Chuck Woolery - Wheel of Fortune
You probably know him from the Love Connection days, don’t you? A lesser-known fact about Chuck Woolery is that he hosted Wheel of Fortune with Susan Stafford when the show came out for the first time in the year 1975.
Woolery’s stint with the puzzle-based program ended six years later, but his passion for hosting game shows didn’t. Over time, he went on to be a part of other legacy events Scrabble and Greed & Lingo among others. Who would have thought that his first-ever TV show would go on to make history?
Art Fleming - Jeopardy!
Jeopardy's origin goes back to 1964, a time when Art Fleming was at the helm of the show. He carried it with a lot of vigor for a little over a decade before Hollywood came calling for him. While the producers managed to bring him back for the 1978-79 run of the show, they couldn't do enough to retain for future seasons.
Thanks to Merv Griffin's eye for talent and persuasion skills, else we wouldn't have come across a talented host like Fleming! Sadly, he passed away in 1995 due to health complications.
Click next to see who revived Jeopardy! after Fleming's departure.
Alex Trebek - Jeopardy!
After reviving Jeopardy! with his charm and sense of humor, Alex Trebek forged history as the show's host. He was always the sole factor for driving the ratings up - a fact commonly known and a trend that continued for many decades.
In his 36-year run, he made numerous fans, and more importantly, found a place in millions of hearts! As a testament to Trebek's dedication towards the show, he was shooting for Jeopardy! Just days before his passing in November 2020. It will surely take a while before someone manages to beat his viewership records!
If you are a fan of The Price is Right, you'll recognize the next host immediately!
Bob Barker - The Price is Right
While Bill Cullen was the one who got the ball rolling for The Price is Right, Bob Barker was the man who took the mantle from him and carried it for 35 long years! The latter had the unique traits of being funny and gentle at the same time, and without a doubt, these were the qualities that made him relatable to us.
Barker’s signature finish was a funny line reminding us to neuter our pets - something that he did every weekday afternoon. Before quitting the show in 2007, he managed to take home over 19 Emmy awards, a feat that only a few can boast of!
The next game show host is the face of The Price is Right, we all recognize today!
Drew Carey - The Price is Right
Replacing Bob Barker on an iconic game show such as The Price is Right is no mean feat! While we are not getting into who is a better host, Drew Carey has certainly done a commendable job.
Carey started his career by appearing on the syndicated show Star Search when Johnny Carson spotted him and decided to give him his big break. Soon, he catapulted to fame with programs like The Drew Carey Show and Whose Line is it Anyway. Once he turned his attention towards game shows, there was no turning back for him!
Do you know who remained with The $10,000 Pyramid game show for decades? Click next to meet the host!
Dick Clark - The $10,000 Pyramid
Unlike other hosts on this list, Dick Clark was already a popular figure owing to the success American Bandstand. The star anchor found another window of opportunity with The $10,000 Pyramid and chose to grab it with both hands!
Even as the show was undergoing cancellation and repeated renewals time and again, Dick remained a constant figure until the year 1988. He chose to leave the program at a time when the prize money stood at $100,000, only to return as a guest multiple times in the following two decades!
The next host succeeded Dick Clark for the game show and lived up to all expectations!
Michael Strahan - The $100,000 Pyramid
No one thought that The $100,000 Pyramid would make a comeback after four long years when ABC announced that it would renew many of the older game shows. What was even more surprising was the fact that Michael Strahan had been chosen as the face of the show!
After spending nearly 15 years at the defensive end of New York Giants home ground, Strahan moved to television as the host of Live! With Kelly and Michael and Good Morning America. Once he started on Pyramid, he did manage to live up to the expectations set by his predecessors!
Click next to see the Match Game host who kept audience engaged for more than two decades!
Gene Rayburn - Match Game
Keeping the audience hooked to their TV sets for over two decades is not an easy task, and Gene Rayburn was the man who emerged triumphant in his attempt! As the host of the unique game show Match Game, he brought aspirational individuals and celebrities together on the same stage.
