Prompt Cast
The Rise, Fall, and Comeback of Game Shows in America
TLDR Game shows first appeared on television in the UK with a spelling bee, but gained popularity in the US in the 1930s. They went through various phases, from being skill-based quiz shows to entertaining and dumb shows in the 70s, and eventually made a comeback in the late 90s and early 2000s with bigger prizes and more complicated gameplay.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
The first game show on television was a British spelling bee, but it wasn't well received, leading to the development of more popular game shows in America.
06:04
Game shows started coming on TV in the U.S. in 1939 and by the 50s, they were some of the top rated shows on television, with the format being quiz shows that required skill and smarts, but producers realized they could manipulate the shows and cheat to make them more dramatic and build up certain contestants.
11:50
Game shows in the 70s got rid of the need for contestants to have knowledge or skill and instead focused on being entertaining and dumb, with shows like The Match Game and The Newlywed Game featuring drunk celebrities and contestants who only had to fill in the blanks or guess answers.
17:47
Game shows made a big comeback in the 70s and moved from prime time to daytime, becoming a dominant force on TV with nine straight game shows airing on NBC every weekday between 9:30 and 2pm, and they were able to make a comeback because they were cheap to produce and executives were risk averse.
23:41
Game shows in the 70s were able to pay for their production costs and make a profit by trading free products for plugs on the show and charging for ad revenue, making them cheap to produce.
29:46
Game shows in the 70s, such as Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy, became some of the most popular TV shows in American history, with Wheel of Fortune becoming the longest running syndicated game show in American television history.
36:10
Game shows in the late 80s and early 90s lost popularity and almost went extinct, with only a few shows like The Price is Right and Family Feud still filming, but eventually game shows made a comeback.
41:57
Game shows started to make a comeback in the late 90s and early 2000s, with executives stealing good game shows from other countries and introducing shows like "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" and "Deal or No Deal" with bigger prizes and more complicated gameplay.
47:51
Game shows are cheap to produce, leading to their popularity in many countries, including the US, France, the UK, and Japan, where they are known for their crazy and unique concepts.
53:50
Game shows can be tough to get on, with thousands of people trying out for shows like Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy, but the experience and requirements vary depending on the show, with some shows like The Price Is Right focusing more on personality than intelligence.
59:45
Game show contestants often have to wait around for long periods of time and follow strict rules and regulations, as game shows are closely monitored and regulated by the FCC to prevent cheating and collusion.
01:05:18
Michael Larson cracked the game show Press Your Luck by discovering that the lights and boards were not random, but followed five repeating patterns, allowing him to win a record-breaking $110,237.
01:10:50
Michael Larson withdrew $50,000 in $1 bills from the bank, memorized the serial numbers, but ultimately lost the money when his house was robbed, and he later died while on the run from the FBI and IRS for his involvement in a foreign lottery scam.
Categories:
Society & Culture
