Major Networks and Game Shows

[DialgaChampion]

Let's talk about the major networks for a moment and the game shows they show in primetime evening slots, shall we?

ABC seems to like primetime game shows, because they don't seem to have a problem with trying out new game shows every single year. Nowadays, the average "Season" of a new ABC game show seems to be around 6 episodes. If the series is popular and pulls in the ratings, ABC then gives the go-ahead to produce another season with more episodes.

In addition, ABC was apparently considering a new game show called Million Dollar Mind Game but we haven't heard anything of it for a long time now.

Notable ABC Game Shows within the past few years include:

- In 2008, ABC had Duel, Wipeout and I Survived a Japanese Game Show.
- In 2009, ABC introduced Crash Course and the special Who Wants to be a Millionaire? 10th-Anniversary Edition.
- In 2010, ABC introduced Downfall.
- In 2011, ABC introduced 101 Ways to Leave a Game Show and Take the Money and Run.

NBC seems to like primetime game shows as well, also being in the habit of introducing new game shows to television audiences. Although NBC seems to sometimes have a habit of ruining good game shows by "fine-tuning" them to their own standards.

Notable NBC Game Shows within the past few years include:

- In 2005, NBC had Deal or No Deal.
- In 2006, NBC introduced 1 VS 100, Identity and Amne$ia.
- In 2010, NBC introduced Minute to Win It.
- In 2011, NBC introduced It's Worth What? and Who's Still Standing?.

CBS used to like game shows, but nowadays seems to spend more time producing pilots for potential game shows, and even more time is spent scrapping those pilots for other primetime drama series.

In addition, CBS apparently filmed pilots for The Cube, Secret Fortune and Celebrity Name Game, but it still seems to be a toss-up whether any of these series will make it to air.

Notable CBS Game Shows within the past few years include:

- In 2007, CBS introduced Power of 10.
- In 2008, CBS introduced Million Dollar Password.
- In 2009, CBS introduced Game Show in my Head.

FOX, on the other hand, ABSOLUTELY HATES game shows, because practically every game show they've aired within the past few years, they've cancelled within mere weeks of the premiere episode, if the series even lasted that long. I don't know why FOX bothers to promote new game shows months in advance of their premiere, then decides to cancel them a few weeks afterwards. It seems like wasted money advertising and creating a new game show, then cancelling it before giving it a chance to develop an audience.

In my opinion, the best game shows that aired on FOX were GREED, The Rich List and Million Dollar Money Drop. FOX cancelled Greed and Million Dollar Money Drop after only 1 Season, and FOX cancelled The Rich List after just 1 single episode.

Notable FOX Game Shows within the past few years include:

In 2006, FOX had The Rich List. (CANCELLED AFTER 1 EPISODE)
In 2007, FOX had Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? and Don't Forget The Lyrics!.
In 2008, FOX introduced Hole in the Wall and the non-game-show-lie-detector-reality-program known as The Moment of Truth.
In 2010, FOX introduced Million Dollar Money Drop. (CANCELLED AFTER 12 EPISODES)

So there's my spiel. In summary, it seems like ABC and NBC are always willing to try out brand new primetime evening game shows. CBS likes developing pilot episodes, but doesn't like developing them into full-blown series. And FOX just likes getting people's hopes up with a new game show, then killing those hopes by cancelling the series before it catches on.

Thoughts, anyone?

[starwheel]

The prime time shows on the networks that I've probably enjoyed the most (in the last 5 years) are probably Wipeout, 101 Ways, MDP, and Minute. They all do have legitimate gameplay, and are influenced by other game shows...IMHO, Wipeout has the obstacle course element of various shows, 101 Ways actually has a loose quiz element to it, MDP is (of course) a modern interpretation of Password (of which I'm a HUGE fan), and Minute reminds me a bit of Beat The Clock, with a contemporary twist. What I particularly like is that these shows don't have to go gutter diving for their humor and entertainment, aside from the occasional bit of innuendo on Wipeout. Its not so much that the stakes are higher, but its that there is actually a little strategy involved to all four of these games, instead of just going for the cheap joke (here's looking at you, Engvall Lingo...). If I'm entertained and engaged by the gameplay, I'm more likely to watch, regardless of how much money is being won.

I'd love to hear everyone else's take on these shows.

[CaseyAbell]

What I particularly like is that these shows don't have to go gutter diving for their humor and entertainment, aside from the occasional bit of innuendo on Wipeout. Its not so much that the stakes are higher, but its that there is actually a little strategy involved to all four of these games, instead of just going for the cheap joke (here's looking at you, Engvall Lingo...)

The innuendo on Minute To Win It gets just as obvious as on Engvall Lingo. "Bite me," "get forked," "this blows," etc. Of course, the innuendo on both shows is ridiculously mild...except by Queen Victoria's standards. And there's plenty of mental challenge on Lingo, too.

Anyway, at least there can be a thread like this. Back in, say, 1995 there weren't any network prime time game shows to talk about.

[starwheel]

I'm hardly a prude (not even close...I'm a big Craig Ferguson fan, FWIW ), but there's a time and place. Late night is perfect for grown-up humor; early fringe/prime time, and within earshot of, say, my 5 year-old daughter...not so much. I happily let her watch Woolery's version, as well as Match Game. I wouldn't let her within 10 miles of Engvall's show or Sherriwed.

[CaseyAbell]

I happily let her watch Woolery's version, as well as Match Game. I wouldn't let her within 10 miles of Engvall's show or Sherriwed.

