On Saturday's Huckabee show on FNC, host Mike Huckabee interviewed gameshow host Chuck Woolery, who admitted to being conservative and voiced support for term limits, the Constitution, and tea party protesters. As the segment started, Woolery -- who famously hosted the shows Love Connection, Scrabble, and even the first several years of Wheel of Fortune -- joked: "I'm now sacrificing my career coming out as a conservative. So I'll never be hired in Hollywood again once they find out I'm doing it on your show."
When Huckabee brought up the tea party protests, Woolery spoke approvingly: "It's a grassroots movement, and I think it has legs. I can only pray as a citizen myself that this gains momentum, and people really start to turn on their government."
I can actually remember that Rush Limbaugh's television show in the 1990s once played a clip from Scrabble in which host Woolery admitted to liking Limbaugh after the word "Limbaugh" was revealed as the answer to a word puzzle in which the clue was: "He's been blamed for a lot of bad rush (Rush) hours." Woolery joked that the puzzle was made up by a "pinko commie," and declared, "I like Rush Limbaugh."
Below is a transcript of portions of the interview from the Saturday, November 28, Huckabee show on FNC:
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MIKE HUCKABEE: Well, my first guest played the role of match maker on the popular game show Love Connection. ... Well, the participants on his show didn't always find love, and he didn't have much affection for politicians who think they're too good to get dumped. So, ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Chuck Woolery. (AUDIENCE APPLAUSE) Hello, Chuck!
CHUCK WOOLERY: How are you? Nice to see you. And I think one of the most quotable, one of the most quotable lines from Love Connection is when a guy looked at a girl and he said, "I've seen better legs on a bucket of chicken."
HUCKABEE: Did he really say that?
WOOLERY: Yeah, he said that.
HUCKABEE: You've got to have had some incredible things you saw and heard over the course of doing that show.
WOOLERY: I did, and thank God I don't have a very good memory.
HUCKABEE: Well, you know, talking about Love Connection, there’s a whole lot of people that are having a real hard time having a love connection with Congress right now. And, interestingly, Chuck, from what I tell, you're one of them, a little disappointed in what you're seeing.
WOOLERY: I'm one of the people who, you know, you keep talking about Senators and Congressmen are sacrificing for our country and giving up all their time. I'm now sacrificing my career coming out as a conservative. So I'll never be hired in Hollywood again once they find out I'm doing it on your show.
(AUDIENCE APPLAUSE)
HUCKABEE: Yeah, that may, it may not be the conservative party, it may be being on my show that may kill your career.
WOOLERY: Whichever. I'm just taking every chance possible. The thing of it is, I believe that the word "career" and "politician" should never be linked together because, number one-
(AUDIENCE APPLAUSE)
WOOLERY: Well, it's true. How many guys, how many, let me do a real quick little survey here. How many people here can leave their job for four years and then come back and everything’s just like it was? Okay. That's why we have career politicians. They don't have a job. They just are career politicians. They stay there forever. I mean, poor Senator Byrd, they wheeled him up there after 56 years. You know, at one time I'm sure he was vibrant, but, I think, after 12 years, his time was up.
HUCKABEE: You know, interestingly, when they asked him about being there 56 years, he says I look forward to the next 56, and I'm not making that up.
WOOLERY: No, no, Strom Thurmond said the same thing, his Republican counterpart, so – I’m not looking forward to it.
HUCKABEE: What about term limits, Chuck? Should we have limits on the length of time people can serve?
WOOLERY: Yes. I'm not sure how you get that done, but I tell you something, Congressmen should not be in there more than four years. They got to turn the people over because that power leads to corruption. And they can't help it. It seduces them. (AUDIENCE APPLAUSE) The more, the more they get seduced, the more power they have, the longer they want to stay. They will do anything to keep that job. And the American people like you and me, I mean, we're the only ones who can do anything about that. At this point, that's it. We vote them out. I always say vote for a bad guy you don't like and get rid of him in two years, just keep turning them over.
