Post by RitaLittlewood on May 13, 2008 11:02:27 GMT
From the West Australian:
Soapie star to host revamped Wheel
13th May 2008, 16:45 WST
The Nine Network’s reinvention of Wheel Of Fortune is set to turn the iconic program into a glitzy, discotheque-like production, says new host Tim Campbell.
Former Home and Away star Campbell and co-host Kelly Landry had their first rehearsal for Million Dollar Wheel in Melbourne today.
Campbell today said viewers of the show, which is yet to be giving a starting date, can expect a new theme tune, more audience involvement and glitz and glamour.
This will include Landry using eight computers just to control the letters.
“It’s really colourful, and a bit like a discotheque,” Campbell told AAP.
“You have the normal desk and all that but it looks really glamorous.”
And while all the iconic elements of the wheel will be there, such as Lose a Turn and Bankrupt, the prizes will no longer be microwaves and toasters but big cash prizes including the $200,000 major round.
There’ll also be a focus on entertainment.
“I’m not your classic game show host,” Campbell said.
“And because I’m an entertainer and all that kind of thing, they said: ‘look we want those elements so feel free to jump off the cuff and have a bit of fun’.”
Campbell was hired by Nine to bring life back to the show, which was canned in 2006 after a 25-year run on rival Seven.
Over the years the show has had been hosted by the likes of Ernie Sigley, John Burgess, Rob Elliott and Larry Emdur.
Nine has big hopes for the new show, which will fill the 5.30pm timeslot, and is banking on it helping increase ratings for the six o’clock news.
It will also be up against Deal or No Deal on Seven and Campbell is aware of the challenge.
“It’s competitive, but I’m certainly not scared about it,” he said.
The little-known Landry, who has done TV work in Melbourne, beat high-profile candidates such as Lara Bingle and Chloe Maxwell for the job, and Campbell said he and his new co-host have a great chemistry.
“It’s important that there’s a rapport between the co-hosts because we don’t want it to be that old stuffy game show kind of vibe,” Campbell said.
“I’m from Campbelltown in NSW and she’s from Geelong in Victoria, it’s kind of two westies pretending we're high class on a game show.”
Landry acknowledged securing the role was her big break.
“It’s kind of a bit surreal, I guess,” she told AAP.
“I didn’t actually realise how many people were actually up for it until it was actually in the paper.”
“I feel pretty lucky to have got it.”
AAP
Soapie star to host revamped Wheel
13th May 2008, 16:45 WST
The Nine Network’s reinvention of Wheel Of Fortune is set to turn the iconic program into a glitzy, discotheque-like production, says new host Tim Campbell.
Former Home and Away star Campbell and co-host Kelly Landry had their first rehearsal for Million Dollar Wheel in Melbourne today.
Campbell today said viewers of the show, which is yet to be giving a starting date, can expect a new theme tune, more audience involvement and glitz and glamour.
This will include Landry using eight computers just to control the letters.
“It’s really colourful, and a bit like a discotheque,” Campbell told AAP.
“You have the normal desk and all that but it looks really glamorous.”
And while all the iconic elements of the wheel will be there, such as Lose a Turn and Bankrupt, the prizes will no longer be microwaves and toasters but big cash prizes including the $200,000 major round.
There’ll also be a focus on entertainment.
“I’m not your classic game show host,” Campbell said.
“And because I’m an entertainer and all that kind of thing, they said: ‘look we want those elements so feel free to jump off the cuff and have a bit of fun’.”
Campbell was hired by Nine to bring life back to the show, which was canned in 2006 after a 25-year run on rival Seven.
Over the years the show has had been hosted by the likes of Ernie Sigley, John Burgess, Rob Elliott and Larry Emdur.
Nine has big hopes for the new show, which will fill the 5.30pm timeslot, and is banking on it helping increase ratings for the six o’clock news.
It will also be up against Deal or No Deal on Seven and Campbell is aware of the challenge.
“It’s competitive, but I’m certainly not scared about it,” he said.
The little-known Landry, who has done TV work in Melbourne, beat high-profile candidates such as Lara Bingle and Chloe Maxwell for the job, and Campbell said he and his new co-host have a great chemistry.
“It’s important that there’s a rapport between the co-hosts because we don’t want it to be that old stuffy game show kind of vibe,” Campbell said.
“I’m from Campbelltown in NSW and she’s from Geelong in Victoria, it’s kind of two westies pretending we're high class on a game show.”
Landry acknowledged securing the role was her big break.
“It’s kind of a bit surreal, I guess,” she told AAP.
“I didn’t actually realise how many people were actually up for it until it was actually in the paper.”
“I feel pretty lucky to have got it.”
AAP
