In today’s world where the term entertainment means slightly different depending on who you ask and where we are spoilt for choice thanks to online streaming platforms, wouldn't it be lovely to gather around a single TV with family and friends to watch something everyone could enjoy together? Cracking jokes and munching on tasty snacks with loved ones while something fun and entertaining plays on the screen? Game shows are the very embodiment of such a notion!
Tima Miroshnichenko/Pexels | Game shows entertain your entire family, irrespective of the age group they belong to
Game shows entertain your entire family, irrespective of the age group someone belongs to. They tickle their bones, heighten their anticipation, and give them that perfect dose of fun and frolic that usual TV shows, well, don’t. But won’t you agree that when compared to today, the game shows of the past were so much better? Those classics were something we all miss even today. That’s why we’ve rounded up five of the best TV game shows of all time in this post. So gear up for a walk down memory lane.
#1 - “Password”
You might remember this game from Jimmy Fallon's “The Tonight Show,” but its original version dates back all the way to the year 1960. The game consisted of two teams, including a celebrity player and a regular contestant. Each player would get a password that he had to explain to the other one without revealing the word itself. The show became even more engaging and the fun became twofold when people covered their TV screens with their hands and asked their family members to guess, just like the contestants.
Everett Collection | You might remember this game from Jimmy Fallon's The Tonight Show, but its original version aired in 1960
#2 - “Hollywood Squares”
Originating in the '60s, “Hollywood Squares” consisted of a host sitting in the center with the show’s cast surrounding him. The game was similar to “Match Game” and was solely dependent on the host and panelists' interaction. Of course, it was the players who elevated the game, but the panel made a huge contribution too.
#3 - “Cash Cab”
Somewhat similar to “Carpool Karaoke,” only without the music and the celebrities, this game was a total blast back in the day. The show gave out cash prizes to the contestants for answering a few simple questions and even dropped them to their desired location free of charge later on.
#4 - “Tic-Tac-Dough”
With Tic-Tac-Toe being is so interesting on paper, imagine how much fun watching it live on your TV screen would be. And when you're getting money for placing X's and O's in the right place, it doesn’t get any better or easier than this.
#5 - “The Newlywed Game”
Who doesn't love watching couples guess each other's likes and dislikes? We all do, right? Well, this TV show was based on this concept entirely. “The Newlywed Game” had newly married couples playing against each other for a luxurious second honeymoon trip. The most interesting part of this challenge was when things would start going haywire and it almost felt like, instead of a second honeymoon, the couple was destined for a divorce lawyer’s office afterward.
#6 - “What's My Line?”
The most classic show in the history of television, “What's My Line?” had four celebrity panelists taking a shot at the contestants’ work area of expertise. They used to guess what kind of job a contestant might be involved in, and the trick was that each participant was so well dressed and polished that it was hard to make out their profession from their appearance alone.
Hulton Archive/ Getty Images | The most classic show in the history of television, “What's My Line?”, had four celebrity panelists taking a shot at the contestants’ work line
So, which of these shows was your favorite?
