Game Shows
Here is my list of the top 50 game shows that are my favorite
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- StarsBob BarkerJanice PenningtonDian ParkinsonContestants compete for prizes and cash, including cars and vacations, in games that test their knowledge of consumer goods pricing.
- StarsSteve HarveyRubin ErvinBurton RichardsonHosted by Steve Harvey, two families battle it out by answering survey questions for a chance to win $20,000 and, after 5 wins, a new car.
- CreatorMerv GriffinStarsPat SajakVanna WhiteCharlie O'DonnellHosted by Pat Sajak, this game show features 3 contestants who try to solve a puzzle by spinning the wheel and guessing letters in a word or phrase.
- CreatorMerv GriffinStarsAlex TrebekJohnny GilbertJimmy McGuireA returning champion and two challengers test their buzzer skills and their knowledge in a wide range of academic and popular categories.
- 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.
- 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.
- StarsMeredith VieiraChris HarrisonCedric The EntertainerContestants use audience input, elimination of multiple choice options, and help from a friend to answer trivia questions for an escalating tier of cash prizes.
- StarsAlec BaldwinSteve FrenchCaroline RheaContestants attempt to match the answers of celebrities in the iconic game of fill in the missing blank.
- StarsMichael StrahanBrad AbelleRosie O'DonnellRevival of the classic game show, hosted by Michael Strahan. With the help of their game partners, contestants paired with celebrities must guess words or phrases that appear on the show's pyramid-shaped gameboard to win money.
- 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.
- StarsChuck WooleryStacey HayesShandi FinnesseyNew version of the 1987 syndicated game, where two teams of two compete to complete a Lingo card by solving mystery five-letter words.
- 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.
- 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.
- CreatorBob SynesStarsJ.D. RothSamantha ForrestJacqueline ForrestA kid's game show that pitted two teams of two contestants each. They had to answer trivia questions and participate in challenges, such as trying to nail targets in the audience seats with water balloons. This was followed by a race between the two teams around a track that involved a variety of bizarre push carts. The team with the most points at the end of the game got to enter the Fun House. The two contestants took turns running through the collection of wacky rooms and obstacles to find tags that represented the prizes printed on them. The contestants won all prizes printed on the tags that they collected and took out of the Fun House before the two minute time limit was up.
- CreatorGunnar WetterbergStarsMark L. WalbergBurton RichardsonCurt ClendeninContestants compete in a hybrid general knowledge quiz-game of chance, where incorrect answers could literally cause them to drop out of the game.
- 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.
- StarsBert ConvyGene WoodJamie FarrSecond revised version of the classic Mark Goodson game show, where celebrity-contestant teams conveyed passwords using one-word clues.
- StarsFred DinenageJohn BensonMichelle LambourneQuiz show based on card games such as Pontoon and Blackjack.
- 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.
- StarsKevin McMahonGeoff EdwardsMark RichardsContestants answer questions about video games and then play featured arcade games in order to earn enough points to beat the opponents.
- StarsTom BergeronShadoe StevensWhoopi GoldbergContestants guess the correctness of celebrities' answers in order to win spaces in a tic-tac-toe game.
- StarsWink MartindaleJay StewartThom MckeeContestants play Tic Tac Toe by answering questions in order to secure squares on an electronic game board.
- 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.
- StarsTakesha L. WalkerKelly Anne BurnsAnthony Monetti3 newlywed couples answer questions about their relationships, trying to match their spouse's answer
- CreatorAl HowardStarsDavid RuprechtJohnny GilbertRandy WestIn this game show, contestants answer trivia questions and then compete in a timed race through the supermarket. The team that has the most valuable items in their shopping cart at the end of the race wins.
- StarsRon PearsonBurton RichardsonPamela HillIn "Shopping Spree," two teams, each comprised of two players, tried to guess a prize one of the players on each team chose beforehand, which was hidden inside one of six on-stage "stores." If player #2 on the first team correctly guessed the prize player #1 picked on the first try, they won the prize and moved on to the next "store," where the process was repeated; if player #2 made a wrong guess, there were clues pinned (!) all over player #1 to help player #2. Shortly thereafter, the second team played; whichever team amassed the most prizes in the least time won. The winning team then went on to play two more rounds, the next of which (called "The Double-Up Derby") was similar to the first but the prize was now picked by a member of the studio audience and the dollar amounts were doubled. In the final round (the "Birthday Party"), the team had to guess, within one minute and fifteen seconds, what items were identified with certain stars. If the team supplied all the right answers within that time limit, they won either a cash award or the title prize and a vacation (which was determined by the results of the previous round).
- StarsSiamack SalariPaul RichmondChannel Four series on the psychology of shopping.
- StarsDick ClarkCharlie TunaSteve SussmanShort-lived game show based on the popular home board game, wherein contestants listed words pertinent to a particular category.
- StarsMario LopezFrankie GrandeCaleb ReynoldsA new live action game show based on the globally renowned mobile game franchise where players match colorful candies in combinations of three or more to win points, defeat obstacles and progress through more than 2,000 levels.
- 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.
- StarsBob EubanksBob HiltonBetty WhiteTwo teams of three members each compete to select answers to trivia questions in a variety of games.
