots and his Sweethearts and Couch POtatoes announcing gigs.

Here's his IMDB list.

I've been lucky enough to have occasional contact with Jim (although we haven't touched base in awhile) -- he got in touch with me after finding my Celebrity Sweepstakes page and had some contributions and corrections. (That page has been a magnet; Ralph Andrews and a Burt Sugarman representative found it, too!)

The reason he didn't do as much hosting after Celebrity Sweepstakes ended was because he wanted to give acting a whirl, and NBC wouldn't let him do both. (He doesn't know why, either.) He actually got a hint the show would end sooner than anyone else; not long after buying a new house in 1976, NBC contacted him about hosting a new pilot -- never a good sign.

Anyway, last I heard he was still living and working in Houston. Good guy.

And on to the question everyone asks: he doesn't have any more Celebrity Sweepstakes episodes than the rest of us do.

GSWitch

Jan 8 2004, 11:41 PM

QUOTE (zachhoran @ Jan 8 2004, 06:27 AM)

Later in the 80s, he did a small role in Michael J. Fox's Teen WOlf movie and as a game show host on an episode of the GOlden Girls.

I love that Golden Girls episode, Grab That Dough! Jim McKrell was great on that episode.

JIM: Finish this well known saying, "Better Late Than..."
(Rue rings in)
RUE: PREGNANT!

JIM: It's an electric skillet! It frys, it boils, it bakes...
BEATRICE: It stinks!
JIM: My apologies to the Quick Fry Corporation.

uncamark

Jan 9 2004, 02:46 PM

And while we're at it, a few weeks ago in the regular rotation of the 70s syndie "LMAD"s on GSN, Monty introduced in the audience "a young man who's become a big star" named Jim McKrell. He stood up and took a bow--dressed as a guava.

Kidding about the last part of that sentence.

cmjb13

Jan 9 2004, 02:50 PM

QUOTE

JIM: Finish this well known saying, "Better Late Than..."
(Rue rings in)
RUE: PREGNANT!

Jim: That is not correct, but certainly not untrue.

QUOTE

JIM: It's an electric skillet! It frys, it boils, it bakes...
BEATRICE: It stinks!
JIM: My apologies to the Quick Fry Corporation.

IIRC, it was Fry Quick