Rod's enthusiasm is non-existant
Tony Harrison
You know.. Rod has gotten downright awful at announcing. Each day his
opening just gets more monotone, and he rarely puts enthusiasm into anything
he says anymore. Even the opening is depressing, never mine the fact that
during the show when he calls a contestant to "come on down" it's about as
ho-hum as it gets. As enthusiastic as he is BEFORE the show starts (even
though it's memorized) it just amazes me how in 10 short minutes his
enthusiasm can just fizzle away.
That combined with his continual voice cracking and jumping an octave on
accident really makes him look and sound third rate. There are many others
who could do the job MUCH better. I'm not talking about the old pro's.
Audition some new talent, radio personalities, people who ARE energetic and
do it for more than just the pay. It just boggles my mind how someone could
have the job of a lifetime, surrounded by hundreds of energetic and exciting
people, and STILL manage to be so dull.
It really makes me appreciate, and miss Johnny Olson dearly.. even though
this speech slurred a little as he got along in years, he ALWAYS managed to
be full of life, energy, and enthusiasm. And it didn't take big money,
sportcoats from Thailand, or constant camera attention to keep Johnny happy,
he did it because he genuinely and truly LOVED his job.
- Tony
Matt Kaiser
Tony Harrison wrote:
>
> You know.. Rod has gotten downright awful at announcing. Each day his
> opening just gets more monotone, and he rarely puts enthusiasm into anything
> he says anymore. Even the opening is depressing, never mine the fact that
> during the show when he calls a contestant to "come on down" it's about as
> ho-hum as it gets.
It's very noticeable, because I've seen reruns of when he first started
on GSN. There's a major difference. MUCH more enthusiasm and less
cracking with the voice. He doesn't even participate very much in the
showcases anymore, which is quite a loss, because the showcases were much
more fun when Johnny portrayed a character, and Rod's participation in
the showcases, at least in the earlier years, was almost as good.
I understand Phil Hartman also tried out as announcer of TPIR. I think he
would've been GREAT, especially since he can do all those voices and
portray so many different characters. Perhaps he was too handsome or
something... it's unlikely he'd want to announce for TPIR today, since
Newsradio is still doing quite well.
Is Rod getting bored? Are we soon going to have the "Richard Dawson" of
game show announcers on our hands?
As enthusiastic as he is BEFORE the show starts (even
> though it's memorized) it just amazes me how in 10 short minutes his
> enthusiasm can just fizzle away.
Well, perhaps he should try to vary his routine. Can you imagine doing
the same routine for 10 years? Johnny, I understand, always did something
a little different each time. I really wish I could see Johnny's routine
on tape (I think Brad or someone mentioned they have a video of Johnny's
warm-up, if you're reading this, I WANT IT!)
> That combined with his continual voice cracking and jumping an octave on
> accident really makes him look and sound third rate. There are many others
> who could do the job MUCH better. I'm not talking about the old pro's.
> Audition some new talent, radio personalities, people who ARE energetic and
> do it for more than just the pay. It just boggles my mind how someone could
> have the job of a lifetime, surrounded by hundreds of energetic and exciting
> people, and STILL manage to be so dull.
It doesn't seem to phase Bob at all. I've never seen any negative
reaction from Bob while Rod announces. Still, WHO could possibly do it as
good as Johnny? Burton Richardson is a possibility. He displayed some
versatility on To Tell The Truth, when he made an onstage appearance
dressed up as an old lady to introduce three contestants. It was VERY
funny and very convincing.
> It really makes me appreciate, and miss Johnny Olson dearly.. even though
> this speech slurred a little as he got along in years, he ALWAYS managed to
> be full of life, energy, and enthusiasm.
This is why I like GSN. Johnny's talents can be seen again by all fans of
the show. I tape as many TPIRs with Johnny as I can.
And it didn't take big money,
> sportcoats from Thailand, or constant camera attention to keep Johnny happy,
> he did it because he genuinely and truly LOVED his job.
I think the Thailand suits came about by accident, and those coats, I
believe, were given to him while he was in Thailand. He didn't start
wearing them until about a few years into the series. I guess he was
taking a cue from Doc Severinson, whose suits also became more
outrageous and sparkly over the years.
ROBDON33
I was a bit dead-set against Rod Roddy being chosen to replace the late, great
Johnny Olson....funny thing was they didn't try out all of the announcers and
let US decide who would fit best. Of
the bunch they did try out they had Gene Wood (who is the true dean of Goodson
game show announcing, IMO), Bob Hilton (my pick to replace Johnny O.), Roddy
and I think Charlie Tuna.
(TEOGS listed Charlie O'Donnell in that bunch, but sadly he was not given a
tryout). The late Jay Stewart would've been an ideal pick (may have prevented
his suicide, too....think about that) as
well as Charlie O. Ditto for Johnny Gilbert and Dean Goss. But like it or
not, Roddy's still there, so we may have to get used to him for a few more
years, because Bob has no plans to replace him.
Bill Mcdaniel
I didn't pay a WHOLE lot of attention until yesterday, after reading
these posts. Rod's enthusiasm IS indeed non-existant. Indeed he says
"c'mon down" in a very flat monotonous BLAH kinda way.
