Top Ten Game Shows

Starting today and continuing throughout the next month, I will be doing top ten lists in different categories.  My hope is that these lists will start arguments...not end them.  The first category...Game Shows.  Here's how I dealt with this; these are only "Game" shows, not reality TV shows, so no "The Voice" or "American Idol," nor will you see "Survivor" or "Amazing Race."  Here is the list.

10:  Hollywood Squares---It was the show that made Tom Bergeron famous.  But many didn't know the original version of this show...only the one that had Whoopi Goldberg as the center square.  Before Whoopi, there was Paul Lynde, the original center square, and Peter Marshall, the original host.  While the celebrities were different, the idea of the game was the same:  Play it as Tic-tac-Toe, 3 across, up and down or diagonal.  Stars asked questions and give answers and contestants decide whether the answers are correct or just made up.  This was a star-filled game show, but that's why it's not as high on the board as others.

9:  Jeopardy---The show has been very bland as of late, but I guess that's what happens when you have the same rules and gameplay for nearly 30 years.  3 rounds:  Regular Jeopardy, Double Jeopardy and Final Jeopardy; responding in the form of a question; Daily Doubles in certain categories.  But the categories aren't always the same, which relates to a good start on the countdown.

8:  Password (original, +, Super and Million Dollar)---It was the show that made Allen Ludden a household name (and his widow, Betty White, who's still a household name at 91).  Whether it was the original version or the newer Password Plus, Seeing Ludden hosting the show made people watch up until his passing in 1981.  The show was simple:  two celebrities paired with a contestant; guess the password in five or less clues and get a point (or money).  Duo with most wins the game and goes to a bonus round (Alphabetics).  Win that and you get the prize (not sure the exact amount).  It was a great show when it was on in the 1980s and is still remembered today.

7:  Press Your Luck (and Whammy)---The original version of Press Your Luck (PYL) with Peter Tomarken was all the hype you needed for a half and hour.  Two rounds of Q and A, leading to spins on the PYL board.  Hit a cash or prize box and win that.  Hit a Whammy, lose everything you had won.  4 Whammies exits you from the game.  Person with the highest total of cash and prizes wins and keeps all their winnings.  The newer version, which didn't last that long, was the same idea, except for the fact that the first round was spin as long as you don't hit a whammy.  It was a fun show while it lasted, but we'll see if it comes back anytime soon.

6:  Wheel of Fortune---For 30 years, this show has made us buy vowels, made big winners and, for some, drool over Vanna.  But one thing that hasn't changed is the idea of the game:  make a lot of money while playing Hangman (well, without the little guy).  The show's biggest money winners won $25,000 to start, then the prizes increased and now someone could win One Million Dollars.  Some things may have changed as far as the amounts won, but the idea of the game has never changed over 30 years.

5:  Match Game---The game show was very entertaining, but I guess you get that when six celebrities share the panel and try to match answers given by contestants on a daily basis.  From 1973-1980, Match Game was the best place to find your favorite celebrity every week.  Whether it was Bret Somers, Charles Nelson Riley or the ladies' man Richard Dawson, everyone there made you laugh while at the same time making a contestant very rich.

4:  Pyramid (Original, $25,000 and $100,000)---It had celebrities and contestants going for big money and moments that will never be forgotten.  But in the 1980s, it also had the one host everyone wanted to see:  Dick Clark.  Maybe that's why it had a long run in the decade and gave away money as little as five thousand dollars to as much as one hundred thousand dollars.  Dick may be remembered for a lot of things, but Pyramid may be the show that took him over the top as far as greatest host of all time (not just game show host).

3:  Let's Make a Deal---Celebrating its fiftieth anniversary (the show hasn't been on for all 50 years), this game show made a star in its three original cast members:  Monty Hall, Carol Merrill and Jay Stewart.  When the show began in 1963, all you needed to do is dress as you normally would and hope to get picked to make a deal.  Since then, the show has seen so many people making costumes and dressing in them so that they can actually be picked to make deals.  The show returned in 2009 with Wayne Brady as host, but the ideas of the show never changed:  Get picked, make a deal.  Do the right thing, end up with a great prize or a lot of cash.  Do the wrong thing, end up with little money or a Zonk.  In the end, you can give up what you had for the big deal of the day, which is behind one of three doors.  Pick the right door, win the big deal.  Pick the wrong door, you still end up with a great deal, but not the big deal.  This show has become the largest Halloween party, but I still watch it.

2:  Family Feud---Have you ever wanted to take five members of your family, pit them against another family of five members and go head to head on national television?  Well, that's what this game show was all about. Beginning with Richard Dawson in the 1980s, the Family Feud became the most competitive show without a celebrity.  All you have to do is get to 300 points first and your family wins the right to play fast money for a shot at more cash.  How do you get to that?  Find the answers that were answered by a survey of 100 people.  If you get all answers on the survey before three strikes, you get the points.  If not, the opposing team gets the chance to steal the points.  There have been so many hosts of Family Feud since Dawson's departure, but in the end, the show is still one of the best shows I have seen.

1:  Price is Right---But number one is the show that has been on CBS for 41 years and, while he got his big break on Truth or Consequences, Bob Barker became a household name for his 35 year run as host of The Price Is Right.  All you have to do is be the closest to the actual price of a prize without going over on contestant row, you go on stage and play a pricing game.  After that, you get to spin the big wheel with a chance at big bucks and to get into the showcase at the end of the show.  That part has the same rule as the contestant row rule:  Closest to the actual price of the showcase without going over wins.  While Drew Carey is the new host of the Price Is Right, the ideas and moments of the game show is the reason why I call this my most memorable game show of all time.

These are my top ten game shows of all time.  There may be game shows that I didn't have on the list that you may have liked, so let me know which ones you would've had on the list and I'll check on it.  In addition, if you think there is a game show on my top ten that you think should be higher or lower, check it out.  Reply on my Facebook page or on this post.