Game shows come in many forms, from basic trivia to guessing the prices of consumer goods to answering bawdy questions about your spouse. Can you name these game show classics?
In this 1950s game show, infamous for its role in the "quiz show scandals," contestants in sealed booths competed to answer trivia questions worth points, trying to bring their point total to a particular score.
"Twenty-One"
"Battle of the Ages"
"Winner Take All"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer
Contestants had to get twenty-one points, or as close as possible, to win. The producers fed answers to contestants to create more dramatic contests in hopes of driving up ratings, sparking the quiz show scandal.
On this show, which stayed on the air for decades, contestants were asked to answer a difficult trivia question in a ridiculously short time. If they failed (which they usually did), they were then forced to perform some kind of wacky stunt challenge.
"Double Dare"
"Truth or Consequences"
"Press Your Luck"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer
The trivia question was the truth, while the stunt was the consequences portion of "Truth or Consequences."
This show debuted in the 1970s and featured a randomized display of topics that could be modified if certain "cards" appeared. The final round was called "Face the Devil." Its most well-known host was Wink Martindale.
"American Bible Challenge"
"Split Second"
"The Joker's Wild"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer
When a joker appeared on "The Joker's Wild," players could use it to modify possible scores or choose different topics than what appeared on the board.
On this game show, contestants had to answer a series of increasingly difficult trivia questions on a single subject, with the prize amount doubling for each correct answer. The final question was worth $64,000.
"The $64,000 Question"
"Caesars Challenge"
"Think Fast"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer
The prize amount sort of gives this one away — "The $64,000 Question."
Although it only ran for one season, this game show was well-known for its role in the quiz show scandal and its novel premise — competitors had to identify an incomplete portrait by playing connect-the-dots, earning dot connections by answering trivia questions.
On this '90s game show, contestants sat in reclining leather chairs and answered questions about pop culture. Whoever was in last place at the end of a round was pulled through a hole in the wall of the faux basement studio.
"Kwik Witz"
"Remote Control"
"Rhyme and Reason"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer
"Remote Control" had contestants select categories on a retro TV screen. It's possibly the only game show that regularly gave players wet willies.
This long-running show required contestants to complete some kind of manual dexterity stunt, often involving balancing an object precariously or hitting a target with a thrown object. The stunts had to be completed before the timer ran out.
"Beat the Clock"
"It's Your Move"
"Make That Spare"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer
The "Beat the Clock" concept may sound familiar, as it was resurrected in recent years under the name "Minute to Win It."
This show was hosted by Groucho Marx, with teams of contestants wagering their cash on trivia questions. If someone spoke the secret word, they'd get a cash bonus.
"Missus Goes a Shopping"
"You Bet Your Life"
"Pass the Buck"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer
Much of each "You Bet Your Life" episode was devoted to Marx's ad-libbed comedy.
This game show is famous both for the animated "Whammy" and the contestant who figured out the game board's pattern and developed an unbeatable strategy that allowed him to win over $100,000 in a single episode.
"Press Your Luck"
"Mindreaders"
"Pitfall"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer
No Whammy, no Whammy, no Whammy, STOP! "Press Your Luck" is the name of the show.
This trivia show started out on radio, then moved to TV. It was controversial due to the fact that it exploited poor people, bringing them on as contestants and having them explain why they needed money (e.g., for a medical treatment or to feed their kids) before challenging them to answer questions in hopes of getting the needed cash.
"Strike It Rich"
"Pot O' Gold"
"Set for Life"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer
If the contestants failed to answer the questions, producers allowed listeners/viewers to call in and donate the money. "Strike It Rich" was subject to numerous complaints over its run.
This '70s and '80s game show had a ring of contestants asking the King or Queen of the Hill a series of riddles, although it was revamped to use trivia questions later.
"Chain Reaction"
"Rumor Has It"
"Jackpot"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer
The unusual riddle game had the generic name "Jackpot."
This show was based on a popular board game and required teams of contestants to identify various items based only on their teammates' amateurish drawings.
"Information Please"
"Pictionary"
"You're in the Picture"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer
"Pictionary" was hosted by sitcom star Alan Thicke.
This Spanish-language show ran for decades on the Univision network. Although it was a variety show, it was well-known for segments that allowed contestants to win cars.
"El Chavo del Ocho"
"Sabado Gigante"
"Primer Impacto"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer
"Sabado Gigante" ("Giant Saturday") was on the air for more than 50 years.
This legendary show, hosted by Monty Hall, gave players prizes which they could then trade for a different, unknown prize, which might be of lesser or greater value than the initial prize.
"Let's Make a Deal"
"Can You Top This?"
"I'll Bet"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer
The low-value prizes on "Let's Make a Deal" were called "zonks."
This show, so famous it's been parodied countless times, had bachelors and bachelorettes asking questions of potential partners they couldn’t see, then picking a partner based on the answers.
"The Dating Game"
"Temptation Island"
"The Blame Game"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer
"The Dating Game" is an icon of 1960s and '70s American pop culture.
In this show, teams featured one celebrity and one noncelebrity contestant. One had to guess a secret word while being fed clues by their teammate a single word at a time. The show's announcer would whisper the secret word to the TV audience.
"Password"
"Masquerade Party"
"High-Low"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer
"Password" was a long-running show and was one of the first game shows to feature a bonus round.
On this relationship game, the audience voted on which of three contestants a player should date. Then a couple discussed a date they'd already been on to see if the audience had chosen well and to determine whether they should go on a second date.
"Love Connection"
"Change of Heart"
"Next"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer
If the contestant and audience agreed, they'd made a successful "Love Connection."
This simple show had a panel of contestants trying to guess the occupation of a guest (or the identity of a hidden celebrity guest) based on a series of questions.
Instead of selecting someone to go on a date with in the studio, this dating game show featured people being cut from contention in the course of an ongoing group date until only one dating partner remained.
"ElimiDate"
"Paradise Hotel"
"Blind Date"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer
"ElimiDate" was a popular late night show due to its risque situations.
Competing teams of relatives try to correctly guess the top answers to a series of surveys on this game show.
"Family Feud"
"The Big Payoff"
"Break the Bank"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer
"Family Feud" has had several hosts over the decades, most of them known for their comedic reactions to the frequently risque answers given by contestants.
Originally British, this show launched a prime-time game show revival in the U.S. and made famous the question "is that your final answer?"
"The Weakest Link"
"1 vs. 100"
"Who Wants to Be a Millionaire"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer
The correct answer to "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" is, presumably, "everyone except billionaires." And since this is the last question of the quiz, this is indeed your final answer.
