Todd Wacha's All-Time Favorite Game Shows
These game shows are on my list of all-time favorite game shows in my honest opinion. I love game shows!
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- StarsAllen LuddenJack ClarkJohn HarlanTwo celebrity-contestant teams compete to guess words by giving one-word clues in this all-time classic game show.The best word-association game show ever!
- CreatorMerv GriffinStarsArt FlemingDon PardoMel BrooksA quiz competition in which contestants are presented with general knowledge clues in the form of answers and must phrase their responses in the form of questions.Even though I was a baby when this show was first on, I loved watching it. Art Fleming was the original answer man of this quizzer from 1964-75 and again from 1978-79 Alex Trebek hosted the show from when it returned in 1984 until his death in 2020. You get the answer, you give the question. Wrong responses cost you money. Great format.
- StarsHugh DownsBob ClaytonPaola DivaTwo contestants revealed pieces of a rebus-like puzzle by matching 15 pairs of cash amounts and prizes, then tried to solve it before the other.Combining memory skills (matching prizes and other cards) and rebus puzzles (pictures and words made up to say the name of a person, place, thing, etc.), Concentration is an all-time classic and a longtime favorite of mine.
- StarsBob BarkerJanice PenningtonDian ParkinsonContestants compete for prizes and cash, including cars and vacations, in games that test their knowledge of consumer goods pricing.I've loved this show which began in 1972 from the beginning.
- CreatorMerv GriffinStarsSusan StaffordCharlie O'DonnellChuck WooleryDaytime version of the game show in which contestants guess letters in order to complete a word, phrase or name.I've always been crazy about this show. The Hangman-like game of spinning a wheel and guessing letters in a puzzle is always challenging.
- CreatorMark GoodsonStarsRichard DawsonGene WoodJohnny GilbertTwo families compete by trying to outguess the opponents about survey results.Another favorite of mine, with the humor of the host and those surveys, it's a true classic.
- StarsAllen LuddenTom KennedyBill CullenRevised version of the verenable Goodson-Todman game show, where celebrity-contestant teams try to convey passwords.I have always been crazy about this version of Password that ran from 1979-82 on NBC. The first Password format where the passwords themselves were clues to an overall puzzle.
- StarsBert ConvyGene WoodJamie FarrSecond revised version of the classic Mark Goodson game show, where celebrity-contestant teams conveyed passwords using one-word clues.This version of Password ran from 1984-89 on NBC. It was a remake of Password Plus, but after the second puzzle, the team that got it right got to play a Cashword where they had to get it right in three clues or less to win a jackpot. I loved this show!
- StarsAlex TrebekGene WoodMarjorie GoodsonRevival of the classic NBC game show in which two contestants, one a returning champion, faced a computer-generated board of 25 numbered squares.This revival of Concentration is a favorite in my book. Two players still made matches to reveal parts of a rebus puzzle which they must solve to win. This time, there were 25 numbers on the board instead of 30, and no Forfeit 1 Gift cards, just different colored Takes. The winner got to try for one of eight new cars by matching up their names on a 15-box board. Seven cars had pairs that matched, while the eighth car had no match to throw the player off. If all seven cars were matched in the allotted time, they won the last car that they matched.
- StarsJim PerryJanice BakerGene WoodHosted by Jim Perry, were contestants are asked questions about how 100 people answered a poll question then played a card game where they tried to guess whether the next card drawn from a deck in a sequence would be higher or lower.I love this game of high-low, calling cards to see if the next one in line is higher or lower than the one before it, the toss-up high-low survey questions, and the Money Cards, where a fortune can be won, is a personal favorite of mine.
- StarsJim PerrySummer BartholomewLou MulfordUpdated version of the 1969-1974 NBC game show. Three contestants competed to answer trivia questions, with scoring in dollars. The game was interrupted at certain intervals for Instant Bargains, which allowed the player in the lead to buy a prize at a discounted prize (e.g., a $795 stereo color TV for $6), always at the risk of later losing the game; and a new feature, the "Fame Game," where the host read first-person clues leading to the identity of a person, place, thing, etc., with the winner having a chance to earn cash, a bonus prize or add to his score with the choice of one of nine numbers. The player with the highest score could elect to use his score money to buy specially-discounted luxury items (e.g., a $4,500 diamond-studded Swiss watch for $120), or accumulate his score money by winning future games and having access to either a luxury car, an escalating jackpot which began at $50,000 and increased by $1,000 per show until won, or everything on stage. Later in the show's run, the endgame's format changed, where champions chose prizes via a matching game; and again later by solving phrases within 30 seconds to win a cash bonus.The original version of this knowledge and prize game ran from 1969-73 on NBC, but the 80's version topped it big time. I loved the 80's version of this show.
- CreatorMerrill HeatterBob QuigleyStarsPeter MarshallKenny WilliamsCliff ArquetteContestants guess the correctness of celebrities' answers in order to win spaces in a tic-tac-toe game.The classic comedy/tic-tac-toe show. Best version: the original with Peter Marshall, the Master himself.
- StarsGene RayburnJohnny OlsonBrett SomersThe five-day-a-week syndicated successor to the popular CBS game show, where two could compete to match fill-in-the-blank phrases with those of the celebrities.Another of my all-time faves, I craved Match Game in the 70's, and I tried not to miss it after school.
- StarsDick ClarkBob ClaytonJack ClarkTwo contestants, each with a celebrity partner, must guess words from their partners' clues; then the roles are reversed. Winners face the pyramid.Another great word association game show that I've always liked. The Winner's Circle end game is a classic.
- StarsJack BarryJohnny JacobsBill CullenA long-running quiz show hosted by TV veteran Jack Barry, and later by Bill Cullen. In this show, contestants would have to answer questions on a wide variety of topics, with the prize money determined by a slot machine-style device. The winning contestant could then move on to a bonus round, where they would play a slot machine for a chance at even bigger prizes, but with the risk of losing everything.I love this show! I've always been crazy about it. The best versions were the 1972-75 and 1977-86 runs.
- StarsWink MartindaleJay StewartThom MckeeContestants play Tic Tac Toe by answering questions in order to secure squares on an electronic game board.Although I have seen clips of the original show from the 1950's on YouTube, the 1978-86 version of TTD was my introduction to this show. I loved TTD!