Much as I like Charlie O'Donnell, his voice is too "mellow", and it's
very suitable for "Wheel of Fortune". I agree Jay Stewart would indeed
be ideal.
Being a Days of our Lives fan, I had this very odd thought. At the
beginning of the show, the LATE MacDonald Carey says "Like sands thru the
hourglass....." etc. Wouldn't it be GREAT to do that with Johnny's voice?
In this day of computer technology, get something that would be able to
emulate his voice, and the "COME ON DOWN!!!!!" Just maybe have Rod do
the names or something. Kinda stupid but just a thought.....
Bill
Jeff Davis
All of you are right.....a couple weeks ago, I was watching and thought
I was hearing things from the other room when a product was wheeled out
and Rod said..."We have here a lovely silver thing". What the hell was
he talking about? Bob even said....THING?, as if to say what meal of
the day were you thinking about when you said that Rod?.......Perhaps
TPIR should put the heat on the fat announcers much like they did the so
called "fat" models.........Roddy really sounds burnt
out!........pity.......
ROBDON33
I like Charlie O'Donnell just as much as you and about everyone else does. If
you get a chance to watch The Joker's Wild or Tic Tac Dough on GSN, Charlie O.
has a bit more enthusiasm in those two shows than he does today. He still has
the enthusiasm in him, but he chooses not to use it a lot, unless someone wins
a car or $25,000 in cash. As for Jay Stewart, it still sad to think that if
he did not kill himself in 1989, he probably still be announcing on a game show
or two. Not only that, Stewart had experience from his LMAD skits he did in
the past.
Rhudson765
I agree that Charlie O would'nt be good for TPIR ut I think that he sounds so
"mellow" is because he's bored with Wheel. Listen
to him announce a Barry and Enright show pr his reif stint on the $25,000
Pyramid and you will here a BIG diffrence.
Much as I like Charlie O'Donnell, his voice is too "mellow", and it's very
suitable for "Wheel of Fortune". I agree Jay Stewart would indeed
be ideal.
Jay Stweart would have been good and Bob Hilton would have been very good, but
i still think that Gene Wood should have gotten the job if for no other reason
but the fact that for many people he is the VOICE or Mark Goodson Productions
and for many, game shows in paticular.
I think that it's sad that the greastest livin g game show announcer is doing
promos for GSN, while a second rate <i liked him on Press your Luck> is doing
the last Goodson-Todman show on television.
TO the folks at ACI/Person/Goodson/Grundy
PLEASE HIRE GENE WOOD TO ANNOUNCE ANY GOODSON=TODMAN SHOWS THAT YOU PLAN TO
BRING BACK TO THE AIR.
Richard Hudson
Richard HUdson fan of Game shows, Doctor Who,Babylon5, classic video games,
Billy Joel, Genesis,Phil Collins , the Police, Rod Stewart, Sting, Don Henley,
the Police, The Eagles, they Might Be giants, and Science fiction
2600/5200/7800/colecovision
C319Chris
Can anyone answer this question: Is Rod Roddy eligible for Social Security?
Dave Mackey
Rhudson765 <rhuds...@aol.com> wrote in article
<19980130105...@ladder02.news.aol.com>...
> I agree that Charlie O would'nt be good for TPIR ut I think that he
sounds so
> "mellow" is because he's bored with Wheel. Listen
> to him announce a Barry and Enright show pr his reif stint on the $25,000
> Pyramid and you will here a BIG diffrence.
There is a difference here that you don't account for. Charlie O is getting
older. People's voices and attitudes change with age. Charlie O the senior
citizen sounds nothing like the Charlie O who used to announce "American
Bandstand" forty years ago.
--
Dave Mackey
To send e-mail, please remove the X's
from the e-mail address given. This is
to protect against unwanted e-mail spam.
Bjaustro
As for a replacement for Rod.... why not Bob Schieffer from CBS News? he seems
to like being on camera during the price is right! :)
ROBDON33
I truly agree with you 100 percent on Gene Wood. It makes me ill to think that
there's only one network game show left on TV and Gene's not a part of it.
Right now, only Rod Roddy, Johnny Gilbert, Charlie O'Donnell and John Kramer
are announcing on first-run game shows. (BTW, what ever happened to Dean
Goss?)
Jack
I was waiting for someone to post a message about Rod Roddy. I was listening
to an intro of TPiR Special (1986) when Rod first started and said to
myself, I know the voice cracked a bit, but there was enthusiasm into it.
Now when I watch the show, it's not like it used to be anymore. Sorry to
say, but some of the fun has gone out of it. A good announcer or a great
announcer, like the late, great, very great, king of announcers, Johnny
Olsen, knows what a show like that needs, and a true announcer loves what he
does. We miss you Johnny.
I wonder what Johnny would say if he were alive today, well if he were
alive, he would still be saying "COME ON DOWN", but what would he say about
Rod.
Does Rod Roddy like what he is doing, or is he just doing it to get on
television. If he keeps his enthusiasm at the level that it is, he would
probably be better of on Jeopardy. Even i could do better than Rod could do.
