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Other Topics => Television => Topic started by: Ash on January 21, 2010, 10:35:53 PM



Title: Best TV Show Narrators
Post by: Ash on January 21, 2010, 10:35:53 PM
(NOTE: this thread may take more than the average time to go through)

Ever notice how a narrator can make or break a TV show?

For example: The History Channel has a show that many of you are familiar with...Modern Marvels.
Most of the episodes are narrated by a guy named Max Raphael.  
Listen to him in the video below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYYfJQfoS4M

In other Modern Marvels episodes a different guy, Harlan Saperstein narrates them.
If you've seen the episodes narrated by Saperstein, you know that the show just doesn't seem to have the same impact as it does when Raphael narrates them.



Or how about one of my favorite shows...The First 48?
It's narrated by Dion Graham and I could not imagine anyone other than him narrating it.

Check out part 1 of this episode titled "Fallen".  It's one of my favorites and is definitely disturbing.
The story "Fallen" about the guy who is found dead outside of a Florida highrise stuck in my head days after I watched it.  It has a twist in it that I did not see coming.
And that detective who investigates the case, Joe Shillaci, is one of the best I've ever seen.
If I ever get murdered, I want him to investigate.  That guy almost always gets his man.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWKtIozIZbY

The entire episode is on Youtube if you want to continue watching it.



Perhaps my favorite narrator of all is Marlene Sanders.
If you've watched any of the "Autopsy" specials on HBO, you've heard her voice.
Her voice is absolutely perfect for that show.
Check it out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APeFRuW_lng

Creepy, eh?
You can watch that episode in its entirety on Youtube.

Can you think of any other good TV show narrators?


Title: Re: Best TV Show Narrators
Post by: retrorussell on January 22, 2010, 12:18:10 AM
The voice of ABC, Ernie Anderson.  Did the openings for a lot of shows in the '70s, mostly "Movie Of The Week" type of shows.  Did some movie trailer voice-overs too.  Wonderful, rich voice. 



Title: Re: Best TV Show Narrators
Post by: SPazzo on January 22, 2010, 01:12:09 AM
When I read the thread topic I had a little Deja-vu.  It was the IMDb daily poll question!  Anyway, I actually liked Forrest Whittaker in the Twilight Zone remake.  (I have just committed blasphemy, I know.)

Also, we have a show called Doc Zone, here in Canada. The narrator/host, Ann-Marie MacDonald, is actually very good.  It also helps the show is pretty good too.  CBC puts them on Youtube, and I would really recommend the show.


Title: Re: Best TV Show Narrators
Post by: RCMerchant on January 22, 2010, 06:47:28 AM
The voice of ABC, Ernie Anderson.  Did the openings for a lot of shows in the '70s, mostly "Movie Of The Week" type of shows.  Did some movie trailer voice-overs too.  Wonderful, rich voice. 




Ernie was also known in his early years as tv spook show host Ghoulardi!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e52cXCrmauc

Lenord Nimoy in IN SEARCH OF-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1Uiz0TsgPA


Jack  Palance on RIPLEY'S BELIEVE IT OR NOT-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmKNIhx9s2E



Title: Re: Best TV Show Narrators
Post by: Jack on January 22, 2010, 07:57:22 AM
Lenord Nimoy in IN SEARCH OF-

[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1Uiz0TsgPA[/url]


That's what I was going to say.  He was perfect for that show.

The guy on "How It's Made" is great as well.  They've got other people doing it now, and they're not nearly as good.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdFejZgOHDA#


Title: Re: Best TV Show Narrators
Post by: flackbait on January 22, 2010, 08:15:52 PM
Anybody ever heard James Earl Jones narrate? Hes pretty good.
Also I don't really know if I'd call him a narrator or a Host, but either way Rod Serling helped set the tone for the Twilight Zone just by his introductions alone!


Title: Re: Best TV Show Narrators
Post by: RCMerchant on January 23, 2010, 04:34:31 AM
Walter Winchell on the UNTOUCHABLES was classic!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNYOOVMosxE


You don't hear much of him in that clip-hears one that captures his rapid fire delivery-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzVVDu7ldB0


Title: Re: Best TV Show Narrators
Post by: retrorussell on January 23, 2010, 05:45:17 AM



Ernie was also known in his early years as tv spook show host Ghoulardi!



Wow.. never heard of Ghoulardi!  (before my time)  I remember him chiefly from the ABC Movie Of The Week-type shows, the Afterschool Specials, general ABC promos, and the game show Break The Bank.
Other great narrators (actually, these are game show announcers):

Johnny Olson
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbNf_cgy2II&feature=related

Rod Roddy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcbH0iKhAoc&feature=related



Title: Re: Best TV Show Narrators
Post by: lester1/2jr on January 23, 2010, 06:14:07 PM
Dude from dateline. "from the outside, it seemed like they had the perfect marriage, suzy was going to have another baby..then tragedy struck and the whole facade began to unravel in the headlines of the smalltown newspaper where so and so, who covered the story worked"  then they go to the guy doing the one interesting story he's ever done.  I could do one of these off the top of my head I've seen so many


Title: Re: Best TV Show Narrators
Post by: retrorussell on January 23, 2010, 06:35:33 PM
Whoever voiced Commander USA's Groovie Movies.  His voice had all the cheese you could want and then some.  Perfect for a bad movie show!


