Primetime Game Shows This Season...

[TimK2003]

This past season may have flown under the radar for this factoid:

For all of the primetime game shows that appeared on TV this season (short-lived, returning and special editions), does anyone know how this season compared with years past?  

It seems to me that if you include the "summer-replacement" series that have/are coming out, that we were pretty close to the average # of different primetime shows in the 50-60s era seasons, no?  Definitely, this was the biggest year in recent history.

What primetime season had the most game shows?

[Matt Ottinger]

As always, the answer to your question depends on how you're going to define a game show.  (Oh boy, THIS again!)

A quick check of Alex McNeil's Total Television says that the 1956-57 season began with fifteen game shows on the prime time schedule, and there were almost certainly more summer replacements.  (I didn't check other seasons, that one just felt like a good guess.) So if you're going to count every "reality" show that features some sort of competition, then yeah, this current season probably had that or more.  But if you're just counting traditional, studio-bound games, then I doubt there have been nearly that many.

[BrandonFG]

By my count:
-D/ND*
-1 vs. 100*
-Identity
-Rich List
-Show Me the Money
-National Bingo Night*
-Smarter Than a 5th Grader*

SUMMER:
-Set for Life
-Singing Bee*
-Don't Forget the Lyrics*
-Power of 10

*returning for 2007-08 season

Well, if you include the summer shows, that makes 11. Otherwise, I counted seven traditional game shows, not reality shows like American Idol or America's Got Talent. And despite what NBC says, D/ND is a game show, not "reality" like they want people to believe.

From what I remember, there were four in 1999-2000 (Millionaire, Greed, Winning Lines, and 21).

[Matt Ottinger]

[quote name=\'fostergray82\' post=\'158577\' date=\'Jul 25 2007, 02:19 PM\']Well, if you include the summer shows, that makes 11. [/quote]
What's impressive to me about that total is the success rate these shows are enjoying.  Six out of eleven scheduled to return, and it's possible we haven't seen the last of Identity.  I know the marketplace has changed, and inexpensive shows like this are easy to keep, but that's still pretty good odds.

[Chuck Sutton]

[quote name=\'TimK2003\' post=\'158555\' date=\'Jul 25 2007, 10:16 AM\']
For all of the primetime game shows that appeared on TV this season (short-lived, returning and special editions),
[/quote]


Given the nature of his question and including "special editions" wouldn't The Price is Right Million Dollar Speculars count as 12?

[SRIV94]

[quote name=\'fostergray82\' post=\'158577\' date=\'Jul 25 2007, 01:19 PM\']
-1 vs. 100*
*returning for 2007-08 season
[/quote]

Not necessarily.  Remember NBC revamped their fall sked and 1V100 is on the shelf for now.

[uncamark]

[quote name=\'SRIV94\' post=\'158605\' date=\'Jul 25 2007, 04:17 PM\']
[quote name=\'fostergray82\' post=\'158577\' date=\'Jul 25 2007, 01:19 PM\']
-1 vs. 100*
*returning for 2007-08 season
[/quote]

Not necessarily.  Remember NBC revamped their fall sked and 1V100 is on the shelf for now.
[/quote]

And "Lyrics" doesn't have a fall time slot yet, although I seemed to hear something about that "Great American Band" project being delayed, so it may go into whatever time slot that was down for.

[itiparanoid13]

1 VS 100 is doing casting calls for Mob and Ones starting in August, so it looks like they're finally plugging away which is a good sign.  So we'll see how long until it comes back.  I don't see Friday Night Lights or Chuck lasting that long, so maybe it can fill those holes.

[uncamark]

[quote name=\'itiparanoid13\' post=\'158702\' date=\'Jul 26 2007, 11:50 AM\']
1 VS 100 is doing casting calls for Mob and Ones starting in August, so it looks like they're finally plugging away which is a good sign.  So we'll see how long until it comes back.  I don't see Friday Night Lights or Chuck lasting that long, so maybe it can fill those holes.
[/quote]

Oh, Ben Silverman is probably going to be bombarded with footballs if he tries to cancel "FNL."  The fans for that show are almost as rabid as the "Jericho" nuts.

[itiparanoid13]

I got word back from someone who was at a play test for Power of 10 two days ago.  He said that both the $1,000,000 and $10,000,000 question gives you 10% to play with, or 5 points up and down.  If you miss, you go back down one level.  So you're risking $900,000 to go for $9,000,000.  I was hoping for something more creative, but it's better than the exacto gamble that was supposedly in the pilot.  Also, you can see how the audience voted for each question and you can ask your companion for their advice before you lock in your answer.    $50 says they zoom through the 0 in "10"

CBS also has a page up for Do You Trust Me.  I'm not entirely sure if you build your bank through questions about yourself or through trivia questions.  $50 also says they zoom through the O in "You".

[uncamark]

[quote name=\'itiparanoid13\' post=\'158720\' date=\'Jul 26 2007, 01:35 PM\']
I got word back from someone who was at a play test for Power of 10 two days ago.  He said that both the $1,000,000 and $10,000,000 question gives you 10% to play with, or 5 points up and down.  If you miss, you go back down one level.  So you're risking $900,000 to go for $9,000,000.  I was hoping for something more creative, but it's better than the exacto gamble that was supposedly in the pilot.  Also, you can see how the audience voted for each question and you can ask your companion for their advice before you lock in your answer.    $50 says they zoom through the 0 in "10"

CBS also has a page up for Do You Trust Me.  I'm not entirely sure if you build your bank through questions about yourself or through trivia questions.  $50 also says they zoom through the O in "You".
[/quote]

Just read the application for that show--talk about wanting to know every little thing about you!  All I recall from when I tried out for shows was nothing more than "What are your hobbies?"  And reading the release form on the last two pages is very eye-opening--they threaten you with a minimum $5M lawsuit if you disclose anything about your taping--if you're selected as a contestant.

[cmjb13]

[quote name=\'uncamark\' post=\'158725\' date=\'Jul 26 2007, 03:06 PM\']
And reading the release form on the last two pages is very eye-opening--they threaten you with a minimum $5M lawsuit if you disclose anything about your taping--if you're selected as a contestant.
[/quote]
Not including "plus reasonable attorneys' fees"

[Don Howard]

[quote name=\'uncamark\' post=\'158725\' date=\'Jul 26 2007, 03:06 PM\']
they threaten you with a minimum $5M lawsuit if you disclose anything about your taping--if you're selected as a contestant
[/quote]
Of course. CBS wants the privilege of doing the spoiling themselves in their promos.

[The Pyramids]

[quote name=\'uncamark\' post=\'158705\' date=\'Jul 26 2007, 11:59 AM\']
[quote name=\'itiparanoid13\' post=\'158702\' date=\'Jul 26 2007, 11:50 AM\']
1 VS 100 is doing casting calls for Mob and Ones starting in August, so it looks like they're finally plugging away which is a good sign.  So we'll see how long until it comes back.  I don't see Friday Night Lights or Chuck lasting that long, so maybe it can fill those holes.
[/quote]

Oh, Ben Silverman is probably going to be bombarded with footballs if he tries to cancel "FNL."  The fans for that show are almost as rabid as the "Jericho" nuts.
[/quote]

(Off topic)

Speaking. You bet.

[Jay Temple]

[quote name=\'itiparanoid13\' post=\'158720\' date=\'Jul 26 2007, 01:35 PM\']CBS also has a page up for Do You Trust Me.  I'm not entirely sure if you build your bank through questions about yourself or through trivia questions.  $50 also says they zoom through the O in "You".
[/quote]
If the latter, I liked it better the first time I saw it ... when it was called Friend or Foe.