I've split this page into 2 categories: Favorites and Honorable Mentions. For each show, I have given the broadcast history (only of those versions of the show I'm familiar with), a general rule sheet, and my reasons why I enjoyed the show.

In the summer of 2006, Game Show Network aired a special series of shows honoring "The 50 Greatest Game Shows of All Time". Discussion about these shows was very animated all summer long. In response to GSN's countdown, game show fan and Bill Cullen historian Matt Ottinger brought the community together to compile our own list of the 50 greatest shows ever. The results are now posted below, along with GSN's and TV Guide's lists of the 10 Greatest Game Show Hosts.

Now, back to my favorite shows. And awaaaaay we go!

RULES:
Two players compete. Each has a row of 5 giant cards drawn from a standard deck. The object is to make it to the end of your row by predicting if the next card is higher or lower in value than the last.

Players earn the chance to guess at their cards by answering survey questions. One player makes a guess out of 100 responses, while the other guesses if the actual number is higher or lower than that guess. The winner plays their cards, with the option to change the first card they play. The first to get to the end of their row wins $100, and the first to win 2 games wins the match and goes to the Money Cards.

At the Money Cards, the player was given $200 and 7 cards. He/she could wager from $50 to all their money on their next prediction. A bonus $400 ($200 in the 70's run) was offered after 3 cards, and a player had to wager at least 1/2 if they made it to the "Big Bet", The 7th and final card.

In the 2001 remake, the format was revamped. 2 players played off of the same line of 7 cards, and could change the card they were on if they correctly played a "Clip Chip", which involved predicting a Candid Camera-type sequence. The first player to win 2 hands won $1000, and faced the winner of a second match of 2 players in one final hand for an additional $1100.

For the Money Cards in this version, the $2100 earned in the main game was split between the 3 rows, $700 to each. The cards were played in a row of 3, then 2, and finally the Big Bet, with one change allowed on each row. The maximum possible winnings was $51,800.

BREAKDOWN:
This was another ultimate game of chance. Suspense reigned here, and often thousands of dollars were at stake in the Money Cards bonus game on one guess.

The questions that were asked on Card Sharks were often very interesting, and sometimes unusual to boot. Not only were they a "test of human nature" as the show said, but sometimes a test of the opinions of certain cultures. This often made the answers just as much of a surprise. I've often wondered how some questions would be answered compared to 10 or 20 years ago.

As far as the hosts, Jim Perry and Bob Eubanks both did excellent jobs. Between the two, I have to give the slight nod to Perry for his suspenseful approach, which was occasionally better than Eubanks' speed. But both easily kept the game exciting, and kept me coming back for more.

I HAVE finally seen Bill Rafferty's run at the show thanks to GSN. I personally have no problem with his hosting. And his prize cards format did prove interesting. Some have a fuss with it, but I'm not one of them, because it didn't change the dynamics of the game, just what you could win.

Sadly, it's a fact that Card Sharks' reputation has since been slightly tarnished with the 2001 remake. Syndication is often is a very fickle thing, and trying to fit a show like Card Sharks into a half hour format with no cliffhangers is impossible. The "Clip Chips" were all right, but they did not belong in this show at all, the card calling suddenly became a weak format because of the rule changes, and Pat Bullard had nowhere near the same excitement level as his predecessors. Sorry, Pat, but it's true.

RULES:
3 players compete to give the "questions" to a series of answers. 2 rounds are played, each with 6 categories. Answers in the 1st round range from $200-$1000, and doubled to $400-$2000 in the 2nd round. (Before November 2001, these values were half.) Along the way, a player may encounter a "Daily Double", where they could answer a question unopposed for any or all of their earnings.

In the "Final Jeopardy!", each player wagers any or all of their cash on one final subject. The player with the most money after this one answer keeps their winnings and returns on the next show.

Originally, champions were retired after winning 5 days in a row. As of the 2003-4 season, champions can now play forever until defeated, a rule that was used to the fullest extent by Ken Jennings, a software engineer from Salt Lake City, Utah, who became the biggest winner in game show history, winning $2,522,700 in 74 victories from June 2-November 30, 2004.

The biggest winners of the season are invited back later for the annual Tournament of Champions.

