A couple of decades ago, television game shows were all the rage. Daytime television was full of them and I'd sometimes spend even the nicest of summer days glued to the TV set.
Well, I'm now thrilled to see that cable TV's Game Show Network has brought back some of the old classic TV game shows. If you're an insomniac, check out "To tell the Truth" and "What's My Line". These old gems come to you in black and white and they're loaded with old time celebrity guests. I love watching these shows in the middle of the night and pretending it's still 1965.
Another classic TV game show is "Match Game". Host Gene Rayburn was an absolute hoot and the familiar panel featuring Brett Somers and Charles Nelson Reilly had great chemistry. The game itself was kind of silly-- some of the fill in the blank style questions were clearly more difficult than others-- but there were so many double entendres that I was sure to laugh during each episode (even if I didn't understand what they were talking about).
"Let's Make a Deal" was one of my all time favorites. Featuring host Monty Hall, contestants were confronted with all types of tough decisions. In nearly every episode, some poor sucker would choose the wrong box or take what was behind the curtain (hoping for it to be a car) and they'd end up with a potbelly pig or something. But there were happy endings, too. Most every show someone would drive off with a new car or a wad of cash. It was a great feel good show. Plus, I liked how the audience dressed up in those wacky costumes.
Quintessential game show host Bert Convy was not only handsome, but he had the perfect game show host resume. Besides being a frequent guest on "The Love Boat", Convy hosted quirky game shows like "Tattletales" and "Win, Lose or Draw". "Tattletales" featured celeb couples answering questions about each other. "Win, Lose or Draw" was an alternate version of charades, where contestants would draw instead of using gestures. TV game show perfection!
Ad how about another longtimer, Dick Clark? Sure, we all know him from "American Bandstand" and "New Year's Rockin' Eve", but Mr. Clark also hosted one of the best game shows of the 1970's-- the "$10,000 Pyramid". This show featured celebrity guests partnering with ordinary folks to win a jackpot of 10 grand. Seems kind of skimpy these days, but there was a time when 10 G's was a lot of money. Still, by the mid 70's they upped the anty to $25,000.
"The Newlywed Game" was a salty little show, full of racy quips, which featured newly married couples guessing how their spouse would answer suggestive questions. Host Bob Eubanks had a devilish grin and a twinkle in his eye. When I watch reruns of this show nowadays, I wonder how many of the couples are still together-- and how many got divorced after seeing themselves on the show!
Many of the shows I've just mentioned have been remade, but the new versions just don't do it for me. I'm a classic TV fan all the way. Although the game shows of today may offer higher jackpots (like, say a million bucks?) they just don't hold a candle to the classic game shows of yesterday.