Rayburn was a famous comedian who appeared on Under the Yum Yum Tree and Bye Bye Birdie for many years before the game show opportunity knocked on his door. He then laid the foundation for Match Game which ultimately paved the way for the future-hosts like Michael Burger and Ross Shafer!
Alec Baldwin brought a fresh take to the Match Game show. Click next to find out how!
Alec Baldwin - Match Game
Who doesn’t recognize this name? In what was a widely welcomed move, ABC revived Match Game with the comedian Alec Baldwin at the helm. His peers and critics alike credit him for bringing in his unique style, making the hour-long show even more interesting to watch.
Besides Baldwin’s brilliant wit, an aspect that stands out is the celebrity panel of friends, which includes the likes of Jason Alexander, Joel McHale, and Caroline Rhea. He has already hosted five seasons since 2016, and going by the looks of it, the 30 Rock actor is not leaving the show anytime soon!
Who was the best game show host for Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Click next to see!
Regis Philbin – Who Wants to Be a Millionaire
Remember that anxiety-inducing catch-phrase that Regis Philbin mastered throughout the years? Well, our ‘final answer’ would be yes! The Who Wants to Be a Millionaire host has been a favorite fixture of daytime TV since its debut in 1999 up until 2002.
Regis had several other shows since he left such as Live with Regis and Kelly; however, he will always be fondly remembered as the game show’s best host to date. Luckily for the younger generation, a special reboot of the beloved show was set to air in 2020, and apparently, the new host has a few tricks up his sleeve too!
You might remember our next host from a late night show. Click next to see who we are talking about!
Jimmy Kimmel – Who Wants to Be a Millionaire
Jimmy Kimmel is a Hollywood star in his own right, especially since he has a show aptly named after him. But in his new gig, it looks like he won’t be interviewing celebrities – he’ll be playing games with them instead. Yep, Kimmel is officially becoming a game show host for the ever-popular Who Wants to Be a Millionaire reboot!
Folks might think he has a lot to live up to, considering all the bigwigs who used to be the face of the show. Nevertheless, we’re pretty sure he’ll do the role justice!
Monty Hall – Let's Make a Deal
Some people might be unfamiliar with Monty Hall, but believe it or not, he was the brainchild behind the famous game show Let’s Make a Deal, which ruled the airwaves back in the early sixties. What made him so awesome was how he served as the host for over three decades – isn’t that just impressive?
In 2017, Hall, unfortunately, passed from heart failure, but his legacy lives on to this day since the production continues to thrive. If you’re wondering who has taken over his throne, the answer on the next page might surprise you.
Wayne Brady – Let's Make a Deal
To be a great game master, it’s crucial to have the wit to keep up with all the funny banter among the players. Luckily for Wayne Brady, he doesn’t have to do much since he is a natural comedian! As the brand-new host for CBS’s Let’s Make a Deal, there’s a chance he’s going to take a page out of the legendary original creator’s book for nostalgia’s sake.
Prior to landing this stint, Brady already showcased his hosting prowess in anther show called Whose Line Is It Anyway? and has acted on Broadway too! Monty Hall would have been proud to see Brady do a great job!
Bud Collyer – To Tell the Truth
It’s amazing how the iconic program To Tell the Truth has been on air since 1956 – not a lot of shows could boast about that. Part of why it became such a huge success was how Bud Collyer charmed the audience effortlessly and thus became a well-loved household name!
After leaving the game show in 1968, other celebrated hosts like Alex Trebek took over his spot. However, in 2016, ABC decided to try a much more youthful approach to the program and hired a much younger man to take the lead - you’ll never guess who it is!
Anthony Anderson – To Tell the Truth
Hosting an acclaimed show like To Tell the Truth can be daunting, but Anthony Anderson is nailing it like no other! It’s easy to see why the program remains a massive success since it was renewed in 2016 – the producers did right by picking a hilarious dude. He might not have the same experience as others, but the Kangaroo-Jack actor has adapted well into his new post.
