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Game Shows-Was there a time that TPIR, Wheel and J! the only game shows to watch?

> I don't think it was a cultural shift as much as
> overexposure of the games. In 1975, for example, there were some 30 game
> shows on the networks and in syndication; although that
> number decreased gradually between 1975 and 1980, there were still
> a LOT of them on the air, and people simply got tired of
> them.
>

It also depends on your definition of a game show as well. If you consider the competition-based "reality" shows or poker shows "game shows", there's a lot on the air right now.

But back to the original question, although it got close in the mid 90s, there hasn't really been a time that those were the only three true game shows on television. Family Feud was on until 1995 and was back on in 1999, Match Game had a one year revival for the 1998-99 season, Newlywed Game/Dating Game were also on in the late 90s as well as one year of Debt was syndicated. Plus there were a plethora of cable games (Debt, Supermarket Sweep, whatever MTVs show was that week, etc.), there's never been an era where TPIR/Wheel/Jeopardy were the only 3.


--Mike
 
>
> It also depends on your definition of a game show as well.
> If you consider the competition-based "reality" shows or
> poker shows "game shows", there's a lot on the air right
> now.
>
> But back to the original question, although it got close in
> the mid 90s, there hasn't really been a time that those were
> the only three true game shows on television. Family Feud
> was on until 1995 and was back on in 1999, Match Game had a
> one year revival for the 1998-99 season, Newlywed
> Game/Dating Game were also on in the late 90s as well as one
> year of Debt was syndicated. Plus there were a plethora of
> cable games (Debt, Supermarket Sweep, whatever MTVs show was
> that week, etc.), there's never been an era where
> TPIR/Wheel/Jeopardy were the only 3.
>
>
> --Mike
>
Very true, but even now, there's Feud and Millionaire, so we still haven't hit just three. I think Street Smarts left syndication this season, so it was still in the mix up until last year. The Hollywood Squares also had its 98-05 revival, keeping the number of game shows higher.

Elimidate (or whatever it was called) fell into the Dating/Newlywed vein of game/relationship shows.
 
> But to me, the best cable game show of all time has to be
> Remote Control (which also begat a broadcast version, once a
> week for one season). A classic!
>

"Remote Control" was a TV-and-music-themed quiz show that was high on humor. Host Ken Ober and announcer/sidekick Colin Quinn both came from standup comedy. Adam Sandler and, I believe, Denis Leary, along with head writer John ten Eyck, were bit players who appeared during some of the show's questions.

Steve Trecasse was the house musician, and there were four different "babes" in the cast: Marisol Massey [series 1]; Kari Wuhrer [the most recognized; series 2 and 3]; Alicia Coppola [series 4]; and Susan Ashley [series 5]. Both Alicia and Susan also appeared on the syndicated weekly version.

A friend told me that "Remote Control" was to game shows what David Letterman was to Mike Douglas.
 
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