HUCKABEE: Yeah, it’s sort of like every appliance every now and then needs to have the handle pulled and it flushed to have fresh water come in. I'll leave it at that as to the vivid picture people have.
WOOLERY: I really believe this. I think that’s absolutely true and it's funny, too. ... Here’s a deal. I think personally that Washington really needs to be afraid of us. Deathly afraid of the people.
(AUDIENCE APPLAUSE)
HUCKABEE: I love that. That’s right, Chuck.
WOOLERY: And right now, because of, because of the IRS, because of a lot of tools they have at their convenience that are power tools, they can drill us pretty good. We need to drill them so that they’re, and if they’re afraid, and if they’re afraid of us, they won't use those tools.
HUCKABEE: And we saw the fear that they had of their people when they wouldn't go to town hall meetings. They were scared to death of the tea party protesters, which I think was one of the great citizens uprisings in a lifetime. I’m grateful.
WOOLERY: It was. Linked with that, not only do I think they should not be able to serve more than four years or 12 years. I mean, the President only gets eight.
HUCKABEE: Yeah.
WOOLERY: So. The other thing is, no lawyers. If a guy is a lawyer and he’s running, or a woman, they shouldn’t be voted in. We have too many lawyers. There’s a practical reason. (AUDIENCE APPLAUSE) Here’s a practical reason. I loved it when [Congressman John] Dingell said, "Read the bill? Are you kidding? We never read the bill." They can't read the bill. And these people would go to town hall meetings and they would have segments of the bill that they knew, and the Congressmen and Senators would go, "What?" They hadn’t got a clue what they were talking about. So then they’d go back and they’d read the bill and they would come back and try to defend it, and they still couldn’t understand it because lawyers writ it, wrote it, and they writ it, too. (AUDIENCE LAUGHTER) But lawyers, they can’t even understand what each other said.
...
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HUCKABEE: We are back with Chuck Woolery. When we were talking before, Chuck, you outed yourself as a conservative. Now, it really is kind of unusual, at least we think of it, in the entertainment world for people to be openly conservative. What was that it that made you say, you know what, I think the conservative idea of government’s more for me?
WOOLERY: I have no idea. I honestly did not have one of those moments where everything changed and I fell in love. I don’t know. One thing I do remember is I was doing Home and Family with your producer, Woody Frasier. And I had to go in for a four-way bypass. And so I went to Cedar Sinai, and they wheeled me in the thing – well, after the surgery everybody was laughing, the doctors were laughing, the nurses. I'm in ICU recovering. And I said, "What is so funny?" as best I could say it. And they said, "Well, we sedated you and we were ready to do the bypass and you sat up and you said" – I had no idea I did this – he said, "You sat up and said, ‘I'm the only conservative in Southern California, and Bob Dole is running for President. If I die, someone has to promise me that they'll vote for him,’" and I laid down. I had no idea I'd done it.
(AUDIENCE LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE)
HUCKABEE: There was a subconscious moment.
WOOLERY: Can you imagine you're going into a life and death situation worried about Bob Dole? Give me a break!
HUCKABEE: What about the citizens? We mentioned the tea parties. You’ve seen this happen across the country. There’s been a contemptuous attitude from people like Nancy Pelosi, but do you think you’re seeing authentic, just, angst from citizens?
WOOLERY: Well, this certainly isn’t astroturf, is it? It's a grassroots movement, and I think it has legs. I can only pray as a citizen myself that this gains momentum, and people really start to turn on their government. I really believe that. And when we say "turn on the government," that’s kind of a loaded way to look at it. They have become arrogant and so disconnected with the people, that it's time we take our government – it's our government, it's not theirs. We need to take it away from them.
HUCKABEE: What about Chuck Woolery for Congress? Is that in your future?
WOOLERY: Well, you know, it's funny. When I was in high school, I remember a neighbor friend of ours, Mrs. Shotland who was from New York who moved to Kentucky, and she said to me, "You should be in politics." And I said, "I don’t think I'd do very well because I tell the truth." And that’s the problem. And think that there’s so, everything is so politically correct these days, and people are just tiptoeing around the edges and tiptoeing through the tulips that you can't say anything or mean anything without offending everyone. Consequently, nothing ever gets said and never gets done.
