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Veteran hosts on the game

John Burgess, Greg Evans and Ian Turpie lament the demise of the game show.

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john_burgess“Why would you bring back Wheel of Fortune and not use John Burgess?” asks Greg Evans. “You stick to what works,.”

Veteran game show hosts Evans, John Burgess and Ian Turpie were reunited in Sydney today.

They were joined by Mike Goldman and Miss Universe Australia 2008 Laura Dundovic for the launch of a new Playstation trivia game.

“It’s unusual for the three of us being together, being asked the questions rather than asking the questions,” Evans said.

Burgess and Evans, who are both on breakfast radio, said they were disappointed there weren’t more quiz shows on TV.

“We reckon there’s room for improvement,” Evans said.

Burgess said he believed now was the right time for game shows and pointed to the success of the Seven Network’s Deal or No Deal.

“Anytime, particularly now though in this harsh economic climate, people like to see other people having a good time and maybe winning a few bob,” he said.

Last year Burgess also commented on his radio programme that he had been promised a phone call from Nine when Wheel of Fortune was to be revived.

“I was told ‘Burgo, if we get hold of it, you’ll be doing it.’ Well they’ve forgotten about me. Tim Campbell’s doing it and I’m sure he’ll do a terrific job, but I must admit I am just slightly gutted,” he said, before playing Toni Braxton’s Unbreak My Heart.

Source: news.com.au

16 Responses

  2. Other recent ones were Greed (hosted by KAK, I believe), Dog Eat Dog, Cash Bonanza (the truly awful Wild West-themed one with Larry Emdur). There was quite a revival of game shows in the early 2000s for some reason but the genre seems to be dead for the moment.

  4. What about Say G’day (Also Greg Evans), Keynotes (Richard Wilkins), Supermarket Sweep (Ian Turpie) and that god awful one with Ronnie Burns…. what was that called again.

  9. A lot is to do with the warmth of the host – Burgo,Evenas & Turps all had that warmth and that Aussie sense of humour too.They also knew their audience and that pace of the show is important.
    Some of newer brigade (Tim Campbell for example) seem more intent on making the show about themselves.
    It is a quiz show.

  10. Everybody remember the failed concepts too…

    Pass The Buck (Burgo)
    Crossfire (Greg Evans)
    10’s 1989 version of the Price Is Right (Ian Turpie)
    Family Double Dare (Larry Emdur)
    10’s 1993 version of Jeopardy (which was good, but had poor timeslot choice, like Andrew said) (Tony Barber)
    1 V 100 (Eddie McGuire)
    Shafted (Red Symonds)
    Million Dollar Chance of a Lifetime (Brisbane’s Frank Warrick)
    There are many more where they came from… That’s what makes our TV history.

  12. Jeopardy was a good show when Ten tried it back in the ’90s. It just rated poorly because it was up against Seven and Nine news which back then were unbeatable in the ratings. Give it a decent timeslot and I think it would work well here. Channel 9 is going to need something to fill 7pm when the public tired of Two and a Half Men, and Channel 10 will need something at 7pm because Masterchef I don’t hold much hope for.

  13. I was glad to see the back of Burgo from TV. His leering snicker made me feel as though he was interested looking at my bikini-suit-area from the TV.

  14. I still don’t understand why we don’t have an Aussie version of Jeopardy, only this time with a good host on it. It’s been on in the states for 25 years, it rates consistently well, is smart and rapid-paced, and great to watch.

    I set up a Facebook group to try and show the TV stations that we need one. If only there was an Aussie version of Alex Trebek…!

  15. I spoke to John Burgess on The Ploy last year and he basically said this then, that Deal showed there is a thirst for it, if done right.

    I am skeptical as to whether or not he and some of the Senior presenters would work now, but stranger things have happened.

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