This is obviously Anderson’s first time; however, he has already appeared in several other shows, including Iron Chef America. At the rate he’s going, it’s safe to assume we’ll be seeing him around for more seasons to come!
Jim Perry – Card Sharks
In case you didn’t know, Card Sharks is roughly inspired by the card game Acey Deucey; the only difference is, it’s played on national television. The show made its debut on the small screen in 1978 with Jim Perry as the original show master for about four years and paved the way for its success since it went on for several seasons, even without him.
Perry was already a veteran emcee then, but his career started in a short-lived game show called It’s Your Move. Good thing he eventually got a big break since it’s hard to imagine another person take the job that carved his name in Hollywood!
Joel McHale – Card Sharks
For some people, Joel McHale would always be that quirky guy named Jeff Winger from the hit sitcom Community or the funny commentator from The Soup, where he stayed for a whopping 11 years. The comedian has also done a couple of talk shows throughout his career, with the most recent being The Joel McHale Show with Joel McHale which aired on Netflix.
But times have changed, and McHale is now the spanking-new game master on ABC’s 2019 reboot of Card Sharks. Despite being a newbie, dedicated fans must have been impressed with him since ratings went up and the show was also renewed for another season!
Richard Dawson – Family Feud
In the mid-seventies, Family Feud became an instant television favorite because it was the first time a game show pitted families against each other for fun, with a chance to win thousands of dollars, too. But the real reason behind its success was the game host, Richard Dawson - he had a knack for bringing out the competitive side of each player, so imagine how exciting each episode was!
After Dawson split, the show has seen several hosts with different personalities, from Ray Combs to John O’Hurley. But a new addition to the roster forever changed the face of the game. Here’s a clue: he’s well-liked in beauty pageants!
Steve Harvey – Family Feud
There’s never a boring show when Steve Harvey is around, thanks to his comedic antics. The Emmy award-winning actor has made a name for himself in both acting and hosting; thus, it made perfect sense when he was signed up to become Family Feud’s latest game master.
With Harvey on the forefront since 2010, the classic show became a huge hit that another version of the game was spawned just five years later called Celebrity Family Feud. As the name suggests, Harvey invited various stars along with their family, much to the audience's delight. The twist was certainly a fresh perspective the show needed!
Peter Marshall – Hollywood Squares
When the original version of Hollywood Squares game show was launched in 1966, no better person than Peter Marshall was given the reins to host it. The 'tic tac toe' trivia program was on air until 1981, and Peter was the sole host for fifteen years!
The comedian began his career in the 1950s in a comedy duo. He has since appeared in numerous films and television shows and has been hosting a radio show on Music of Your Life radio network for the past fifteen years. In 2002, Marshall appeared on Hollywood Squares as a panelist, when Tim Bergeron was the host.
Bob Saget – Nashville Squares
While Hollywood Squares was canceled in 2004, CMT decided to create a spin-off due to the show's success, and in 2019, Nashville Squares was on the air. To fill in the shoes of the previous host Peter Marshall who made the parent show a fan favorite, was Bob Saget, and he didn't disappoint.
Saget is a popular figure in the game show business, having hosted 1 vs. 100 from 2006 to 2008, where he did a great job. You might even know the comedian as Danny Tanner, from the sitcom Full House through which he achieved substantial fame.
Jack Barry – The Joker's Wild
Jack Barry was a popular television show host and executive who wrote and produced many game shows, among them the popular program The Joker's Wild. Barry hosted the show since it premiered in 1972 and held the position until he passed on in 1984.
The original show used a slot machine and trivia questions, with the contestants' correct answers winning different prizes. Despite Barry's issues with quiz show scandals in the 1950s, Joker's Wild proved to be a huge success and served as a comeback for the beloved game show host.
Snoop Dogg – The Joker's Wild
In 2017, TBS decided to bring back to life the popular 1970s show The Joker's Wild, with a new name, as Snoop Dogg Presents The Joker's Wild. The rapper serves as the host and a producer, and the program has achieved massive success.
