Wheel of Fortune

[Scoot79]

Originally Posted by John1701D

Vanna literally does nothing . It's hysterical, at least once upon a time she turned the letters around. She must have the goods on somebody high up.

I feel bad for agreeing, but you're right. During the 1980s and early to mid 1990s, Vanna's job made sense because the letters on the puzzle board were manually operated. Someone had to physically turn them, but when the board went digital, it really made her job obsolete. I think they kept her on the payroll by having her touch the letter screens just because they didn't have the heart to let her go. They don't need her there. When a contestant chooses a letter, the operator could simply light up those selections. She seems like a very sweet person, but honestly, that's the truth.

As for the game show hosts of today, I'm a old fart (born in 1979, turning 44 next month) because with the exception of Pat Sajak, I don't like any of them. I grew up with Bob Barker on The Price Is Right, Ray Combs and Richard Dawson on Family Feud, Bob Eubanks and Bill Rafferty on Card Sharks, and Gene Rayburn and Ross Shafer on Match Game. Those are the ones I love watching.

[mwynn]

Originally Posted by Scoot79

I feel bad for agreeing, but you're right. During the 1980s and early to mid 1990s, Vanna's job made sense because the letters on the puzzle board were manually operated. Someone had to physically turn them, but when the board went digital, it really made her job obsolete. I think they kept her on the payroll by having her touch the letter screens just because they didn't have the heart to let her go. They don't need her there. When a contestant chooses a letter, the operator could simply light up those selections. She seems like a very sweet person, but honestly, that's the truth.

As for the game show hosts of today, I'm a old fart (born in 1979, turning 44 next month) because with the exception of Pat Sajak, I don't like any of them. I grew up with Bob Barker on The Price Is Right, Ray Combs and Richard Dawson on Family Feud, Bob Eubanks and Bill Rafferty on Card Sharks, and Gene Rayburn and Ross Shafer on Match Game. Those are the ones I love watching.

In all honesty they did not need her to turn the letters either.

[meremortal]

Originally Posted by John1701D

A good host is priceless. Family Feud is nothing without Steve Harvey.

Why not reward Vanna for all the years on the show and let her host, Seacrest is everywhere.

Feud's definitely a good 21st century example of host importance. The show seemed fairly dated and generic when Anderson, Karn and O'Hurley were hosts. Harvey brought a much needed new energy to the show and it got a bit raunchier. But ratings were pretty incredible and people talked about the show. It became a hip household name again and Harvey was a huge success in getting great responses out of contestants and being funny on his feet to keep an old formula entertaining. Without him, the show might've been cancelled again or at best kind of coasted on daytime tv. Wheel may possibly rely less on a high energy, funny host, but it's tough to say as Sajak has been a fixture of the show for so long. Jeopardy was kind of like Feud where the host does really help and in the end they probably made the right choice with Ken.

[Walter Kafka]

Originally Posted by Scoot79

I feel bad for agreeing, but you're right. During the 1980s and early to mid 1990s, Vanna's job made sense because the letters on the puzzle board were manually operated. Someone had to physically turn them, but when the board went digital, it really made her job obsolete. I think they kept her on the payroll by having her touch the letter screens just because they didn't have the heart to let her go. They don't need her there. When a contestant chooses a letter, the operator could simply light up those selections. She seems like a very sweet person, but honestly, that's the truth.

As for the game show hosts of today, I'm a old fart (born in 1979, turning 44 next month) because with the exception of Pat Sajak, I don't like any of them. I grew up with Bob Barker on The Price Is Right, Ray Combs and Richard Dawson on Family Feud, Bob Eubanks and Bill Rafferty on Card Sharks, and Gene Rayburn and Ross Shafer on Match Game. Those are the ones I love watching.

I watch a lot of Buzzr. Unfortunately, they don't show Wheel and Jeopardy. They show Classic Concentration with Trebek though.

[erixon20]

Originally Posted by Scoot79

I feel bad for agreeing, but you're right. During the 1980s and early to mid 1990s, Vanna's job made sense because the letters on the puzzle board were manually operated. Someone had to physically turn them, but when the board went digital, it really made her job obsolete. I think they kept her on the payroll by having her touch the letter screens just because they didn't have the heart to let her go. They don't need her there. When a contestant chooses a letter, the operator could simply light up those selections. She seems like a very sweet person, but honestly, that's the truth.

As for the game show hosts of today, I'm a old fart (born in 1979, turning 44 next month) because with the exception of Pat Sajak, I don't like any of them. I grew up with Bob Barker on The Price Is Right, Ray Combs and Richard Dawson on Family Feud, Bob Eubanks and Bill Rafferty on Card Sharks, and Gene Rayburn and Ross Shafer on Match Game. Those are the ones I love watching.

What about the Orginal host of Card sharks-Jim Perry?

[erixon20]

Originally Posted by Walter Kafka

I watch a lot of Buzzr. Unfortunately, they don't show Wheel and Jeopardy. They show Classic Concentration with Trebek though.

I remember watching Trebek on CC when I was in high school-i watch now on buzz as well

[Walter Kafka]

Originally Posted by erixon20

What about the Orginal host of Card sharks-Jim Perry?

79 Card Sharks is disco, man. Buzzr has shown it.

[Scoot79]

Originally Posted by Walter Kafka

I watch a lot of Buzzr. Unfortunately, they don't show Wheel and Jeopardy. They show Classic Concentration with Trebek though.

Classic Concentration was another show I liked a lot. Seeing contestants play for a car in the Winner’s Circle was very exciting.

Originally Posted by erixon20

What about the Orginal host of Card sharks-Jim Perry?

A very good host and edition of the show as well, but not my favorite. I grew up with the 1986-1989 CBS edition hosted by Bob Eubanks and the 1986-1987 syndicated nighttime edition hosted by Bill Rafferty. The Eubanks/Rafferty era offered additional perks not found on the 1978-1981 NBC Jim Perry era.

Such as:

A higher top prize in the Money Cards ($32,000 vs $28,800)

The Car Game which offered the champion an attempt to win a new car after the Money Cards. (Added in October 1986)

Prize Cards hidden in the decks of the main game in which any prizes revealed by a player that went on to win the match (2 games out of a possible 3) and advance to the Money Cards would win. After a Prize Card was revealed, it was replaced by another card from the player’s deck. Prizes included trips, jewelry, furniture, TVs, appliances, and cash cards worth $500, $1000, and $5000. (Prize Cards were only used on the syndicated nighttime show with Rafferty.)

Educated Guess questions

Audience polling questions consisting of 10 people in the studio audience.