Welcome! - A Reboot

(This is a reboot of the blog. I'm going to try to post something on a regular basis. I didn't want to leave it sitting there for nearly a year without posting anything.)

Hi! I'm SamtheBravesFan and welcome to a little corner of my world where there are tests of skill, knowledge and wit! Merriment abounds and big big prizes are given away!

I'm talking, of course, about the game show.

I'd like to begin this blog by listing the game shows in United States television history that have had first-runs on the air for at least 10 years:

1. The Price is Right
CBS Daytime, September 4, 1972 - present (40 years)

2. Wheel of Fortune
Syndicated, September 19, 1983 - present (29 years)

3. Jeopardy!
Syndicated, September 17, 1984 - present (28 years)

4. What's My Line?
CBS Primetime, February 2, 1950 - September 3, 1967 (17 years, 7 months)

5. Wheel of Fortune
NBC/CBS Daytime, January 6, 1975 - January 11, 1991 (16 years, 9 months)

6. I've Got A Secret
CBS Primetime, Jun 19, 1952 - April 3, 1967 (14 years, 10 months)

7. Concentration
NBC Daytime, August 25, 1958 - March 23, 1973 (14 years, 7 months)

8. The Hollywood Squares
NBC Daytime, October 17, 1966 - June 20, 1980 (13 years, 8 months)

9. Let's Make A Deal
NBC/ABC Daytime, Decemeber 30, 1963 - July 9, 1976 (12 years, 6 months)

10. G.E. College Bowl
CBS/NBC Weekend (serial), January 4, 1959 - June 14, 1970 (11 years, 5 months)

11. Love Connection
Syndicated, September 19, 1983 - September 1994 (11 years)

12. You Bet Your Life
NBC Primeitme, October 5, 1950 - September 3, 1961 (11 years)

13. Jeopardy!
NBC Daytime, March 30, 1964 - January 3, 1975 (10 years, 9 months)

14. To Tell The Truth
CBS Primetime, December 18, 1956 - September 25, 1966 (10 years, 5 months)

Each of these twelve shows stayed on the air for so long based on four reasons:

• Personable hosts
• Contestants people want to root for
• Engaging gameplay or format
• Colorful sets

TV personalities ranging from Groucho Marx to Richard Dawson, Bill Cullen to Alex Trebek made the shows come alive for the viewers at home with wit, humor, and a flair for the dramatic. The contestants were just everyday people looking to win nice things, especially cash and new cars, and they became just as important as the rest of the program.

The games that they played were probably the most important element, as those were the reason the shows exist. People watch game shows to be entertained. If they can play along at home, they would be more engaged and apt to watch.

The last entry on the list became much more of a factor in the 1970s with the color television becoming more commonplace. Game shows took that to a new level with big, attractive sets with a large, diverse array of colors.

I love game shows mostly for the gameplay. Interesting sets and good hosts add much to the experience. The aim of this blog will be to highlight the best and worst, the good and the bad, the worthy and unworthy of this great television genre. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy writing about it! :)