Joe King started his career as a game show host. When he was 17, King hosted Kennywood Park’s “It’s You Review,” a show that featured volunteers from the audience learning tricks backstage before performing. It was part “Wheel of Fortune,” part “Gong Show,” where the audience participated in skits and games for prizes. King cohosted the show with Darcy Vollero and Nancy Murray.
King said, “We used to do that bit from ‘I Love Lucy’ where you pretend to throw knives at someone, and the knives pop out from behind the board behind the victim…. er…volunteer’s head [Season 3, Episode 5 “Lucy Tells the Truth”].” He added, “We had a puppet stage, a balloon squashing contest, and more.”
The review kicked off the summer in the Coaster Capital of the World but traveled to other amusement parks. King went on tour with the show, departing from Pittsburgh to travel to Spokane, Washington. He stayed with the show for two years.
From there, King caught the theater bug. “I was working as a docent for the Children’s Museum when I met Don & Leslie Brockett. They were attending a fundraiser, and I was their guide. We hit it off, and he learned that I was a theater kid. He offered me work as an extra doing Industrials and holiday character work. I quickly became an assistant producer and events manager. I quit my museum job and started working for Brockett Productions full-time. Working alongside Don, I was fortunate enough to perform gigs for the Pittsburgh Symphony, The Cultural Trust, USX, and 53 Fortune 500 companies. Sharing the stage with Fred Rogers, Carol Channing, Eartha Kitt, Leslie Caron, Lenora Nemetz, Billy Porter, Marvin Hamlisch, and more.”
King performed at the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra’s first Fiddlesticks concert.
Now, King is the creator and host of “Match Gayme” and “Wheel of Drag.”
The shows have taken place at a variety of venues and still travel, but King’s “Match Gayme” and “Wheel of Drag” have found a home in the Strip District.
King cohosts “Wheel of Drag” with Kierra Darshell, Pittsburgh’s First Lady of Drag. It is a monthly event at the winery. On “Wheel of Drag,” the drag contestants spin a giant, “Wheel of Fortune” roulette-style wheel with categories such as Set List; twenty-one songs the queens were given in advance, Queen’s Choice; three of their favorite songs to perform; Broadway, three Broadway songs such as “I’m Just a Girl Who Can’t Say No,” from the “Sound of Music, or “When You’re Good to Mama,” from “Chicago;’ Mystery, which could be any song; Prop, which featured a prop ranging from a jump rope to sock puppet; and Audience Favorite, songs selected by the audience. Monday, August 28th show had a bowl of treasures that included “The Theme from the Love Boat,” “Tainted Love,” and “Crocodile Rock”. Once a category is chosen, the queen must perform the selected song. The audience’s vote determines the winner.
Kierra Darshell said, “My long-standing collaboration with Joe has been rewarding both professionally and personally. Joe is a trailblazer in integrating drag into classic American game shows like ‘Match Gayme’ and ‘Wheel of Drag.’ His professionalism and keen eye for detail create a fantastic environment for innovative entertainment.” Darshell added, “The audience interactions highlight how his vision has helped elevate and normalize drag performances in mainstream media, enriching the cultural landscape and providing representation that resonates with diverse audiences.”
On July 28th, “Wheel of Drag,” Ari Nova, a tall, slender queen, somersaulted her way into first place with a rendition of “Good Morning, Baltimore,” from “Hairspray.”
“Match Gayme” is like the original “Match Game,” where celebrities play a fill-in-the-blank game with contestants. “When I began, I got local celebrities to participate. Mayor Peduto, Billy Porter, and Chet Welch from ‘Survivor’ were among the early celebrities, performing alongside drag queens. Shortly after that, I flipped the coin on that, and we began doing themed events.”
The first themed event was “The Golden Girls Match Gayme,” with similarities to RuPaul’s “Snatch Game,” another variation of the NBC classic game show.
Howard Elson played Stan Zbornak (a role made famous by Herb Edelman), Dorothy’s ex-husband, in the “Golden Girls Match Gayme.” Elson said, “I’ve known Joe for decades since we both worked with Don Brockett. I don’t know anyone who is more full of joy and appreciation. I even got to dress up, though not nearly as glamorous as the Ladies!”
King has gone on to host a variety of themed “Match Gayme” events, including “Pee Wee’s Playhouse,” “Death Becomes Her,” and “Hocus Pocus.”
On August 9th, King hosted a Sunday Brunch themed after the iconic drag movie, “To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar” which featured Indi Skies as Vida, Lady Diamond as Noxeema, Raymon Carrington and Alejandra J-love as Chi-Chi, with Missy Moreno as Loretta, Marcy Metelsky as Carol Ann, and Ronald C Thompson as Sheriff Dullard.
Longtime fan Marcy Metelsky was honored to join the “Too Wong Foo” cast as Carol Ann (played by Stockard Channing in the original film in 1995). She said, “Joe King’s creativity and drive to entertain are unparalleled. He is the embodiment of both the charisma and eye for talent of a new-age Johnny Carson, and the cutting-edge bravado of Johnny Castle (one of my favorite Patrick Swayze roles). Joe blends those personas when engaging audiences of all generations in his many game-show style productions.”
Metelsky, who has attended most of the shows, said, “These productions are sheer perfection. Every single ‘Match Gayme’ reminds us how to laugh until our stomach hurts, while also raising money for several local non-profits. Joe’s genius productions showcased Pittsburgh’s powerhouse of talent (drag queens, improv and theatrical actors, poets, and the occasional Broadway or RuPaul Drag show veterans). Each willing participant performs characters from iconic and beloved shows such as The Brady Bunch, Schitt’s Creek, The Golden Girls, PeeWee’s Playhouse, and Death Becomes Her. Not to mention the epic showdown of Hocus Pocus vs Beetlejuice! The audience was the clear winner that night.”
Metelsky said, “Joe expertly produces and hosts shows filled with pure joy, guaranteed to put smiles on every face.”
Patrick Jordan, actor, producer, founder, and artistic director of Barebones Productions, said, “Joe King is an icon and legend for a reason (in addition to being an incredible friend.) Some of the best times I have had on stage have been when Joe’s invited me to perform small roles in Match Gayme. The talent he assembles is world-class, and he selects movies and themes that hit nostalgia and pop culture just right. My favorite has to be when I played Captain Carl in his Match Gayme Pee Wee’s Playhouse edition (Death Becomes Her is a close second). He shows everyone such care and respect, and he is meticulous about every detail. If I told you how many rubber waders I have in my possession now because of that role, no one would believe it. His shows are great because he is great. We’re so incredibly lucky to have his talent and generosity in Pittsburgh.”
Actor, singer, and comedian, Missy Moreno said, “I got to play in an 80s wonderland when Joe asked me to be Tammy Faye in ‘Match Gayme.’ Having been a long-time fan of Joe, I was swept away into a magical Time Machine of 70s/80s game show Heaven, dripping in sequins and puns. And getting to feel fancy with the actual glamour and high-quality details he and his team bring to a show – my scrappy Munhall comedian self has been honored to get to play in Joe’s playground.” She added, “I truly think Joe makes Pittsburgh more fabulous and makes everyone feel like a star! I’m honored to be part of his world of classic queer comedy and will literally do anything he asks me to do. It’s a yinzer honor…with bedazzled fries on top.”
