GSN's Burt Luddin's Love Buffet, featuring what was like a continuing comedy story, was introduced with the disclaimer (by Charlie O'Donnell), "The following is a real game show with real contestants and real prizes."
Chuck Barris' "Gong Show," and $1.98 Beauty Show" were presented more for entertainment .
How about Chris Bearde's "The Cheap Show?"
The Cheap Show was definitely a parody of a game show that was at the same time an actual game show. For those that haven't seen it, the game has two contestants and two celebs. A question is asked of both celebs. One celeb gives a truthful answer, the other, a lie. The contestant has to pick who told the right answer. The first two questions are worth 1 point, but the third question is worth 20 points, so obviously the first two questions hardly matter. If the contestant should answer wrong, that person gets a "penalty", which usually involves a pie in the face or some other thing that involves getting messy.
The show had a number of gags. One running gag is that there's a third celeb that's a "no show". Two such no shows were President Nixon and Henry Ford. There's also chintzy, junky prizes modeled by a... homely looking lady. Janelle Price, as Wanda, was Dick's co-host, who acted quite similarly to the Tea Time Lady on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. The show's logo and sign would also come crashing down.
The bonus round involved a large spinning wheel with 10 wedges with large holes, and Oscar the Wonder Rodent. The player picked the hole he thought Oscar would enter first, and if he was right, he won a car. Otherwise, the player would win a consolation prize.
The credits also had gags in it, much like the Zucker Brothers films Airplane! and Naked Gun.
Bob Newhart apparently loved the show and asked to be on it frequently.
When I saw the only rotating episode, I'll admit I found it amusing, but if they do the exact same jokes show for show, I don't think I'd find it too funny after a few shows. I liked Holey Moley for the first couple shows, wondering if it too was a "one joke show" and for me, I did lose interest as it wasn't so funny watching contestants get whacked by a windmill or falling into water over and over.
On Match Game, Gene asked Dick Martin if The Cheap Show was still on, and he said "I hope not!"
So, yes, I can see a show like this being a subject of a very bad sitcom. With due respect to Geoff Edwards, the Double Dare-like game show he hosted on Small Wonder was definitely cheap laughs. Geoff told me years ago that he was allowed to provide some of his own lines as the writers didn't really know how to write for a game show host. He ad-libbed the line "Sorry I'm late, but someone stole my BRAND NEW CAR!"