Anyone could.
I think that the idea of doing what Days of Our Lives does would be a great
idea. The first few words of the intro hasn't changed since 1976 and would
be a great change from what we got today. Why doesn't Rod just look at old
TPiR episodes and see the enthysiasm in the audience. I have noticed that
Rod enthusiasm has brought down a lot of audience excitment.
I really hate when his voice crakes, he can't read the copy right, and
especially when he announces the intro part of the show, especially in this
section:
"You are the first four contestants on TPiR. And now here is the star..."
Johnny when saying the first four contestants on part, he used to say it in
a nice catchy way and i loved the pause and the "onnnnnnnn" between when he
says "And now..." Rod just speeds on through just like a boring english
teacher. Maybe he should go back to school and learn how do speak again.
Johnny, you don't know how deep we miss you.
Dave Mackey
C319Chris <c319...@aol.com> wrote in article
<19980130111...@ladder03.news.aol.com>...
> Can anyone answer this question: Is Rod Roddy eligible for Social
Security?
If he graduated from high school in 1953 (which is a fact I read about him
in "Pulse" broadcasting newsletter years ago), then the answer may be
possibly around the turn of the century.
Adam Seigel
Dave Mackey <Xdma...@raven.cybercomm.net> wrote in article
<01bd2e3e$8c2dbe20$8c42c7d0@DaveMackey>...
> C319Chris <c319...@aol.com> wrote in article
> <19980130111...@ladder03.news.aol.com>...
> > Can anyone answer this question: Is Rod Roddy eligible for Social
> Security?
>
> If he graduated from high school in 1953 (which is a fact I read about
him
> in "Pulse" broadcasting newsletter years ago), then the answer may be
> possibly around the turn of the century.
How is this possible???? He's 75.
-Adam Seigel
JC
I have continued to see posts such as the one below which
state that Rod is 75. This drives me friggin nuts!!! it's obvious that Rod
is not 75 years old. Bob Barker is the one who is 75. If the original
poster is correct that Rod graduated high School in 1953 then that would
mean he must have born in 1935 since most people graduate high school at 18.
So if Rod was born in 1935 that means that he will be 63 years old this
year. Now since the year has just begun that means chances are Rod hasn't
has his birthday yet this year, so this means that Rod is currently 62. Now
this sounds right to me what about the rest of you? I say that ROD is 62
years old.
John
Adam Seigel wrote in message <6avcge$q...@bgtnsc03.worldnet.att.net>...
Matt Goldman
You're not the only one who's thought of reviving Johnny's voice!!!!
I've wondered for years why TPIR couldn't do something like that.
Johnny will always be attached to that show (at least in die-hard TPIR
fans' minds), so why can't his memory be used as well.
He certainly was a fine announcer (and performer - remember those
showcases???)
CBSTVCity
It pleases me greatly that, even 12 years after Johnny Olsen's passing, folks
continue to remember and acknowledge the outstanding announcer that he was. He
was, in short, "The Man." The ultimate professional. The best, bar none. His
announcing on "The Price Is Right" was like music. He didn't just read copy; he
gave each word life and meaning.
I mean Rod Roddy no disrespect. Following Johhny O. is a tough act. However,
these two guys are so far apart in quality that it amazes me they are both of
the same species.
If you are able to watch any "Price Is Right" episodes from the 1970s and early
'80s, it will be rather difficult to return to the current version of the show.
Aside from the marked absence of Johnny Olsen, the direction and production
values have deteriorated significantly.
Randy Amasia
CBSTVCity wrote in message
<19980221054...@ladder03.news.aol.com>...
>It pleases me greatly that, even 12 years after Johnny
Olsen's passing, folks
>continue to remember and acknowledge the outstanding
announcer that he was. He
>was, in short, "The Man." The ultimate professional. The
best, bar none. His
>announcing on "The Price Is Right" was like music. He
didn't just read copy; he
>gave each word life and meaning.
Having spent much of my mid-late teenage years terrorizing
everyone associated with game shows, I was privileged to see
several tapings of TPiR and MG while Johnny was still with
us. From the time he first introduced himself to the studio
audience to the time he bade us farewell, he was a
consummate professional who loved his job and lovd the
people he worked with. From hamming it up in the showcases
to merely reading fee plugs, he gave 100%
The man was sincerely proud (and rightly so!) to be
associated with G-T. Would that his succssor felt the same
way.
Randy Amasia
Ordained Minister, Universal Life Church
---
http://www.geocities.com/~randy_amasia/whew/
"Phew, for a minute, there, I lost myself."
Dave Mackey
Randy Amasia <ran...@loop.com> wrote in article
<6cn91a$4...@enews1.newsguy.com>...
> The man was sincerely proud (and rightly so!) to be
> associated with G-T. Would that his succssor felt the same
> way.
With Johnny, it was truly a fruitious partnership. Johnny not only did
"Price" on the same schedule that Roddy is working, but he was doing lots
of other shows and fill-ins at the same time, all for Goodson-Todman. I
don't believe that Roddy's ever been tapped to do one other Goodson show
since he took over "Price"; most of that work went to Gene Wood.