The versatile Geoff Edwards was born in Newark NJ and received a BA degree from Duke University.
He has had a multi-faceted television career. As an actor he appeared on situation comedies such as Petticoat
Junction and I Dream of Jeannie, and won an EMMY as the best talk show host for ABC's Mid-Morning
LA and was nominated for an EMMY as best game-show host for NBC's Jackpot.
Edwards has been a successful LA disc jockey and a distinguished news reporter, covering the JFK assassination
and was a witness to the Jack Ruby slaying.
In the summer of 1972, he began appearing on NBC-TV's
The Bobby Darin Amusement Company and from January to April of 1973 on The
Bobby Darin Show.
When I asked Geoff Edwards how he felt about working with Bobby on the show his response
was, "I truly loved and respected Bobby!" Geoff was the "interviewer" on the "Godmother" segments of the show,
which had Bobby dressed up in drag as an old Italian woman. The sketches highlighted Bobby's ability to improvise,
sometimes breaking Edwards up on camera.
In one particular segment, Geoff was reading from cue cards and stumbled
through the question,
"Are there any telltale signs to indicate a marriage is in trouble?"
Bobby shot back with, "Yes, and there are
also telltale signs to indicate that you
can't read!" Geoff has been quoted as saying, "Bobby always
surprised me,
he had an incredible instinct for comedy."
The Godmother and Fettuccine Face (Audio)
Geoff and "The Godmother" on
The Bobby Darin Show (1973)
Edwards not only did this straight man act on Bobby's show, but displayed his musical talents and
flair for comedy as well. Following the untimely cancellation of The Bobby Darin Show in April 1973,
Geoff continued to be very busy. He found a successful career working as a game show host. Here is a list,
not intended to be comprehensive, of his many works.
Hollywood's Talking (March 26, 1973 - June 29, 1973 CBS)
The New Treasure Hunt (September 1973 - September 1977)
Jackpot! (January 7, 1974 - September 26, 1975 NBC)
Shoot For the Stars (January 3, 1977 - September 30, 1977 NBC)
Love Experts (September 1978 - September 1979; regular panelist)
Play the Percentages (January 1980 - September 1980; April 1987 - June 1989)
Chain Reaction (March 1980, two week substitute host on NBC)
Treasure Hunt (September 14, 1981 - September 1982)
Starcade (September 1983 - September 1984)
All New Lets Make a Deal (April 29, 1985 - May 3, 1985; guest host)
$50,000 a Minute (ABC pilot in 1985)
Big Spin (Mid 80s - 1993)
New $40K Chain Reaction (September 29, 1986 - December 1991)
Jackpot! (September 18, 1989 - March 16, 1990; syndicated)
"Right
you are!"
Mr. Edwards also continued to work in radio into the 1990s. Ken Spaulding of KESQ-TV,KUNA-TV Palm Springs,
CA shared, "Geoff has had lots of radio experience. I was his "board-op" when he was doing local
talk radio in Palm Springs back in the summer of 1994 and we would talk briefly about the radio business (also about playing "Doom"
which if you recall was quite the rage back in '94). Geoff is a smart guy, very well versed in politics and
current issues as well as a natty dresser ... (Loved the plaid coat on Treasure Hunt!)
Geoff and the infamous plaid coat on Treasure Hunt.
From October 1997 to April 1998, the classic game shows Treasure Hunt and Jackpot reruns were shown
on The Game Show Network. Geoff is now popping up on an occasional showing
of Jackpot and Play the Percentages on GSN. He is also featured in the GSN commercial spoofing contestants
hugging game show hosts, called "Hug That Host."
"And if he don't weigh much throw him up in the air!!!"
Geoff is an experienced traveler and has sailed on over 20 cruise ships. He has been cruising since 1969 and has
literally cruised around the world.
In the summer of 1998, Geoff maintained a very busy schedule.
Geoff stated, "I am currently doing a travel radio show in Palm Springs, and along with that I have morphed
into a travel writer. Porthole Magazine just published a short bit on the games people play on cruise ships.
I still do some "game" appearances. Bob Eubanks (The Newlywed Game) owns and produces a show called The
$25,000 Game Show. We have been in Branson and Opryland in the past and this year we'll be in a brand new
theatre in Pigeon Forge, TN. Bob and I will alternate hosting along with Peter Tomarkin and Charlie Chase (of
Crook and Chase)."
Geoff's other contributions include DIVERSION, HAWAIIAN WESTWAYS, and WESTWAYS travel magazines.
In the summer of 2000, Geoff hosted Radio Tonight, an entertaining radio talk show for The Cypress
Radio Network. (Geoff did a great interview with Bobby's
friend and manager Steve Blauner on that show in June, 2000.) On Radio Tonight Geoff would close each program
with Bobby's rendition of "The Curtain Falls." Edwards continues to host The Touring Company, an
informative weekly radio travel show with his lovely wife Michael, and travel journalists Paul Lasley and
Elizabeth Harryman Lasley.
Recalling his work on Bobby's show, Geoff said, "I was on a cruise on Holland American in April (1998)
and ran into Don Sherman (a writer on the show) and we had a great time reminiscing." In July 2000, Geoff
interviewed Don Sherman on Radio Tonight.
Geoff also has recollections of Bobby's ill health during the NBC show, saying, "I'd go into the dressing room
to rehearse and he'd be breathing oxygen. He'd have to take the mask off to laugh, then he would put it right back
on." Edwards was one of Bobby's visitors during his hospital stay in October 1973 when Darin was having heart
filibrations. Geoff said Bobby tried to stay reasonably active by playing chess everyday.
Geoff recently chatted with several of Bobby's fans in the chat room on the site and shared many interesting
insights of his time working with and knowing Bobby Darin. Although very fullfilled and extremely happy with his life
currently, Geoff has been quoted as saying about his work with Bobby as "the happiest six months of my life."