HUCKABEE: Chuck, I want to ask you-
WOOLERY: Can I say one other thing?
HUCKABEE: Yeah, please do.
WOOLERY: And I would really like to have your opinion on this because I thought about this the last day, it came to my mind. It seems to me like, and correct me if I'm wrong, the closer you are to the Constitution, the farther right you are considered to be.
HUCKABEE: Interesting.
WOOLERY: The farther away you are from the Constitution, the farther left you appear to be. Would you that, would you agree with that? Am I wrong?
(AUDIENCE APPLAUSE)
HUCKABEE: You know, I would, but, obviously, the liberals say that’s nonsense, but-
WOOLERY: My whole point is, why isn’t the Constitution in the middle and people are either moving either toward it or away from it, whatever? But it’s either right or its left. It’s not in the middle where it should be.
HUCKABEE: That’s a very astute observation. I’ve never heard anyone say it, and that’s why I’m going to be the first to sign up and contribute to the Chuck Woolery for Congress fund. I'm going to be on your team. Chuck, great to have you here. Gotta come back sometime because I want to hear some old stories of the Love Connection and a whole lot of things. Chuck’s probably got more stories than we could ever get to. What a great guy. Give a big hand to Chuck Woolery, everybody.
—Brad Wilmouth is a news analyst at the Media Research Center.




MIKE HUCKABEE: Well, my first guest played the role of match maker on the popular game show Love Connection. ... Well, the participants on his show didn't always find love, and he didn't have much affection for politicians who think they're too good to get dumped. So, ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Chuck Woolery. (AUDIENCE APPLAUSE) Hello, Chuck!















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That Explains It!
Sun, 11/29/2009 - 06:37 ET by GeneralAlNow I now why Chuck always seemed to have his act together! Just imagine, a Conservative in Hollywood! Maybe his actions will start a revolt! I've always liked this guy but now I have a new found respect for him! Way to go Chuck!
Guys there is one thing not mentioned in the article
Sun, 11/29/2009 - 07:39 ET by BobAnthonyChuck was the first host in 1975 of a little game show called Wheel of Fortune. A year earlier he hosted one of two pilots for the show called Shopper's Bazaar, which played like the Wheel we know, but with some strange differences. For one, the wheel was like those Big Six wheels in casinos, vertically based, not horizontally and the wheel from pictures I saw had a "0" space.
When the 2nd pilot, then titled Wheel of Fortune was taped Lin Bolen the controversial head of daytime programming at NBC, which like today isstruggling in the ratings, hired Edd Kooky Byrnes of 77 Sunset Strip to host this pilot. Needless to say he was CLUELESS...HE EVEN NEEDED TO KNOW WHICH LETTERS WERE VOWELS!
But Merv Griffin, the creator of Wheel put his foot down and hired Chuck back. He along with Susan Stafford made Wheel of Fortune into a daytime hit for NBC, which in 1975 canceled Jeopardy (Art Fleming), but Merv, who also created that show, had Wheel as his backup.
But Chuck let another one of his shows...GREED...get in the way. He wanted to make as much money as Family Feud host Richard Dawson did. Griffin said no and Chuck in 1981 left the show to be replaced by Pat Sajak. Two years later, Sajak and Vanna White would have their show go into syndication...the rest is TV history. It was 20 years ago when Pat left the daytime Wheel to do his ill-fated CBS late night talk show (where Limbaugh was a guest at one point). His replacement was former San Diego Charges star Rolf Benirschke.
After that, the show moved to CBS with Bob Goen taking over as host with some definite changes. Gone was the time when people bought with their earnings and the wheel was CHEAPENED..I mean $50 spaces?!? By the way it was in 1987 when Wheel's synidcated show went to the now familiar all-cash format with players going for bigger items in the bonus round, inlcuding a most often picked $25,000 grand prize. Back to '89, the bonus round was changed to allow a random shot at a prize first by picking from five cards with the letters W H E E L.
