# Is there any gameshow on TV dumber than "Family Feud"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** reality-or-game-show\ **Created:** [October 25, 2026, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-gameshow-on-tv-dumber-than-family-feud/1034133 "2026-10-25T00:21:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2026, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-gameshow-on-tv-dumber-than-family-feud/1034133/41 "2026-10-25T17:20:32Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > What’s the one with the 50 briefcases, one of which has a big prize in it? Say what you will for Family Feud, but at least there’s a skill to it. A show that’s pure luck, where they pretend like the luck has some skill to it, is the absolute epitome of stupid. A show for a game that could be played in five minutes stretched to an hour for commercials with all sorts of idiocy. Anyone who can properly calculate an expected value will be able to decide when to walk away. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2026, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-gameshow-on-tv-dumber-than-family-feud/1034133/42 "2026-10-25T17:23:10Z")
> [@asterion](#): > > Anyone who can properly calculate an expected value will be able to decide when to walk away. I’d wager that anyone who can properly calculate an expected value doesn’t pass the screening to be on that show. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2026, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-gameshow-on-tv-dumber-than-family-feud/1034133/43 "2026-10-25T17:52:21Z")
That suitcase one had an Australian version before the US one. I was in Sydney on business for a couple weeks and I’d get back to the hotel every weekday about five minutes after it started. I couldn’t for the life of me figure out the premise because I thought I must be missing something and it can’t be that stupid. I was wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2026, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-gameshow-on-tv-dumber-than-family-feud/1034133/44 "2026-10-25T18:00:32Z")
After spending less than an hour flipping through the channels in a Tokyo hotel, I can confidently say no American game show has the honor of being the dumbest. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2026, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-gameshow-on-tv-dumber-than-family-feud/1034133/45 "2026-10-25T18:12:54Z")
Who wants to be a millionaire? also drags out the show to fill the hour. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2026, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-gameshow-on-tv-dumber-than-family-feud/1034133/46 "2026-10-25T18:29:06Z")
Except that the show doesn’t actually fill the hour. That’s one of the shows where they don’t force the game to last the same time as the show, and just start a new game whenever the previous contestant finishes. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2026, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-gameshow-on-tv-dumber-than-family-feud/1034133/47 "2026-10-25T18:33:58Z")
I think that **Who wants to be a Millionaire?** coaches contestants to stretch out and delay their answers as long as possible. It was a fun show at first, but migosh, did it ever turn out to be slow, and not in a good way. Host: What colour is the sky? Contestant: Well, I want to say blue, but I don’t know weather conditions, so it could be grey if it’s a cloudy day. One thing I’m sure of is that it’s not red, so I’ll eliminate that one. Green? Maybe if I was colour-blind, it might border on green. Huh. I’m gonna want to phone a friend on this one. Puh-leez! If the contestant has a ready answer and is sure of it, don’t make them do an acting performance that is worthy of an Oscar. Accept their answer and move on. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2026, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-gameshow-on-tv-dumber-than-family-feud/1034133/48 "2026-10-25T18:45:17Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > But I do watch Wheel and Jeopardy. Religiously. As a penance ? ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2026, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-gameshow-on-tv-dumber-than-family-feud/1034133/49 "2026-10-25T18:47:40Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > After spending less than an hour flipping through the channels in a Tokyo hotel, I can confidently say no American game show has the honor of being the dumbest. [The Quiz With Balls](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Quiz_with_Balls) is pretty Nipponian in level of stupidity. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2026, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-gameshow-on-tv-dumber-than-family-feud/1034133/50 "2026-10-25T18:51:19Z")
I’ve been watching Only Connect on YouTube and it’s definitely not a dumb game show. It’s actually really difficult. I watch it for the rare occasions when I get the connection before the teams. That’s rare though. ---
**Author:** ![Disinfectus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/disinfectus/32/11085_2.png) [@Disinfectus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disinfectus)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2026, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-gameshow-on-tv-dumber-than-family-feud/1034133/51 "2026-10-25T18:58:35Z")
If we are just talking about current game shows, Family Feud seems like the strongest contender. But if we are including game shows from yesterday, there are many examples of shows that make Family Feud look downright intellectual. For example, I’m surprised that this thread has gone 50 posts without any mention of [The Dating Game](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dating_Game). ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2026, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-gameshow-on-tv-dumber-than-family-feud/1034133/52 "2026-10-25T19:13:22Z")
