The Joker's Wild

The Joker's Wild was a popular American game show of the 1970s and early 1980s, billed as the game "where knowledge is king and lady luck is queen".

Broadcast History

The Joker's Wild debuted on CBS September 4, 1972, incidentally on the same day as the modern incarnation of The Price is Right as well as Gambit. It ran for 686 telecasts until June 13, 1975 on that network. After a syndicated rerun cycle of the last CBS season proved successful in 1976, the show returned to first-run syndication in September 1977 and continued for nine seasons, lasting until September 1986, after 2,340 episodes, making a grand total of 3,026 telecasts. A short-lived revival ran from September 10, 1990 - September 13, 1991, also in syndication.

Related Topics:
CBS - September 4 - 1972 - The Price is Right - Gambit - June 13 - 1975 - 1977 - 1986 - September 10 - 1990 - September 13 - 1991

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Jack Barry, who created the show and eventually used it to revive his partnership with longtime producer Dan Enright, hosted all versions of Joker up until his sudden death in May 1984 from a heart attack while jogging in Central Park, at age 66. Bill Cullen, "The Dean" of game shows, hosted the remainder of the syndicated run (which eventually was his last game show hosting assignment).

Related Topics:
Jack Barry - Dan Enright - May - 1984 - Bill Cullen

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San Francisco weatherman Pat Finn hosted the 1990 remake, which lasted one season.

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Jim Peck began subbing for Barry beginning in 1981, which he would continue to do on occasion until Barry's death in 1984; however, he did fill-in for Cullen during the final season for a few weeks. Barry and producer Ron Greenberg tapped Peck to become Barry's successor, but after Barry died, Dan Enright decided to give the hosting duties to Cullen instead.

Related Topics:
Jim Peck - Ron Greenberg - Dan Enright

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Johnny Jacobs was the original announcer of The Joker's Wild, which he served through most of its CBS run, with Johnny Gilbert and Roy Rowan filling in on occasion. When the series returned to first-run syndication in 1977, Jay Stewart became the primary announcer, with Jacobs announcing on several 1978-79 episodes; Bob Hilton announcing the final three months of the 1979-80 season and Art James, who worked on Barry's Blank Check announcing the 1980-81 season, with Stewart announcing the final three months of that season. Finally in 1981, legendary announcer Charlie O'Donnell became the new voice of Barry & Enright game shows, announcing for the final five seasons of The Joker's Wild.

Related Topics:
Johnny Jacobs - The Joker's Wild - Johnny Gilbert - Roy Rowan - Jay Stewart - Bob Hilton - Art James - Blank Check - Charlie O'Donnell

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Ed MacKay, a local Los Angeles radio DJ and one-time overnight news anchor at station KNX AM-1070, announced the 1990-91 revival.

Related Topics:
Ed MacKay - KNX

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