Randy West
Encyclopedia
Randy West is an American television personality who is best known for his work on game show
s. He has been an announcer
on American
television game shows since 1990, with credits including Supermarket Sweep
, Trivial Pursuit
, Hollywood Showdown
, and a substitute role on The Price Is Right
.
West's voice has also been heard on talk shows including Jimmy Kimmel Live
and The Chuck Woolery
Show, comedy programs such as The Andy Dick
Show, award shows including the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards
, sitcoms such as It's Garry Shandling's Show
, as narrator on informational programs including the Court TV
series Hollywood and Crime, and specials including Game Show Moments Gone Bananas
known as "Mr. Game Show" and several episodes of The Price Is Right $1,000,000 Spectacular prime time
specials.
West was mentored through the early years of his broadcasting career by the legendary television game show announcer Johnny Olson
after they met in 1971 on the set of the syndicated version of What's My Line?
. Following Johnny's death in 1985, the Olson family entrusted Randy with the many mementos, photos, clippings, awards and scripts that Johnny had saved during his 50+ year career in broadcasting
. An extensive tribute to Johnny Olson
is included at West's personal web site, as is a separate tribute to Rod Roddy
, who died in 2003. West has since authored a biography of Olson, entitled Johnny Olson: A Voice in Time.
Before West began finding success in game shows, he worked extensively as a disc jockey in local radio and appeared as a contestant
on several shows, including the syndicated version of What's My Line?
, To Tell the Truth
, Press Your Luck
, All Star Blitz
, Sweethearts, and Face the Music
. West was also the last champion on Hit Man
, though he did not win the $10,000 top prize.
West has served as the announcer for the second and third seasons of The Newlywed Game
with Carnie Wilson
. His voice is also featured on "The Price is Right" interactive games produced by Ludia for Wii, PSP, Xbox and other platforms.
Game show
A game show is a type of radio or television program in which members of the public, television personalities or celebrities, sometimes as part of a team, play a game which involves answering questions or solving puzzles usually for money and/or prizes...
s. He has been an announcer
Announcer
An announcer is a presenter who makes "announcements" in an audio medium or a physical location.-Television and other media:Some announcers work in television production , radio or filmmaking, usually providing narrations, news updates, station identification, or an introduction of a product in...
on American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
television game shows since 1990, with credits including Supermarket Sweep
Supermarket Sweep
Supermarket Sweep is an American television game show. Part of the format was similar to other team-based quiz shows; the other part was a live-action race through a supermarket, a novel concept at the time...
, Trivial Pursuit
Trivial Pursuit (game show)
Trivial Pursuit is an American game show that ran on The Family Channel from June 7, 1993 to December 30, 1994, with reruns continuing until July 21, 1995. loosely based on the board game of the same name. It was hosted by Wink Martindale with Randy West announcing.-Format:The show was played in...
, Hollywood Showdown
Hollywood Showdown
Hollywood Showdown is an American game show that aired on both PAX and Game Show Network from January to November 2000, then again until April 2002. Reruns aired on GSN again from September 2004 to April 2005 plus June 2006 and June 2007 on TV Guide Network...
, and a substitute role on The Price Is Right
The Price Is Right (U.S. game show)
The Price Is Right is an American game show which was created by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman. Contestants compete to identify the pricing of merchandise to win cash and prizes. The show is well-known for its signature line of "Come on down!" when the announcer directs newly selected contestants to...
.
West's voice has also been heard on talk shows including Jimmy Kimmel Live
Jimmy Kimmel Live
Jimmy Kimmel Live! is an American late-night talk show, created and hosted by Jimmy Kimmel and broadcast on ABC.The nightly hour-long show made its debut on January 26, 2003, following Super Bowl XXXVII. Jimmy Kimmel Live! is produced by Jackhole Productions in association with ABC Studios...
and The Chuck Woolery
Chuck Woolery
Charles Herbert "Chuck" Woolery is an American game show host. He has had long-running tenures hosting several different game shows. He was the original host of Wheel of Fortune from 1975–81, the original incarnation of Love Connection from 1983–94, and Scrabble from 1984–90...
Show, comedy programs such as The Andy Dick
Andy Dick
Andrew R. "Andy" Dick is an American comedian, actor, musician and television/film producer. His first regular television role was on the short-lived but highly influential Ben Stiller Show. In the mid-1990s, he had a long-running stint on NBC's NewsRadio...
Show, award shows including the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards
Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards
The Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards, also known as the KCAs or Kids Choice Awards, is an annual awards show that airs on the Nickelodeon cable channel, which airs live and is usually held and telecast live on a...
, sitcoms such as It's Garry Shandling's Show
It's Garry Shandling's Show
It's Garry Shandling's Show is an American sitcom which was initially broadcast on Showtime from 1986 to 1990. It was created by Garry Shandling and Alan Zweibel. The show is notable for its frequent use of breaking the fourth wall to allow characters to speak directly to the audience...
