Jay Leno as Groucho Marx

[Kevin M.]

He will host You Bet Your Life

Kevin Eubanks as the duck?

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/jay-leno-to-host-reboot-of-you-bet-your-life-for-syndication

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Kevin M. (RPCV)

[Jim Ellwanger]

Lest we forget, 28 years ago, there was an attempt at a syndicated "You Bet Your Life" revival starring a very famous comedian -- it was much-hyped but soon proved to be a ratings flop, with many stations quickly moving it from prime time slots into the morning or late-night hours.

I'd rather see "You Bet Your Life" hosted by Todd Barry or another stand-up comedian who's particularly well-known for crowd work (although I acknowledge Todd Barry isn't a big enough name to be given a syndicated game show).

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[M-D November]

I'm the furthest thing from a Leno fan, but I actually don't hate this decision.  Leno's strength is (or, at least, used to be) his crowd work, which makes him a decent fit for the YBYL format.  Would I rather see someone who's a more Groucho-esque type, like maybe John Mulaney, or even someone like Jon Stewart? Sure. But I don't hate this choice as much as I thought I would. 

[Bob Jersey]

OK, I got one for ya: thanks to COVID, he tapes this outside somewhere (note the Jaywalking ref in the article) and a drone swoops down spewing noise and bright colour when the secret word is uttered.

M-D November, to Jim Ellwanger and Kevin M, graphic removed:

I'm the furthest thing from a Leno fan, but I actually don't hate this decision.  Leno's strength is (or, at least, used to be) his crowd work, which makes him a decent fit for the YBYL format.  Would I rather see someone who's a more Groucho-esque type, like maybe John Mulaney, or even someone like Jon Stewart? Sure. But I don't hate this choice as much as I thought I would. 

 

B
 

[Mark Jeffries]

We've all forgotten Buddy Hackett's revival of the series for syndication in 1980, with a greatly revised quiz.  It only lasted a year.

Carsey-Wener produced the other revival (they also produced the sitcom starring the host) and with Tom Werner's name mentioned in the article, I guess he still owns the rights to the format (his name is also on "The Connors," being the shotgun spinoff of "Roseanne").

I'm guessing Fox First Run is the syndicator.

Mark Jeffries
spotl...@gmail.com

Virus-free. www.avg.com

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[Steve Timko]

I recall one analysis of the success of the Groucho Marx version. One cause for its success was is that people watching on TV loved Groucho Marx's facial expressions. He spent a lifetime developing an ability to mug. The show was broadcast on radio and wasn't nearly as funny.

The other is that although it seemed spontaneous, many of the best gags were written in advance. Leno is a God of crowd work so maybe that will work where Buddy Hackett and Bill Cosby failed. But it will need some good writing to help out.

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[Tom Wolper]

On Wed, Sep 9, 2020 at 7:24 PM Steve Timko <steve...@gmail.com> wrote:

I recall one analysis of the success of the Groucho Marx version. One cause for its success was is that people watching on TV loved Groucho Marx's facial expressions. He spent a lifetime developing an ability to mug. The show was broadcast on radio and wasn't nearly as funny.

The other is that although it seemed spontaneous, many of the best gags were written in advance. Leno is a God of crowd work so maybe that will work where Buddy Hackett and Bill Cosby failed. But it will need some good writing to help out.

I keep thinking there is no way this will work but the underlying idea is that Leno is going to do Grouch's version of the show. I don't think anybody could make Groucho's version of the show work these days. If the producers figure out Leno's strengths and form a game show around them it may have little in common with You Bet Your Life and it could well work. And as it's a game show there's not that much at stake if it fails. The history of syndicated TV is littered with game shows that never went anywhere.