# Where have all the great gameshows gone? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 22, 2005, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-have-all-the-great-gameshows-gone/291341 "2005-02-22T15:16:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2005, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-have-all-the-great-gameshows-gone/291341/21 "2005-02-26T01:07:37Z")
In the early 70s, Tom Kennedy hosted one called “Split Second”, a fast-answer, general-knowledge game in which the daily winner would have a chance at a car. A first-time winner had a 1 in 5 chance of getting the right car, a second time winner had a 1 in 4 chance, and so on, until a five time winner got their pick from the five cars. I feel old that no one has mentioned ‘Hollywood Squares’, the original hosted by Peter Marshall. What I liked about it was that the game was effectively a sideline to the stars’ ‘ad-libbed’ responses. ---
**Author:** ![Merhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@Merhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merhouse)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2005, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-have-all-the-great-gameshows-gone/291341/22 "2005-02-26T02:32:57Z")
> [@Odinoneeye](#): > > Actually, several people hosted that show over the years, but the only Jack to do it was the show creator, Jack Barry. Ack, you’re right!! My apologies!! :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2005, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-have-all-the-great-gameshows-gone/291341/23 "2005-02-26T05:34:37Z")
I wonder (as I did in a thread that never got any replies) why the three game shows currently on that have survived the longest with most of its popularity intact are The Price is Right, Wheel of Fortune, and Jeopardy. I mean, why those three? My theories are, respectively, Bob Barker (and the nostalgia of people like me who watched it at their babysitter’s in their younger years), the simplicity of the game, and the difficulty of the game. Any others? ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2005, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-have-all-the-great-gameshows-gone/291341/24 "2005-02-26T05:48:01Z")
> [@Max Carnage](#): > > Of course, you can’t beat The Price Is Right. Bah. With the luminous Chantel Dubay gone from the show, it simply isn’t worth watching. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2005, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-have-all-the-great-gameshows-gone/291341/25 "2005-02-26T06:17:52Z")
There was also **Match Game** , **The 64,000 Pyramid** , **The Hollywood Squares** , **The Joker’s Wild** , **The Newlywed Game** , **The Gong Show** , **Password** , **Beat the Clock** … ---
**Author:** ![nocturnal\_tick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3d9bf3/32.png) [@nocturnal\_tick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nocturnal_tick)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2005, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-have-all-the-great-gameshows-gone/291341/26 "2005-02-26T14:33:05Z")
> [@+MDI](#): > > I’m 20, too. Knightmare was the one with Brian Blessed and the weird black portal door things on ITV, wasn’t it? Not Brian Blessed, but an equally bearded chap. Knightmare was great if not an entirely insane premise. Effectively blind a child and make him go on a dangerous quest guided by his clipboard carrying friends. :dubious: 😃 I miss Krypton Factor and The Crystal Maze, but only those ones with Richard O’Brien. Nothing like watching 6 middle management types solving puzzles and demonstrating obscure physical feats. Taking a kids theme does anyone remember Fun House with 80’s mullet master Pat Sharp. Those Go-Karts were cool! Finders Keepers (with Pat Sharp again I think) with the premise of destroying entire rooms to win prizes. And while the Generation Game wasn’t the greatest game show, the cuddly toy **rocked!** ---
**Author:** ![nocturnal\_tick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3d9bf3/32.png) [@nocturnal\_tick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nocturnal_tick)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2005, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-have-all-the-great-gameshows-gone/291341/27 "2005-02-26T14:35:34Z")
Oh and how could I forget **Treasure Hunt**? Annika Rice. Flourescent jumpsuits. Helicopters. Need I say more? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Improv\_Geek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b3f665/32.png) [@Improv\_Geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Improv_Geek)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2005, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-have-all-the-great-gameshows-gone/291341/28 "2005-02-26T15:09:44Z")
Hey now, what about the classic ‘21’? Perhaps that’s too far back for most of us. I didn’t actually see it, I only saw some clips and then of course the movie, **The Quiz Show** ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2005, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-have-all-the-great-gameshows-gone/291341/29 "2005-02-26T17:25:19Z")
I remember in the 80s, the USA network had old gameshows all afternoon-- wierd ones like “Hot Potato” and “Bumper Stumpers.” There was one that I liked on CBC Windsor called-- I think-- “Talk About.” Happy [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-have-all-the-great-gameshows-gone/291341.md?page=1)