, as narrator on informational programs including the Court TV
Court TV
truTV is an American cable television network owned by Turner Broadcasting, a subsidiary of Time Warner. The network launched as Court TV in 1991, changing to truTV in 2008...
series Hollywood and Crime, and specials including Game Show Moments Gone Bananas
Game Show Moments Gone Bananas
Game Show Moments Gone Bananas is a television series on VH1. The first of five hour-long episodes aired on May 21, 2005 with the last first-run episode airing on June 18. Each episode aired for the first time on Saturday mornings at 11:30 ET, but "officially" premiered at 10:00 PM that night.The...
known as "Mr. Game Show" and several episodes of The Price Is Right $1,000,000 Spectacular prime time
Prime time
Prime time or primetime is the block of broadcast programming during the middle of the evening for television programing.The term prime time is often defined in terms of a fixed time period—for example, from 19:00 to 22:00 or 20:00 to 23:00 Prime time or primetime is the block of broadcast...
specials.
West was mentored through the early years of his broadcasting career by the legendary television game show announcer Johnny Olson
Johnny Olson
John Leonard "Johnny" Olson was an American radio personality and television announcer. His work spanned 32 game shows produced by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman from the late 1950s through the mid 1980s...
after they met in 1971 on the set of the syndicated version of What's My Line?
What's My Line?
What's My Line? is a panel game show which originally ran in the United States on the CBS Television Network from 1950 to 1967, with several international versions and subsequent U.S. revivals. The game tasked celebrity panelists with questioning contestants in order to determine their occupations....
. Following Johnny's death in 1985, the Olson family entrusted Randy with the many mementos, photos, clippings, awards and scripts that Johnny had saved during his 50+ year career in broadcasting
Broadcasting
Broadcasting is the distribution of audio and video content to a dispersed audience via any audio visual medium. Receiving parties may include the general public or a relatively large subset of thereof...
. An extensive tribute to Johnny Olson
Johnny Olson
John Leonard "Johnny" Olson was an American radio personality and television announcer. His work spanned 32 game shows produced by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman from the late 1950s through the mid 1980s...
is included at West's personal web site, as is a separate tribute to Rod Roddy
Rod Roddy
Robert Ray "Rod" Roddy was an American radio and television announcer. He is primarily known for his role as an offstage announcer on game shows. Among the shows that he announced are the CBS game shows Whew!, Press Your Luck and The Price Is Right. On the latter two, Roddy appeared on camera on...
, who died in 2003. West has since authored a biography of Olson, entitled Johnny Olson: A Voice in Time.
Before West began finding success in game shows, he worked extensively as a disc jockey in local radio and appeared as a contestant
Contestant
A contestant is someone who takes part in a competition, usually a professional competition or a game show on television. The participants competing against each other have to go through rounds...
on several shows, including the syndicated version of What's My Line?
What's My Line?
What's My Line? is a panel game show which originally ran in the United States on the CBS Television Network from 1950 to 1967, with several international versions and subsequent U.S. revivals. The game tasked celebrity panelists with questioning contestants in order to determine their occupations....
, To Tell the Truth
To Tell the Truth
To Tell the Truth is an American television panel game show created by Bob Stewart and produced by Goodson-Todman Productions that has aired in various forms since 1956 both on networks and in syndication...
, Press Your Luck
Press Your Luck
Press Your Luck is an American television daytime game show created by Bill Carruthers and Jan McCormack. It premiered on September 19, 1983 on CBS and ended on September 26, 1986. In the show, contestants collected "spins" by answering trivia questions and then used the spins on an 18-space game...
, All Star Blitz
All Star Blitz
All-Star Blitz is an American game show that aired on ABC from April 8 to December 20, 1985, with reruns airing on the USA Network from March 31 to December 26, 1986....
, Sweethearts, and Face the Music
Face The Music (game show)
Face the Music was an American television game show that aired in syndication from January 14, 1980 to September 1981. The show tested contestants' knowledge of popular music songs, and association of song titles with famous people, places and things....
. West was also the last champion on Hit Man
Hit Man (game show)
Hit Man is an American television game show that ran from January 3 to April 1, 1983 on NBC. Peter Tomarken hosted this Jay Wolpert production in association with Metromedia Video Productions, while Rod Roddy was the announcer.-Round 1:...
, though he did not win the $10,000 top prize.
West has served as the announcer for the second and third seasons of The Newlywed Game
The Newlywed Game
The Newlywed Game is an American television game show that pits newly married couples against each other in a series of revealing question rounds to determine how well the spouses know each other. The program, originally created by Nick Nicholson and E. Roger Muir The Newlywed Game is an American...
with Carnie Wilson
Carnie Wilson
Carnie Wilson is an American singer and television hostess, perhaps best known as a member of the pop music group Wilson Phillips.-Early life and musical career:...
. His voice is also featured on "The Price is Right" interactive games produced by Ludia for Wii, PSP, Xbox and other platforms.