I’ll be the first to admit it. I love gameshows! I know it is a bit embarrassing, but to me, they are the ultimate time killer, and I enjoy them. I especially like watching reruns of the oldies. It is crazy to see what Bob Barker got away with back in the day. It makes me cringe! It’s also a blast to look at the products, prices, and technology. How times have changed. Did we really pay that much for a cordless phone? And hey, I used to have an outfit just like that!
The other day, I watched a random episode of the popular game show Jeopardy. I’ve never really been a huge fan, although when long-time winner and current host Ken Jennings was on his 74-game winning streak, I must admit to tuning in to watch the fearless trivia buff. When I watched Jeopardy the other night, I was reminded of why I don’t watch it. Jeopardy makes me feel stupid. There is no other way to describe it. How do these people know so much about so many things? Unbelievable. Even the losers are way above my pay grade. And who comes up with the questions? Good grief!
To prove my point, I took an online Jeopardy practice test and scored 6 out of 30. My 28-year-old daughter fared far better than me. Did you know that the Vatican has an entire museum devoted to a group of people from ancient Etruria? Yes, the Etruscans. Or, buried in tunnels, Moscow’s Neglinnaya River fed the moat, protecting a fortress. What fortress? The Kremlin. Funny enough, one of the questions was about The Bell Jar, published in 1963 by Sylvia Plath under the pseudonym Victoria Lucas. I actually knew the answer to that one, as I quoted Sylvia in a recent social media post (see Monday, Jan. 29, 2024)
The only other show that comes close to making me question my IQ the way that Jeopardy does is Idiotest. And speaking of idiots, I just looked this one up, and it ended a few years ago, which means I have been watching reruns. That’s okay. The show is based on brain teasers and puzzle questions. You know, the kind that makes you shake your head when you discover the answer? I do, however, enjoy the occasional challenge of Wheel of Fortune, as I seem to do much better with words than with trivia or brain teasers. My brain has been teased enough over the years.
But I’m not the only one who watches game shows, whether it be for occasional viewing or religiously every day. Game shows are extremely popular for many reasons. They are interactive (sofa to screen), educational, exciting, and a great way to escape the daily grind for 30 minutes. The whole family can watch and join in. Some of the more involved ones, such as cook-offs, singing competitions, etc., allow the watcher to form a relationship with the contestant, cheering them on and following their progress. “I knew her when she was on…” How about that, Kelly Clarkson? Game shows are about connection and possibility. After all, most contestants are just regular people like you and me. It’s comforting to know that an ordinary gal can win a million dollars. Maybe there is hope for me.
The earliest recorded game show was probably an American radio show called the Brooklyn Eagle Quiz on Current Events, back in 1923. Check out the history of American game shows. The first English gameshows to air in Canada were Fighting Words, Detective Quiz, and Crossword Quiz. They all came out on TV in 1952, but none lasted that long. The Front Page Challenge was first broadcast in 1957 and ran until 1995. I grew up with that show, but I never really watched it. My parents sure enjoyed it, though. If you’re interested in the history of Canadian gameshows, because who wouldn’t be, check out this list.
Despite a few ups and downs, the gameshow genre has prevailed and continues to grow. The arrival of cable TV in the 1980s created opportunities for specific interest shows, from baking and cooking to travel and singing. For some reason, there was a relatively dry spell in the 1990s, with Price is Right being about the only current game show around, but as the 1990s began to wind down, several other options entered the queue.
In 1994, the Gameshow network launched on satellite TV, and fans uttered a collective sigh as they sank into their sofas to watch countless hours of old favourites and a few newcomers. That seemed to pave the way for many of the shows we are all familiar with now. Shows such as Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, Greed, The Weakest Link, 1 vs. 100, Deal or No Deal, Big Brother, America’s Got Talent, The Bachelor/Bachelorette, American Idol, Amazing Race, and, of course, Survivor. I am a Survivor/Amazing Race faithful!
Gameshows have evolved so much. Thanks to technology, they can capture people’s sense of adventure, their dreams, and their hopes. Gone are the days when set malfunctions caused experienced hosts to back up in horror (watch those Price Is Right reruns). Gone are the days when sexism, patronization, and downright flirting were the norm. Now the focus is on adventure, connections, and, of course, winning lots of money! Advertising is a huge part of the game show industry, and those sponsors sure know how to get their brand into our lives.
Now don’t go thinking that all I do is sit around, watch gameshows, and eat bon bons. But what a magical life that would be! I probably spend more time on my phone than I do watching games on TV. For instance, I play Wordle daily. I can usually figure out the words, but sometimes it takes me all the clues, tries, and the odd website cheat. Who has heard of a “scree”? Shouldn’t there be a “ch” on the end of that? Screech? No, right. It doesn’t fit. I did guess this one on the last clue, but only by the process of elimination, and then I had to look it up. A scree, for those of you who share a similar level of IQ with me, is a small mass of stones on a mountainside. “They screeched in fear as they lightly tread over the unstable scree.” Yeah.
I will probably never apply to go on a game show. I did have three friends who went to a taping of The Price is Right back in the early eighties. They didn’t get on stage, but they had fun. For now, I am content to just watch and live vicariously through those lucky ones who are living their dream.
Interesting Reads & Things
Come on down! Why TV primetime game shows are booming in the pandemic era – oregonlive.com
A Brief History of Game Shows – The Strong National Museum of Play
10 of the Oldest Game Shows in America – Oldest.org
The 25 best TV game shows of all time (ew.com)
Watch Game Shows and Play Games | Game Show Network
Best Of Family Feud Episodes With Steve Harvey (youtube.com)
Wanderings Art 