I, for one, wish to see how Bob handles his cameo - especially if it's a walk-on. Just so long as he doesn't try to snatch the microphone from Drew like Syd tried on Bob, we'll be good.
I hope it doesn't end up the way it usually does for former hosts wishing the new ones good luck - some examples of this include how Pat Sajak walked onto the set of Bob Goen's first day of daytime Wheel, Dick Clark making a "good luck" videotaped message for John Davidson on his first day of The $100,000 Pyramid, and Monty Hall completely blowing Billy Bush away on the 2003 version of Let's Make A Deal.
If this is the case, then people will probably be reminded of how different Drew is from Bob and that won't be good for the ratings.
Goen's
Wheel Of Fortune lasted two years despite Sajak's welcome because it was a solid and proven format despite the cheapness, sir, so your theory is kind of shot.
As for
Pyramid '91, I believe that was partly a victim of bad timing, although "Double Trouble" and "Gamble For A Grand" - not to mention those ugly-looking monitors for Season Two's main game - tried to improve a format that didn't need such a thing.
Let's Make A Deal '03...well, that was going to suck anyway after the first episode aired - the first deal involved three men in skirts, not to mention the utterly-tasteless "Zonks" that had wrecking balls dropped onto beautiful cars!
And Monty? Well, Monty Hall blew Billy Bush away just by entering the room. Too bad that woman lost out again...
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My point is, people love a show despite the host and changes. Heck, even the budget takes a backseat when the show is enjoyable.
People enjoyed Doug Davidson's
New Price is Right '94 just as those in the UK enjoyed Bob Warman's
New Price is Right '89 - because they were
fun. Sure, the total of both shows' runs was only 110 episodes - but that's 110 episodes of goodness with hosts that enjoyed their work and got better as the series progressed!
...This is not to say I enjoyed
Temptation or
Crosswords. They weren't fun since the formats sucked (one was a complete ruining of a classic while the other was just a waste of airtime) and neither host acted genuine (especially Ty "Cardboard" Treadway).
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Well, that's all from me. Sorry for getting off-topic.
-Daniel