- StarsJohn DalyArlene FrancisBennett CerfFour panelists must determine guests' occupations - and, in the case of famous guests, while blindfolded, their identity - by asking only "yes" or "no" questions.The original and best panel game show. Guessing a person's occupation or a mystery guest has always been fun.
- CreatorPolly CowanStarsBergen EvansFrancis CoughlinToni GilmanA viewer would submit a word or phrase that the panelists had to guess based on a few cryptic clues that were given by the host.I love this precursor to shows like Wheel Of Fortune. On this show, celebrity panelists had to guess letters, and eventually the phrase that the letters were in. The phrase always had cryptic clues to them, and if a panelist gave a wrong letter or phrase guess, then they were out for the rest of the round. Hence, Down You Go.
- StarsBud CollyerJohnny OlsonKitty CarlisleClassic game show in which a person of some notoriety and two impostors try to match wits with a panel of four celebrities. The object of the game is to try to fool the celebrities into voting for the two impostors.Another of the greatest panel game shows, the panel had to figure out which one of three people was the real person that was the main subject.
- StarsGroucho MarxGeorge FennemanMelinda MarxGroucho Marx hosts a quiz show which features a series of competitive questions and a great deal of humourous conversation.The best version of this classic quiz was hosted by Groucho Marx and George Fenneman. Say the secret word and a duck comes down and awards $100. The quiz had some tough questions to it. Other versions with Buddy Hackett and Bill Cosby were pretty good, but the original was the best.
- StarsDon GallowayBob HiltonDavid A. BoehmEach week, several great achievers would attempt to break a world record on the show. Before each feat was attempted, three contestants would place bets on whether or not the person would do it successfully or not. The records were typically not of the outstanding kind. Examples included longest time walking on a rolling log, most quarters flipped off an elbow, skate-boarding in a U-channel the longest, and various track-and-field type actions.I loved this weekly game show where three players predicted the outcomes of attempts to break world records. Too bad it lasted a single season.
- StarsMonty HallCarol MerrillJay StewartAudience contestants picked at random, dressed in ridiculous costumes, try to win cash or prizes by choosing curtain number 1, 2 or 3. Hilarious situations occur, from winning a rotten prize to jackpot.One of my favorite game shows. Monty Hall was and is the Big Dealer. He masterfully guided his way through the audience of traders by offering them money, the box, the curtain, and eventually, a door. Hopefully, there weren't any Zonks for the traders, but it happened many times.
- StarsRobert EarleAllen LuddenJohn BellairsTwo teams each representing a college or university and composed of four students answered questions rooted in the liberal arts in a battle for scholarship money and prestige.Perhaps one of the most intelligent game and quiz shows ever, G. E. College Bowl was appointment TV. I loved this show.
- StarsAlex TrebekKenny WilliamsSuzanne SomersGame show which involved luck and a pair of REALLY big dice. Hosted by Alex Trebek, before he got popular and famous from Jeopardy.I have been crazy about this show ever since it began in the 1970's. I love dice games and this is one of them.
- CreatorJerry PayneStarsJack ClarkAlice GhostleyMeredith MacRaeTwo three-member teams compete to fill a crossword puzzle.I was crazy about this show when it first came on in 1975. Celebrities and players solved clues on a crossword puzzle and the clues themselves related to a person, place, thing, etc.
- CreatorE. Roger MuirNick NicholsonStarsJim PerryDave DevallJean ChristopherA cross between Hangman and Scrabble, players try to solve puzzles by guessing missing letters. Very similar to "Wheel of Fortune" but without the wheel.This Canadian game show was great! Teams had to give away letters that weren't in a comical pun-like puzzle, then had to guess letters that were in the puzzle and solve it to win.
- CreatorE. Roger MuirNick NicholsonStarsBob EubanksJohnny JacobsJames FarentinoMarried couples compete to see how much they really know about each other.Perhaps the best Chuck Barris show of them all. Four just married couples were asked about their lives together, and they have to reveal some embarrassing secrets along the way.
- StarsDennis JamesJohn HarlanAn updated version of the popular and long-running quiz show, hosted by Dennis James. Contestants competed to see who had the more comprehensive knowledge of popular songs by trying to be the first to identify pieces of music. Additional challenges included contestants bidding to see who could "name that tune" in as few notes as possible.Name That Tune is the ultimate musical game show. I loved watching it.
- CreatorWayne CruseturnerStarsWink MartindaleKenny WilliamsElaine StewartGame show based on blackjack using giant playing cards.Another of my favorite game shows of the 1970's and 1980's, Gambit had Blackjack, couples, prizes and fun.
- StarsJim LangeJohnny JacobsAnna MarloweThree out-of-view contestants of the opposite sex are asked prepared questions, snappy answers for which will lead to the selection of one, with the prize being a chaperoned date.One of my favorite game shows growing up, one single person had their choice of three single people of the opposite sex by asking them questions and the one person could not see the other three. All to get a dream date.
- StarsBoston CelticsWashington SenatorsBill RussellGame show where teams of famous athletes compete to win sporting goods for a favorite charity by answering questions about famous sports events; the game concludes with a "Bonus Biography" round where a famous sports athlete's story is read while the subject is silhouetted; and the teams must solve his/her life story and then he/she shows up.Dick Enberg hosted this great sports trivia game show, where two three-members teams of athletes answered questions based on film clips of sports. Then, they had to identify a mystery sports star in the final round. I loved this show!
- StarsKenny MayneRegis PhilbinDale EarnhardtYou may know a lot about the world of sports, but how much can you recall in two minutes?The second best sports game show ever. Players had to answer sports questions from celebrities and host Kenny Mayne all in a 2-minute time limit.
