Wheel of Fortune and Other Game Shows
O'Donnell was also known as the announcer of the game show Wheel of Fortune. He filled this role from 1975 to 1980 (including two unaired pilots hosted by 77 Sunset Strip actor Edd Byrnes), acted as a substitute for his successor, Jack Clark, and returned to the show permanently several months after Clark's death in 1988. Between Clark's death and O'Donnell's return, disc jockey M.G. Kelly announced the show for most of its 1988-89 season.
Among the game show companies O'Donnell had worked for as a primary announcer were Stefan Hatos-Monty Hall Productions (1973–1977), Merv Griffin Enterprises/Sony Pictures Television (1975–80 and 1989–2010), Barry & Enright Productions (1981–86), and Barris Industries (1986–89 and earlier on occasion). He has also announced game shows for Mark Goodson-Bill Todman Productions (Card Sharks, Trivia Trap, Family Feud, To Tell the Truth); Bob Stewart Productions; Hill-Eubanks Group's All Star Secrets and The Guinness Game; and Scotti Bros.-Syd Vinnedge's Wordplay. He and John Harlan filled in for Rod Roddy on different occasions on Press Your Luck. He also announced on the game show version of Monopoly. Many episodes of Jeopardy! when rerun on GSN would often have O'Donnell announcing the Columbia TriStar Television logo after the Merv Griffin logo since Sony has the rights to the series on GSN.
In addition to announcing on The Dating Game, Charlie also appeared as a bachelor during the show's 1987-88 season.
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Famous quotes containing the words game and/or shows:
“I have a notion that gamblers are as happy as most people, being always excited; women, wine, fame, the table, even ambition, sate now & then, but every turn of the card & cast of the dice keeps the gambler alive—besides one can game ten times longer than one can do any thing else.”
—George Gordon Noel Byron (1788–1824)
“Men will tell you sometimes that “money’s hard.” That shows it was not made to eat, I say.... Some of those who sank with the steamer the other day found out that money was heavy too.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)