Bill Cullen was the classic game show host. You could put him in practically any game show setting and he would do an outstanding job. His style and humor worked with any kind of show he hosted. And he always seemed to make the shows fun for everyone. He genuinely cared about the people he worked with and the contestants on his shows. His enthusiasm for his shows was almost contagious. And that’s what endeared him to so many people.
@jamesffxl Regis Philbin told that story during a behind-the-scenes special. The thing about Regis is you can't tell from his delivery whether he's being sarcastic or not.
i last remember him on joker's wild. he was startingto slip then. many errors on camera. i think they finally got tired of trying to edit them out - just took too long
I have to say that Bill Cullen was the best person to host a game show. He was personable, quick-witted, and never complained once. A true class act whom we still miss.
No, GSN does not have Bill's version of Pyramid. They actually got that tape from a private collector and got away with it since they were only using a few seconds.
I saw Mr. Cullen live at a taping of "To Tell the Truth" in 1971 and "Blockbusters" in 1981. It was very clear that his body was ravaged by polio, his limp was very apparent and he was always shot in a way that audiance would not be able to detect the impact of the disease. A true showman!
Yes. Don was Bill's announcer for "The Price is Right," as well as "Winner Take All," "Eye Guess," "Three on a Match," "Winning Streak," and occasionally "To Tell the Truth."
@gsnman I heard of his death on a Saturday Night as I was driving across from New Jersey to see my grandmothers in Brooklyn; WCBS 880 aired the announcement.
As much as I respect Bob Barker and Drew Carey, you cannot take anything away from Bill Cullen. Without him, there would be no Price Is Right. Bill had class, he was a good man, he hosted more shows than Bob Barker did. That is why I believe he was the greatest.
What always puzzled me was the fact that Bill Cullen was SO GOOD, but he doesn't have a game that people identify as HIS! They were never able to find the vehicle that belonged to him and him alone -- which I always thought was a shame.
Well, really, he had "The Price is Right" as his signature series, but the problem was that somebody else took over that show, and hence that reputation.
When the whole story is written, he may be the only person who had pre-eminence both as an MC and a panelist. He was puckish without being prickly on Garry Moore's "I've Got a Secret," and by all rights should have taken over "To Tell the Truth" when Moore retired, but for the fact his style on THAT panel was so good.
BLOCKBUSTERS!!! That was a show only Bill Cullen could pull off. The 1987 Rafferty version didn't survive because of that reason. In fact, Rafferty himself said at one point after his run ended that "[he] couldn't live up to the legacy Uncle Bill left on 'Blockbusters'..."
Well, I agree -- but think about it. I mean he doesn't have a show that people pair with him that is WELL-KNOWN. Like "Match Game" = Gene Rayburn, "Password" = Allen Ludden, "The Newlywed Game" = Bob Eubanks, "The $X,000 Pyramid" = Dick Clark and so on. I mean, Adam's right about TPIR, sort of, but there aren't that many people who even KNOW there was a version BEFORE Bob Barker's even though it was called "The NEW Price Is Right" in its first season because of it.
in my list all 3 class acts.(Monty Hall a close second) Sajak and Trebek are Fabulous but overrated. only for the fact that this recentgeneration does has never heard of a Allen Ludden or Bill Cullen outside of those very few that have watched classic GSN shows.
#7!!!! wtf, not only was Bill a legendary host but a great panelist too, for isntance, he was considered to take over for Garry Moore on To Tell the truth but he was such a good game player and had such chemistry with the other panelists they got Joe garagiola to host instead.
His specs had to rival Harry Caray's!
StukInBuf 7 months ago
Bill Cullen was the classic game show host. You could put him in practically any game show setting and he would do an outstanding job. His style and humor worked with any kind of show he hosted. And he always seemed to make the shows fun for everyone. He genuinely cared about the people he worked with and the contestants on his shows. His enthusiasm for his shows was almost contagious. And that’s what endeared him to so many people.
RIP Bill Cullen
Your legacy will never die.
SPM671 10 months ago
I heard a rumor that he was the first choice for host of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire not knowing that he was gone.
jamesffxl 11 months ago
@jamesffxl Regis Philbin told that story during a behind-the-scenes special. The thing about Regis is you can't tell from his delivery whether he's being sarcastic or not.
AdamNedeff 11 months ago
Why isn't he at least in the top 3 hosts on the list.
eshaw2115 1 year ago
i last remember him on joker's wild. he was startingto slip then. many errors on camera. i think they finally got tired of trying to edit them out - just took too long
ivegotalongdong 2 years ago
I have to say that Bill Cullen was the best person to host a game show. He was personable, quick-witted, and never complained once. A true class act whom we still miss.
Dodgerfn5 2 years ago
I remember his last appearance. He could barely walk
johnalang 2 years ago
when was his last appearence?
deluteddotcom 2 years ago
it was on the $25,000 pyramid i think in 1987 or 1988
mverno2 2 years ago
He always made you feel at home ... I sure miss him ..
evpsareallaroundus 2 years ago
Is 1:40 Bills Cullen $25,000 Pyramid? It looks like $10,000 Pyramid.
GarfieldnPyramid 2 years ago
Is this GSN special on DVD anywhere? Or will it be aired again soon? It looks interesting. :)
wlbaz 3 years ago
1:40 - Proof that GSN has Bill's version of "The $25,000 Pyramid" and that the tapes have been converted.
2:10 - Who are those people?
2:24 - Great comment during "Pass The Buck" - which GSN needs to air again.
Great video, although I'll go with Matt Ottinger and be happy that Bill was even mentioned at all, versus his lack of being #1.