- CreatorFrank WayneStarsJack NarzJohnny OlsonThe Mystery Word Search game consisted of 5 contestants (4 Challengers & 1 Champion) are playing for points. In the Premilinary Round, Contestants will find a answer (from a 14x4=56 gridded game board) in one(1) of the four(4) lines and the fourteen(14) columns (positions) from a question that the host been asked. A correct line, position & a word will win 1 point; A wrong line & word that can led a team to find a correct line & word. Changing team members are assessived and then the team scores the most points wins and go to the Semi-Finals. The Semi-Final Round consists of 2 contestants of the disbanded winning team go to line by line in every position to position letter one (1) at a time before shown the last letter as one(1) of two(2) contestants will see & say the word answer to a question correctly wins 1 point and continues up to 4 points became the winner receives a prize package worth around $1500 and becomes the challenger to the Champion in the Finals. In The Championship Finals, Now the points are locating between the 4 word lines & the 14 letter positions. The lines are worth from 1 to 4 points & the columns are worth from 1 to 14 points (i.e.:"Waste"-2+3=5). The teams will find a word was located in the game board and that look different than the Premilinary Round and the contestant scores the most points wins becomes the New Champion or otherwise still being the champion. In Late 1974 The Teams of the Premilinaries write down the favorite word will become the bonus answer as it shown immediately wins 10 points to their score & also for the Championship Finals either his or her score the same thing. In Early 1975 and towards to the end of the period 2 Contestants playing for 5 points to win the game and an $1500 Prize Package and faces the champion in the Finals. At The Finals One(1) contestant scores 50 points and the game will continue and that make the point values are doubled (Lines: 2-8 pts. & Positions: 2-28 pts.) and the team reached 100 points wins the game and go to the "Solo Round!" The "Solo Round" has 10 words in the grid and the team has 1 minute to find all 10 words. Each word they found is worth $100 and 10 words they all found wins $5000, $1000 will added for tomorrow's show when they don't find all 10 words. Later in the program's period, Contestants are now following the pattern than 2 teams & 1 player. Contestants/Teams must compete before defeated.One of my favorite 1970's game shows! Hosted by Jack Narz, players had to find the answers to questions in a word jumble. The 1989 version was okay, but the 1974-75 version was so much better.
- CreatorRalph EdwardsStarsBob BarkerJack BaileyRalph EdwardsContestants must perform an embarrassing stunt if they fail to answer a question correctly.The original stunt show. Began in 1940 on radio, then moved to TV as a one-time special, then a series from 1950 on, Ralph Edwards was the producer and first host of this classic that also featured reunions. Other hosts were on it too, but Bob Barker was the best.
- StarsBud CollyerDolores RosedaleBern BennettClassic game show where couples (and sometimes families) competed to win prizes by completing stunts within a time limit.Another great stunt show. Couples tried to do stunts in a certain amount of time (up to 60 seconds) to win cash and prizes.
- StarsBud CollyerRalph PaulRegina DombekEarly predecesor to "Wheel of Fortune," where contestants filled in the blanks of mystery word puzzles to win prizes.This was a forerunner to Wheel Of Fortune in a sense. Two players tried to guess puzzles that had up to 20 letters in them. To win, they had to guess correctly BOTH puzzles. They picked the letters to be revealed by calling numbers in turn from 1-20 in their own row. I really liked this show.
- StarsArt JamesMike DarrowAnne MearaContestants compete to answer questions on various subjects, with the questions rated by difficulty and winnings based on the odds of the question.A classic quiz show. Three players outguess one another on picking one of three questions (Who, What, Where) from a category and then after seeing the odds, bet anywhere up to $50 (All of their money in the last round) to answer the question. Highest bidder got to answer that question.
- StarsTom KennedyJack ClarkFloyd BradleyFast-paced quiz show, where contestants were rewarded not only on their ability to answer correctly, but on how many others were also correct on questions in that same category.I loved this show. Three players had to answer one of three questions for a subject by buzzing in. They picked the subject, then answered the question. The first to buzz in had the first choice. The day's winner got to try to start one of five cars to win that car of their choice.
- CreatorBob SynesStarsArt JamesJohnny GilbertLeslie UggamsOne of TV game show's legendary flops, a celebrity-contestant team answered questions and played a giant pinball game for cash and prizes.This was a short-lived game show in the 1970's that was based around pinball. I craved this show!
- StarsDick PattersonDennis JamesStubby KayeThis game consisted of two teams of two players each. One player would be at a game board while their teammate would be in a soundproof booth. The person at the game board communicated a word or phrase to their teammate in the booth using three letters at first and added a letter every five seconds until the word or phrase was identified. The team using fewer letters won the game. Normally there was a "Home Team" consisting of two celebrities and a "Challengers Team" of one celebrity and a contestant. A tie score was considered a win for the contestant, who would win prizes for each game won by the Challengers Team. In other words, if the Challengers won a game, the contestant would win a prize. Each show included a P. D. Q. Special, a three-game match with special prizes awarded to the contestant if the Challengers won two out of the three games. A Bonus Round was held at the end of the show, with the contestant being asked to identify ten words, one at a time in five seconds or less, with only three letters per word to work with. If the contestant could successfully identify all ten words, they would win an automobile. If not, they were awarded a dollar amount redeemable for merchandise from the Spiegel Catalog. The jackpot total was either $250 or, if the Challengers used fewer letters than the Home Team over the course of the show, $500.I used to like this word guessing game show where the fewest letters have to be used to get your partner say what you're putting up on the board.
- StarsDick EnbergKenny WilliamsJo Anne WorleyThis was a revival of P.D.Q. from the 1970's. Same game basically, but the fastest time to guess the phrase won the round. First game show to use neon lights on its set. Neat game, neat set, neat theme music.
- CreatorIra SkutchStarsBert ConvyGene WoodJack ClarkCelebrities & their spouses, playing for sections of the studio audience, try to match answers to questions about their personal lives.I was crazy about this show when it was first on in the 1970's. Celebrity couples told on each other by answering questions posed by host Bert Convy. One of the best all-star game shows there is.
