For those too young to remember and/or care, Donohue was a talk show host who started out pretty straightlaced but eventually sank further and further into the dumpster. To be fair, he didn't dive quite as far as Springer. At least Phil didn't need large guys to break up staged fights between his no-account guests. But Donohue's shows did get more embarrassing by the season.
One of Phil's more buttoned-down episodes featured the three pictured game show hosts. This was circa 1988, with Alex Trebek, Chuck Woolery, and Bert Convy. YouTube preserves the evidence.
First thing which strikes me about the tape is that Donohue is flying. This guy is amped to the freakin' max. I don't think anything questionable is involved, but Phil could definitely afford to cut back on the coffee. He's bouncing around the studio like the Energizer Bunny on methamphetamine.
When Alex, Chuck and Bert can get a word in, they have some interesting things to say. For instance, Chuck asserts that Love Connection isn't really a game show, even if it looks, walks and quacks like one. I disagree with him on the issue, but he would know better than I would.
Maybe the most poignant aspect of the episode is the unavoidable knowledge that Bert would die within a few years of the taping. He looks great on the show, which is a sobering reminder of how quickly the thread can get cut. Thankfully, Alex and Chuck are still with us...as is Phil, for that matter.
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