4. The 1980s Reboot
While much changed about the show and the hosts during it’s long run from the ‘50s to the ‘70s, a few things never changed. There was always a host, usually an uncle-figure, as was popular. It was a variety show, and it ran long. The 1980s reboot missed every mark but the name of the show. The ’80s “Wonderama” could have sold better as “Wonderwhattheheck.” The show format was not a variety show, but a newsmagazine-style show edited down to 30-minutes after the initial run. The host was not an uncle-figure or even an adult. They had teenagers host it. In 1983, they stopped recording the new show.