- StarsChuck WooleryCharlie TunaJay StewartFor years, one of America's favorite board games was Scrabble, the Selchow & Righter-marketed game introduced in the 1930s. The game was revised and brought to television in 1984 by Reg Grundy Productions. Two contestants competed in the "crossword" round, played on a giant Scrabble board. Host Woolery announces a letter to build on, announces the number of letters in the word and reads a clue to said word (e.g., a seven letter word; "Experts really know how to pick them"; answer: "pockets"). The contestant chosen to go first draws two numbered tiles from the rack; the rack (positioned between the contestants) contained all the letters in the word, plus three "stoppers," or letters not in the puzzle. The contestant indicates which letter he wants to place in the word; if the letter fits, he/she may either attempt to guess the word or place another letter in the puzzle (the contestant draws two more tiles if he/she still doesn't attempt a guess). If the letter tried is a "stopper" or the contestant gives an incorrect solution, control passes to the opponent; letters landing on blue or pink squares were worth cash bonuses if they correctly guessed the word (#500 and #1,000 respectively, which the players kept regardless if they won the game). Play on the current word continues until all three "stoppers" are found (at which time a "speedword" format was used) or until one letter remained in the puzzle. The contestant who guesses the word correctly wins one point; all subsequent words were built on a letter in the previous word. The first player to win three points won the game, #500 and played the Sprint Round. In the Sprint Round, the contestant played vs. the returning champion to guess a given number of words in a shorter time period than the opponent. Either way, the "speedword" format was used, with Woolery giving the number of letters in the word and a clue. The contestant was shown two letters at a time; there were no "stoppers" in the Sprint Round, though a 10-second penalty was assessed for incorrect guesses. The winner of the Sprint Round received a cash bonus (usually #1,000), returns as champion and played the Bonus Sprint against the clock. In the Bonus Sprint, the contestant had to guess two words, again under the "speedword" format, within 10 seconds to win #5,000 (plus #1,000 for each day it was not won); an incorrect guess at any point stopped the game. Champions continued until their defeat or until winning 10 Sprint Rounds. The rules o both the crossword and Sprint rounds changed several times during the show's run, most commonly relating to bonuses and the Sprint Round formats and how returning champions were determined; the above plot summary indicates the most enduring format.Scrabble is one of my favorite board games of all time, and I loved the game show version of it too.
- StarsBill CullenDon PardoMel BrooksContestants were briefly shown the answers to questions asked by the host; it was up to the contestants to recall where the answers were concealed.This comedy memory game show from Bob Stewart and hosted by Bill Cullen was great.
- StarsBob HastingsJack ClarkJane NelsonGame show developed around casino gambling (roulette, blackjack) and filmed at the Tropicana Hotel in Las Vegas.I absolutely loved this show! Casino games made for TV!
- CreatorMark Maxwell-SmithStarsWayne CoxDean HillGeoff EdwardsContestants must say a selection of specific words under a time limit in normal conversation or patter.This Canadian game show was great, where you had to talk about a subject for 20 seconds per person about a subject and you had to match words on a list for it.
- CreatorAllan ShermanHoward MerrillStarsJohn CannonHenry MorganBill CullenA group of panelists try to guess a guest's secret.This hilarious panel game show had the panelists ask questions of guests to find out what their secret was.
- CreatorBill CarruthersJan McCormickStarsPeter TomarkenRod RoddyCharlie O'DonnellA game show where contestents answer trivia questions and then have to gamble their winnings on a randomly flashing game board.This is one of the best game shows ever! One of the things that made it great was the Whammy, where if you hit it, you lost what you had up to that point. The Whammy animations were funny too.
- StarsBill CullenDon PardoWayne HowellContestants competed to correctly answer questions and accumulate money. That money is used to buy boxes and the contestants attempt to match three identical items.This game show was great! The players, all three of them, had to secretly bid on how many questions out of four they could answer in a category to win money that they could use to buy colored boxes on a board to make three of them match prize-wise.
- CreatorChris BeardeStarsChuck BarrisTrixie DejongeGary OwensAmateur talent contest judged by three celebrities.The original 1976-80 version of this spoof of talent contests was the best! Hilarious!
- StarsBen SteinJimmy KimmelNancy M. PimentalContestants compete against each other and host Ben Stein for a chance to win money from Stein himself.This was an awesome game show! Never before has the host risked his own $5,000 paycheck against players in a trivia game. I loved this show!
- StarsRegis PhilbinJohn CarpenterMeredith VieiraContestants are chosen based on their ability to arrange 4 answers to a question in the correct order the fastest. They then have 15 multiple-choice questions correctly to win increasing amounts of money, the largest is $1,000,000.The game show that brought game shows back to prime time TV. Answer increasingly difficult questions to win $1,000,000.
- StarsJaye P. MorganTom KennedyJohnny JacobsVery different in format from the 1945-1957 version hosted by Bert Parks, this show was primarily based on luck and nerves with the ability to separate truth from bluff helping out. Two contestants (One's a Returning Champion) were presented with a 4x5=20 grid with 9 celebrity guests seated along the top and side. Behind each square in the grid was either a set amount of money ($100 both abc & syndicated, $200 on abc, $300 both abc & syndicated & $500 on syndicated), a money bag, a wild account or a blank. If a contestant chose a blank, his or her turn was over and control was passed to his or her opponent. If he or she drew a dollar amount, a question would be asked of the celebrities to the top and side of the square with one answering truthfully (True) and the other giving a fake answer (False). If the contestant picked the correct answer, he or she was allowed to continue. If the contestant picked the wrong answer, he or she was unable to continue and gets the account to him or her. If the player chose a money bag, however, he or she was given the choice of refusing the money bag and continuing to choose squares or keeping the bag but giving up control to his or her opponent. The game ended when one contestant had claimed three of the same denomination squares {ergo: $300-$100x3, $600-$200x3, $900-$300x3 & $1500-$500x3}. If the contestant was able to control 3 money bag squares, he or she would be given to win the special "Break the Bank" Bankroll for collecting 3 cash bags with a dollar sign($) on it that in which started at $5000 and grew larger with each day for 5-Day Week {$500 added early and $250 added late in the run} until it was won. The Bonus Round called "Raise Up The Stakes for $2500" The Champion will able to raise $1000 in order to win $2500 cash prize by having one has a cash amount ($100 to $500) and one has "BUST!" The Champion pick 1 Star has a cash amount or "BUST!" When it's a cash amount he or she will be awarded or When it's a "BUST" he or she lose all the account that collected so far. After that The Champion will face a new challenger.This neat variation on Hollywood Squares had players choosing boxes connecting to two stars, and the players had to guess which of the two stars was giving a right answer to the question to win the box. Three like amounts and you won the game. I craved and loved this show!
