Bob Barker, The Price Is Right
TVGame Show History: Uncle Jim's Question Bee Debuts in 1941
The venerable TV game show has been an entertainment staple since the earliest days of the tube. An offshoot of radio, TV game shows have come in many shapes and sizes, from the cerebral (G.E. College Bowl) to the moronic (The Gong Show).
The first game show in the United States was Uncle Jim's Question Bee, debuting over NBC on July 1, 1941. The host, Bill Slater, would quiz audience members on a variety of subjects.
The innocent Uncle Jim's Question Bee eventually spawned a vast multitude of TV game shows, some of whose hosts or masters of ceremonies, as they were originally called achieving their own small-screen immortality.
Although certainly open to debate, here are ten TV game show overachievers who take the top prize in their chosen field.
Bob Barker (1923-)
From 1972 to 2007 Barker hosted TV's longest-running game show, The Price Is Right. Prior to that, Barker also anchored the iconic Truth or Consequences beginning in 1956. Prince Bob remains the stuff of legend, the easy-going emcee and winner of 19 Emmy awards whose legion of fans never wanted to see him retire. "This is Bob Barker reminding you, please help control the pet population. Have your pet spade or neutered. Goodbye, everybody!"
Groucho Marx (1890-1977)
A born comedian, "The One, the Only Groucho Marx!" hosted You Bet Your Life from 1950 to 1961. With handsome sidekick George Fenneman in support, the free-wheeling, cigar-smoking Groucho often had the audience in stitches as he humorously probed the lives of his contestants. During the Fabulous Fifties the "secret word" in entertainment was Groucho!
Groucho Marx with contestants in You Bet Your Life
Garry Moore (1915-1993)
The diminutive, bow tie-wearing Moore hosted the popular I've Got a Secret from 1952 to 1964. None did it better than Moore, whose interplay with celebrity panelists Henry Morgan, Bill Cullen, Betsy Palmer, et al., make I've Got a Secret one of the great gems from the Golden Age of Television.
Pat Sajak (1946-)
The Chicago native began hosting Merv Griffin's Wheel of Fortune in 1981, replacing Chuck Woolery. The winner of three Emmy awards, Sajak is fast, funny and able, with his post-game banter with letter-turner Vanna White a treat unto itself.
John Charles Daly (1914-1991)
Also an early ABC News anchor, Daly hosted the legendary What's My Line? from 1950 to 1967. Daly did it with elegance and class, with celebrity panelists Bennett Cerf, Arlene Francis, Steve Allen and Dorothy Kilgallen in charming support.
John Charles Daly (front center), with Arlene Francis, Bennett Cerf, Dorothy Kilgallen in What's My Line?
Monty Hall (1921-)
Billed as "America's top trader, TV's big dealer," the genial Hall hosted Let's Make a Deal during its original run from 1963 to 1977. Surrounded by contestants clad in ridiculous costumes, the smiling, fast-talking Hall was always a crowd pleaser, even when a studio audience member got the dreaded "zonk."
Alex Trebek (1940-)
The Canadian-born Trebek has hosted Jeopardy! since 1984. Although Art Fleming was the original emcee, it was Trebek who elevated the answer/question game show to the television institution it is today. Legendary game show hosts for $200, Alex.
Allen Ludden (1917-1981)
Blond, brainy and genial, Ludden is best remembered as the host of Password from 1961 to 1975. Ludden, who met his wife, Betty White, on the popular show, was also the emcee of G.E. College Bowl from 1959 to 1962.
Allen Ludden, Password
Bud Collyer (1908-1969)
From 1956 to 1968 Collyer hosted To Tell the Truth, another one of those great Mark Goodson-Bill Todman Productions. His other game show stints included Winner Take All, Break the Bank and Beat the Clock. Will the real Bud Collyer please stand up, and take your rightful place as one of the genre's greatest hosts.
Regis Philbin (1931-)
A longtime television fixture, Philbin took the TV game show to new heights, hosting the phenomenally popular Who Wants to Be a Millionaire from 1999 to 2002. "Reege Rage" ruled the airwaves, with Philbin coming back for Millionaire specials and also hosting a remake of the classic Password.
Honorable Mention
Other top TV game show hosts include Dick Clark, Hugh Downs, Bill Cullen, Bob Eubanks, Gene Rayburn, Tom Kennedy, Jack Barry, Ralph Edwards, Bert Parks, Chuck Woolery, Hal March, Robert Q. Lewis, Peter Marshall, Richard Dawson, Jim Lange, Meredith Vieira, Howie Mandel and Johnny Carson.
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