Subject is: The Curious Charisma of Game Show Hosts

What does it take to win at the role of television game show host? The most successful of them are charming and likable, yet reserved. They exude just enough personality, but not too much. They offer a smooth, subtle affability, greasing the wheels of these sometimes-clunky productions. Today marks the 80th birthday of one of the greats in the genre. (And his new memoir came out yesterday!)

This beloved Canadian-American game show host turns 80 today!

Who is Alex Trebek? Jeopardy! fans have long expressed interest in knowing more about the show's multiple Emmy Award-winning host. After long resisting the idea of writing a book, the famously private figure finally relented in response to the outpouring of love and support he received following his 2019 diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.

"I want people to know a little more about the person they have been cheering on for the past year," Mr. Trebek writes in the book, The Answer Is...: Reflections on my Life. Trebek admirers will likely be delighted with the slim 160-page volume, which includes personal anecdotes about his experiences in work, marriage, parenting, and more. Of course, Trebek includes discussion on some of the Jeopardy!'s noteworthy players, including champions Ken Jennings and James Holzhauer.

This game show producer and host claimed to have also worked as a CIA assassin...

Who is Chuck Barris? The eccentric mogul got his start in television as a staffer at NBC. He worked his way up to programming and eventually became frustrated, feeling that his own ideas were superior to his bosses. Starting his own production company in 1965, he found success with The Dating Game and The Newlywed Show, among others.

Barris generally preferred to stay behind the scenes, but in 1976 he stepped in as the host of his new talent show spoof The Gong Show after artistic differences led to the abrupt departure of the original host. His bumbling, jokey style caught on with viewers and he became an accidental star.

Barris is the author of several books, but he received particular attention for 1984's Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, his "autobiography" about working as an assassin for the CIA. However, the CIA quickly denied having ever employed him and Barris readily admitted that the book was indeed a fantasy. In 2002, George Clooney produced a film adaptation of the book and in 2004, Barris published a sequel called Bad Grass Never Dies.

This host has won the Guinness World Record for most frequent clapper...

Who is Vanna White? After working as a model and landing a few bit parts in movies and television, the beauty landed her longtime gig as the hostess of Wheel of Fortune in 1982. White quickly became a highlight of the popular game show, known for her infectious smile, her smooth style of revealing the letters on the game board, and her enthusiastic clapping in support of every contestant. In 2019, when Pat Sajak was hospitalized for emergency surgery, White stepped up and briefly took over as host until he was recovered.

In 1987, White published her bestselling memoir Vanna Speaks*, which traces her inspiring story and includes 32 personal photographs from her life. White is also accomplished at crocheting and knitting and has published several books about these hobbies, like Vanna's Afghans, A to Z.

This ardent sports fan is a minority owner for a Major League Soccer team...

Who is Drew Carey? After making a name for himself in the 1990s as a stand-up comedian, the funny man gained stardom on the U.S. version of the improv show Whose Line is it Anyway? and his own sitcom, The Drew Carey Show. In 2007, Carey took over at the helm of The Price is Right, when long-time host Bob Barker retired.

In 1997, Carey published his bestselling autobiography, Dirty Jokes and Beer, sharing his rocky road to fame. While packed with humor, the book reveals some seriously emotional stories from the comedian's childhood and adolescence including his father's untimely death and his own bouts of serious depression.

This television personality was known as the "Dean of Game Show Hosts"...

Who is Bill Cullen? He has been named as the best game show host of all time by such industry standouts as Bob Barker, Dick Clark, Pat Sajak, and, yes, even Alex Trebek. During Cullen's career, which spanned five decades, he hosted 23 shows, appearing as a guest on numerous other programs along the way.

A childhood bout with polio left Cullen with significant physical limitations; yet he went on to serve as a pilot in the U.S. Air Corps. He got his start in broadcasting in 1939 as a radio deejay and sports announcer. To supplement his meager income, he became a freelance joke writer for some of the top radio stars of the day, including Arthur Godfrey, Danny Kaye, and Jack Benny. His first TV game show was Winner Take All in 1952. He went on to host the original The Price Is Right from 1956 to 1965, preceding Bob Barker and Drew Carey.

Quizmaster: The Life & Times & Fun & Games of Bill Cullen provides a thorough biography of the icon’s life. Author Adam Nedeff is a professional game show buff who who received encouragement to write on the subjuct from none other than late night star Conan O'Brien. His other books include the four-volume This Day in Game Show History.

Hooray for game show hosts! And for daily book recommendations, literary tidbits, and more, you can follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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