Special Report
Most Popular Game Show Hosts in History
July 23, 2020 3:09 pm
Source: Photo by ÔøΩÔøΩ John Springer Collection / CORBIS / Corbis via Getty Images
40. Art Fleming (1924-1995)
> Notable game shows: Jeopardy!/The All New Jeopardy!, College Bowl
> Years on air as host: 1964-1979
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 319,536
Long before Alex Trebek put his stamp on the primetime game show “Jeopardy!,” in which contestants have to respond to clues from various categories in the form of questions, the show was hosted in daytime by Art Fleming. The show, created by Merv Griffin, ran from 1964 to 1975 and returned for a brief run from 1978 to 1979. Fleming played himself in the movie “Airplane II: The Sequel” in 1982.
39. Marc Summers (1951-)
> Notable game shows: Double Dare/Super Sloppy Double Dare, Couch Potatoes, What Would You Do?, Pick Your Brain, History IQ, WinTuition
> Years on air as host: 1986-2004
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 322,515
Marc Summers began his entertainment career as a magician, disc jockey and comedian. His first on-air job for a game show was as an announcer for “The Joker’s Wild” in 1973 at age 22. He is best known as host of the show “Double Dare” on Nickelodeon from 1986 to 1993.
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38. Bill Cullen (1920-1990)
> Notable game shows: Act It Out, Winner Take All, Bank on the Stars, The Price Is Right, Eye Guess, Three on a Match, Winning Streak, The $25,000 Pyramid, Pass the Buck, Chain Reaction, Blockbusters, Child’s Play, Hot Potato, The Joker’s Wild
> Years on air as host: 1949-1986
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 338,501
The bespectacled quizmaster known for his impish humor overcame a childhood bout with polio that caused him physical challenges the rest of his life to host 24 different game shows. Among the programs he helmed were “The Price Is Right,” “Eye Guess,” and “Three on a Match.” He also served as a panelist on other game shows, such as “I’ve Got a Secret.” Cullen was the brother-in-law of two other game show hosts, Jack Narz and Tom Kennedy.
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37. Wink Martindale (1933-)
> Notable game shows: What’s This Song?, Can You Top This?, Words and Music, Gambit/Las Vegas Gambit, The New Tic Tac Dough/Tic Tac Dough, Headline Chasers, The New High Rollers, The Last Word, Great Getaway Game, Trivial Pursuit, Boggle, Shuffle, Debt, Instant Recall
> Years on air as host: 1964-2010
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 374,070
Wink Martindale, born Winston Conrad Martindale, was a game-show fixture for nearly 50 years. Among the shows the former disc jockey hosted were “Can You Top This?,” “Tic Tac Dough,” “Gambit,” and “The New High Rollers.”
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36. Monty Hall (1921-2017)
> Notable game shows: Video Village/Video Village Junior, Let’s Make a Deal, It’s Anybody’s Guess, Beat the Clock, The Joke’s on Us, Split Second
> Years on air as host: 1961-1991
> Wikipedia page views (2 yr.): 434,490
Monty Hall gained fame as the host of “Let’s Make a Deal,” the show in which contestants were selected by Hall from a studio audience, many of whom dressed in flamboyant costumes, and offered something of value. Contestants were then given the choice of keeping the item or exchanging it for an unknown one behind a curtain. Hall hosted the show from 1963 to 1975.
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