It's in the Book, Bob! [Hardcover]

Bob Eubanks (Author), Matthew Scott Hansen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 10, 2004

The Newlywed Game

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Say "Bob Eubanks" and most people will think of The Newlywed Game—and not much else. Perhaps therein lies the reason for the veteran game show host to pen his autobiography. Eubanks is a kind of Forrest Gump of American media, popping up to promote everything from early Beatles concerts to the legendary 1975 Ali-Frazier boxing match, the Thrilla in Manila. He tells it all, in numbing detail. By page 90, readers are only in 1962, learning about the quirks of old radio personalities. Only near book's end does Eubanks delve into his story's most intriguing portion: his television career. Eubanks's tone is light and conversational, typical of a TV emcee, and co-author Hansen has an easy touch with enigmatic personalities. Ironically, there's a vein of self-doubt and insecurity in the outwardly confident host: "I couldn't shake the feeling that my life's work could be capsulized as a guy who pushed young couples to answer suggestive questions about their personal lives for the price of a toaster." Yet Eubanks skips over other telling moments—such as his fraying marriage—in a couple of paragraphs. However much Eubanks might like to distance himself from The Newlywed Game, it's what he'll be remembered for. At least with this book, his other lives are on the record, too. Photos not seen by PW.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

About the Author

Bob Eubanks began his broadcasting career as a disc jockey. Best known for his role as host of the popular The Newlywed Game, Eubanks can be see hosting “The Hollywood Christmas Parade” with cohost Leeza Gibbons for KTLA-TV in Los Angeles. He lives in Santa Ynez, California. Matthew Scott Hansen is the coauthor of Andy Kaufman Revealed!: Best Friend Tells All. He lives in Granada Hills, California.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 337 pages
• Publisher: BenBella Books; 1st edition (September 10, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1932100288
• ISBN-13: 978-1932100280
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,278,876 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Chicago Sun-Times Review Raves About this Book!!!, October 15, 2004

By 

Glenn Yeffeth (Dallas, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: It's in the Book, Bob! (Hardcover)

What about Bob (Eubanks)?

October 3, 2004

BY PAIGE WISER SUN-TIMES COLUMNIST

THIS WEEK'S ARGUMENT: That Bob Eubanks is a pop culture god.

I admit that I requested a review copy of Bob Eubanks' new autobiography for one reason: I wanted to read the inside scoop on the dirtier episodes of "The Newlywed Game."

But now I am ashamed. As I've learned from It's in the Book, Bob! (Benbella, $24.95), one game show does not a man's career make.

I had no idea that Eubanks was instrumental in bringing the Beatles to L.A., or that he founded the first public relations firm for rock groups. He's bad-mouthed Barry Manilow, stood up to Elton John and had a mysterious falling out with Dolly Parton. By the end of the book, I pictured Eubanks as a musical Zelig.

And yet Eubanks has suffered a whopping inferiority complex. He writes, "I couldn't shake the feeling that my life's work could be capsulized as a guy who pushed young couples to answer suggestive questions about their personal lives for the price of a toaster."

In short, he hates ignorant people like me.

So I'd like to remedy the situation, and give some of you a crash course in all things Bob:

*As an L.A. deejay in the '60s, his station attracted groupies. Eubanks writes: "Dick Biondi, who came on board in 1963 to do 9 to midnight, asked me years later if I remembered a long-haired guy who was a lot older than the rest of the kids and used to sit on the steps and hold court." Eubanks didn't remember him. "'His name,' Dick told me, 'was Charlie ... Charlie Manson.'"

*Eubanks used to hang out with Sonny Bono, pre-Cher.

*Eubanks suggested to Brian Wilson's manager-father that the Beach Boys change their name. (The suggestion was ignored.)

*Eubanks guest-starred on the "Ozzie & Harriet" TV series as a bicycle shop owner. Coincidentally, the role was offered just as Ricky Nelson had a new record coming out that Ozzie wanted played on Eubanks' station.

*Eubanks swore by hair stylist Jay Sebring, who pioneered the use of hairspray on men. Sebring was later murdered with Sharon Tate by Charles Manson's gang.

*As a concert promoter, Eubanks made about $1,000 on the Beatles' first concert at the Hollywood Bowl. He'd wised up by the time the Beatles came back to town in 1966 for a concert at Dodgers Stadium. For that event, Eubanks made "a decent profit," but estimates that each of the Beatles made less than $4,000 for the gig. They stopped touring almost immediately thereafter.

*Eubanks once caught Keith Moon smuggling an underage girl backstage in a bass drum case.

*At his first meeting with Merle Haggard, the country star's cigarette ignited the crotch of Eubanks' black-and-white herringbone slacks. His leg was singed, but it didn't discourage Eubanks from going on the road with Haggard for years.

*When he auditioned for zany producer Chuck Barris, Eubanks thought that "The Newlywed Game" was "the dumbest idea for a show I'd ever heard." And those confessions of Barris' dangerous mind? "I will also say that if he was a CIA assassin, then I'm Mary Poppins."

*He was featured in Michael Moore's movie "Roger & Me," and, like many, doesn't have anything nice to say about the filmmaker. Moore interviewed Eubanks in Flint, Mich., for what he was told would be a local TV news story. Eubanks assumed the cameras were off at one point, and told two tasteless jokes. They, of course, made it into the film. Eubanks says that he swore to friends that if he ever happened upon Moore in a men's room, "I would rearrange his dentition." But he's over it now. Really.

*Eubanks was hired for Jessica Simpson's variety show, with an initial offer of $800 that he negotiated up to $7,500. His bit was cut.

That, my friends, is a full life in the entertainment industry.

You're still curious about the dirt, though, aren't you? If you persist in wanting the answer to the "Newlywed" question "Where's the strangest, most unusual place the two of you have ever made whoopee?" -- you'll find it on page 365.

For years, Eubanks told people the infamous episode (where a woman described a part of her body rather than an actual place) never happened -- until someone showed him the clip and proved him wrong. He says that he simply didn't remember it.

And who can blame him?

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Who knew Bob Eubanks was anything but a gameshow host??!, October 15, 2004

By 

Daniella "sassyd" (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: It's in the Book, Bob! (Hardcover)

This book was a really amazing read. I personally had no idea that Bob Eubanks was anything other than a gameshow host from the 70s. But if you read his book, you'll find that he was not only a well-known host but an instrumental part of many famous muscians lives, including the Beatles, the Beach Boys, Dolly Parton, Merle Haggard and Stevie Wonder. He also talks about many other funny anecdotes that happened between he and Cary Grant, the Rolling Stones, and the guy that Bob Eubanks is apparently always being mistaken for--The Price is Right's Bob Barker. (He also devotes a whole chapter to his troubles with Michael Moore and a chance to hear about the other side of what happened with "Roger and Me.") If you enjoy reading biographies and are interested in rock 'n' roll, television and celebrities, then you'll really enjoy this book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must have for game show junkies, August 13, 2007

By 

Michael T. Mondak - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: It's in the Book, Bob! (Hardcover)

Bob Eubanks, best known as host of various versions of the classic game show "The Newlywed Game", playing daily at 9 am on GSN, wrote his memoirs in 2002 titled "It's in the Book, Bob!"

In this book that is a must for game show junkies everywhere, Bob Eubanks tells his own version of his own story from birth, high school, college, radio, concert promotion, and eventually, television.

Each copy is signed by Bob Eubanks himself.

So, in the words of Bob Eubanks, purchase this book. Thanks for playing!