Chuck Woolery, the charming and articulate host of iconic game shows such as "Wheel of Fortune," "Love Connection," and "Scrabble," who later transitioned into a right-wing podcasting realm where he sharply criticized liberals and accused the government of deceit regarding COVID-19, has passed away at the age of 83. Mark Young, Woolery's podcast co-host and close friend, confirmed in an email on Sunday morning that Woolery peacefully departed at his Texas home, with his wife Kristen by his side. "Chuck was a beloved friend, akin to a brother, and a man of profound faith; life will undeniably feel different without him," penned Young with heartfelt emotion.
With his matinée idol good looks, meticulously styled hair, and a knack for clever repartée, Woolery was inducted into the prestigious American TV Game Show Hall of Fame in 2007 and garnered a daytime Emmy nomination in 1978 for his exceptional hosting prowess.
In 1983, Woolery embarked on an eleven-year journey as the emcee of "Love Connection," where he originated the catchphrase, "We’ll be back in two minutes and two seconds," accompanied by his distinctive two-fingered "2 and 2" gesture. The following year, he concurrently hosted "Scrabble" on television until 1990, balancing two game show gigs with remarkable dexterity.
"Love Connection," which premiered in the pre-dating app era, featured a singleton – either male or female – reviewing audition tapes of three prospective partners and selecting one for a date. A few weeks post-date, the guest, accompanied by Woolery, recounted the experience to a studio audience who then voted on the contestants. If the audience concurred with the guest's choice, "Love Connection" offered to sponsor a second rendezvous.
In a 2003 interview with The Philadelphia Inquirer, Woolery reminisced about his favorite couple – a 91-year-old man and an 87-year-old woman. "She was adorned with so much eye makeup, resembling a hot-wired Corvette, while he was so aged he reminisced about wagon trains. Poor soul. She took him on a balloon ride," he chuckled.
Other notable highlights of Woolery's career include hosting "Lingo," "Greed," and "The Chuck Woolery Show," as well as a brief revival of "The Dating Game" from 1998 to 2000 and an unsuccessful 1991 talk show. In 1992, he even lent his likeness to two episodes of "Melrose Place."
Woolery was the focal point of Game Show Network's maiden reality show attempt, titled "Chuck Woolery: Naturally Stoned," which premiered in 2003. The show shared its name with a 1968 pop song by Woolery and his rock band, The Avant-Garde. It lasted six episodes but received scathing reviews from critics.
Woolery's television journey began with a show that has become a timeless staple. Though most synonymous with Pat Sajak and Vanna White, "Wheel of Fortune" debuted on January 6, 1975, on NBC with Woolery warmly welcoming contestants and the audience. At 33, Woolery was striving to make a name in Nashville as a singer.
"Wheel of Fortune," initially titled "Shopper’s Bazaar," incorporated Hangman-style puzzles and a roulette wheel. After Woolery's "Delta Dawn" performance on "The Merv Griffin Show," Griffin offered him the hosting gig alongside Susan Stafford. "My interview stretched to about 20 minutes," Woolery recounted to The New York Times in 2003. "After the show, when Merv proposed the game show gig, I thought, 'Fantastic, becoming a guy with a tacky jacket and a similarly unappealing mustache who doesn’t care about your input – that’s the kind of person I aspire to be!'"
NBC initially declined but later greenlit the revamped version titled "Wheel of Fortune." A few years later, Woolery demanded a salary hike to match Peter Marshall's $500,000 annual pay on "Hollywood Squares." Griffin refused and replaced Woolery with weatherman Pat Sajak.
"Both Chuck and Susie did an admirable job, and 'Wheel' performed decently on NBC, albeit never achieving the ratings zenith that 'Jeopardy!' enjoyed in its heyday," Griffin reflected in his autobiography, "Merv: Making the Good Life Last," co-written by David Bender. Woolery's hosting earned him an Emmy nomination.
Born in Ashland, Kentucky, Woolery served in the U.S. Navy before pursuing college education. He played double bass in a folk trio and later formed the psychedelic rock duo The Avant-Garde in 1967, while supporting himself as a truck driver. The Avant-Garde, which toured in a repurposed Cadillac hearse, enjoyed a Top 40 hit with "Naturally Stoned," featuring Woolery crooning, "When I put my mind on you alone/I can get a good sensation/Feel like I’m naturally stoned."
Following the dissolution of The Avant-Garde, Woolery embarked on a solo journey in 1969 with his debut single, "I've Been Wrong," and subsequently released several more tracks under Columbia's label. By the 1970s, he had seamlessly transitioned into the realm of country music, unveiling two heartfelt solo singles: "Forgive My Heart" and "Love Me, Love Me." Woolery's songwriting prowess extended beyond himself, collaborating with icons ranging from Pat Boone to Tammy Wynette. On Wynette's 1971 album titled "We Sure Can Love Each Other," he penned the enchanting "The Joys of Being a Woman," whose lyrics painted a vivid picture of domestic bliss: "See our baby on the swing/Hear her laugh, hear her scream."
Post his television career, Woolery pivoted to the world of podcasting. In an insightful interview with The New York Times, he openly embraced his identity as a gun-rights activist, describing himself as a steadfast conservative libertarian and constitutionalist. He confessed to keeping his political leanings under wraps in the liberal enclave of Hollywood, fearing potential backlash.
In 2014, Woolery joined forces with Mark Young to launch the podcast "Blunt Force Truth." This collaboration marked a period where he became an unwavering supporter of Donald Trump, sparking controversy with his stance that minorities did not necessitate civil rights. Furthermore, he ignited a firestorm of criticism with an antisemitic tweet that erroneously associated Soviet Communists with Judaism. His derogatory remarks about President Obama's popularity being a mere fantasy shared only by the president and his dwindling group of "juice-box-drinking, anxiety-dog-hugging, safe-space-hiding snowflakes" added fuel to the fire.
Woolery was also an avid presence online, actively retweeting articles sourced from Conservative Brief, steadfastly asserting that Democrats were conniving to establish a Marxist framework, and disseminating headlines such as "Impeach him! Shocking photo of Joe Biden leaks!" During the nascent phase of the pandemic, Woolery initially leveled accusations against medical experts and Democrats, claiming they were fabricating tales about the virus to undermine the economy and Trump's reelection prospects.
"The most egregious fabrications are those pertaining to COVID-19. Everyone is deceitful. The CDC, the media, Democrats, and even our doctors—not all, but most of those whom we are told to trust. I believe this is all about the election and thwarting the economic recovery, which ultimately boils down to the election. I am utterly fed up with it," Woolery penned in July 2020. Trump then retweeted this post to his vast audience of 83 million followers. By the month's end, nearly 4.5 million Americans had been infected with COVID-19, and the death toll had surpassed 150,000.