BREAKDOWN:
I may not watch this show too much, but it's good to watch and play along with (and I'm sure we were all watching when Ken was doing his thing). As the world's only answer-&-question show, this is the mental test for all. You always try and surprise yourself to see how much you know about certain things. Heck, I surprise myself all the time. But if you're going to try out for this show, you MUST be a whiz at Final Jeopardy, and it makes or breaks many games.

For the hosts, Alex Trebek is outstanding. He shows good humor, even though he's a little too stonefaced. He reminds me of my dad. (Heck, they have the same birthday, no fooling!) But going back to the old days, I have seen 2 episodes of Art Fleming's Jeopardy! from back in the mid and late 70s. I admit he's a great host, mostly because he's that committed to the game, and he connects to the contestants a lot better than Trebek does. Alex may try, but he doesn't hold a candle to Fleming.

RULES:
3 players compete to win host Ben Stein's cash. In Round 1, players select from any of 5 oddly-titled categories for the questions. Correct answers are worth $50-$150 from Ben's $5000 pot, and earn that player a $50 bonus question. At the end of the round, the player with the least money is eliminated, sacrificing his/her money back to Ben.

In Round 2, Ben Stein becomes the 3rd player while sidekick Jimmy Kimmel reads the questions. Correct answers are worth $200-$500, but no money is lost when Ben answers right. At the end of this round, the player with the most money gets to keep it and face Ben in the "Best-of-10 Test of Knowledge" for the entire $5000.

In that final round, both Ben and the player are read the same 10 questions in their own isolation booths, and if the player gets more right than Ben, he/she wins the $5000. In the event of a tie, he/she wins a $1000 bonus to whatever was won in the main game.

BREAKDOWN:
I couldn't mention Jeopardy without mentioning this brave counterpart on Comedy Central. This became an instant favorite of mine. This is another heavy mental test, often even harder than Jeopardy!, and always ready to dis it, too. :)

In addition to some categories with hilarious puns in their names, Ben Stein and Jimmy Kimmel have proven to be not just a great hosting duo, but a great comedy duo as well. After Jimmy defected to host The Man Show (which held my attention for one episode), I felt as though the show lost a step. Nancy Pimental was great on the comedy, but slow on the questions, as I saw many Best-of-10's run short on time before all 10 questions were asked. Sal Iacono, Jimmy Kimmel's cousin, was in the middle between the two, as was on pace with Nancy's wit and Jimmy's question speed. Overall, though, all the co-hosts did an admirable job where no one brought the show down.

But the most exciting and innovative aspect of the show is how Ben IS risking his own money every show. Plus, this is the first game show I can remember where the host actually plays against the contestants. All these great concepts proved why the show lasted for 5 1/2 years.

RULES:
4 players compete at one time. (All players are selected from the studio audience with the famous words: "COME ON DOWN!") The players bid on an item, trying to be the closest without overbidding. The winner comes up on stage to play a random pricing game for bonus prizes. This is done 6 times each show.

After 3 games, the 3 players who got on stage spin the Big Wheel for a chance to earn a spot in the Showcase. Whoever spins the closest to $1.00 without going over wins. Scoring $1.00 exactly wins $1,000 and a bonus spin, where hitting the $1.00 again wins another $10,000, or hitting the space on either side of the $1.00 wins $5,000.

In the Showcase, each player is given a collection of prizes to bid on. (Who gets which showcase is decided by the player who has won more.) Whoever bids closer to their showcase without going over wins their showcase. If the bid is within $250, the player wins both showcases.

BREAKDOWN:
If you don't love Bob Barker, you can't truly be a game show fan. For 34 years and over 6,000 shows and counting, TPIR continues to be the best fan-friendly game show in the business. Bob works with the best and worst of contestants, and never fails to lose the excitement level. The announcers of the show's history also have a hand in that excitement, from the late Johnny Olsen and Rod Roddy to Rich Fields today.

Even most of the other hosts the show's syndicated history proved that the show has great legs even when Bob's not hosting. Dennis James and Tom Kennedy were especially good, and Doug Davidson... well, he tried. But I loved that new set.

One of the other things that keeps the show entertaining is how they introduce new games and new wrinkles to the show each and every season. Even moreso, the fact that more attempts are made to give away cash prizes make the show better as well. (Hey, you need something for the taxes.)

