Bob:
With news this week that a Draw Something gameshow is going to be hitting the air, I got thinking about some of the best game shows that have graced the boob tube. It’s hard to beat a classic like Jeopardy! which seems to just keep on ticking. The same can be said for Wheel of Fortune, even if I find that to be a whole lot less compelling. As I kid I had a small obsession with Press Your Luck and those little Whammies. Then, of course, there is always The Price is Right, which is a daytime television institution, and always a great time killer. We can’t forget about Regis, who brought the game show back to prime time!
My favorite game show, though, has to be Win Ben Stein’s Money. It didn’t take itself too seriously, but it still had difficult trivia. It launched Jimmy Kimmel’s career and I’ll always have a soft spot for it because, did you know that Kimmel’s replacement Nancy Pimental graduated from my very own alma mater? Not many folks on TV went to engineering school, so I have to take my entertainment celebrity school pride where I can get it. I just loved everything about the show. The category titles were hilarious; the fact that Stein was playing with his own money (and was so competitive!) was hilarious. Also, who could forget the dunce caps that they made people wear if they answered in the form of a question? Classic.
Debbie:
You beat me to it — Win Ben Stein’s Money is also my all-time favorite game show, for all the reasons you state. I know you will find it hard to believe that I watched some other, less honorable game shows in my day, what with all the quality program on my docket these days, but it’s true. I’m proud of my Jeopardy! viewing days … but probably shouldn’t admit the complete adoration I had for Chuck Woolery and his Love Connection. I don’t think anyone would look at me negatively for watching Dick Clark and his Pyramid, or Paul Lynde and his Hollywood Squares … but Richard Dawson and I did have a brief affair (though I never could stand him or the stupidity of most of the Family Feud contestants; maybe I watched to feel smart and not creepy). Maybe you are not old enough, but visits to Grammy’s house had me watching Name That Tune and I remember it fondly.
What about Whose Line Is It Anyway? I definitely got sick of it after a while, but at the beginning that show was huge fun.
All this talk about game shows is fun and all, but I know you have more to say about Draw Something becoming a game show, because it’s such an original idea that’s sure to be a big hit, just like Pictionary and Win, Lose or Draw … ahem.
Bob:
A lot of folks seem to be making fun of the Draw Something game show, but I’m not totally sure why. Yes, the idea is not very original; as you say, we’ve seen a lot of drawing game shows before, but I think it could be a lot of fun. So what if someone is cashing in on an app’s popularity? It’s certainly not the most offensive thing I’ve seen by way of reality programming.
Also, since you brought it up, I feel that I should admit to my secret and powerful love for Family Feud. There’s just something about that game show that makes me giggle. I don’t know if it’s the propensity for really stupid answers, or the fact that my overactive imagination fires up and I can’t help fantasizing about one family member berating another backstage after giving a “good answer, good answer.” I just love the looks of utter disgust on horrified contestants’ faces as they are forced to congratulate their moron cousin or sister-in-law for guessing something completely idiotic. It’s clear they are coached by the producers, and it just tickles me every time. There’s always a look of shock, the brief glimmer of frustration and anger in their eyes before they turn on the fake smile, start the slow golf clap, and repeat the mantra: “good answer.”
Debbie:
Kind of like a Degon family game of Trivial Pursuit. …
Clacked by Bob Degon
on Jun 21, 2012 @ 10:00 EST5EDT
Wow, I grew up on game shows so picking one would be so difficult! As far as real classics, I adore What’s My Line? (the 50s/60s version). It was broadcast live, for the most part, and the celebs were always dressed to the nines like it was an intimate party between friends. Sometimes, the unintentional innuendo with the questioning was so funny it made me gasp for air because I was laughing so hard. And it was always fun to see who would show up as the Mystery Guest. Good times indeed (and thank you GSN for introducing that to me, as I had only seen the 70s syndicated version up to that point).
I also loved the 70s version of To Tell the Truth with its psychedelic set and catchy theme song, host Garry Moore and regular panelists Kitty Carlisle, Peggy Cass and Bill Cullen, plus rotating guests Orson Bean (who also made a cute doodle out of his vote) and Nipsey Russell. And from that era, you really can’t beat Match Game or The Hollywood Squares either. Another 70s show I loved was Split Second hosted by Tom Kennedy.
All of your talk about Win Ben Stein’s Money made me think of another game show that I wanted to be on so badly — MTV’s Remote Control. That show had questions that I could really answer without a second thought, and I liked how the loser’s recliner would be pulled backwards through the wall. It was just a really fun show.
I could go on and on and on about my game show love!
Ahhh, Chuck beat me to it..I loved Remote Control. Adam Sandler used to make me laugh so hard on that show, also Colin Quinn!
As a kid, I always tuned into Hollywood Squares. I couldn’t wait to see how Paul Lynde would answer his question.
. . . . .
While partial to Win Ben Stein’s Money, I am aghast – AGHAST, I say – there is nary a reference to The Gong Show. No … not a one.
Hrmph, I say.
I also watched The Gong Show faithfully, when I could. The local NBC affiliate in Baltimore didn’t carry it at first, so I had to try to tune in the DC station and watch through the electronic snow. Heck, I’ve even seen The Gong Show Movie a couple of times!
Password had some of the best almost but not quite celebrities of all the game shows. Masterminds, from England, is an all time favorite and a sports trivia game who’s name I can’t remember that had athletes as contestants. Remote Control, good times.