Monday, November 25, 2024

MONDAY MEMORIAL TVXOHOF TRIBUTE - CHUCK WOOLERY


As Prime-Time marches on, I’m afraid the TVXOHOF will be doing more of these tributes than the regularly scheduled monthly showcases….


From the Associated Press:
Chuck Woolery, the affable, smooth-talking game show host of "Wheel of Fortune," "Love Connection" and "Scrabble" who later became a right-wing podcaster, skewering liberals and accusing the government of lying about COVID-19, has died. He was 83.

Mark Young, Woolery's podcast co-host and friend, said in an email early Sunday that Woolery died at his home in Texas with his wife, Kristen, present. "Chuck was a dear friend and brother and a tremendous man of faith, life will not be the same without him," Young wrote.

Woolery, with his matinee idol looks, coiffed hair and ease with witty banter, was inducted into the American TV Game Show Hall of Fame in 2007 and earned a daytime Emmy nomination in 1978.

In 1983, Woolery began an 11-year run as host of TV's "Love Connection," for which he coined the phrase, "We'll be back in two minutes and two seconds," a two-fingered signature dubbed the "2 and 2." In 1984, he hosted TV's "Scrabble," simultaneously hosting two game shows on TV until 1990.

"Love Connection," which aired long before the dawn of dating apps, had a premise that featured either a single man or single woman who would watch audition tapes of three potential mates and then pick one for a date.


From Wikipedia:

Charles Herbert Woolery (March 16, 1941 – November 23, 2024) was an American game show host, talk show host, actor, and musician.


He had long-running tenures hosting several game shows. Woolery was the original host of the original daytime 'Wheel of Fortune' (1975–1981), the original incarnation of 'Love Connection' (1983–1994), 'Scrabble' (1984–1990, and during a brief revival in 1993), 'Greed' on Fox from 1999 to 2000, and 'Lingo' on Game Show Network from 2002 to 2007.


Woolery's musical career includes several advertising jingles, a top-40 pop hit with the psychedelic pop duo The Avant-Garde, and a number of country music releases.

Here are Woolery’s credits as himself which qualified him to be inducted into the Television Crossover Hall of Fame….


WHEEL OF FORTUNE
160 episodes (1975-1981)

Daytime version of the game show in which contestants guess letters in order to complete a word, phrase or name.


Since 'Wheel of Fortune' (1975) was doing well in the daytime rating hours, host Chuck Woolery asked for parity with what Richard Dawson was making since the show was beating 'Family Feud' (1976). Merv Griffin offered to increase Woolery's salary to $400,000, however, Woolery refused to take no less than $500,000. When NBC offered to pay Woolery the other $100,000, Griffin was angered and threatened to take the show to CBS. With both parties unwilling to compromise, Griffin fired Woolery and replaced him with Pat Sajak. Woolery's last show televised on Christmas Day, Friday, December 25th, 1981.


FAMILY
THURSDAY'S CHILD (1976)
A clip from 'Wheel of Fortune' was heard in the show as Buddy and her brother Willie ate pizza while watching.  Willie pointed out that the correct answer was "DROMEDARY".

O'Bservation:
I just watched the episode, and the only game show clip I heard was for something called "You Got It".  I think the rights to use that original audio clip did not extend to syndication and so an alternate had to be created in order to fit the dialogue referencing the game on the screen.


HOLLYWOOD SQUARES
[All Incarnations]
1978
1984
1987-1988
2002-2004

CHiPs
THE GREAT 5K STAR RACE AND BOULDER WRAP PARTY PART 2
(1980)

The CHP fundraiser is a success with plenty of celebrities participating.


LOVE CONNECTION
2145 episodes (1983-1994)

This game show introduced a bachelor or bachelorette to three prospective dates, each of whom gave a self-introduction. The audience would select the partner they thought was the most compatible. If the guest agreed with the audience's selection, the show would pay for the couple's first date. Afterwards, the couple would return to the show to tell everyone whether it had been a dream date or a nightmare.

O'Bservation:
If it weren't for this show, Woolery might not have made it into the Hall.


IT'S GARRY SHANDLING'S SHOW
IT'S GARRY AND ANGELICA'S SHOW
PARTS 1 & 2
(Both 1987)

Part 1: Garry as a contestant on 'Love Connection', with his date Angelica being played by Jennifer Tilly.
Part 2: 'Love Connection' is featured in a recap of the previous episode played at the top of the show.


227
A DATE TO REMEMBER (1989)

After going on 'Love Connection', Sandra endures a series of mishaps involving her date's ex-wife.


THE CHUCK WOOLERY SHOW
65 episodes (1991)

Chuck Woolery, the host of 'Love Connection', takes a dive in the talk-show waters.

MELROSE PLACE
AND THE WINNER IS...
(1995)

WHAT COMES UP, MUST COME DOWN (1996)


SISTER, SISTER
DADDY'S GIRL (1996)

O'Bservation:

Added bonus - The girls' mother thought that Woolery's talk show in the dream sequence was actually 'Love Connection'.


SCRUBS
MY CAKE (2004)
Chuck Woolery appears in Turk's "Love Connection" dream. (Not seen)

While Turk was taking a nap, Chuck visited the hospital and talked with Carla and Molly. He told them that 'The Love Connection' was still being made, but wasn't on TV anymore. He told them that he made new episodes in his basement with different women from the neighborhood.  Later, when J.D. was feeling alone and sad because of his dad's death, Chuck hugged him.


DROP DEAD DIVA
DO OVER (2009)
Dream Judge/Deam Game Show Host

O'Bservation:
The dream game show was 'What's Your Verdict?'


Mr. Woolery also appeared in commercials for Blue-Emu, Lipton Sizzle & Stir, Generation America, Willow Curve, Australian Dream, Medical +DirectClub, the US Money Reserve and 1-800-COLLECT (Pictured)

And it turns out that as himself, Woolery was a multi-dimensional, appearing in the Tooniverse....


THE CLEVELAND SHOW
LOVE ROLLERCOASTER
(2010)

Welcome to the Hall, Chuck.


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