In 2001, the bonus wheel got introduced where more cash prizes along with cars got mixed in. The grand prize then went to $100,000 where it still is today...Then in 2008, Wheel joined many game shows to offer $1,000,000 as the grand prize. By the way the 1 mega was HIT!
When Griffin died in 2007, GSN found a 1976 episode of Wheel, which I think is at the UCLA archives and aired it along with the primarily Pat Sajak ones they have had in their archives.
Interesting to note, Pat Sajak is also a conservative and has a second career, he owns two radio stations in Maryland, including WNAV in Annapolis. And yes, he can sometimes be seen at WNAV and even heard.
I've liked Chuck Woolery because he loves to laugh at himself when he makes mistakes. He will need that good natured outlook in the land of toxic minds called Hollywood!
The reason the media is corrupt? Two words...OPERATION MOCKINGBIRD!
MOCKINGBIRD - The Subversion Of The Free Press By The CIA
ONLY 1 MISTAKE...
Sun, 11/29/2009 - 08:16 ET by danybhoyRolf Benirschke was a kicker for the San Diego Chargers, but he WAS NOT a star. Stop exaggerating.
"...How blind can you be, don't you see...
...that the gambler lost all he does not have..."
Nightwish
Atta Boy Chuck!!!
Mon, 11/30/2009 - 09:06 ET by Patriot IIScrew hawleywood....they are a bunch of phony low intelligent clowns play acting.......someday they might actually see what real life is all about!! Doubt it tho! Actually I am sick and tired of seeing the opinion of some airhead or bimbo that never did anything in their life except get before a camera and make believe? THAT makes them an expert on anything? stupid peoples hero worship is the only reason the idiots have a voice.....but their audience is not anywhere as big as their egos!!!
Early Wheel Days
Sun, 11/29/2009 - 13:22 ET by Tugboat PhilI was on shore duty in the Navy. We'd have Wheel on at lunchtime in the TV lounge. Contestants would bu a prize with their winnings this way; "For $50 I'll have the ceramic cat."
So when I'd go through a fast food drive in, I'd order like this; "For $1.25 I'll have the double cheeseburger. For $.75 I'll have the large fries...."
I don't think I was the only one doing it, as they rearely found it funny. Maybe they just weren't Wheel Watchers??
Gun Control - The theory that a woman found dead in an alley, raped and strangled with her own pantyhose, is somehow morally superior to a woman explaining to police how her attacker got that fatal bullet wound.
I can actually remember
Sun, 11/29/2009 - 08:12 ET by NewsbusterbrownI can actually remember that Rush Limbaugh's television show in the
1990s once played a clip from Scrabble in which host Woolery admitted
to liking Limbaugh after the word "Limbaugh" was revealed as the answer
to a word puzzle in which the clue was: "He's been blamed for a lot of
bad rush (Rush) hours." Woolery joked that the puzzle was made up by a
"pinko commie," and declared, "I like Rush Limbaugh."
I saw that episode, too. I had suspected that Chuck was a conservative before then and his Scrabble comments only confirmed it for me.
Wasn't really a fan of The Love Connection, but that wasn't his fault. However, I thought he was terrific as a game show host and very likeable. BTW, let's not forget his role on The New Zoo Revue! :-D
BobAnthony mentioned that Pat Sajak is another person that the very conservative Merv Griffin hired. I wonder if Merv sensed it in them and it helped their cause. Of course, then there is Alex Trebek. :-)
“There are no easy answers' but there are simple answers. We must have the courage to do what we know is morally right.” - Ronald Reagan (1964 Republican Convention)
this might be a good time
Sun, 11/29/2009 - 09:48 ET by spepperthis might be a good time to consider a constitutional convention for submitting a "term limit" amendment, seeing how it appears that there are too many gerrymandered districts that consistently "rehire" the same deadweight in Congress-- amendments can of course be rescinded (e.g. Prohibition)-- so until gerrymandering is made illegal, I would support a constitutional amendment for term limits--
As a very experienced game
Sun, 11/29/2009 - 10:31 ET by Chris NormanAs a very experienced game show host, perhaps Woolery can be persuaded to moderate the next round of presidential primary debates, that look more and more like game shows - "Who Wants To Be the Next American President?".
