I remember watching Showoffs, the show that replaced the long-running hit Password in the summer of 1975. Prior to the show's debut, Larry Blyden, who hosted the pilot, went on vacation to Morocco and he was killed in a car accident. Goodson-Todman, the company that produced the show was in a state of shock but the show went on with a new host, Bobby Van. He's a very talented actor and singer who appeared in movies such as Lost Horizon, where he sang a song titled "Question Me an Answer" but he never hosted a game show. His inexperience showed but after a while he became more comfortable in the charades format.
The game itself was OK, even though it didn't involve the home viewer as much since the words were shown on the screen. I also recognized a bunch of sound effects that were later used on Family Feud. But unfortunately, Van's inexperience and a time slot of noon on the East Coast hurt the show's chances for success. It would have had a longer run if Blyden was the host since he had the personality, enthusiasm and an outstanding rapport with celebrities and contestants.
The game itself was OK, even though it didn't involve the home viewer as much since the words were shown on the screen. I also recognized a bunch of sound effects that were later used on Family Feud. But unfortunately, Van's inexperience and a time slot of noon on the East Coast hurt the show's chances for success. It would have had a longer run if Blyden was the host since he had the personality, enthusiasm and an outstanding rapport with celebrities and contestants.