Overall, this show is a legend. It was the fan's choice as winner of the 1999 and 2000 Game Show Tournaments (defeating PYL and Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? in the final matches). It's a show that will hopefully be around for years to come, even if Bob isn't. Bob, a tip of the hat to you. You are more than deserving.

And the legend of Price CONTINUES to grow, thanks to "The Price Is Right Live", a brand new stage show that has run since 2003 in casinos across the country. Todd Newton, Mark L. Wahlberg, Marc Summers, Michael Berger, and many others of the game show fraternity have been doing a marvelous job bringing the fun and games across the country. I've seen the show several times in Atlantic City, and I haven't been disappointed yet. Now I just have to win...

And I would be remissed if I did not mention about the spectacular job that Bill Cullen did of hosting the original Price Is Right back in the 50's and 60's. He played well with the show and the contestants. The rules of that version made it more challenging to win in my opinion, but it made you think that much more. Mr. Cullen, you can look down from the heavens with a smile and know that you blessed us with a great tradition that we carry to this day.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

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PYRAMID

RULES:
2 teams compete, each with a player and a celebrity partner. Each team tries to describe 7 related times to their partner within 30 seconds. Each team did this 3 times, and the team with the highest score went to the Winner's Circle.

In the Winner's Circle, the celebrity gave 6 lists of items to the player, and the player had to determine the common bond of each list. Correctly answering all 6 won the player $10,000. If the same player makes it to the Winner's Circle both times in the same show, the 2nd trip is worth $25,000.

In the $100,000 Pyramid, a special tournament was held periodically, where the 3 champions who won at the Winner's Circle in the shortest length of time returned. In this tournament, the players competed daily in a round robin style, and the first player to win at the Winner's Circle would win $100,000.

In 2002, the rules were tweaked where players answered 6 items in 20 seconds in the main game, and BOTH Winner's Circle rounds had to be won to earn the $25,000. Winning the $25,000 qualified you for the $100,000 Tournament, whose format varied depending on the number of players who qualified.

BREAKDOWN:
This wasn't one of my greatest favorites when I was little, but in USA reruns it grew on me. Dick Clark was always a great host, and his vast knowledge helped show where contestants went wrong. My personal favorite version was the $100,000 tournaments. I remember taping the reruns a few years back so Tracy & I could watch & hope that the lucky contestant would make it to the top & take the big bucks home. Nailbiters galore. That's what made it so good.

When the show came back in 2002, I was very psyched. I even tried out! Donny was fabulous at the helm, although I wish that he would have been able to try failed Winner's Circle categories like Dick did. The 6-in-20 format also made the game more challenging than ever for the hardcore players, and that's always a plus. This show was pulled too quickly, but hopefully, we'll see it again someday.

RULES:
3 players compete to be the first to solve a puzzle. One player spins a giant wheel containing various cash amounts and penalties, and guesses a consonant that they think is in the puzzle. At any time, that player may also spend $250 to place a vowel in the puzzle. However, anytime a player chooses a letter not in the puzzle, or lands on a penalty on the wheel, control passes to the next player. Whoever is the first to solve the puzzle keeps their winnings, and after several rounds, the player with the most winnings goes to the bonus round.

In the bonus round, one final puzzle is shown. The player is given all R, S, T, L, N, and E's in the puzzle, and can select 3 more consonants and 1 more vowel to add to it. Guessing the puzzle then within 10 seconds wins a large bonus prize, which is determined by a spin of one final wheel. The prize can be one of a pair of cars, or cash ranging from $25,000 to $100,000.

BREAKDOWN:
While this isn't one of my present favorites, it still is a good show. Loved it growing up, had many of the home games, and obsessed with making my own wheels. Pat Sajak & Vanna White are still legends. I've always felt that this show is good for kids to watch, as they can learn context phonics through trying to solve the puzzles. Give it a shot. You might be surprised.

In its earlier years, the show was really interesting as well. Chuck Woolery and Susan Stafford were an incredible team themselves, and the shopping era that lasted all the way until 1989 was interesting in its own right (although you know me: Cash is king.) To see some episodes from this era looked like, check out my special Lost Wheel Page.

