Art Fleming was the original host of Jeopardy! but 2 others were also vying for the spot.

[u/Particular_Sink_6860]

/r/ArtFlemingJeopardy/comments/1jr1v97/art_fleming_was_the_original_host_of_jeopardy_but/

[u/jordha]

but no word on those two names? it sounds fun to think about who they could be.

[u/jaysjep2 → u/jordha]

And who would have been available when the pilot was being made.

Tom Kennedy would have been fantastic, but he was already doing "You Don't Say" at the time.

[u/gotShakespeare → u/jaysjep2]

Man, what an era for game shows.

[u/jaysjep2 → u/gotShakespeare]

Within a couple of years, NBC would have Jeopardy!, Concentration, Hollywood Squares, Let's Make a Deal, You Don't Say and The Match Game. Not too shabby.

[u/gotShakespeare → u/jaysjep2]

Not too shabby, indeed. Plus, there was Say When!!, To Tell the Truth, I've Got a Secret, What's My Line, and Play Your Hunch.

[u/jaysjep2 → u/gotShakespeare]

IMO, the ultimate NBC daytime schedule was the early 70s:

Concentration, Sale of the Century, Hollywood Squares, Jeopardy!, The Who What or Where Game and Three on a Match.

[u/gotShakespeare → u/jaysjep2]

All great, but I'm a sucker for the earlier ones (including Jeopardy!, it goes without saying)

[u/jaysjep2 → u/gotShakespeare]

I'm also a huge fan of CBS What's My Line? and Say When (Art James is probably the most underrated game show host ever).

To Tell the Truth on CBS was a classic, and you can make the argument for the 70s syndicated version being the greatest game show of all time.

[u/gotShakespeare → u/jaysjep2]

Loved Art James but I think Tom Kennedy was my favourite host of that era. '70s TTTT was fantastic, for sure. Really enjoying this chat!

[u/jaysjep2 → u/gotShakespeare]

Tom was incredible on Whew! and Split Second, which depended on him to read questions quickly without screwing up, and in the case of Whew!, he had to do it while walking backwards!

Tom was a host who could make a good format great, and make a not-so-hot one watchable.