Title: Re: Best TV Show Narrators
Post by: Allhallowsday on January 23, 2010, 08:40:57 PM
ROD SERLING 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gjup0ST2GOM


Title: Re: Best TV Show Narrators
Post by: retrorussell on January 23, 2010, 08:51:11 PM
Victor Caroli.  Narrated episodes of The Transformers.  Cool, cool voice.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9Xb7QQeHfc


Title: Re: Best TV Show Narrators
Post by: JaseSF on January 27, 2010, 11:16:09 PM
I really like the narrators behind "Crime Stories" and "Cold Case Files", both great shows too that profile the worst criminals and their most violent, horrible crimes. I also enjoy the narration done on the show "Most Evil", another excellent show exploring the mind of criminals where Dr. Michael Stone places them on a special scale of evil (highly recommend that show to those who enjoy "Ancients Berhaving Badly" as the premise is quite similar in many ways). I also like the narration on "Ancients Behaving Badly" and "The Nostradamus Effect". Robert Stack was quite good years ago too as the host of "Unsolved Mysteries"


Title: Re: Best TV Show Narrators
Post by: retrorussell on January 28, 2010, 12:39:33 AM
Don Pardo, for SNL all those years.
Kenny Williams, for Hollywood Squares, Gambit, High Rollers, etc.
Casey Kasem for tons of NBC promos in the '80s.  Of course, he had his own radio show too.


Title: Re: Best TV Show Narrators
Post by: Trevor on January 28, 2010, 07:54:43 AM
The guy that announced the Tales From The Dark Side TV series.  :buggedout:


Title: Re: Best TV Show Narrators
Post by: Neville on February 21, 2010, 07:05:32 AM
Bob Saget, in "How I met your mother".


Title: Re: Best TV Show Narrators
Post by: El Misfit on February 21, 2010, 10:32:44 AM
Mike Rowe in Deadliest Catch and in Dirty Jobs, hey, he was an opera singer!  :bouncegiggle: :bouncegiggle: :teddyr:


Title: Re: Best TV Show Narrators
Post by: AndyC on February 21, 2010, 02:25:14 PM
Paul Winfield on City Confidential. Loved that guy's voice.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GindgaZkRf4

Bill Woodson, who narrated Superfriends (after Ted Knight), Battle of the Planets, The Odd Couple and other shows.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoO5H_UKCrw

And it's hard to beat the late, great William Conrad.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77H5nHdcyQM


Title: Re: Best TV Show Narrators
Post by: Flu-Bird on April 21, 2010, 11:32:23 AM
Dick Tutfield from LOST IN SPACE who could forget LAST WEEK AS YOU RECALL. JACK WEBB from DRAGNET and THIS IS THE CITY


Title: Re: Best TV Show Narrators
Post by: retrorussell on April 21, 2010, 11:29:26 PM
Percy Rodriguez.  Narrated SO many horror trailers over the years in the '70s and '80s.


Title: Re: Best TV Show Narrators
Post by: Flick James on April 22, 2010, 01:29:59 PM
They should just have Morgan Freeman narrate EVERYTHING.


Title: Re: Best TV Show Narrators
Post by: Giant Claw Jr on April 23, 2010, 11:37:35 AM
HANS CONREID for FRACTURED FAIRYTALES


Title: Re: Best TV Show Narrators
Post by: retrorussell on April 23, 2010, 11:38:24 PM
HANS CONREID for FRACTURED FAIRYTALES
Actually I believe that was Edward Everett Horton. 


Title: Re: Best TV Show Narrators
Post by: BoyScoutKevin on May 01, 2010, 03:33:45 PM
HANS CONREID for FRACTURED FAIRYTALES
Actually I believe that was Edward Everett Horton. 

retrorussell is correct, "Fractured Fairytales" was narrated by Edward Everett Horton. while "Dudley Do-Right" and "Rocky and Bullwinkle" were narrated by William Conrad. And I don't remember, whether he also narrated it, or just did the voice of Aesop, but that was Charlie Ruggles.

It is understandable the confusion with Hans Conried though, since he was the voice of Snidely Whiplash on "Dudley Do-Right."

Hans Conried was both a great voice actor and character actor, appearing many times, both in films and on TV. But, he apparently never did much narration, except for some Seuss stuff such as "Dr. Seuss on the Loose" and "Horton Hears a Who." His last professional job was also as narrator for the video "Fables and Legends."

All those mentioned are greatly missed.