TV USA Notables Challenge - Game Shows (June 2024)

Question

When I was a kid, I used to love "sick days" when I could stay home from school and watch afternoon game shows with my Mom. I particularly liked Match Game and The Joker's Wild. Today, I still enjoy watching old reruns on The Game Show Network - particularly the old black and white ones. 

This month we are featuring some of television's most beloved television game show hosts, along with a handful of legendary announcers, some iconic celebrity panelists, a few noteworthy producers, and even a couple of scandal-tainted contestants. 

A little over half of this month's Notables are currently unconnected from the Big Tree. Many have zero CC7s and minimal biographical detail. Others may be connected, but still require a great deal TLC. Our mission is to turn each of these profiles into a shining star of WikiTree. To do so, we need the help of Biobuilders, Sourcerers, DataDoctors, Categorizers, Formatters, Proofreaders, PhotoFinders, and more. For those who prefer researching over profile building, we also want to increase each of our Notables' CC7s. And of course, we want to make sure each is connected to the Big Tree! 

Remember, no contribution is too small, so please jump in wherever you think you will have the most fun. Just remember to keep us posted on your accomplishments here on this G2G thread so that we can all share in the joy of your successes.

 

Answer 1

David:

     You have an easy one - if you add Jonathon Scott Frakes - https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Frakes-196 - as her first husband. Debralee Scott would be connected.  The profile won't allow anyone not on the trusted list to make the addition.

                     Roger

Comments

I attached Debralee Scott to her husband. Thus, she is not connected to the Big Tree. Thanks Roger.

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I had no idea they were married. I always liked her performances. Her death was such a shame.

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I was also surprised.

Answer 2

Mary Ann Mobley is connected and also her husband Notable Gary Collins.

Answer 3

Rod Roddy is now connected through his maternal line.

Answer 4

I'm working on Abby Dalton.

Answer 5

Alex Trebek is already connected

Answer 6

I got Jack Barry connected through his wife.

Answer 7

Abby Dalton is now connected.

Answer 8

Jack Clark should now be connected.

Answer 9

James Dooley is now connected thru is mother to his grandfather Palmer Perry

Comments

William Todman is now connected thru his wife's uncle Harold Slayton Wood Sr

Answer 10

I've been working on connecting Gene Rayburn. Had zero idea his family was Croatian! How interesting and challenging to connect as well. If anyone wants to help with his Italy connection through his sister, please feel free!

Answer 11

Kitty Carlisle should now be connected through her husband Moss Hart.

Comments

I was always impressed with what an elegant woman she was. She certainly was from a time gone by.

Answer 12

Ed McMahon is connected.

Comments

When I was in my late 20s, I had the privilege of attending Thanksgiving dinner at Ed McMahon's home. I had met him through a charity organization I worked for and he sponsored. Besides my boss and another collogue, there were about 2 dozen other people in attendance. Most were Hollywood bigwigs, but I'd never heard of any of them and to this day have no idea who they were. 

The food was absolutely delicious and the McMahons were wonderful hosts, but the highlight of the evening was when I first arrived and Ed introduced me to the guests with a roaring "Here's David!" That's a memory I will never forget. 

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you were so  David

Answer 13

Phyllis Newman is connected through her husband Notable Adolph Green who was previously connected.

Comments

I have to admit, Phyllis Newman is one of the few Notables on this list who I'm not familiar with. She had small roles in the short-lived TV programs Diagnosis: Unknown (1960), Coming of Age (1988), 100 Center Street (2001); appeared in a handful of movies, including The Naked Witch and A Fish in the Bathtub (starring Jerry Stiller's parents); and recorded an album. Primarily, however, she was a Broadway performer, and having grown up in California, I didn't get to see many any Broadway plays. Wikipedia says she was a regular on I've Got a Secret, To Tell the Truth, and Match Game, but I certainly don't remember seeing her. I'll have to look her up on YouTube. 

Answer 14

Betsy Palmer is now connected through her brother's wife's family.

Comments

I love watching the vintage black and white game shows on the Game Show Network. Betsy Palmer was always one of my favorite panelists. She was extremely beautiful and had such a fun personality. It wasn't until many years later that I realized she was the same person who played the mother of Jason Voorhees in the original Friday the 13th movie.   

Answer 15

Jack Bailey is now connected.

Answer 16

Larry Blyden has no profile I think. Larry Blyden's Wikipedia page

Comments

Larry Blyden now has a WikiTree profile and has been added to our roster. I don't remember his game show hosting, but I do remember him as a panelist on What's My Line? I added a mini-bio, but will leave it to others to flesh it out and try to connect him. 

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Thank you David Randall. I added his wife, who will connect them both to the main tree in several hours. Carol Hayden, Tony Award Winner, Wife of Larry Blyden

Answer 17

Johnny Olson is now connected through his wife's family.

Answer 18

With just one day left to go, this month we have connected fifteen game show celebrities, with seventeen still unconnected. I was surprised how many of this month's notables had Eastern European roots, which made tracing their roots a particular challenge. Remember, these challenges do not disappear at the end of the month. Please feel free to come back as often as you'd like for as long as you'd like. You can also check out our roster of unconnected TV Notables here:   

Unconnected Television Legends