- CreatorDavid GreenfieldEllen Levy-SarnoffStarsLaurie FasoDean GossLindsay PriceNewlywed Game-clone, only with siblings as the contestants.
- StarsHal SparksEd MacKayArielle StarkTwo brother and sister teams answer survey questions to gain entry to the Treasure Mall in a messy search for coins.
- CreatorJack OleskerAllen BohbotStarsStivi PaskoskiTerry Lee TorokJohn NovakVideo power was a 1990 early teens morning show hosted by Johnny Arcade who provided news and hints on video games and also included a cartoon series called The Power Team. After the first season it became a young teens game show.
- StarsDonald TrumpChuck RileyJimmy CefaloGame show similar to Jeopardy
- CreatorMichael KlinghofferStarsMaria MilitoRobb Edward MorrisLew SchneiderKids attempt to test their knowledge in a matter of mixed learning.
- CreatorBarry PoznickJohn StevensStarsJeff FoxworthyDanielle SoibelmanMadison LeisleA quiz show that features adult contestants and questions directly from the textbooks of first through fifth graders.
- StarsAndy CohenDomenico Del GiaccoClarissa CorinneEmmy Award winner Andy Cohen will host Love Connection, a new one-hour series that amps up the original hit dating show for today's audiences.
- StarsJustin WillmanGenevieve HanneliusBradley Steven PerryGame show on Disney Channel with today's hottest stars!
- StarsTom O'ConnorGeorge LaytonBarry CryerBritish version of the quiz show where celebrities and ordinary people compete to solve giant crossowrd puzzles.
- CreatorSande StewartStarsNipsey RussellGene WoodLee MenningBizarre, short-lived oddity in which contestants spun numbers to try to match the last four digits of the phone number of a studio audience member. Home viewers could win as well if their seven digit phone number appeared in the string of numbers drawn during the day. A car could be won at any point during the main game if the car symbol was spun.
- StarsLaurie Francene KinzerWink MartindaleGary HellerThree contestants (who stated their real-life debt) competed for their debts to be paid.
- CreatorGeoffrey DarbyBonni GrossbergMichael KlinghofferStarsWesley EureJoe ConklinLawrence H. TofflerContestants try to find pictures in a hidden picture puzzle, then go on a scavenger hunt throughout an eight-room house.
- CreatorJoe DavolaMichael DuganStarsKen OberColin QuinnSteve TreccaseA trio of contestants answer questions and compete in games related to TV and pop culture.
- CreatorDavid GreenfieldEllen Levy-SarnoffStarsMarc SummersJoe AlaskeyJames MacKrellTwo teams of three players each stated themselves a sweet name in regards of a television show, past or present (e.g., "The Jeffersons," which spun-off "All In The Family"). In each round, each contestant (on a team) would answer a jump-in question. The contestant who gets the question right will win 25 points, and were given an opportunity to earn more points by answering 3 follow-up question about that very first one being answered. Host Summers would have each member of the team to only answer 1 question, and if the contestant gets it right, the teams still has control, an incorrect answer meant control goes over to their opposing team. Midway throughout the round, a popular TV show would come up on the monitor that a contestant had answered, a celebrity from that same TV series (e.g., Barbara Billingsley, of Leave it To Beaver, Gordon Jump, of WKRP in Cincinnati, Herve Villechaize, of Fantasy Island, Dick Sargent, of Bewitched, Jon Provost, of Lassie, Nicole Eggert, of Charles in Charge, Janice Pennington, of The Price is Right, Gary Coleman, of Diff'rent Strokes, Emmanuel Lewis, of Webster, etc.) would ask a question about what they did (or is doing) on the show alone. After all four (this was later changed to five) rounds of questions, especially the Visual Round, added later, each team was given a chance to catch up by answering more questions that a random amount of money was won (using the randomizer) for each question answered correctly. If a team landed on "Couch-Up," (and if they're behind) must answer this question correctly to tie the teams' score. The team with the most point when the round was over wins $1000 and goes on to the Channel Roulette bonus game, while the other team gets "Cancelled" for not getting enough points onto their score. In the Channel Roulette bonus game, 1 member of each team would pick a VHF channel on TV, from 2-13 (meaning 12 monitors). At that point, the team had to identify what show (e.g., Dallas, Knots Landing, TV 101, F Troop, etc.) was in the picture. Each channel ranged in point values and they were each given 30 seconds to reach 1000 points or more to win $5000, within the time limit given. 3 players on 1 team alternated turns by selecting a channel to describe the television series. If they were right about that series, then the contestant will win whatever points was awarded, if the contestant gets it wrong or pass, and another monitor will be selected with different point values. If a contestant finds "PAY TV," then the team will lose all of their points that they have won up until then, and had to be tried again. If they didn't reach 1000 points, then its $1 for every point they obtained.
- StarsAnthony AndersonDoris BowmanJoel McHaleThree contestants claim to be a person with an unusual distinction or occupation. One is telling the truth, and the other two are impostors. Four celebrity panelists ask them questions to figure out who is telling the truth.
- CreatorMichael DubelkoRick RosnerStarsAhmad RashadDan DohertySteve DayDecent mixed words game with a Roman flair.