- StarsBruce ForsythMarc SummersGene WoodUnique, but short-lived game on ABC daytime. Two teams of 5 players, men vs. women, competed. In the main game, one member of the team would be given a secret word and would give a description of the word to the next teammate. Once he/she guessed it correctly, s/he would give the next teammate a description of the word, and so forth. This continued down the line, with 40 seconds given for all 4 "guessers" to name the secret word. The catch was, no "key words" could be duplicated in the various descriptions of the word or else scoring for that secret word would stop. Adding to the difficulty of this task was the fact that the guessers wore headphones that prevented them from hearing how the secret word was described by teammates earlier in the round. Each team had a chance to guess 3 words, and the team with the highest score at the end of the 3 rounds played the bonus round, which was an inverse of the main game. The bonus round was played in 3 rounds. In each round, a team captain was designated and given a word or topic. S/he would then pick 4 words/phrases s/he thought were most associated with the word. The other 4 members of the team wore headphones while the captain picked her 4 clues. The team would hear the topic and then have 20 seconds (5 seconds each) to try to guess the 4 clues that the captain had picked. The first two rounds earned money for a bonus bank each time one of the clues was guessed, while the final round was an all or nothing round that, if won, multiplied the bank earnings by five.This didn't last too long in the U.S., but I like this show. Two teams of players had to give clues about a subject to their partners in the line without repeating important clue words that have already been used. The trick: the other teammates have headphones on them, so they can't hear what's already been said.
- StarsBob EubanksNipsey RussellJohnny JacobsThe host would read the first line of a poem. The celebrities then had to secretly write down a word that might make a rhyme in a second line of that poem. The contestant would give a word of his own and then would see how many celebrities matched his word, and receive points accordingly. Finally, the contestant could pick one of the matching celebrities to come up with an actual second line for the poem. This was often bawdy.I used to love this game show where a half of a poem was given, and the players wrote down a rhyming word to the poem. The stars had to come up with poems that had the matching word of the player's. I used to love this show.
- StarsJoanne CarsonJack NarzRed RoweTwo contestants compete in a life-sized board game, answering questions and performing stunts for cash and prizes.Although this show came on the air before I was born, I've seen clips of it on YouTube and I've read about the show too. It was a real living board game where the players were the tokens moving up and down the "streets" of Video Village winning cash and prizes along the way. A neat game show.
- CreatorSidney M. CohenStarsNick HolenreichPierre LalondeGame show played on a giant boardgame-like set. Teams of two participated. One partner answered questions and threw dice while the other acted as a human game piece.I've seen this Canadian game show on YouTube and I love this show! The players were the tokens on a winding game board and their partners had to buzz in and answer questions to roll a die for them to move along the board.
- StarsPaul WinchellKenny WilliamsCharles Nelson ReillySaturday morning kids' game show. It involved three-part multiple choice questions. The kids would all run to a particular place on the set, depending on their choice of answers. They could fake each other off. The host would announce, "Last chance!" and they could change their answer, but if they were too slow, they were out. Host Paul Winchell sometimes had ventriloquistic interludes.I loved this children's game show when it was first on in the 1970s!
- StarsSarah PurcellBill AndersonGene WoodThis short-lived game show is a favorite of mine. Two teams, each with six people of the opposite sexes, tried to fool each other by answering questions.
- CreatorRon GreenbergStarsDick ClarkDon MorrowKurt WeldonUpdate of the 1969-1974 game show "Who, What or Where Game," current-events style.This update of The Who, What, Or Where Game was hosted by Dick Clark, who also co-produced it. Three players had to answer questions which included current events topics to win money.
- StarsVicki LawrenceBert ConvyLinda BlairSyndicated show which debuted in the USA in September 1987, and ran until 1989. Two teams of three men and three women competed, one person from a team was given the name of a famous person and had to communicate the name to the rest of the team by drawing pictures.One of the most fun game shows of all time, this game was created by Burt Reynolds. Drawing pictures instead of acting out the phrases charade-style.
- StarsPeter TomarkenRod RoddyRandy WestWith a video game-style format, players were given a story and had to remember what they heard to advance their "hit men" and to knock out opposing "hit men."
- CreatorJay WolpertStarsTom KennedyRod RoddyMary Ann MobleyTry to win two games in order to get a chance to beat the Gauntlet of Villains for US$25,000 in cash.This game show had players blocking and charging on a game board trying to earn money and having them solve "bloopers" (where one word had to be replaced to move on). The winner ran a gauntlet of villainous characters by correcting more bloopers in a short time to win big money.
- StarsBill CullenBob HiltonRich JeffriesGame show which sought to resolve the question, "Are two heads better than one?" A single contestant competed against a team of two (related in some way but not married) to answer general knowledge questions, which allowed them to claim hexagonal boxes on a large five-by-four game board if they answered correctly. Each box had a different letter of the alphabet on it, and each question had a one-word answer beginning with whichever letter was selected by a player. The single contestant had to complete a vertical path on the board to win (a minimum of four red boxes), while the two-person team had to finish a horizontal path on the board (a minimum of five white boxes). Oftentimes, more than the minimum number of boxes were required to win a game. The first team to win a two-out-of-three-game match became the champion and played the "Gold Rush" for a chance to win $5,000 in cash. The same game board was used only with each box having one letter or as much as five initials to a phrase, title, name, etc. The champion, whether it be the single player or one member of the two-person team, had 60 seconds to make a horizontal connection across the board. Each clue answered correctly turned the box in question gold, while incorrect answers or passes turned a box black, making it a block that a contestant had to work around. If the champion failed to make such connection, he/she won $100 per correct answer. Teams continued until winning 10 games or being defeated. The 10-game maximum was eventually extended to 20 games, allowing previously-retired champions to be brought back to the show.I loved this game show where in its original and best version hosted by Bill Cullen, a solo player (having red blocks) competed against a family pair (having white blocks) to make a path on a game board from one side to the other or from top to bottom by answering questions.
- StarsJim LangeJay StewartDonna BurkeContestants answer general knowledge questions in order to fill in contracts on this trivia quiz game.Before the mistake was made to have all celebrities play the game, two non-celebrity players stopped a three-window game board. The top two windows had categories and dollar amounts while the bottom window had a contract from 1-5 or a "Bullseye" (where you could answer as many questions as you wished). The player that completed the contract had a choice: to take and bank the money, or risk it on another turn.
