Game Shows Then & Now! See How Our Favorites Have Lasted and Been Reinvented

Author:
Megan O'Neill Melle
Nov 5, 2021

“Anybody can be a winner, anybody can be rich, anybody can achieve fame.” That’s how Jeopardy! host AlexTrebek explained game-show popularity to Parade in 2019. The beloved Trebek may be gone, but fans’ passion for game shows endures. Here are some favorite oldies and current shows where you can “come on down,” “name that tune,” “buy a vowel” and so much more.

The Best Game Shows

Wheel of Fortune/Celebrity Wheel of Fortune

VannaWhite and PatSajak have been inviting contestants to spin the wheel since 1983 and now welcome stars to solve puzzles to win money for charity on season 2 of Celebrity Wheel of Fortune. Watch Sundays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC or stream on abc.com or Hulu

To Tell the Truth

The original To Tell the Truth began in 1956 on CBS and featured a celeb panel that guessed which of the three contestants were imposters and which one was the real deal. Most recently, Black-ish star AnthonyAnderson and his mother, MamaDoris, host its ABC revival. Watch original episodes on YouTube; watch reboot Sundays at 10 p.m. ET on ABC or stream on abc.com or Hulu

Jeopardy

Here’s your clue: It has more Emmys (39) than any other game show. Answer: “What is Jeopardy!?” The show has run from 1964 to 1975 and 1984 to the present (with host Trebek until his death in 2020). Today’s version with MayimBialak as host is going strong. Last month, Yale Ph.D. student MattAmodio made history with the second-longest Jeopardy! winning streak (38 games) and the third-largest nontournament cash haul: $1,518,601. Watch daily on your local station

Supermarket Sweep

Comedian and Supermarket Sweep superfan LeslieJones is now hosting the show, which first aired in 1965. Teams today are vying for more dough ($100,000) but still answering grocery-related questions to earn time and advantages for a shopping spree. Watch Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on ABC

The Dating Game/The Celebrity Dating Game

On the original ABC matchmaking show, The Dating Game (1965–74), a bachelorette or bachelor chose a date from three eligible contestants she or he couldn’t see. Future stars TomSelleck, FarrahFawcett and JimCarrey all played the game. It’s been reincarnated as TheCelebrity Dating Game, hosted by ZooeyDeschanel and MichaelBolton. Watch Mondays at 10 p.m. ET on ABC or stream on abc.com or Hulu

What's My Line

Celebrity panelists on the long-running CBS hit What’s My Line? (1950–67) tried to figure out the occupations of everyday people through a series of yes or no Qs. “Mystery guests” included such showbiz greats as JulieAndrews and AlfredHitchcock. Stream on Amazon Prime

Family Game Fight

Inspired by DaxShepard and KristinBell’s competitive antics on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, new NBC competition series Family GameFight pits the couple against each other when two families of four “adopt” the celebs and attempt to win $100,000. Watch Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET on NBC or stream on nbc.com or Peacock

Name That Tune/Don't Forget the Lyrics/The Singing Bee

Today’s Don't Forget the Lyrics! and The Singing Bee can thank Name That Tune for their famous formats of offering contestants just a few notes to figure out a song. What originated on NBC Radio in 1952 has seen many iterations, including Fox’s most recent revamp of the show with JaneKrakowski and RandyJackson. Stream on fox.com or Hulu

Survey Says…

Who can forget the most memorable slogans in game show history?

“You are the weakest link. Goodbye.” AnneRobinson’s “The Queen of Mean” alter-ego dished out frosty glares, snarky quips and this cold closing to contestants on BBC's quiz show The Weakest Link.
“Come on down!” The legendary BobBarker was accompanied by a series of CBS announcers over the years, including JohnnyOlson, who first urged The Price Is Right contestants to “Come on down!”
“Is that your final answer?” RegisPhilbin famously asked this question to players locking in their answers on ABC’s Who Wants to be a Millionaire.
“Let’s make a deal!” During his 30 years as host, MontyHall said “Let’s make a deal” to costume-clad audience members in more than 4,000 episodes. WayneBrady stars in the current CBS reboot.