What happens to the hosts over 40 or 50?

[jkygogo]

Hi, I'm just curious what seems to happen to the QVC or HSN Hosts over 40 or 50? I mean it's sad, but if you look at both channels, it seems most of the hosts are around mid 30's to mid 40's. It's sad to say this but it seems these channels don't represent more different age ranges. What has happened to the majority of the hosts in prior years who went past that age range? Were they pushed out? Did they retire? Did they get burned out? I wish you could see more different ages like some in their 20's, 30's, 40's, 50's, 60's and older. I wonder what is going on.

Thanks.

[Rebel_Mom]

I don't know, Bob Bowersox is certainly in his late 50s now and most of the longer term female hosts on the Q are in their mid to late 40s. I think they have their loyal customer base and will never lose it. Look at Kathy Levine -she is 53 now and could write her own ticket on any shopping channel.

[pebbles]

Mary Beth is over 40 and I think that most of the male hosts are too.

[Mockers]

I didn't watch the Q when Kathy was a host, but I read that she tried to write her own ticket on HSN with her own clothing line and failed miserably. Anybody know the real story? She's just behind the scenes now. I think she's hanging on.

[Linda Lou]

Mockers,
I called HSN to ask whatever happened to Kathy Levine's clothing line and got a customer service rep who was all too willing to talk.
She said, from what she had heard, that Kathy had a hard time with the manufacturers of her clothing line in fullfilling the orders they had received on a timely basis, and eventually, along with some other "red tape", gave up on the line.

She also said Kathy is still with HSN, and works training people to become hosts. Why wouldn't she hang on, she's no fool, and she's not THAT old yet!
:)

[Mockers]

LindaLou, I guess you're right. Kathy still has a huge following, so why not continue on? I think too that the hosts get used the all the adulation they get from callers and such, and would miss it if they left (a la Jane Treacy).

[pebbles]

Whatever happened to Geoff, the guy who was very briefly married to Judy Crowell? He was very popular and the women callers were always telling him how handsome he was. He appeared to be a big childish jerk to me. But he had quite a following. Is he on any of the shopping channels?

[Linda Lou]

Kathy Levine wrote about what a egocentric jerk he was after that whole marriage fiasco. I read he was trying to be a game show host, then it was a country-western singer of all things.

I'd also love to know if anyone's seen hide-nor-hair of him since leaving the Q?

[jkygogo]

I understand about the present hosts over 40 or in their 50's, but what about all the possibly hundreds of hosts from the 80's and 90's or 70's also from HSN and QVC who are not on anymore? Why did they leave and where are they? Were they burned out? Forced to leave? Just retired? I mean I'm sure there are probably near a hundred former hosts from QVC and HSN, why did they leave and where are they? Were they forced to leave through pressure from management to start promoting younger hosts?

I think I recognize some former hosts from www.shoppingsource.com


They look familiar. I didn't watch HSN or QVC consistently but would channel surf and maybe I recognize a few. Where are all the many former hosts and why did they leave?

Thanks.

[beaglelvr]

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but I think QVC's only been in existence since 1986 or somewhere around there. So, the original hosts have been there close to 20 years and probably started around age 25-30. So, unless somebody started out with the Q in the early days at the age of 40, there wouldn't be anyone older than in their 50's at most.

I think TV shopping channels aren't old enough to have "veteran" hosts over 50 yet. Soon though!

[Linda Lou]

I loved Dan Dennis from HSN. I recently seen him at Shop at Home. He also, seemed very unpretentious.

I have always worked in retail, and when I worked for a jewelers, I was told that that is one of the few areas of employment where age is a plus. I was asked, hypothetically, who would you rather get your engagement ring from, a 19 yr. old, or a 50 yr. old who's been selling jewelry for years, and probably really knows his stuff, being that it is usually a investment?

No offense intended to the kids just starting out, but I think being older, and more experienced is a plus, and lends a certain credibility.

[pebbles]

LindaLou, age and experience ought to be a plus. I would want to buy diamonds and other gems from someone who had a great deal of knowledge about them. Sadly, TV adds a new dimension to the situation. The camera adds years and pounds. If you really want a shock, look at the hosts or just about anyone else in black and white. Yikes, they look way older than in color.
Also, people want to buy many items such as clothing and electronics from someone younger and hip. Not me, though. I want someone MY age, LOL.