While the show was moved to TNT in 2019, it is still quite popular, with contestants having a chance to win massive amounts of money unless they choose to quit and accept Snoop's offer of cash. It might be a different format to what the original show was, but it is entertaining nonetheless.
Anne Robinson – Weakest Link
Rarely do we get to see one person hosting two different versions of the same show in other countries, but we are lucky to have watched Anne Robinson. The British television personality hosted the original hit show Weakest Link that aired on BBC before reprising the role in the NBC reboot in 2001.
Known for her sharp, witty presentation style and her iconic 'You are the weakest link. Goodbye!' tagline, Anne made sure the show was a huge success in the US, too, bringing along her charm from the BBC version. When the program was syndicated, George Gray took over the hosting role in 2002.
Jane Lynch – Weakest Link
When the famous show Weakest Link was slated to be revived in September 2020, many have wondered whether Jane Lynch would take up former host Robinson's style of being earnest in her presentation. If Jane's past works are anything to go by, then we are in for a treat.
The actress is no stranger to hosting game shows; she took part in Hollywood Game Night and it was an instant hit, with fans loving her bubbly personality and a great sense of humor. We bet the reboot of Weakest Link will be a bit different but funny and entertaining.
Groucho Marx – You Bet Your Life
Before moving to television in 1950, the You Bet Your Life quiz show was hosted on radio, with Groucho Marx as the host. The television version featured Marx with his trademark cigar, and in 1961, it had its name changed to The Groucho Show.
While the quiz gameplay was a fascinating bit of the program and for the contestants, what made it really popular was Marx's sense of humor. Recognized as one of the greatest comedians in America, it is no wonder the show was a hilarious hit, drawing viewers countrywide.
Jay Leno – You Bet Your Life
All great shows of the old deserve to be brought back to life, and You Bet Your Life is no different. The popular game show of the 1950s made famous by Groucho Marx is slated to come back on our screens in 2021, and we can't wait!
The man tasked with hosting the legendary reboot is Jay Leno, and he is already creating a buzz. The former host of the late-night show The Tonight Show has tremendous experience as an actor and comedian, and we can be sure the classic is in good hands.
Ellen DeGeneres – Ellen's Game of Games
While you might know her for hosting her talk show The Ellen DeGeneres Show, on-air since 2003, the comedian also hosts Ellen's Game of Games that has been running since 2017. The television personality is a household name in Hollywood, holding numerous roles as a game show host, producer, and beloved talk show guest.
With her impressive portfolio and talent, it's no wonder what Ellen touches turns to gold. Ellen's Game of Games is quite a successful game show that involves players contesting in one of four preliminary games, with the winner advancing to the semi-finals and the winner of the finals takes home $100,000.
What happened to Wheel of Fortune after Chuck Woolery stopped hosting the show? Click next to find out!
Pat Sajak - Wheel of Fortune
By now, you probably know that Wheel of Fortune is among the longest-running game shows in the world! And across these 7,000 episodes, Pat Sajak has successfully managed to establish himself as a quick-witted and hospitable host. In fact, he got so attached to the show that he barely missed a few days in the last four decades of his run.
The creators of the show reluctantly hired Sajak since he was a weatherman without a national appeal in his early days. Once the camera started rolling, there was no stopping him, and the show never struck the ‘bankrupt wedge’!
The next game show host took Jeopardy! to the heights of television success!
Vanna White – Wheel of Fortune
Famous for hosting the Wheel of Fortune game show, Vanna White is an acclaimed television personality and actress. Vanna has been wowing the audience with her charm and skill on the show since 1982, and she has gotten rave reviews alongside Pat Sajak from critics and fans alike.
The show features a contest in which the players solve word puzzles, with the prizes determined by spinning a giant wheel. The program is quite popular, having achieved high ratings, and we shall see a lot more of Vanna as she is contracted to host the show until 2022.