For example, on Price is Right, Rod Roddy was very descriptive about the cars on TPIR for example the model, of the car, etc. Bill Wolff on Another World would read the ad copy for whatever P&G product, etc. Do they have the ad copy in front of them?
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Announcer styles
- Thread starter danderson6500
- Start date
I would bet yes. And the client is in the control room.
I did a lot of contract work as a voice talent, and I always listened to the producer despite the copy. It is simply an issue of giving the client what they want pure and simple. Sometimes you have to "grin and bear it", because they might like something that you thought you totally bombed.
What i miss about announcers is the majesty of a Mel Brandt telling you that The Doctors is sponsored by the Colgate-Palmolive Company over a hospital scene still. Or Rod Roddy saying "we'll fly you and a guest a round trip from Los Angeles to (insert destination name)" That's what i miss about having announcers.
I miss the days when you'd turn on the TV, hear familiar theme music, see Dick Van Dyke enter the room, with the words "The Dick Van Dyke Show" superimposed ... and hear an announcer say "The Dick Van Dyke Show!" Just in case the music, the printed title and the appearance of the star himself still left you wondering just what you were watching.
Even when there are announcers, the current requirement is to sound naturalistic. Nobody emotes anymore. Being a baby boomer, I grew up when many announcers and newscasters tried to sound authoritative and pompous. I miss that - it was entertaining. The last one I recall is Doug Limerick of ABC radio news, who recently retired. Then there were the Top 40 radio DJs who talked loud and/or fast...IIRC, they were derisively called "pukers." Current day pop radio DJs mostly sound like they're from the 'hood.
I believe "pukers' was a derisive term for small-market jocks, usually just out of college/broadcasting school, who had an exaggerated, unnatural way of speaking that, combined with the youthful timbre of their voices, left the impression of someone almost puking as he spoke.
I grew up in LA with big-time Top 40 radio, and there were a few 'pukers.' It is true, though, that most did it when they were younger, and moderated their volume and tone after a few years. Two that come to mind were early Bob Eubanks, and early Sam Riddle. Riddle actually moderated to a slow, soft enunciation, pronouncing every syllable like a diction teacher. I remember he was one of a few people I ever heard pronounce California "Cal-ee-for-nee-ah" instead of the typical "Cal-Uh-for-nya."
The Only people who still Emotes today as VO's today are Beau Weaver, Bill Ratner and Charlie Van Dyke
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pStOjZ7NiV4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtbCLqkwvf0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5Yxw1XlviI
I'm not sure if we are talking about game show hosts, commercial announcers, radio announcers...
But, I would be remiss in not mentioning one of my favorites, the late Larry Lujack of Chicago fame. He was fantastic at being an uptempo top 40 jock, but in a second he could bring it down and just converse in a natural style, still with that great voice. I think he probably thought is was kind of a joke that he had to be this "rock jock" over intros, then bring it down when just talking to his audience. Few could do it quite like him. And his commercial copy reads were priceless, as he would giggle if the copy made little sense and he would call it out. I heard some advertisers requested him just for that reason!
But, I would be remiss in not mentioning one of my favorites, the late Larry Lujack of Chicago fame. He was fantastic at being an uptempo top 40 jock, but in a second he could bring it down and just converse in a natural style, still with that great voice. I think he probably thought is was kind of a joke that he had to be this "rock jock" over intros, then bring it down when just talking to his audience. Few could do it quite like him. And his commercial copy reads were priceless, as he would giggle if the copy made little sense and he would call it out. I heard some advertisers requested him just for that reason!
A lot of announcers(the ones at NBC and CBS come to mind) had to adapt to a certain genres.
There was a elegant dignity in the voice of Bill Wolff, who announced Another World from 1964 to 1987. Or a very enthusiastic delivery, like Johnny Olsen or Rod Roddy on the Price Is Right. As far the dignified announcers on soaps i'd say that you could add Dan McCullough and Dan Region ("ATWT"),Allan Berns ("Guiding Light"), Ken Roberts ("Love Of Life" and"The Secret Storm"), Bern Bennett("Young And the Restless"), and Mel Brandt ("The Doctors") in the same category as Wolff. Jay Stewart, Gene Wood, Kenny Williams, Charlie O Donnell, Johnny Jacobs and Bob Warren in the same category as Olsen or Roddy.(The reason i added Warren, was his work with Lawrence Welk.
There was a elegant dignity in the voice of Bill Wolff, who announced Another World from 1964 to 1987. Or a very enthusiastic delivery, like Johnny Olsen or Rod Roddy on the Price Is Right. As far the dignified announcers on soaps i'd say that you could add Dan McCullough and Dan Region ("ATWT"),Allan Berns ("Guiding Light"), Ken Roberts ("Love Of Life" and"The Secret Storm"), Bern Bennett("Young And the Restless"), and Mel Brandt ("The Doctors") in the same category as Wolff. Jay Stewart, Gene Wood, Kenny Williams, Charlie O Donnell, Johnny Jacobs and Bob Warren in the same category as Olsen or Roddy.(The reason i added Warren, was his work with Lawrence Welk.
I've heard air checks of Lujack - he was great. I grew up in LA, and probably the most famous DJ was The Real Don Steele - who talked loud and fast, but was far from a "puker." If anything, he was a bit of a parody of the pukers, because he never took it seriously and had fun with it. He rarely told jokes either, but was always humorous. He could also take it down over slower song intros, and for commercials - and was very effective. There are air checks of Steele all over the internet.
I've been listening to some Another World airchecks, and Bill Wolff was great. Especially when he says "Now stay tuned for "You Don't Say," starring Tom Kennedy, next on NBC." It just reminds me of just what we've lost with all of the split-screen nonsense. I'll take Bill Wolff saying "Now stay tuned for "You Don't Say," starring Tom Kennedy, next on NBC." over the split screen junk!
One of the most memorable booth announcers was the late Tom Gregory. For me, his was the voice of Metromedia channel 5.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ujgHBT-jfI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ujgHBT-jfI
I'm not sure if you could call it "emoting", but the most grating announcer on TV right now might be the guy on ESPN ("Sportscenter...Is brought to you byyyyeeeeee...")
His name is Chris Kelley:
https://deadspin.com/meet-the-voice-of-sportscenter-1795099943
He doesn't bother me one bit.
Getting back to Bill Ratner and CBS of Hartford...
WFSB-TV once used a man named Lee Gordon. He was occasionally a CT Lottery employee who drew Play 3 and Play 4 day drawings. He would end the drawings with "So loooooonngg everyone!"
Go a few years back and you would have Paul Turner. He was also featured on 106.9 FM of Hartford, back when it was active rock WCCC-FM. I believe his voice was heard on Howard Stern's terrestrial radio show.
WFSB-TV once used a man named Lee Gordon. He was occasionally a CT Lottery employee who drew Play 3 and Play 4 day drawings. He would end the drawings with "So loooooonngg everyone!"
Go a few years back and you would have Paul Turner. He was also featured on 106.9 FM of Hartford, back when it was active rock WCCC-FM. I believe his voice was heard on Howard Stern's terrestrial radio show.
Lottery voices in Connecticut are a mixed bag, to put it mildly. Surely you've heard Maya Thornton over the past umpteen years -- "Have a great NIIIIIIIIGHHHT!"
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