Game show
A game show is a reality television program where people play a game for points, with the goal of winning money or prizes. Different game shows use different games. Most test the players' knowledge, skill, or cleverness. Many game shows incorporate some element of chance; for example, in Wheel of Fortune, contestants spin a wheel to determine how much prize money they will get for a correct letter.
Some game shows have the contestants compete against other individual contestants; other game shows group contestants into teams. Some game shows have regular people as the contestants. Other game shows have celebrities such as movie actors or musicians as the contestants.
Many game shows air on the Game Show Network.
The first game shows were on radio.
Prizes
Game shows often reward people with money, holidays, or cars. These prizes are often given by the people or group of people that give the game show money to run. The people who give the game show money to run are called sponsors.
Examples
Examples of game shows include:
- Press Your Luck (1983-1986)
- Jeopardy! (1964)
- Wheel of Fortune (1973)
- Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? (1999)
- Match Game (1962-1982)
- Family Feud (1976)
- Blockbusters
- The Price is Right (1972)
- The Weakest Link (2000)
- Card Sharks
- Deal or No Deal (2005)
- Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? (2007)
- Snatch Game (2010)
Game Show Media
United States Armed Forces participate in Wheel of Fortune with Pat Sajak.
1938 radio quiz show Whiz Kids on WHN Radio in New York
Tupla tai kuitti (1958–1988), a Finnish game show with show host Kirsti Rautiainen (left) and competitor Markku Kivekäs (right) in 1965.
The 1998 British game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? went on to be licensed internationally (Salvadoran version pictured).
Modern production values on a 2023 episode of the Chilean game show ¡Qué dice Chile!, a localised version of Family Feud
A BMW Isetta being presented as a prize on a 1957 episode of The Price Is Right