Larry Emdur is off to France in search for inspiration
Aussie television personality Larry Emdur is off to France in search of his next calling card.The former host of games shows such as the Price Is Right and Wheel of Fortune will spend next week in Cannes at the MIPCOM television festival, lapping up the latest television programming innovations from around the world.”I have done all the stuff I have really wanted to do and there is nothing jumping out at me in the TV world,” the 41-year-old said.
“I am going to France to have a look around at the upcoming trends and what’s going on around the rest of the world. I will see how I can contribute to that, whether it be in Australia or not.”
With more than 24 years of television experience, Emdur says his latest ambition is to create his own production company.
“When I finished Wheel Of Fortune I wrote down all the shows I have hosted full time or filled in on, and oddly enough the next show, Good As Gold! will be my 20th show,” he said.
“I have done news, sport, tonight shows, midday shows and now breakfast shows. I would definitely look into the production side of things … I have been around the traps and would definitely want to do that.”
This week Sunrise viewers were treated to Emdur teaming up with host Melissa Doyle while her sidekick David Koch was on leave.
“It was horrifying,” he said.
“It was probably the most important opportunity of my career because for a long time I have been a game show bimbo boy.
“I was a journalist a long, long time before I hit the game show circuit, but the live aspect and everything about hosting (on Sunrise) I haven’t done before really and it was horrifying.”
Emdur grew up at Bondi in Sydney’s eastern suburbs and began his career as a copy boy at the Sydney Morning Herald.
At 17 years old, he became Australia’s youngest national newsreader presenting the overnight news for the Seven Network.
He did more news work at Network Ten and later moved into what he is best-known for, hosting game shows.
Over the years he has hosted Ca$h Bonanza, Family Double Dare, The Price Is Right and Wheel Of Fortune.
He is now signed to the Seven Network and will host an episode of a new program, Good As Gold! with Dancing With The Stars co-host Sonia Kruger when it launches on October 15.
The program showcases the most memorable moments in television’s 50 year history.