-Daniel
WarioBarker88 3 years ago
No, GSN does not have Bill's version of Pyramid. They actually got that tape from a private collector and got away with it since they were only using a few seconds.
AdamNedeff 3 years ago
You mean, GSN knows about the trading circuit, too?
Hondo20132 3 years ago
And good thing, otherwise CBS (Cullen Pyramid's owners) would be mad.
allnewtpir 2 years ago
Bill was the best. An intelligent, kind and talented man.
300palms 3 years ago
There can never be another Bill Cullen!
BenJabituya 3 years ago
Who is that very unfunny guy talking about Cullen's glasses? He's trying way too hard to be funny at someone's expense. What a zero.
milo2kai 3 years ago
I believe it's Bil Dwyer.
Badgerinmaine 3 years ago
I couldn't agree more. Bill should have been at least number one or two, and you can even tell that from the way his peers describe him in the clip.
atrac88 3 years ago
What Bill Cullen was to me was that he was the epitome of the suaveness, enjoyability, and his witty humour.
BenJabituya 3 years ago
I saw Mr. Cullen live at a taping of "To Tell the Truth" in 1971 and "Blockbusters" in 1981. It was very clear that his body was ravaged by polio, his limp was very apparent and he was always shot in a way that audiance would not be able to detect the impact of the disease. A true showman!
Drivermatic 3 years ago
1:21.........so THAT's where that "Hat Putato" troll post got its origins.
darthchaosofrspw 3 years ago
You're probably right. The whole fiasco started just months after GSN's dark period (which contained Hot Potato on the weekends) ended.
johnissoevil 3 years ago
is that DOn Pardo doing the intro at :50 ?? sure sounds like him.
ProfessorIgor 3 years ago
Yes. Don was Bill's announcer for "The Price is Right," as well as "Winner Take All," "Eye Guess," "Three on a Match," "Winning Streak," and occasionally "To Tell the Truth."
AdamNedeff 3 years ago
I was heartbroken when Cullen died in 1990.
gsnman 4 years ago 6
@gsnman I was, too. I used to listen to him on the radio when I was a child. (Don't figure out my age, LOLOLOLOLOL).
Lest you forget, Mr. Cullen survived a bout with poliomyelitis when survival from this disease was relatively rare.
Juliaflo 1 year ago
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@Juliaflo I was almost nine years old when he died.
gsnman 1 year ago
@gsnman I heard of his death on a Saturday Night as I was driving across from New Jersey to see my grandmothers in Brooklyn; WCBS 880 aired the announcement.
StukInBuf 7 months ago
As much as I respect Bob Barker and Drew Carey, you cannot take anything away from Bill Cullen. Without him, there would be no Price Is Right. Bill had class, he was a good man, he hosted more shows than Bob Barker did. That is why I believe he was the greatest.
edray1416 4 years ago
What always puzzled me was the fact that Bill Cullen was SO GOOD, but he doesn't have a game that people identify as HIS! They were never able to find the vehicle that belonged to him and him alone -- which I always thought was a shame.
midknightryder13 4 years ago
Well, really, he had "The Price is Right" as his signature series, but the problem was that somebody else took over that show, and hence that reputation.
AdamNedeff 4 years ago
When the whole story is written, he may be the only person who had pre-eminence both as an MC and a panelist. He was puckish without being prickly on Garry Moore's "I've Got a Secret," and by all rights should have taken over "To Tell the Truth" when Moore retired, but for the fact his style on THAT panel was so good.
davemock 4 years ago
BLOCKBUSTERS!!! That was a show only Bill Cullen could pull off. The 1987 Rafferty version didn't survive because of that reason. In fact, Rafferty himself said at one point after his run ended that "[he] couldn't live up to the legacy Uncle Bill left on 'Blockbusters'..."
UmedaRaton 3 years ago
Well, I agree -- but think about it. I mean he doesn't have a show that people pair with him that is WELL-KNOWN. Like "Match Game" = Gene Rayburn, "Password" = Allen Ludden, "The Newlywed Game" = Bob Eubanks, "The $X,000 Pyramid" = Dick Clark and so on. I mean, Adam's right about TPIR, sort of, but there aren't that many people who even KNOW there was a version BEFORE Bob Barker's even though it was called "The NEW Price Is Right" in its first season because of it.
midknightryder13 3 years ago
He was a class act both on and off the air!
JPPT1974 4 years ago 5
I loved to watch Bill Cullen. Any show he was
on, he made that show so much fun. I also
agree with everyone that #7 is way too low. I
know everyone says Bob Barker is the best MC
of all time, but there are 2 others I would
place before him & they both have been deceased for over 20 years and most people
have forgotten about, Bill & Allen Ludden.
rjvonbokern 4 years ago 3
Bill and Allen and Bob Barker are tied for #1
in my list all 3 class acts.(Monty Hall a close second) Sajak and Trebek are Fabulous but overrated. only for the fact that this recentgeneration does has never heard of a Allen Ludden or Bill Cullen outside of those very few that have watched classic GSN shows.
thewipsportsfan 3 years ago
#7!!!! wtf, not only was Bill a legendary host but a great panelist too, for isntance, he was considered to take over for Garry Moore on To Tell the truth but he was such a good game player and had such chemistry with the other panelists they got Joe garagiola to host instead.
gameshowfreak2007 4 years ago
I like Joe Garagiola too. He should have been in More games. He has a good personality and class.
thewipsportsfan 3 years ago
A mere No. 7? Not on your nellie!
seabisquick 4 years ago 3
Cullen Barker and Ludden=Tied for #1!
thewipsportsfan 3 years ago
did they realize that he had polio?
burr1aj 4 years ago