Tom Kennedy
Encyclopedia
James Edward Narz known professionally as Tom Kennedy, is an American television
presenter best known for his work in game show
s. Born in Louisville, Kentucky
, he was the younger brother of host Jack Narz
who was brother-in-law of host Bill Cullen
. Kennedy has hosted multiple game shows in his career, including You Don't Say!
, Split Second and Name That Tune
.
(which aired on NBC
from 1963–1969 and on ABC
in 1975), Split Second (1972–1975), Name That Tune
(1974–1981), and Password Plus
, which he hosted from 1980–1982 following the illness (and later death) of original host Allen Ludden
due to stomach cancer.
His other hosting credits include The Big Game
(1958), Doctor IQ
(1958–1959), Break the Bank (1976), To Say the Least
(1977–1978), Body Language
(1984–1986), 50 Grand Slam
(1976), Whew!
(1979–1980), It's Your Bet
(1971–1972), Wordplay
(1986–1987), and a syndicated nighttime version of The Price Is Right
(1985–1986). He also briefly hosted a talk show
, The Real Tom Kennedy Show, in the early 1970s, and appeared as a panelist on To Tell the Truth
. As an actor, he made guest appearances on such shows as The Ghost & Mrs. Muir
, Cannon
, Cybill
, and Hardcastle and McCormick
.
during "Game Show Week Part 2".
, were co-recipients of the Game Show Congress
' Bill Cullen Award for Lifetime Achievement.
In May 2007, both Kennedy and Narz were presented the Diamond Circle Award of the Pacific Pioneer Broadcasters at a celebrity luncheon honoring Leonard Maltin
.
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
presenter best known for his work in game show
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. Born in Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
, he was the younger brother of host Jack Narz
Jack Narz
Jack Narz was an American television announcer and game show host. Narz was the elder brother of Tom Kennedy and the former brother-in-law of Bill Cullen...
who was brother-in-law of host Bill Cullen
Bill Cullen
William Lawrence Francis "Bill" Cullen was an American radio and television personality whose career spanned five decades...
. Kennedy has hosted multiple game shows in his career, including You Don't Say!
You Don't Say!
You Don't Say! is an American television game show that had three separate runs on television. The first version aired on NBC daytime from April 1, 1963 to September 26, 1969 with revivals on ABC in 1975 and in syndication from 1978-1979...
, Split Second and Name That Tune
Name That Tune
Name That Tune is a television game show that put two contestants against each other to test their knowledge of songs. Premiering in the United States on NBC Radio in 1952, the show was created and produced by Harry Salter and his wife Roberta....
.
Shows
Kennedy's biggest hit series were You Don't Say!You Don't Say!
You Don't Say! is an American television game show that had three separate runs on television. The first version aired on NBC daytime from April 1, 1963 to September 26, 1969 with revivals on ABC in 1975 and in syndication from 1978-1979...
(which aired on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
from 1963–1969 and on ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
in 1975), Split Second (1972–1975), Name That Tune
Name That Tune
Name That Tune is a television game show that put two contestants against each other to test their knowledge of songs. Premiering in the United States on NBC Radio in 1952, the show was created and produced by Harry Salter and his wife Roberta....
(1974–1981), and Password Plus
Password Plus and Super Password
Password Plus and Super Password are American game shows that are revivals of the game show Password. Both Password Plus and Super Password had the same format other than some subtle changes....
, which he hosted from 1980–1982 following the illness (and later death) of original host Allen Ludden
Allen Ludden
Allen Ludden was an American television personality, emcee and game show host, perhaps most well known for hosting various incarnations of the game show Password between 1961 and 1980.-Early years:...
due to stomach cancer.
His other hosting credits include The Big Game
The Big Game (game show)
The Big Game is a game show created by Jackson Stanley Productions. It ran on NBC in prime time from June 13 to September 19, 1958. It was hosted by Tom Kennedy.-Gameplay:...
(1958), Doctor IQ
Doctor IQ
Dr. I.Q. was a radio and television quiz program. Remembered as radio's first major quiz show, it popularized the catch phrase "I have a lady in the balcony, Doctor."-Radio:...
