Guest Appearances: Tim Gunn for “Millionaire”, Rich Fields for “Wheel”
UPDATE: Rich Fields announced on Facebook that he’s been asked to voice at least 35 more episodes of Wheel, bringing him to a total of at least 47 episodes.
Two people will be making guest hosting and announcing appearances on different game shows in the near future. First off, Wheel of Fortune is progressing towards finding a new announcer after the passing of Charlie O’Donnell. Pat Sajak announced that the former Price is Right announcer Rich Fields will be going behind the microphone. Rich taped episodes on Thursday. Past Tense Alex wishes Rich good luck and hopefully it turns into something permanent for him.
Next up, Who Wants to be a Millionaire will be adding another guest host this season. Sherri Shepherd previously recorded a week of shows. It was announced today that Tim Gunn from the reality show Project Runway will be hosting the quiz show for a week of episodes. Tim’s five shows will tape next Friday, November 12th. You still have the chance to be in the audience for this special taping. If you’re going to be in the New York City area click here to get tickets.
Tim Gunn? Now that’s an interesting choice…
FINALLY I have and other predicted this RICH FIELDS FOR WHEEL.
*Shakes head*
Rich Fields is a good fit for certain types of shows, Price or LMaD (when he’s not screaming of course) would be good examples, he can imbue the right sort of energy into them and is hugely responsible for builds in drama (A NEW CAR!!!). Wheel and Jeopardy, coming from what has worked in the past for both shows, don’t need announcers that are the over-energized type so much (especially Jeopardy). Sajak does the A NEW CAR! bit for the show, it’s the announcer’s job to keep the flow from there. It’s why Johnny Olsen wasn’t a good fit for WOF back in the day. He worked GREAT on TPIR and Match Game, but didn’t seem to fit on the likes of Feud, if you saw its pilot.
An announcer with some undertone, who can describe prizes respectfully in their normal voice (Johnny G or Charlie O) would do better. Gene Wood, IMHO, would’ve been a decent Wheel announcer back in the day. A fellow GS friend and I made of list of who we thought would be decent candidates for the job: Shadoe Stevens, Charlie Tuna, John Cramer, maybe even Mark Thompson or, OMG, MG KELLY. Big problem with many of these though, unfortunately, are that they are, for the most part, not remotely spring chickens anymore…
It will be interesting to see Rich Fields on there, and I hope he does okay… but if he just copies and brings his TPIR announcing style bit by bit to Wheel, he’ll end up falling flat on his face. He’ll need to tone some things down, the show, by itself, is over-the-top enough as it is already (as it is somewhat really supposed to be).
You and I have a similar opinion about announcers for Wheel. I would have picked John Cramer in a heartbeat to replace Charlie O. Nothing against Johnny Gilbert mind you. As for Rich, for all of his supporters Post-Price, this is great news, for long time fans of Wheel, not so much. However, we must remember that time will tell if this is a good decision.
Rich Fields took over “Price” after Rod Roddy passed away, and now it looks as if he’s taking over “Wheel” after Charlie O’Donnell who recently passed away. I think “Wheel” should have other announcers tryouts. I would like to see Randy West or even (UGGH!) JD Roberto audition. Better yet, if MG Kelley is available, and if he wants to return to announce “Wheel” then give it to him. Giving it to Rich Fields seems too obvious.
well when it comes to wheel announcers my pick (and I might be going a little into left field here): Randy West. I think he has the perfect voice for it (like you said Wheelloon he has a bit of an undertone) and I don’t believe he’s had that big a workload lately considering he’s not doing the newlywed game anymore.
but if Rich Fields lands the job, I’d be happy, nice way for him to give a big middle finger to the TPIR producers.
The first person that came to mind for me long before Charlie O’Donnell passed was Shadoe Stevens. He has that big announcer voice that would fit for the show. I definitely like Rich Fields as a replacement. I can already see the problem unfolding now… It’s gonna be like when Bob left TPiR. Everybody hated Drew as a replacement and now the show is just taking off… it’s like it has a new life. I think the same is gonna happen with Rich replacing Charlie if that’s who they do decide on.
Different situation though- you might hear some complaints when Pat and Vanna hang it up (Even money says they leave together) as to their replacements- not so much here. Shadoe Stevens is a bit of an inspired pick actually.
I think Shadoe Stevens would be a good choice, after all, he did great on the John Davidson and Bergeron/Goldberg editions of Hollywood Squares.
Oh, what fun it will be to watch Tim do Millionaire! He will be a fantastic guest host. Actually, I think he could be great hosting ANY show.
Rich would do GREAT on Wheel. Many want to peg him to one style of announcing, such as the high energy of TPIR. But Rich has a long line of voice credits, and is an established professional. Its my prediction that he can do many different deliveries, and will “deliver” perfectly on Wheel of Fortune.
