History Main / CarriedByTheHost

* For most people, ''Series/{{Jeopardy}}'' just wouldn't be the same without Alex Trebek (at least since it was {{Uncanceled}} in TheEighties).

* Just about any show hosted by Creator/BillCullen that wasn't the original ''Price is Right''. Most of the shows he was associated with went off the air in a year or less (''Series/WinningStreak'', ''Series/HotPotato'', ''Series/{{Child's Play|1982}}'', etc.) but he was such a phenomenal host that he made even the most mediocre game format watchable. It should be noted, however, that many of the shows that he hosted that did end up failing generally ended up doing so as a result of getting ScrewedByTheNetwork, not because of any formatting flaws. The lone exception, ''Series/{{Blockbusters}}'' (which also qualifies), got a ''much'' longer run in the UK, but had a much ''shorter'' run a second time in the US (with successor Bill Rafferty).

* Just about any show hosted by Creator/BillCullen that wasn't the original ''Price is Right''. Most of the shows he was associated with went off the air in a year or less (''Series/WinningStreak'', ''Series/HotPotato'', ''Series/ChildsPlay'', etc.) but he was such a phenomenal host that he made even the most mediocre game format watchable. It should be noted, however, that many of the shows that he hosted that did end up failing generally ended up doing so as a result of getting ScrewedByTheNetwork, not because of any formatting flaws. The lone exception, ''Series/{{Blockbusters}}'' (which also qualifies), got a ''much'' longer run in the UK, but had a much ''shorter'' run a second time in the US (with successor Bill Rafferty).

** ''Total Wipeout'' (the UK version, airing on Creator/{{BBC}}) itself may count too. It's hosted by [[Series/TopGear Richard Hammond]], and [[DeadpanSnarker his snark]] makes watching the contestants fail miserably even funnier.

* Jeremy Clarkson, James May, and Richard Hammond on ''Series/TopGear''. And The Stig, of course. Both Clarkson and May presented Old ''Top Gear'' before it was canceled, though not at the same time.

* The various presenters of the otherwise cheap and one-shot ''Blankety-Blank'' all made the show work. Sir Radio/TerryWogan, then deadpan snarker LesDawson, and finally acid-tongued Scouse drag artist [[LilySavage Paul O'Grady]], all made a virtue of the show's legendary cheapness and the unbelievably cheap and tacky prizes the members of the public were fighting for.

** It was even worse with his later show ''[[Series/WhatWouldYouDoNickelodeon What Would You Do?]]'' which was ''just'' as messy but had no set format. Furthermore in the last segment of the show (where they would put cards with various stunts on people's heads and they would have to either do the stunt or visit the various pie contraptions) they always gave Marc the the messiest thing they could think of. There's a reason why they usually ran out of time before they got to him...

* Angus Deayton, the original chairman of ''Series/HaveIGotNewsForYou'', remains popular among fans of the show, several years after being sacked for personal indiscretions. While the rotating guest hosts have produced many popular replacements, there is still a considerable segment that wants Angus back full time.

** And also Chris Tarrant makes the British version of the show what it is. The guy knows a heck of a lot, and never gives anything away with his [[CatchPhrase "Is that your final answer?"]] When he decided to quit the series, the producers felt he couldn't be replaced and the series was cancelled.

* No one but Peter Tomarken could host ''Series/PressYourLuck'', but Todd Newton came pretty damn close with ''Series/WhammyTheAllNewPressYourLuck!''.

[[folder: Game Shows]]

[[folder: Panel Shows]]