[Rebel_Mom]

For the most part, the younger hosts QVC has brought in suffer in comparison to the more mature and experienced hosts. I would definitely say that age works in your favor in this type of marketplace.

[BR™]

MBR just stated she was 46 and we all know Lisa R is 40......there's 2 over 40 and I know there are others.

Nothing happens to the hosts over 40 or 50, they just get more comfortable in their roles as time passes.

[Mrs. T.]

Does anyone know what happened to Steve Collantuno that windbag? And what about Jeff Hewson? Was he gay or what?

[Cat-Lady]

Courtesy of ussearch.com ........ Bob Bowersox is 58, Rick Domeier is 44, and Paul Deasy is 45. In Paul's case, he gets better with age, like a fine wine .......

Bob, on the other hand, is more like two-week-old leftovers that got shoved into the back of the fridge ......

Rick ...... he just never grew up, like Peter Pan ......

[beaglelvr]

Bob Bowersox is 58? Put down your sharp objects guys and gals, but I have to say that he looks good for his age. I would have guessed early 50s at most.



Stop laughing at me! LOL

[Jasmine46]

I would have taken Kathy Levine for being over 60! I think she is just the type that probably has an "old soul" or matronly look or something.

[Linda Lou]

Ooooooo Jasmine,
Kathy sure wouldn't be happy to hear she looks over 60!
Do you remember when she had a face lift when she turned 45? At least she had the guts to come out and admit it--on-air, no less!! Pat Dementri could borrow a page out of her book. Seeing her on HSN most recently, I think she looks pretty good, but I did notice she has that bright, white, Joker smile ala Antonella.

CatLady,
That analogy about Bob B. and 2 week leftovers is a scream!!! LOL! Now there's one I'm going to borrow!

Beaglelvr,
Oh, ALLRIGHT!!! He sorta looks okay for 58. (Said VERY begrudgingly)

[jkygogo]

Yes, there are some hosts at QVC which are still there. But I'm still curious about all the hosts who have left and I mean the hosts that started from the beginning few years, where are they and why did they leave? Also, HSN started maybe around 1977, so I wonder where these hosts are and why did they leave? Man, I would love to see tapes if anyone has them of the beginning shows of QVC and HSN, that would be interesting and cool to watch. Especially for me to see HSN to see how they started, that would be interesting. What do you think?

Thanks.

[pebbles]

Do you remember that stupid "tooter" they used to do? They would toot a horn at the request of callers and, of course, almost everyone requested it. I'll bet it annoyed the hell out of the hosts. Kathy said they were running on a shoelace at the beginning. She even had to help pack and ship items. Sometimes they ran out of product before the end of the hr. I saw Kathy get up and dance to fill up the time. Yep, those were the good old days.

[hellokitty]

Wasn't "tootie" on HSN? And remember they used to give out credits to random callers - pick an envelope and see how much you win! And QVC had the wheel and the unscramble the word game. LOL. Wish they would do that for old times sake.

[bookchick]

bumping.......

i wonder if prospective hosts, say in their mid 20's, have applied for host positions and been turned down because they're not mature enough?

if so, it would be reverse ageism....

bookchick

[Jasmine46]

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jkygogo:
Yes, there are some hosts at QVC which are still there. But I'm still curious about all the hosts who have left and I mean the hosts that started from the beginning few years, where are they and why did they leave? Also, HSN started maybe around 1977, so I wonder where these hosts are and why did they leave? Man, I would love to see tapes if anyone has them of the beginning shows of QVC and HSN, that would be interesting and cool to watch. Especially for me to see HSN to see how they started, that would be interesting. What do you think?

Thanks.
tvtalkshows.com/board/showpost.php?p=1400164
----------------------------------------------------------------Maybe someone can do a documentary film about the origins of both shopping networks and find out whatever happened to the hosts who were there at the birth of television shopping. Maybe the guy that does the "Mighty Wind" and "Best in Show" movies could do a mockumentary on shopping channels. That would be a hoot!