More rankings from TV Guide's feature on the Greatest
Game Shows of All Time:
20. |
Concentration |
1958-73. Host: Hugh Downs. Players matched
what was hidden behind squares, revealing a rebus puzzle underneath.
First to solve the rebus won the money and prizes. |
19. |
The
Hollywood Squares |
1966-81. Host: Peter
Marshall. Celebrities seated in a tic-tac-toe grid answer questions
(or bluff) while "ad-libbing" jokes. |
18. |
Let's
Make a Deal |
1970s-80s. Host: Monty
Hall. Contestants, often dressed in costume, trade common objects
for what's behind the curtain. |
17. |
Video
Village |
1960-62. Players were "pieces"
on a life-sized board game, rolling the dice to move through the game
and answering questions or performing stunts. |
16. |
The Gong
Show |
1970s. Host: Chuck
Barris. Contestants in the weirdest talent show on TV showed off
their acts. A panel of celebrities awarded them points or "gonged"
them off the stage. |
15. |
Twenty-One |
1950s. Host: Jack
Barry. Two contestants in heated isolation booths answered questions,
trying to get to 21 points first. The potential cash prizes were limitless.
This show was the center of the game show scandals of the 50s, inspiring
the movie "Quiz Show." |
14. |
Family
Feud |
1976-85. Host: Richard
Dawson. Families squared off to guess what 100 surveyed people
answered to each question. Dawson was often criticized for kissing
every female contestant, but the audience loved it. |
13. |
Queen
for a Day |
1950s. Host: Jack
Bailey. Four women were selected from the audience. Their task:
to convince everyone that they are the most pathetic. The audience
judged their sob stories with the applause-o-meter, and awarded the
"loser" with her wishes, plus a crown and roses. |
12. |
Survivor |
1999+. Host: Jeff Probst. Sixteen contestants
overcome challenges to win the $1 million prize. Arguably the first
game show that allows contestants to walk around naked. |
11. |
The
Newlywed Game |
1966+. Host: Bob
Eubanks. Couples married less than 2 years prove how much they
really know about each other. Questions loaded with double-entendres
and embarrassing answers added to the fun. |
Were you or
someone you know a contestant on a
classic game show? Send me your name,
the contestant's name (if different
from yours), the name of the game
show, and any other information you
have (date of appearance, what it
was like to be on the show). I'll
post your story here for the world
to see! Email me at host@gameshowfame.com.
*** NOTE: Before you send me
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