** Swedish ''Expedition: Robinson'' (the original ''Survivor'') has gotten this in Paolo Roberto, who took over as host in 2009. Roberto's no-nonsense attitude (like when he chews one tribe out and basically calls them morons for not having learned how to make fire before going on the show) has quickly become a favorite for most viewers, as has his various quirks such as the way he bellows "''Köööööööööööööööööör''" (means "go") to signal the start of any competition.
** Well, the guy did [[Literature/TheMillenniumTrilogy beat the crap out of a seven foot behemoth who's immune to pain]].
* Dave Lamb carries the UK version of ''Series/ComeDineWithMe'' - and that's as a voiceover without ever appearing on screen.
* Creator/GordonRamsay may be the patron saint of this trope. What popular cooking and restaurant shows spring immediately to mind? In the US, three featuring Ramsay - Series/HellsKitchen, Series/MasterChef, and Series/KitchenNightmares - will place high on the list, and Ramsay's profanity-laden tirades followed by occasional heartwarming praise are both famous. As of 2015, [=MasterChef=] US is on its fifth season without signs of slowing down, the US version of Hell's Kitchen has an impressive 13 US seasons with a fourteenth confirmed, and Kitchen Nightmares managed a respectable 5 UK seasons and 7 US seasons before Ramsay chose to shut it down. Despite the show's success, there was no attempt to revive it with a different key chef. It's not just the US, either. Ramsay has versions of his shows in other nations, including his native England. Even non-fans will immediately recognize Ramsay's mannerisms and speech patterns. Only his flop, ''Series/HotelHell'', didn't seem to survive on Ramsay's larger-than-life persona. Say what one will about whether he is as great a chef as his reputation would suggest; he Ramsay has an amazing television presence.

* Roy Walker of ''Series/CatchPhrase''. When he left the show, the show's popularity left with him and the new host found himself with a broken leg mere seconds into his first episode, the show itself was axed three years later.

* Peter Marshall will always be the master of ''Series/TheHollywoodSquares''. Tom Bergeron would prove to be a close second later on.

* ''Series/TheChase'' wouldn't be anywhere near as entertaining without the Chasers themselves and their own comments and quips about the contestants and show itself. Or presenter Bradley Walsh and his own jokes and comments (and the tendency to burst into laughter or such like whenever someone says anything entertaining). This is also likely why the US version didn't try and find a US equivalent quiz genius and simply hired Mark Labbett from the UK version to act as the Chaser on that version of the show as well.

* No one but Peter Tomarken could host ''Series/PressYourLuck'', but Todd Newton came pretty damn close with ''Series/{{Whammy}}!''.

* The NBC version of ''Series/TheSingingBee'' had some mediocre success with host [[Music/{{NSYNC}} Joey Fatone]]. However, when the show [[ChannelHop channel hopped]] to CMT, they hired stand up comic Melissa Peterman. It's been more successful, notably since Peterman's charisma is able to cover when a contestant is nervous, too quiet, or simply dull.

* Nicholas Parsons, host of ''Radio/JustAMinute'', and now the last surviving original participant. Over the years, the show has seen many, many different panellists and their personal styles, but they've ''all'' [[ButtMonkey made fun of the chairman]], and he's ''always'' {{lampshaded}} it.

* For a great many British viewers, the only reason to watch the Series/EurovisionSongContest was for Radio/TerryWogan's acerbic commentary, to the point where the first words uttered by replacement commentator Graham Norton when the 2009 contest began were, "I know, I miss Terry too." This did not always endear him to viewers in other countries where the competition is, if not SeriousBusiness, at least seen as something more than SnarkBait.

** Who was replaced by Ed Tudor-Pole for the last two series, who did a good job, but was no O'Brian.

* It's generally accepted that, aside from the general improvement in the standards of the competitors and higher production values, the thing that really made the second season of ''Series/RobotWars'' take off was replacing Jeremy Clarkson (who was deadpan and often [[{{Jerkass}} quite rude to the contestants]]) with Creator/CraigCharles as host (it helped that, while Clarkson genuinely didn't like the show, Craig's [[LargeHam bombastic enthusiasm]] simply ''couldn't'' be faked). Whether Creator/DaraOBriain has managed to live up to Craig's legacy in the show's 2016 reboot is [[BaseBreaker a matter of some contention]].

* Richard O'Brien on ''Series/TheCrystalMaze''.

* Try and imagine ''Series/{{QI}}'' without Creator/StephenFry or Alan Davies for a second. Davies once missed a show, and they left his seat empty rather than replace him.
** No need to wonder how it would be without Stephen Fry for much longer. Time will tell if Sandi Toksvig can carry it on.

** And also Chris Tarrant makes the British version of the show what it is. The guy knows a heck of a lot, and never gives anything away with his [[CatchPhrase "Is that your final answer?"]]

* Viewing of ''Series/AmericanIdol'' dropped drastically every time judges were replaced. When Simon left to run the American version of ''[[TheXFactor X-Factor]]'' in 2016, Idol ran its final episode.

** Well, the guy did [[TheMillenniumTrilogy beat the crap out of a seven foot behemoth who's immune to pain]].