It’s been mentioned a few times ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2026, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-gameshow-on-tv-dumber-than-family-feud/1034133/53 "2026-10-25T19:15:38Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > like the old 1970s _Match Game_, has always traded on double-entendres and pushing the envelope on flirting and dirty humor. It’s part of why fans like it. I’ve read and I believe that they would film several episodes in one day and would be drinking the whole time. The best episodes were the end of the day ones where they would be three or four martinis in. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2026, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-gameshow-on-tv-dumber-than-family-feud/1034133/54 "2026-10-25T19:23:43Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > They should be focused on the question and which answers were already used. Instead their just standing there in a daze. It’s where the common clay of the new west went. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2026, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-gameshow-on-tv-dumber-than-family-feud/1034133/55 "2026-10-25T19:27:06Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > I think that **Who wants to be a Millionaire?** coaches contestants to stretch out and delay their answers as long as possible. It was a fun show at first, but migosh, did it ever turn out to be slow, and not in a good way. I suspect that you’re correct and someone just off-camera was indicating to the contestant to drag out the answer, because other times, the contestant would just answer, “Blue. Final answer” and they would move onto the next question. And also Regis Philbin, or whoever else was hosting, was told when to delay game progress, usually by asking dumb questions of the contestant. ---
**Author:** ![BrickBat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@BrickBat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrickBat)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2026, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-gameshow-on-tv-dumber-than-family-feud/1034133/56 "2026-10-25T19:40:09Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > Some were good. **Match Game '7X** was pretty much a quip delivery vehicle for celebrities of the day, with the game almost being secondary. The Match Game '76 bumper music still plants earworms into me to this day: A rolling loop of a 60s physchodelic twangy electric guitar single strum, followed by a jaunty 5 note bass run…over and over again. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2026, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-gameshow-on-tv-dumber-than-family-feud/1034133/57 "2026-10-25T19:46:09Z")
In 1984, when I was a sophomore in college, I came down with mono. I was sick as a dog for two weeks, and spent that time holed up in my then-girlfriend’s apartment. She didn’t have cable, so I was stuck with the three over-the-air stations in Madison; I wound up watching the game shows on CBS every morning, which included the terrible _Press Your Luck_. What struck me was that it was clear that the contestants were coached to talk a lot when it was their turn; they didn’t just give their answers, but try to expound on their reasoning; they usually sounded like blithering idiots, as a result. I now suspect that it was the producers’ way to pad out the game into a half-hour slot. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2026, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-gameshow-on-tv-dumber-than-family-feud/1034133/58 "2026-10-25T19:46:21Z")
I enjoyed Match Game in reruns as a kid. And a few years ago there was a revival series with Alec Baldwin hosting. I liked that also. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2026, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-gameshow-on-tv-dumber-than-family-feud/1034133/59 "2026-10-25T20:28:04Z")
If we are including past game shows, there is one clear “winner”- _You’re In The Picture_. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2026, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-gameshow-on-tv-dumber-than-family-feud/1034133/60 "2026-10-25T20:33:33Z")
I enjoyed Family Feud in the Richard Dawson/Ray Combs eras, but I find the Steve Harvey version unwatchable and I refuse to be in the same room if I’m visiting someone who has it on. Good time to take a half hour bowel movement. Password was great in the Allen Ludden era but the current version isterrible. The celebrities spend too much time strutting and mugging for the camera and the host is way way way over the top. There’s enough ham onstage to keep an Oscar Meyer plant running for a month. Worst game of all time is The Wall, which somehow packs 20 minutes of game time in an hour long snoozefest. So much sappiness and fake tears as we wait endlessly to see if the person who was isolated signed the silly contract or not. Deal or No Deal was okay at first but damn they took too long picking the cases- “I’ve got five kids and my hairdresser has five cats and my youngest child is five years old so I’ll take case number 5” Just pick a number and shut the fuck up. Jeopardy is okay and Jennings is a good host but I wish they had a rule that the wagers for the final round had to be at least half of their total. So sick of runaway games where the final is irrelevant. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-gameshow-on-tv-dumber-than-family-feud/1034133.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-gameshow-on-tv-dumber-than-family-feud/1034133.md?page=4)