- StarsJames MacKrellCarol WayneBill ArmstrongContestants win money by guessing which members of the celebrity panel answer questions correctly, with payoffs determined by odds set by the studio audience.I loved this celebrity-laden game show! Set in a horse-racing motif, players bet money, like in a horse race, to see which celebrity gave the right answer to a question.
- StarsTom KennedyJohn HarlanPat CarrollTwo teams of two players compete against each other to determine the name of a famous person. One member of the team, who knew the answer, would give clues to his or her teammate.This was a name guessing game, and it is one of the best game shows in my opinion. You had to give your partner a clue in sentence form and the last word of the clue is the one that sounds, but isn't spelled like, part of the name that you want your partner to say. That's the word "You Don't Say!" If your partner guesses the name correctly, your team earns a point.
- StarsPeter MarshallJohn HarlanBarbara EdenAnother in the long line of "Hollywood Squares" multi-celebrity games from Merrill Heatter Productions; this one saw two contestants determine if a celebrity was giving the correct answer and solve a word puzzle.This variation on "The Hollywood Squares" had four stars, two players, and a six-box puzzle board. A player chose a star and one of the game board's stars (top, middle, or bottom),. The star answered a question, the player agreed or disagreed, and if they were correct, they kept their turn. If a box was surrounded by four stars, then a part of the word puzzle was shown. If the player solved it correctly, then they won the game. If not, the opponent could steal, or "blitz" with a correct puzzle guess.
- StarsJack BarryCharles Van DorenHerb StempelTwo contestants were placed in separate isolation booths. Each player in turn would be given a category and asked how many points, from 1 to 11, he wanted to risk. Points increased with the questions difficulty. A correct answer earned the stated number of points, whereas a wrong answer would result in the points being deducted from the player's score. The first player to get 21 points won, unless the other player matched the score and forced a tie. Players could also end the game early if they felt they had enough points to win.One of the best quiz shows ever. Two players in separate isolation booths had to answer questions worth points, from 1 to 11. The higher point questions were more difficult. If they answered right, they earned the points. If wrong, then they lost the points. Neither player knew what the other person's score was.
- StarsJim PeckDan DanielHeather CunninghamThree contestants compete in this hard-quiz show with a dice-game element.This is one of the best game shows ever! Three players had to answer buzz-in questions and if they were right, they earned pints. They all had to hit the round-winning point exactly, or else they were blocked out of that question. Once the round winning point was reached exactly, the player won money. The two top money earners raced to reach 7 points exactly by answering questions, with the first person doing that rolling for big money by rolling the word "Showdown" on two dice. I loved this show!
- CreatorBob FraserStarsPeter TomarkenJim HackettCynthia Leake WeatherlyThis short-running game show used a combination of knowledge and luck in challenging its contestants. For each game, the players would be presented a board with sixteen different 'answers' to a category-style question. Eleven of the answers would be real, while five of them would be incorrect "wipeout" answers. Contestants received increasing amounts of money for each correct answer, but risked losing everything if they wiped out before passing control to the next player. After each game, the two higest scoring players would go on to compete in a head-to-head challenge round, where the difficulty and the prize money increased.Trying not to pick the wrong answers to a question was the basis of this short-lived but great game show.
- StarsMike DarowChet GouldMike DarrowTwo couples competed against each other in a Q-and-A game to win a new house worth at least $40,000.Although unfortunately none of the episodes of either version of this show are around anymore, some of them have been posted to YouTube. The reason why the original tapes don't exist: they were destroyed in a flood in the home of the show's creator, Don Reid. Here, couples competed against one another in answering questions. the winning couple, if they stayed on long enough, won their "Dream House."
- StarsAlex TrebekRod RoddyCharles HaidCelebrities, each seated in triangles, answer game questions for the contestants. The object of the game was to capture three celebrities by putting out lights around him/her.This was a space-age variation on "The Hollywood Squares. In fact, both shows were created by Merrill Heatter. On Battlestars, players stopped a flashing light on one of 10 numbers that were connecting to the celebrities' triangles. If the player agreed or disagreed correctly with the star, they stayed in control until three numbers were lit, thereby capturing the star. Three captures won the game.
- StarsGeoffrey HolderHal MarchJoyce BrothersAmong the most influential of the big-money quiz shows, and the undisputed king of the genre of the 1950s, contestants answer questions in a specific field in an attempt to win $64,000.The game show that started it all in the era of big money quizzes. Players answered questions in a category of their choosing and doubled their money every time that they were right. Risks were taken in that if a question was incorrectly answered, then they would lose money from whatever level they were on and left the show with consolation money. Sometimes the questions were given while the player was in an isolation booth.
- StarsMike DarrowAlex TrebekAlan KalterDescendant of "The $64,000 Question," contestants who were experts in a particular field answered progressively more-difficult questions in an effort to win $128,000.This revival of The $64,000 Question was also great! I would never miss this show!
- StarsAllen LuddenJoe SeiterLarry Hovis'What IS this thing'? In this - the second iteration of the syndicated game show, panelists were presented with an odd or unfamiliar object, and each had to tell a story about what the thing was. One panelist told the truth, while the others told more-or-less convincing lies. Contestants tried to win points by deciding which panelist was telling the truth.The 1976 version of this show introduced me to Liars Club. Four celebrities were given strange or unusual objects, or even a painting, and had to tell what the item really was. Only one was right, and the others were bluffing. The players had to bet money on who they thought was telling the truth. I loved this show!
- StarsFrank BuxtonChet GouldRobert Q. Lewis"Get The Message" was broadcast on weekday mornings in 1964 for three cycles (39 weeks). It was a game-panel show that featured two teams (male and female) consisting of two guest stars and one contestant on each team. The stars would attempt to "get the message" to the contestant with one word clues. The game was an amalgam of several other Goodson-Todman games shows including, obviously, "Password".I've seen this show before, and I really like it. Two three-member teams, made up of three men against three women, had their civilian partner get a message by each of the celebrity partners writing down one-word clues to the message. Correct answers score a point, and the first team to get three messages wins the game.
- CreatorMerv GriffinStarsTy TreadwayEdd HallRichard RossiContestants answer a series of questions with words that solve a crossword puzzle.The final show to be created by Merv Griffin before his death in 2007, this game show had players complete a crossword puzzle to win big. The game started out with two players competing to answer crossword clues for cash and prizes. In the second and third rounds, the players got more competition in the form of three "spoilers," who could also buzz-in and if correct, then the "spoiler" takes one of the two main player's podiums. I loved this show!
