Author Topic: The Best Game Show... (Read 6018 times)

TimK2003 · « **on:** October 22, 2005, 04:30:26 PM »

What, in your opinion, has been the best Game Show seen exclusively on cable and/or the best Syndicated-only game show?

** Keep in mind that in this query, a syndicated show cannot be merely a nighttime version of an existing or pre-existing show (i.e. Wheel, TJW, J!, Match Game, etc....) nor can a cable-only show be related to any game show that was first on regular TV (i.e. Chain Reaction, Three's A Crowd, etc...).

I must give a nod to "Win Ben Stein's Money" for cable... I'm still thinking of the best Syndie.

Jimmy Owen · « **Reply #1 on:** October 22, 2005, 05:48:21 PM »

Cross-Wits with Jack Clark in syndication. Ben Stein probably would be my choice for cable, since Remote Control would be ineligible due to its brief foray into syndication.

WhammyPower · « **Reply #2 on:** October 22, 2005, 06:13:03 PM »

I'd say Russian Roulette for cable (with Ben Stein in a close second) and I can't think of any for syndie, either

Robert Hutchinson · « **Reply #3 on:** October 22, 2005, 06:54:30 PM »

Your query eliminates a ton of syndie shows, doesn't it? Everything I can think of either A) had some roots on a network, or B) stank. (Note that there are certainly lots of game shows I CAN'T think of.)

Don Howard · « **Reply #4 on:** October 22, 2005, 06:56:10 PM »

IN SYNDICATION: The Challengers. If the original rules could have been maintained, I truly believe that program had "legs".
ON CABLE: Debt. I much preferred the "I am/You are" format of Season 1st, however. It was cute twist.

$100kPyramidfan · « **Reply #5 on:** October 22, 2005, 07:00:26 PM »

As for syndie, Bullseye. Russian Roulette for cable.

I would have chosen Lingo for cable, but I forgot the fact that the '80's version was originally syndicated.

aaron sica · « **Reply #6 on:** October 22, 2005, 07:10:17 PM »

SYNDICATION: Face the Music.
CABLE: Debt.

TimK2003 · « **Reply #7 on:** October 22, 2005, 07:14:36 PM »

[quote name=\'Robert Hutchinson\' date=\'Oct 22 2005, 05:54 PM\']Your query eliminates a ton of syndie shows, doesn't it? Everything I can think of either A) had some roots on a network, or B) stank. (Note that there are certainly lots of game shows I CAN'T think of.)

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I had the same thought about the syndicated-only shows. Most of the syndicated shows were nighttime versions of daytime shows, or shows like Treasure Hunt or $128K Question that were brought out of mothballs from shows a few decades old.

As far as the previous post re: Remote Control, it would count for the Cable Category but not in the syndicated category, and RC did come in a close 2nd to WBSM in my cable faves.

I guess in the syndies, Jack Clark's Cross Wits version would be a safe bet for favorite for me with The Diamond Head Game a close........84th! :-P

zachhoran · « **Reply #8 on:** October 22, 2005, 07:22:44 PM »

[quote name=\'aaron sica\' date=\'Oct 22 2005, 06:10 PM\']SYNDICATION: Face the Music.
CABLE: Debt.

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Debt, like Remote Control, had a little-known foray into syndication. A few stations test marketed reruns of it in syndication during Spring 1998, to see if it would fly in first-run.

aaron sica · « **Reply #9 on:** October 22, 2005, 07:52:31 PM »

[quote name=\'zachhoran\' date=\'Oct 22 2005, 07:22 PM\']
Debt, like Remote Control, had a little-known foray into syndication. A few stations test marketed reruns of it in syndication during Spring 1998, to see if it would fly in first-run.

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Good point, Zach. I'm going to have to then defer to a game show I fell in love with from the moment that I saw it, when TNN was added to our cable...............Fandango.

cacLA8383 · « **Reply #10 on:** October 22, 2005, 08:10:04 PM »

The Challengers for syndication because of the way it was brillantly executed, and I'm on the Debt train for cable as well.

sshuffield70 · « **Reply #11 on:** October 22, 2005, 11:12:13 PM »

I'm questioning the choice of "The Challengers" for purposes of the question (there's not, in my eyes, anything wrong with the show). Since it is a reworking of another show (Who, What, When), would the OP consider that as well?

RC did hit syndication here in Dallas (on Ch 21, I believe on Saturday nights). Occasionally, when the material warranted, it was also featured on "Entertainment Tonight".

Casey · « **Reply #12 on:** October 22, 2005, 11:45:15 PM »

I'd have to copy Aaron Sica's answers:
Syndication: Face the Music
Cable Only: Fandango (though Ben Stein is right up there in my list).

I actually suggested that RFD-TV try to acquire the rerun rights to Fandango, since it would fit in with their folksy programming, but I imagine musical clearance would be a problem since so many of the questions either relied upon identifying a musical clip or singing the answer back to Bill Anderson...

Ian Wallis · « **Reply #13 on:** October 23, 2005, 03:52:51 PM »

Quote

Debt, like Remote Control, had a little-known foray into syndication. A few stations test marketed reruns of it in syndication during Spring 1998, to see if it would fly in first-run

I'll vote for "Debt" too. I was surprised when it was cancelled after only two years. Did the ratings really drop that much in the second year?

Oh...and for the record...I prefer the first season format too!

Winkfan · « **Reply #14 on:** October 23, 2005, 04:45:15 PM »

Here's my two million dollars.....

SYNDICATED: I'd have to say Wipeout, Talkabout, and The Last Word; three more that belong in the "should have lasted longer than one season" category of game shows.

CABLE: There are more than two or three that could fit into this category. So, I'd go with Bumper Stumpers, Second Honeymoon, Shopping Spree, and Paranoia.

Cordially,
Tammy Warner--the 'Martha Smith of the Big Board!'