For the record, my biggest problem with the show presently is that it seems to have gotten lazy. For instance, the puzzle categories are now so disperse that they give away the puzzle almost immediately. Furthermore, the wheel itself lacks any creativity anymore, as only ONE space on the entire wheel changes from round to round. Not to mention that I've noticed that over the years, the wheel has become louder, while also being harder to spin. These problems have been relieved a tiny bit by the concepts of the Jackpot and Mystery rounds, but it's still not the same as it once was.

RULES:
2 players compete at solving single word puzzles. A clue is given to a word ranging from 5 to 9 letters, and one player select two "tiles" to show letters that might be in the word. That player chooses a letter, and it is placed in its correct place. If the letter is not in the puzzle, the other player gets control. The first to guess 3 words wins.

The main game is played on a board similar to the actual Scrabble board game. Included on the board are blue and pink colored squares. Anytime a player guesses a word when the last letter they placed rests in won of these colored squares, the player wins bonus money ($500 for a blue square, $1,000 for a pink square).

In the next round, the "Scrabble Sprint" round, the winner of the main game faced the returning champion. Each player competed one at a time to guess 3 words in the fastest time, placing one of 2 letters in each word one by one. The winner received $1,500, with 5-time winners earning $20,000.

In 1986, the Sprint round was changed. This time, the winner of the first main game (possibly the returning champion) did a Sprint round of 4 words, setting the time for the winner of the 2nd main game to beat. The winner of the Sprint earned $1,000, and a chance to play a Bonus Sprint round. In the Bonus Sprint, the player had to solve 2 words in under 10 seconds to win a jackpot of $5,000. This jackpot increased $1,000 each day it wasn't won.

BREAKDOWN:
This was another show which I thought could help the kids learn context. Also a good challenge level. Chuck Woolery knew how to have fun and keep the game moving. Had some fun with it, although trying to make my own version of the game is a major stretch. Thankfully, that's why someone else is hosting the Net version. :-) (I'm getting better, though.)

RULES:
2 players compete, playing off a board with 3 columns of 3 numbers from 1 to 9 (each number is on the board once). By answering questions, the players can roll the dice to knock numbers off the board, or pass the dice to their opponent and hope they roll a number that can't be taken off the board. Anytime a column is cleared of numbers, the player earns the prize or special bonus contained within the column. Alos, anytime a player rolled a double, an "insurance marker" was received. This gave the player a free roll whenever they rolled a number that could not be done.

A player wins the game by knocking the last number(s) off the board, or if their opponent rolls a bad number and has no insurance markers. The winner receives all the prizes they earned, or $100 if they had no columns cleared. The first to win 2 games won the match.

In the bonus game, the champion faced "The Big Numbers", where they tried to knock off all 9 numbers. $100 was earned for each number, and blacking out all 9 won $10,000.

BREAKDOWN:
Dice and other gambling games of chance were always an obsession of mine growing up, and this version of High Rollers from 87-88 helped it along. Wink Martindale did OK with this show, which had a decent idea. Always liked to play my own version of The Big Numbers bonus game as well, because the concept is very simple. If you don't have John Ricci's version of the game, I suggest you download it.

Now, I have two episodes of Alex Trebek's version of High Rollers from the 70's. I must say that aside from Alex's goofy nature that day, the game itself was a bit more obscure. The prizes seemed like stuff no one would normally want (by the end of the run, anyway), and the Big Numbers only paid $5,000, not 10. But the game itself was still smooth, and for that, it's still good.

RULES:
2 players try to reach $500 first by answering question from categories selected by a giant slot machine, aka "The Joker Machine". When a player spun each of the 3 windows would show a category or a Joker, which was wild and could represent any category. A single was worth $50 for a right answer, a double $100, and a triple $200. In the event 3 Jokers were spun, the player selected one category to answer a question from to automatically win the game. Both players were allowed an equal number of turns to try and reach $500 (expect for on a 3 Joker spin).

The winner of the game earned the chance to "Face The Devil". The wheels now contained money amounts from $25-$200, and a devil in one window. If a player could spin to $1000 without spinning the devil, that money along with a prize package was won. That player then played against a new challenger, and 5-time champions won a car as a bonus.

From 1982-84, a special feature was added to allow audience members to play at the end of the show. A special setup was made with each window containing amounts from $10-$100. Each of 3 players took one spin, and whoever earned the most played "Face The Devil". All players kept the money they spun regardless. In Bill Cullen's first season in 1984, this feature was altered to invite a "phone-home" contestant to play against 2 audience members.