- StarsHowie MandelPatricia KaraMegan AbrigoContestants face 26 sums of money, 26 suitcases, and one question: Deal or no deal?26 briefcases. Each held by a beautiful model. Cash prizes ranging from 1 cent to $1 million. The Banker with the tempting offers to sell the player's case back. The excitement. The tension. Howie Mandel. A great game show! What more can I say?
- StarsMarc SummersJohn HarveyRobin MarrellaOne in a long-running series of game shows, where two-member teams of children compete to answer questions and complete stunts.Nickelodeon's best game show. I would go out of my way to watch the sloppy antics of the stunts they had on the show. I loved Double Dare!
- StarsAlex TrebekGene WoodJohnny OlsonA short lived game show that brought isolation booth games up to another level.This game show, though short-lived, is a favorite of mine. Two players, each in isolation booths, are seen a series of clues, one at a time, to the identity of a person, place, or thing. When one player knows the answer, they lock out their opponent by having the opponent's booth closed. If right, they can dare and double dare the challenger to win more money. The winner got to face the Spoilers by getting four clues by them to win the big money.
- CreatorJan MurrayStarsGeoff EdwardsEmile AutuoriSivi AbergChuck Barris-produced revival of the 1950s quiz show of the same name, where contestants selected boxes and could win either worthless junk, luxury prizes or thousands of dollars in cash.Sure this show was sadistic, but it had its charms. Keep the money, or go for what's in the box that was chosen. It might have been a klunk (a worthless booby prize) or something nice or even a check for $25,000.
- StarsEd McMahonJohnny OlsonGene RayburnThis was a word association game similar to Password. 2 teams consisting of 1 contestant paired up with a celebrity were pitted against each other. 2 games were normally played on each show. The host would give a word to one of the teams, then the celebrity had to come up with the association recorded by the contestant prior to the show {e.g.: Cut-"SCISSORS"}. If the celebrity guessed correctly in 3 tries or less, the team earned 10 points. If not, the celebrity from the opposing team could guess once for a chance to "steal" 10 points. Otherwise, The Word Revealed with the 1st Letter and deducted by 1 point until next-to-the-last letter for 1 point until the star to buzz-in say the word. The 1st team to earn 100 points and collects $100 won the game and played a bonus round called "The BIG 5". In this round called "The BIG 5", the contestant left the stage and entered a soundproof room while the celebrity named 5 associations in each 1 of the 5 words or theme provided by the host. The celebrity would then designate 1 as the bonus word, the 1 contestant was most likely to come up with. Once this was completed, the contestant returned and had 20 seconds to come up with all 5 words with these associations earning $50 for each one. Originally, if the contestant merely named the bonus word, they would double their winnings in the bonus round up to $500 in 10 seconds. To provide a greater degree of difficulty a rule was subsequently added requiring the contestant to guess the bonus word in order to double their winnings. For the second game, the celebrities changed sides. Contestants can play until defeated or reach $1200 in cash. On December 23-27, 1968... "SNAP JUDGMENT" is formatted to "PASSWORD". Now the Game gives 10 clues to the word for 2 teams or less wins 10 points for the 1st chance and all the way the 10th and last chance clue worth 1 point. After the 5th Word, The Points are doubled. The 1st Clue worth 20 points, 2nd Clue worth 18 points, 3rd Clue worth 16 points, 4th Clue-14 points, 5th Clue-12 points, 6th Clue-10 points, 7th Clue-8 points, 8th Clue-6 points, 9th Clue-4 points and the 10th and Last Clue-2 points. 1st Team score 100 points wins $100 and play "THE NEW BIG 5" where a contestant plays for $500 for 5 words to associate in 20 seconds instead of the bonus word. Play Continues until Defeated and wins $1200.This short-lived game show had two teams. One member of each team was given a series of subjects and had to come up with things that fit the subject in a word-association format. This show came from Goodson-Todman, the producers of Password, which this show sort of became in its last months on the air.
- StarsDick ClarkCharlie TunaSteve SussmanShort-lived game show based on the popular home board game, wherein contestants listed words pertinent to a particular category.Even though this show, based on the Hasbro game that came out in 1999 didn't last long, I really liked it. Here, two four-member teams, men against women, received a category and a starting letter. Then, up to six answers that fit the category and began with the key letter were given. Challenges from the other team were optional. Then, they compared answers to a five-celebrity panel. Any same answers lost points, while new answers scored points.
- StarsAlistair DivallDavid HopewellDavid St. JohnMusic game show based on recognition of tunes.This international game show has been seen mainly in England and Australia (where it debuted), but I have seen episodes of it on YouTube, and it's great! Two teams pick notes and then get a choice of three words that fit a song's lyric. The team that gets it right gets to follow a bouncing ball playing the revealed notes, and the team must name the tune to score.
- StarsGeoff EdwardsDon PardoLaurie Cacioli16 contestants attempt to solve riddles and become the "King of the Hill" and win a possible prize of $50,000.16 players competed for a week in answering riddles to build up money in a jackpot, which, when the Jackpot riddle was found, meant a correct answer would split the money.
- CreatorFintan CoyleCathy DunningStarsAnne RobinsonJon BriggsAdam WoodyattBritish general knowledge quiz show which spawned imitations around the world, notably in the USA.This British import had a group of players answering questions in a time limit to build a bank that would carry over from round to round. The player in control had to say "bank" to keep the money safe, then it would be built again. After time was up, the players voted off who they thought was "the weakest link (i.e., who they thought got the most questions wrong in the round). The player that was left won all the money. Best known also for the host's snarky comments after a round was over. Good show.
- StarsSusie DentCarol VordermanRichard WhiteleyThe long-running words and numbers game.Although I've never seen this show on TV, I have read a lot about it, and I've seen clips of it on YouTube. Two players compete in making the longest words that they can out of a series of 9 letters. Then, they have to figure out a math solution by coming up with the biggest number that they can. After all of the rounds have been played, the players are faced with unscrambling a 9-letter word (the Conundrum). This is all while playing against a 30-second timer in each round.
