Top Ten Game Shows

Been a few days since I've counted something down, but during my blogging hiatus, I was able to catch a few minutes of "The Price is Right," which, in my opinion, has recently gone down hill faster than the Mountain Climber himself when the contestant overshoots the price. Nevertheless, seeing the show made me wonder - What are the best game shows of all time? Of course, taking into consideration that I've only ever seen a small portion of the multitudes of game shows ever created, this isn't exactly the most comprehensive list, but nonetheless, here is MY list of the
Top Ten American Game Shows...

10) Wheel of Fortune

• WoF made the list by the skin of Pat Sajak's teeth, because I personally don't like the show. BUT, it's continued popularity coupled with the fact that the same host and, ah,- letter turner, for close to three decades couldn't be ignored.

9) The Match Game

• The Match Game from the 70's and 80's was great... Gene Rayurn's double entandre questions, and the provocative answers by the star studded panel earns this oldie but goodie got on the list. "How provocative were they?!?"

8) Love Connection

• The best part of the show wasn't when a love connection was made, but when the couples had the worst time ever. Didn't we all love listening to the people dish on each other?? Besides, Chuck Woolery had to make the list with something - God knows he tried his hand at enough game shows.

7) Who Wants to Be a Millionaire

• When this show first came out, was there an American that didn't tune in? It was great fun to play along, and of course, to make fun of the contestants that couldn't make it passed the $1000 mark. This game show makes the list at #8 - Final Answer.

6) The Dating Game

• It was always fun to tune in and watch the desperately-seeking single make an absolutely horrible choice! God knows she wouldn't have chosen bachelor #2 in his blue leisure suit if that wall hadn't been there, right?

5) Press Your Luck

• One Word - WHAMMY!

4) Jeopardy

• Alex Trebek's smugness doesn't hurt this show at all... we all wish we were smart enough to answer a third of the questions, while also being the first person to buzz in. It's an all-time classic.

3) Let's Make a Deal

• The only thing wrong with this show is that it isn't on the air anymore. Where else could you see a grown man dressed in a bonnet and a giant diaper, who just won a goat and a bale of hay. Even down to the closing credits people were making fools of themselves... "I'll give $50 to the first person who can give me a hard-boiled egg!" The weird thing was, someone always had whatever obscure item Monty Hall asked for!

2) The Price is Right

• In a nationwide poll, TPIR would likely be number one in a countdown, and with games like Plinko, Punchboard, and the Dice Game it's easy to see why. It probably would have been #1 in Countdown Heaven too, except for the recent Drew Carey years. It just isn't the same without Bob Barker. Not even close.

1) Family Feud

• This show is great no matter who the host is - it's gone through several incarnations - from the original host, Richard Dawson, to Ray Combs, to Louie Anderson, and now even that guy from Home Improvement - it is always good. But then, it has to be good - the premise of the show is to select the top answers to questions - kind of a countdown of a sort, when you think about it!