In the 1990 revival, the rules changed. 3 players competed now, and the wheels contained dollar amounts from $5-$50. Players could answer as many questions as they were able, with a miss allowing an opponent to steal control. In addition, a Joker was in the 3rd window, and if hit, tripled the value of the other windows, and gave that player 15 seconds to answer as many questions as possible. Once a player reached $500, the player with the lowest score was eliminated. The other 2 then played to reach $2000, answering questions from a choice of categories.

Later in the show's run, the Joker Machine was changed to the "classic" Joker's Wild style. Categories and Jokers were back on the wheels. Singles were worth $25, doubles $50, and triples $100. If 3 Jokers were spun, a $250 bonus was earned, and a choice of 3 categories at $100 an answer. This time, the lowest scorer was eliminated after $1000, but the final 2 still continued to $2000.

The bonus game was played in 2 parts. First, the player had to guess as many words as possible in 60 seconds from 3 definitions. (All words started with the same letter.) Each right answer earned one spin at the Joker Machine. The wheels contained cash, prizes and Jokers. If a contestant could match all the windows in the number of spins they earned, they won that prize. Windows could be frozen at any time, and Jokers could be changed to any prize. 3 Jokers won a jackpot which began at $5000 and increased $500 each day not won.

BREAKDOWN:
While dice were a popular gambling game of mine, nothing compared (and still doesn't) to the slot machine. The Joker's Wild was a great show, Jack Barry's greatest creation. He did a great job with this show, all the way until his death in 1984. Bill Cullen and sub-host Jim Peck also did the show very proud as well.

Now, the 90's remake was not very good, and most of us missed it when it was originally on, seeing it in USA reruns instead. This was Pat Finn's first game show, and I can easily understand why Pat Finn has not been a popular host among game show fans. However, I liked the look of the '90 remake, holding it in even standing with the neon set from the 80's. Plus, the bonus game change with the "Match 3 Prizes" format made for a different spin on the game, and I preferred it much more than "Face The Devil".

RULES:
It's a standard game of tic-tac-toe. Two players, one playing X and the other playing O, compete to be the first to get 3 in a row. To earn a box, the player had to answer a question from a category that was shuffled into the chosen window. Earning the center box (which was always a 2-part question) added $300 to the pot, and all other boxes earned $200. Tie games carried the pot over to the next game. The first to get 3 in a row won the game and the pot. Champions who won 5 games won a car.

During the run, special red categories appeared on the board, each with different rules, and most involved both players. Favorites included the "Secret Category", which doubled the pot, "Jump-In Category", where the players would try to buzz in first with the answer, and "Bonus Category", where players could earn an extra turn by answering a 3-part question.

The winner played the bonus game. The player chose a box on the board, each holding dollar amounts from $100-$500, as well as a TIC and a TAC, and in one window, a dragon. Reaching $1000 or finding the TIC & TAC without finding the dragon won the money and a prize package.

In 1990, the rules were adjusted. In the main game, players shuffled the categories themselves with their buzzer, and all red categories were played by both players. The center box was $1000, all others $500. However, the pot reset after a tie game, and the stakes were doubled, then tripled, and so on, for each subsequent game.

In the bonus round, X's and O's were on the board, as well as a dragon and a dragonslayer. The player chose to use X's or O's, and then tried to find 3 in a row of their symbol, or find the dragonslayer. Players earned $500 for their first symbol, with each one after doubling the pot. If successful, the money in the pot and a prize package was won.

BREAKDOWN:
Who hasn't loved a game of tic-tac-toe? Tic Tac Dough and Hollywood Squares both used the format to perfection, but TTD has a faster pace that keeps you attention. Wink Martindale was a great host, and the snazzy theme song always kept me attracted to this test of knowledge. I even remember how I used to have one of those Toss Across games at home, & I used to flip to X's & O's as contestants earned the boxes. I had a lot of fun with this show.

By the way, what exactly happened that the CBS version was canned after 2 months, causing the jump to syndication?

As for the 1990 version? Well... I share the sentiment of my game show comrades.
1) Where in the world did they find Patrick Wayne in the first place?
2) The less that can be said about this version, the better.

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