Bill Cosby (You Bet Your Life - 1992)
Everyone has certainly learned a lot about Bill Cosby recently in the news, but here's something you might also be learning about the comedian and former sit-com star ... he was a game show host. Back in 1992, Bill Cosby was the host of a syndicated revival of the classic radio and television quiz show You Bet Your Life, which was originally hosted by comedy legend Groucho Marx. Bill Cosby is, in fact, the fourth comedian to host You Bet Your Life. Along with Groucho Marx who hosted the program for a total of 14 years, Buddy Hackett hosted the show for one year from 1980 to '81 and Richard Dawson, best known for hosting the original Family Feud, taped a pilot back in 1988 as host of a revival version of You Bet Your Life but it never sold.
While You Bet Your Life is technically considered a game show, there really wasn't much of a game involved. Couples, typically married couples, tried to win money by answering a few general knowledge trivia questions. However, most of the show's time was used for the host to mingle with the contestants, which is why a comedian was probably always chosen to be the emcee. The highlight of the show was the "Secret Word." Before the show, a common word was chosen to be the "Secret Word" and if any of the contestants said it during their conversation with the host, a toy duck would drop down from the ceiling and the couple would be awarded a cash bonus.
Bill Cosby was certainly not chosen because he had the potential to be a great game show host but rather because the producers of the show were trying to emulate the success of the original Groucho Marx version. At the time, Bill Cosby was one of the hottest names on the comedy circuit and in show business, so he would be an ideal fit to host a revival of You Bet Your Life. There's a reason though this version only lasted a year because the game itself wasn't really special and Bill Cosby as a host wasn't really special. Sure he was funny and all at some moments during the talking phase of the show, but when it came to reading the questions, it almost felt like a struggle. It was just awkward watching Bill Cosby host, and it has nothing to do with the situation he is in currently. It could be because he had big shoes to fill taking over the role Groucho Marx held for so long, but as with Buddy Hackett, the magic of You Bet Your Life didn't work for Bill Cosby.
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