About.com: As a game show fan, do you enjoy all of the recent remakes of older games, or would you prefer to see some new ideas?
West: New or old, I love a well-crafted game. From playing a contestant on pilots and being part of many development run-throughs, I think I’m especially sensitive to a format that has flaws, a game that isn’t intuitive to play, or fails to engage a viewer.
The classic shows became classics because they work, so I’m not a fan of change for the sake of change. I believe revivals need to respectful of the elements that made the show a hit. By the same token, it is so difficult to create a new game that plays well that I’m amazed by the art, the skill and the work that goes into birthing a successful new format. New or old, I’m a fan of a good game that is well presented.
About.com: You've worked with so many game show icons over the course of your career. If you could put together your dream game show, what would the basic style be like, and who would you choose to host it (assuming you were announcing, of course!)?
West:: Yes Carrie, I’ve been blessed to work with some truly amazing people – both Dick Clark and his heir apparent, Ryan Seacrest, as well as Bob Barker, Wink Martindale, Bob Eubanks, Chuck Woolery, Ray Combs and Marc Summers to name just a few who are on the talent side of the camera. Equally fascinating has been watching the creative process of producing and directing icons including Mark Goodson, Merrill Heatter, Jay Wolpert, and Mark Breslow.
I’m not sure what kind of game I would be my "dream game" - words, cards, Q and A, memory, stunts, dice or relationships. To my thinking, all of those choices are simply the vehicles that get us to the vital, classic elements of drama, risk, strategy and jeopardy. Keep it simple and intuitive to understand, and it’s got to have the all important ingredient: playalong. As Bob Stewart has said, a great game has people screaming at their TV screens at home. The choice of host would follow, as different emcees have different strengths that make them better suited to different shows. They’re all unique, but I love working with all of them!
About.com: Thanks Randy, for your extremely insightful answers! We're looking forward to all of your future projects, and of course one day reading your own biography!
You can visit Randy West at his website, TVRandyWest.com, where you can also order his book, Johnny Olson: A Voice in Time.