Match Game but not Lingo? Okay. I've tried Betty.

[phimat37]

The ABC game shows are trash, IMO. Are they that desperate for ratings? The only ABC game show I enjoyed was when they brought back Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? for a couple weeks for the 10th Anniversary edition.

Wipeout and I Survived a Japanese Game Show Are really the shows I've tried actually and they were Awful, IMO.

The only network's game shows that I like are NBC's. Deal or No Deal when it aired, not so much. 1 VS 100, Identity and Amne$ia I really liked. Those were good shows. Minute to Win it is okay.

The CBS game shows I really liked were Power of 10 and Million Dollar Password. Its ashame Power of 10 only lasted 16 episodes and 2 unaired episodes because I really liked that one.

The only Fox game show I liked was Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader? but, to be honest, Don't Forget The Lyrics was okay for awhile.

I think SOME of today's newer game shows are okay but, I still think the older ones were better because the hosts back then had personality. (A few today have personality like Drew Carey and Jeff Foxworthy) I'm not speaking for everyone here when I say "I still think the older game shows were better" just so you know. I'm not saying that older IS better because there are a few good game shows out today.

[ajs617]

If Fox hates game shows, don't you think they oughta let NBC revive any that Fox has cancelled in the past, like Greed, the Million Dollar Money Drop, and oh yeah, the Rich List? Once again, I must highlight the latter to make that evil Rupert Murdoch turd understand why he rightfully deserved to be attacked on Tuesday at a hearing in London. The Rich List can help NBC get out of 4th place and so can the other two I've mentioned. GSN kinda revived the Rich List as the Money List, and it bombed b/c GSN put the show on Saturday Nights when NO ONE WATCHES TV! Since then, GSN has gone downhill and nobody seems to understand it. I think I need to contact GSN. Anybody know how? Also, how can I contact NBC?

[starwheel]

At the risk of sticking my neck out once again, I have to agree with you, phimat...yes, the hosts on the older shows did have more personality. They weren't cookie cutter at all, and that's the draw for me. Though I'm not a fan of the Improv-A-Whatever, I'm definitely a fan of Drew on TPiR, and I love that he adds his own flair to the show, without it being an ego trip. I'm looking forward to the new season.

[sshuffield70]

I must highlight the latter to make that evil Rupert Murdoch turd understand why he rightfully deserved to be attacked on Tuesday at a hearing in London.

What the hell does the Murdoch attack have to do with game shows? I mean....really? Leave that out of the discussion if you want to be taken seriously.

[dtheine]

Did FOX even ax Our Little Genius before its January 2010 premiere?

[ajs617]

In fact, they did. But that was NOT Fox's Fault. There were suspicions that the contestants might've obtained material in advance, which goes back to the infamous quiz show scandals of the 1950s. As a result, the Executives pulled the plug altogether, rather than make new episodes.

[TheKid965]

In fact, they did. But that was NOT Fox's Fault. There were suspicions that the contestants might've obtained material in advance, which goes back to the infamous quiz show scandals of the 1950s. As a result, the Executives pulled the plug altogether, rather than make new episodes.

In which case, it was absolutely the right thing to do IMO. The last thing we need is a replay of the Scandals, and even the hint of game-rigging needs to be avoided at all costs.

But then again, American Idol is still on the air even after the kerfuffle about phone-voting discrepancies a few years back...

[CaseyAbell]

In which case, it was absolutely the right thing to do IMO. The last thing we need is a replay of the Scandals, and even the hint of game-rigging needs to be avoided at all costs. But then again, American Idol is still on the air even after the kerfuffle about phone-voting discrepancies a few years back...

Any traditional game show with even a hint of rigging has no chance nowadays. Our Little Genius was doomed as soon as the allegations surfaced. Non-traditional reality competitions might get a little more leeway because they never had a 1950s rumpus. But they have to be careful, too.

By the way, I just reviewed one of the shows in the original post. From the blog with a screenshot of the first two contestants...

Fairly worthy effort

I've already advertised my dislike of pricing game shows. So there's a natural bias when I review It's Worth What. But cross my heart and hope to die, I really didn't think the show was that bad. I'll admit, it's not my sub-genre and things move a little slow and I get bored with pricing things. But the items on display were so exotic and, well, downright fun, that the show passed my time pretty pleasantly.

I tried guessing along for a while and even nailed the muscle car instead of the Miss USA crown. By the way, Miss USA herself was definitely one of the most exotic and fun parts of the show. They didn't let her say anything, though. But then I wiped out on the Australian cockatoo and stopped trying to figure out what was worth what.

Mr. Kyles did a decent job as host, enthusiastic but not too florid. The contestants were reasonably clued-in and didn't scream all the time. And the set is a dream, full of nooks, crannies and goodies. I don't think I'll become a hopeless fan, but there are worst things to watch on TV.

[billycw]

As far as rigging of game shows, it's a crime since the fifties. Remember, there weren't laws in place when Twenty One , etc were rigging shows. Now, jail time is a possibility. Hardly think a show would be rigged today.

[TheKid965]

As far as rigging of game shows, it's a crime since the fifties. Remember, there weren't laws in place when Twenty One , etc were rigging shows. Now, jail time is a possibility. Hardly think a show would be rigged today.

I concur... but that doesn't stop some people from throwing out the accusation anyway. It's enough to drive my BP up so high only a dog could hear it.