Best of luck, Rich. Although, its going to suck for TPIR! They are really struggling with their “bad” decision of replacing you. Perhaps, sweet revenge” ;-)
I always loved Rich Fields saying the phrase “A Brand New CAAAAAAR!!!” in TPiR.. Hope he does well on Wheel :)
That’s what annoyed me about Rich the most – he was WAY over the top on his delivery on the show compared to Johnny O and Rod Roddy! He needed a show where he could tone down the delivery some, which is why I liked his appearances as the meteorologist on the LA station.
This is what bugs me about people pegging Rich this was. His delivery was only “over the top” during the last couple years… which coincide with the “Mike Richards” years. Its clear that it was obviously the way Mike Richards wanted him to delivery the lines. The same with the “Drewcases”. Rich was crucified for doing those, but he was just doing what he was told to do, to keep his job.
Rich is showing what a true pro he is, and that he can announce, read copy etc. with many inflections as he exhibited on Game Show Marathon. He announced 6 or 7 different shows, all very well, all with very good, yet different deliveries and in one week. And as you say.. he demonstrates with each weather forecast he delivers that he can tone it down. His versatility is one of his best traits. But people want to criticize him on his last days at TPIR, when it was obvious he was working for (and trying to please) an inept, inexperienced producer. Heck, look at the way Richards is directing the new guest “announcers”. They are way over the top, all of them… and they are truly AWFUL!
I know Rich will do an amazing job at “Wheel”, and put his own spin on it. Charlie O is a very big act to follow… but he has done it before, following Rod Roddy so flawlessly.
I wonder why Vanna is still there! Her services have not been needed since 1988! She Does not even clap that much anymore!
I’m not sure, but I think you mean ’98
..clarification anyone?
97 I think
According to the You Tube title, it was February 24, 1997.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KuzLjqGUFhA&playnext=1&list=PL8088ED9AA4971734&index=3
Walt you should be ashamed for making that comment. Vanna has been part of the Wheel Family for a long time there is no way they are going to let her go. She can only leave on her own will. So don’t even go there!
Rich will do great on Wheel. I wish him all the luck. Although, really miss him on TPIR. Personally, feel the show is done for, or at least it is for me. It’s just not the same anymore. I predict that Rich DiPirro may be next to go. And then that really will be it for the show. He is the last good thing it has going for it. They will probably dump him next. Sooo sad.
I disagree.
It’s only been Barker Era staff members that have gone.
I think Rich and everyone else hired during the Carey Era is safe.
That’s possible. But, it appeared that once DiPirro came in, part of his vision for the show was bringing back the “family feel”. Rich was becoming more a part of the show and on camera much more. I credit that to DiPirro. Now… since they fired Rich, that element has completely disappeared. Rich’s departure has not only caused unrest with the fans, but it has been said it brought about a lot of unrest at the show as well. I’m thinking with the poor quality of the show now, and the unhappy fans, DiPirro can’t be happy with what is going on. He is much better than the product that is being put out. So I guess I think its more likely he may be the one to leave them,….. rather than them dumping him.
Only time will tell!. Either way… I am thrilled for Rich, and will be watching giving my support to Wheel now, 100%!
Rich FIelds on Wheel, hmmmmm. I’m kind of on the fence about that one. I’m glad that they have found a good fit to take the late Charlie O’s place, but I just wonder why they want to replace him on TPIR. On that show, honestly, I have no idea who would be a good replacement, because I’m not quite sure who’s out there. I’m stuck way up north in the cold of Canada for crying out loud!
Ok! Wheeel of Fortune taped 6 weeks of shows in Los Vegas in July and those shows are going to be spread over the entire season! But I noticed Johnny Gilbert is announcing the Los Vegas shows this week! It seems to me that they removed Charlie O’Donnell intros and dubbed Johnny Gilbert in! Watch the show and see if I am right?
You are correct. I was at a Vegas taping, and Charlie was there. My guess is that they had to dub out all of Charlie in order to insert the Wheel Watcher numbers, which are not inserted until after the taping. Would be too odd to have Charlie announcing the show, then have Johnny announce the winning number.
You’re right, Walt. Because they did their one minute tribute last Friday, it wouldn’t make sense to use his voice, so they dubbed Johnny Gilbert’s voice instead. And I noticed that they’ve edited Pat’s voice when they introduced the prize for the first round (just saying).
Yup…but they missed one reference Pat made on last night’s show (“Thanks, Charlie!”) coming out of a Johnny Gilbert prize read. It’s hard to catch them all in editing. I kinda wish they’d have left Charlie’s voice intact and just had Johnny do the Wheel Watchers reads. It wouldn’t have been that disruptive.
They edited out the closing segment from last night’s show (Nov 16th). I guess Pat and/or Vanna mentioned Charlie.
DL Hughly will be filming episodes on Tuesday November 16th.
Is this true? I so hope that WOF is not going the TPIR route on us! Also, What they could have done was keep Charlie announcing the show and Johnny announcing the Wheel watchers #’s. Like they did on Kennedy Price is Right where they had Johnny O announce the show and Gene Wood do the fee plugs.