The Dark Side Of These Game Show Hosts Revealed

Game shows hosts have one of the cushiest jobs in television. In addition to offering great pay, the high-profile gig allows hosts to be the face of a potentially huge TV franchise. However, it turns out there's a dark side to this glitzy world. Dick Clark helped millions celebrate each December 31st with the annual Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve special. He also used his friendly, approachable charm to help regular people win big bucks playing word association games on The $25,000 Pyramid. All of that sprang from his work hosting the venerable American Bandstand from the 1950s to the 1980s. Under Clark's guidance, the Philadelphia show became a national showcase for major musical acts and rising stars. However, some booking practices on American Bandstand could have derailed Clark's career not long after it began. In 1960, the House Committee on Legislative Oversight looked into the "payola" scandal, a sleazy moment in music history in which it was discovered that broadcasters received kickbacks and other illegal incentives for giving airtime to preferred singers and bands. Investigators discovered that Clark had a stake in 33 different music companies, many of whom got their acts a coveted performance slot on American Bandstand. That, in turn, drove record sales, leading Clark to secretly and greatly profit. During his testimony on the "payola" scandal, a defiant Clark told Congress, "I think the crime I have committed, if any, is that I made a great deal of money in a short time on little investment." By the time of his non-apology to the government, Clark had sold off his record label stock, because American Bandstand's network, ABC, suggested he do so. He was not punished for his financial misdeeds. Watch the video for more about The Dark Side Of These Game Show Hosts Revealed! #GameShow #Host #DarkSide Dick Clark | 0:00 Jack Barry | 1:36 Richard Dawson | 2:39 Bob Barker | 3:46 Anne Robinson | 5:00 Chuck Woolery | 6:04 Alec Baldwin | 7:09 Kevin Hart | 8:08 Steve Harvey | 9:03 Nick Cannon | 10:10