- CreatorMerv GriffinStarsMike ReillyPeter TomarkenCharlie O'DonnellIn this short lived game show, three contestants compete to answer crossword puzzle style clues and gain property on the Monopoly board. In the second round, they would travel the board together and collect rent money by answering more clues. Lasted only 13 weeks.Even though the half-hour format that it had was too constricting, this was a pretty good TV version of the Hasbro game. Players earned properties and had the money put in their banks to buy houses and hotels later on by buzzing in and answering crossword puzzle-style clues. In the second round, dice were rolled and the player who had their property being landed on answered a question to earn that rent. The game's winner got to go around the board by rolling the dice up to 5 times to win big money and not Go To Jail.
- CreatorKevin BelinkoffStarsBilly GardellWaltriessa De LeonKorrina RicoA game show hosted by Billy Gardell. Based on the board game Monopoly, contestants play games based on the popular boardgame on stage to win money.One of the best lottery game shows that I have ever seen. Players played games related to Monopoly in order to win up to $100,000 to be split by the player and their rooting section. At the show's end, the players had a chance to risk what they've won to "Go For A Million." 5 rolls were taken, and every time the player landed on a Monopoly space, they won something. If they rolled a number that made them Go To Jail, then they lost everything.
- StarsCraig FergusonRoss MathewsMegyn PriceCelebrity guests team up with a group of contestants and together they work against the clock to identify a variety of famous names.This is a fun game show. Two pairs of players team up with one celebrity each to give and receive clues to famous people and things. In the third round, the host gives the players clues and they must buzz in with their answer. The winning team has to get 10 subjects right in a total of 75 seconds to win the big money.
- StarsFrank NicoteroMichael GambinoKate LinderIn this test of general knowledge and human nature, contestants try to predict who answered trivia questions a certain way based on three separate man-on-the-street interviews.This game show was hysterical. Two in-studio players had to predict the outcomes of questions asked by the host to three on-location people. The players had to know if they knew it or not.
- StarsBill CullenBob ClaytonFour contestants attempt to list off items in a specific category and eliminate each other to try for $5,000.This show had a very short run, but it was great, IMHO. Four players were given a topic, and one at a time, they had to come up with an answer that fit the topic. To stay in the game, they had to be right. The last player left tried to guess pre-determined answers in categories to win $5,000.
- StarsJohnny GilbertBill CullenRobert MandanChain Reaction was hosted by Bill Cullen in 1980, but went off the air that same year. In 1986, it was revived as "The New Chain Reaction" in 1986 with host Geoff Edwards. It ran until 1991. Two teams of two players (two celebrities and two contestants) competed. Each team was composed of a giver and a guesser. The giver could give the letter in the next word of the chain to either his/her partner or opponent. A correct guess won the appropriate number of points for the round and retained control, while an incorrect guess passes control to the opponents. If you give a letter to your opponent and he/she doesn't get the word, you get to go again. In the first round, the first four words were worth 10 points each, while the last word was worth 20 points. In the second round, words were worth 20-30 points, and the third round 30-50 points. Also in later rounds, a cash word was in the chain worth $500 to the team who guessed it. The first team to reach 300 points won the game and advanced to the bonus round.Where one word leads to another. The original 1980 version was the best. Teams of celebrities and contestants were given a chain of words that led from one to another in some way. Letters were called for, and if the player in control was right, they won points. The most points won the game, and the team got to play for $10,000 by responding to clues by the teammates who construct questions one word at a time to get their partner to say the subject.
- StarsBill CullenCharlie O'DonnellMindy CohnTwo three-member teams always "three of a kind" competed to answer the results of a survey or a question with multiple answers on this "Family Feud" clone.Two three-member teams played this game show. A question with a number of answers was given, and the players on the team could give an answer or challenge a member of the opposing team (i.e., pass the "hot potato"). If a team gets seven correct answers, or if the other team is totally knocked out, the team is control won the round. Two rounds and the game is won. Then, the team gets to play a bonus game where each question had a choice of two answers. If they were successful, they won big money.
- StarsJim LangeJohnny JacobsCouples compete in a question-and-answer game and play a game loosely based on Yahtzee.This short-lived show was great! Two couples competed against each other to buzz in and answer questions in order to spin their electronic spinners. Each spinner had numbers from 1 through 6. There were five spinners in all. The couple in control spun the spinners and whatever numbers came up on the spinners were made to look like a poker hand. The higher the hand, the better chance of winning the round and money. The winning couple got to play for up to $10,000 by coming up with six straight numbers in order.
- StarsWink MartindaleRandy WestLarry JusticeA TV quiz show based on the popular board game of the same name, and hosted by TV veteran Wink Martindale. In this show, contestants would answer trivia questions in Geography, Entertainment, History, Art & Literature, Science and Sports to earn cash and other prizes.Wink Martindale's TV version of the trivia board game was great! Three players raced each other to complete their Trivial Pursuit pie by answering questions. It took two questions correctly answered to fill in a colored pie wedge. The player to fill their pie in completely won the game and got to answer six questions correctly to fill another TP pie in to win.
- StarsBob EubanksBob HiltonBetty WhiteTwo teams of three members each compete to select answers to trivia questions in a variety of games.It was the Juniors (all under 30 years of age) against the Seniors (all 30 and over) in this game show. The teams competed in various trivia games to be the first team to win $1,000 and play the $10,000 bonus by picking the right answers to up to four questions. The wrong answers had to be eliminated originally to win money.
- StarsBob SagetDexter Takashi OdaniHyunjin JoOne contestant competes against 100 people by answering trivia questions for a chance to win a huge cash prize.It's the player against a 100-member mob in a trivia contest to see who can survive. The player was given a question with three answers. The mob members secretly chose what they thought was the right answer. The player then chose, and if they were right, they earned money for every mob member who was wrong, who was eliminated. If the player can wipe out the entire mob, they win $1,000,000. I loved this show!
- StarsTom KennedyJohnny OlsonJamie FarrContestants vie for cash prizes in this competition of word puzzles and charades.This game show mixed charades and word puzzles. One team had 60 seconds to pantomime and guess up to five words and phrases. Every word or phrase they got right was a clue (out of seven) in a word puzzle that the guesser had to solve to win money.