Best Game Show Finales – Your Picks?

[Neumms]

Bad answers from panelists were frequently and roundly mocked by Gene and the other panelists and they certainly got booed. Geez, how often did Brett win the “most pathetic answer” award? How often did Rayburn after a string of matches get to Patti or Joyce and tell the player something like, “your luck may be over?”

Once Mr. Nixon dragged the Mrs. in to sit there for the Checkers speech, I’d say she became in bounds, and their kids, at least Julie Nixon Eisenhower, were adult socialites. I doubt the jokes were all that personal.

I heartily agree with the title of the O’Reilly book, but not that he and Patti had anything in common. Wasn’t the Monty Hall answer part of a running or inside joke? I thought that came up here.

[thewhammy_2000]

The finale for paranoia got me. Peter was trying was trying to hold it, but you can tell he was trying to beg for feedback. Which felt like the opposite on the Hit Man and PYL finales, which also got me as well.
Eubanks' Card Sharks cracked me.
"Joker's Jive" always crack me emotionally. Using it in the 1975 TJW finale takes it all the way.
Dawson's Feud speech gets me.
Bert and Betty get me on Super Password.
There's more, and I would still play Nedeff's Game Show Finales video if it was still on YouTube.

[golden-road]

I'll say the end of the original LMaD, as there wasn't a single Zonk to be seen

[wdm1219inpenna]

Another one that comes to mind, wasn't the finale for the show but for the long time host.

During the first episode I believe of the 1977-78 syndicated season, Garry Moore came back as a guest host to announce his retirement due to health issues that he was going through.  Joe Garagiola was named the new host.  If it was due to this change or due to other reasons, this would prove to be the final season of this classic series on American television until 1990.

Bill Cullen served as host during the previous season during certain episodes when Garry Moore was ill.  The show decided that the panel's cast was lacking without having Bill as one of the panel, so the powers that be decided to name Joe permanent host.

I am grateful that Mr. Moore went on to live until almost the end of 1993, so he had 16 years of retirement to enjoy.  It was a cozy set and a cozy show to me, one of the very first game shows I remember my parents watching when I was so very young, circa 1970/71...I also remember What's My Line? and Pay Cards!  Those were my first memories of game shows and my obsession with playing cards began back then.  When Gambit came out I about melted into my socks seeing those giant cards, and did so again with the Perry, Eubanks & Rafferty versions of Card Sharks.

[Mark McNeil]

During the first episode I believe of the 1977-78 syndicated season, Garry Moore came back as a guest host to announce his retirement due to health issues that he was going through.  Joe Garagiola was named the new host.  If it was due to this change or due to other reasons, this would prove to be the final season of this classic series on American television until 1990.

Actually, you forgot about the 1980-81 version of To Tell The Truth.

I remember, on the finale of the original Now You See It, that Jack joked that the show aired its first episode on an April Fool's Day and is airing its last episode on a Friday The 13th.

[danderson]

Although there were a few entries left in the medium, the end of Super Password doesn't just feel like the end of the series, it feels like a broader finale for the glory days of daytime games as a whole.

I agree about the Super Password finale, it doesn't just feel like the end of the series, it feels like a broader finale for the glory days of game shows as a whole, i love the way Bert reserved part of the closing for Betty, and his sadness about not working with Gene, just makes it very much a swan song for the genre on network daytime (outside of Price). Although Gene would continue on Classic Concentration and Family Feud, it felt like he was near the end of his career to be honest. However, i saw Jim Perry's goodbye on his last SOTC (can't remember how many years ago) and it was as classy as they get. I miss him, Jay Stewart, Don Morrow as well as Bert and Betty, they were part of what i call the "last golden age" of network daytime games in the 80s, not to mention Chuck Woolery, Alex Trebek and Vicki Lawrence ( i wouldn't consider her part of the legendary hosts line, but I'll include her here.)

[SRIV94]

Which reminds me, I'd also like to add $ale to my list. Jim gave a similar heartfelt thank you to the viewers on the Christmas '88 episode which makes me think they knew it was only a matter of time. IIRC they got an unexpected 13-week renewal in January '89.

One of my previous signatures referred to a late January 1989 episode where Don Morrow does a contestant plug, and Jim responds with "We'd love to have you come down here.  Call quick."

That would seem to corroborate the unexpected part of the renewal, although the 13 weeks ended up being 10-11 weeks (two weeks for At Rona's, and I'm not sure if we're counting New Year's week as one of the weeks of the renewal).