The "Mainstream" Media: By liberals. For liberals.
Thanks
Sun, 11/29/2009 - 11:44 ET by slickwillie2001Thanks for reporting on this; I can't bear watching Huckabee's show myself. Too much smarm.
willie,
Sun, 11/29/2009 - 11:48 ET by Chris NormanWhat do you mean? Personally, I just love to see some old guy in a business suit, guitar in hand, jammin' with a country western group. It's really cutting edge... :)
The "Mainstream" Media: By liberals. For liberals.
I actually kind of like
Sun, 11/29/2009 - 15:20 ET by Kat Outta the BagI actually kind of like watching Huckabee myself, although I could do without the usually cringe-worthy music segments near the end.
game show idea for Chuck
Sun, 11/29/2009 - 11:55 ET by Candance MooreAre You Smarter Than a Liberal
And yes, I've always suspected he was conservie too. One more reason to be a fan of his. Have enjoyed watching him host Lingo.
support Chuck's career
Sun, 11/29/2009 - 12:01 ET by Candance MooreHe's a big time fisherman and started up his own company that sells outdoor sporting gear. Great Christmas/Hannukah idea for conservative men.
Woolery's outdoor gear
Sun, 11/29/2009 - 13:10 ET by Kat Outta the BagHe was selling his stuff on QVC some time ago, but I don't know if he is anymore. Yes, I flip around and sometimes I land on that channel...it's good for a few brainless minutes before moving on to something else.
Who Knew?
Sun, 11/29/2009 - 12:32 ET by DaMamaI would have never thought Chuck Woollery was a conservative. I remember he did some game show called "Love Connection" and it was really lecherous and cheesy.
It's nice to know there's another conservative in Hollywood. He's right - he'll probably never work again now that he's out in the open. Amazing.
Sigh - why is it that
Sun, 11/29/2009 - 12:45 ET by Chris NormanSigh - why is it that conservatives in Hollywood are always: game show hosts (Woolery and Sajak), action adventure stars (Norris and - we thought - Schwarzenegger and Willis) or older actors -(Voight and Stein) where it no longer matters to their careers. It would be refreshing to see one or two younger stars - considered hot properties - to come out as conservatives. It doesn't really matter to me in all practicality - still, it would be interesting to see who isn't brainwashed or a sell out to success.
The "Mainstream" Media: By liberals. For liberals.
Hollywood American Haters
Sun, 11/29/2009 - 16:44 ET by DoktorFrankenYou have hit upon the reason why I watch mostly older movies (30s to mid 50s) - Back then they knew who the bad guys were,
Hollywood Hates America
(PJTV.com)
My wife and I enjoy Lingo. Especially the later episodes with Shandi.
Sarah Palin: The Most Dangerous Conservative In America
Mr. Woolery,
Sun, 11/29/2009 - 19:05 ET by Kansasgirlglad you're on board.
Never be hired in Hollywood
Sun, 11/29/2009 - 20:46 ET by bse5150Never be hired in Hollywood again?
That's nonsense! The Left is tolerant, understanding, open to dialogue and other points of view, they...
Oh, forget it.
Politics matters
Mon, 11/30/2009 - 01:01 ET by raccoonradioI've heard conservative actors and directors have had a tough time getting hired due to their politics.And the mostly liberal movie critics hated, hated, HATED "An American Carol" for daring to be patriotic, make fun of Michael Moore, and show a non-liberal viewpoint. Am sure many critic praised Moore's last movie (despite that it did about $14 million in 7 weeks so maybe movie going audiences do have som taste...)
OT
Mon, 11/30/2009 - 11:35 ET by SpikerI loved "An American Carol"! But I realize why I've never once seen it appear on HBO (while they run "the election of Barack Obama" about twenty times a day).