(1958–1959), Break the Bank (1976), To Say the Least
To Say the Least
To Say the Least is an American game show that aired on NBC from October 3, 1977 to April 21, 1978. The show was produced by Heatter-Quigley Productions, hosted by Tom Kennedy and announced by Kenny Williams...
(1977–1978), Body Language
Body Language (game show)
Body Language is an American game show produced by Mark Goodson Productions. The show aired on CBS from June 4, 1984 until January 3, 1986, and was hosted by Tom Kennedy...
(1984–1986), 50 Grand Slam
50 Grand Slam
50 Grand Slam is a game show from Ralph Andrews Productions that aired on NBC from October 4 to December 31, 1976. Tom Kennedy hosted the show, with John Harlan as the announcer....
(1976), Whew!
Whew!
Whew! is an American game show that aired on CBS from April 23, 1979, until May 30, 1980. It was hosted by Tom Kennedy and announced by Rod Roddy.The game was created by Jay Wolpert...
(1979–1980), It's Your Bet
It's Your Bet
It's Your Bet is an American game show which aired in syndication from 1969-1973. The series was a revised version of the NBC game I'll Bet, which aired in 1965 and was a Ralph Andrews production.-Hosts:...
(1971–1972), Wordplay
Wordplay (game show)
Wordplay is an American game show which ran on NBC from December 29, 1986 to September 4, 1987. It was hosted by Tom Kennedy and announced by Charlie O'Donnell...
(1986–1987), and a syndicated nighttime version of 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...
(1985–1986). He also briefly hosted a talk show
Talk show
A talk show or chat show is a television program or radio program where one person discuss various topics put forth by a talk show host....
, The Real Tom Kennedy Show, in the early 1970s, and appeared as a panelist on 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...
. As an actor, he made guest appearances on such shows as The Ghost & Mrs. Muir
The Ghost & Mrs. Muir (TV series)
The Ghost & Mrs. Muir is a situation comedy based on the 1947 film The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, which was based on the 1945 novel by R.A. Dick. It starred Hope Lange as Carolyn Muir, a young widow who rents Gull Cottage, near the fictional fishing village of Schooner Bay, Maine along with her two...
, Cannon
Cannon (TV series)
Cannon is a CBS detective television series produced by Quinn Martin which aired from March 26, 1971 to March 3, 1976.The primary protagonist was the title character, Frank Cannon, played by William Conrad....
, Cybill
Cybill
Cybill is an American television sitcom created by Chuck Lorre, which aired on CBS from January 2, 1995 to July 13, 1998. Starring Cybill Shepherd, the series revolves around Cybill Sheridan, a twice-divorced single mother of two and struggling actress in her 40s, who has never gotten her show...
, and Hardcastle and McCormick
Hardcastle and McCormick
Hardcastle and McCormick is a 1980s action/drama television series from Stephen J. Cannell Productions, shown on ABC from 1983–1986, starring Brian Keith as Judge Milton C. Hardcastle and Daniel Hugh Kelly as ex-con and race car driver Mark "Skid" McCormick.The show's premise involves the...
.
Retirement
Kennedy retired in 1989 after several game show pilots produced by his production company failed to sell. In 2003, he appeared on Hollywood SquaresHollywood Squares
Hollywood Squares is an American panel game show in which two contestants play tic-tac-toe to win cash and prizes. The "board" for the game is a 3 × 3 vertical stack of open-faced cubes, each occupied by a celebrity seated at a desk and facing the contestants...
during "Game Show Week Part 2".
Awards
In 2005, he and his brother, Jack NarzJack Narz
Jack Narz was an American television announcer and game show host. Narz was the elder brother of Tom Kennedy and the former brother-in-law of Bill Cullen...
, were co-recipients of the Game Show Congress
Game Show Congress
Game Show Congress is a meeting of industry professionals, former contestants and fans of television game shows. It was first held in 2002 and will hold its eighth conference in 2011.-GSC 1:...
' Bill Cullen Award for Lifetime Achievement.
In May 2007, both Kennedy and Narz were presented the Diamond Circle Award of the Pacific Pioneer Broadcasters at a celebrity luncheon honoring Leonard Maltin
Leonard Maltin
Leonard Maltin is an American film and animated film critic and historian, author of several mainstream books on cinema, focusing on nostalgic, celebratory narratives.-Personal life:...
.