Here's my list (Number in parentheses is group ranking)
1 To Tell The Truth. For longevity, play-along factor, Garry Moore's hosting, Mark Goodson saying it's the "golden" game show idea, and because it's my favorite, nyaah.(10)
2 Password Invented the celeb-civilian pairing, inspired dozens of other shows, good runs on all three original networks. (4)
3 The Price is Right. Version 1 was ahead of its time and a huge hit. Version 2...well, on it flows. (1)
4 What's My Line. The wittiest game show ever. And the most sophisticated.(14)
5 Concentration Wonderful play-along, simple to understand but mind-involving, just plain fun to watch.(9)
6 WWTBA Millionaire. Proved big-money Q&A shows can be honest and work. If you don't run them into the ground. (11)
7 Family Feud. The 1960s Match Game with the perfect additions: the family angle, Richard Dawson and a solid bonus game. (6)
8 Match Game. The first version was Family Feud in utero. The second was a party.(5)
9 Jeopardy. The last outpost of hard questions - yes, even now - and influential (how many other three-on-a-question games have we seen since then?) (2)
10 Name That Tune. An odd choice, but I'll stand by it - the best of several musical game shows. (19)
11 I've Got A Secret. Just a lot of fun. And yes, I have three panel shows in my top 11. Deal with it. (21)
12 Hollywood Squares. Easily the funniest show on the list, either intentionally or unintentionally.(
13 College Bowl. . Not only for inspiring every high school quiz in America, but for Allen Ludden's big break. (46)
14 (insert$here) Pyramid. Bob Stewart mixes tension and big money with Password and creates a classic. (3)
15 Let's Make a Deal. Strictly for Monty Hall. (17)
16 15 to 1. One shw on this list I've never seen, but one I'd love to - a hard British quiz.(NOT RANKED)
17 Wheel of Fortune. Like "Cats," Now and Forever. (7)
18 Split Second. Really fast-paced buzzer game. Great job by Tom Kennedy (27)
19 Who, What or Where Game. On at the same time as Split Second. Slower pace, harder questions. (37)
20 You Don't Say!. For the original version. (51)
21 Press Your Luck. The "crack" of game shows, but it stays with people. (12)
22 Information Please. A radio classic. (NOT RANKED)
23 $64,000 Question. Started the 50s big-money craze. (33)
24 The Newlywed Game. Yeah, a lot of us are sick of it, but very big in its time.(26)
25 You Bet Your Life. No, it's not for the Bill Cosby or buddy Hackett versions. (36)
26 Scrabble. Solid adaptation of a board game. (20)
27 Double Dare (Nick) Best children's game show ever.(25)
28 Video Village. One of Heatter-Quigley's first big hits. I still remember the big dice cage. (69)
29 Tic Tac Dough. Another long runner. (18)
30 Eye Guess. A perfect show for Bill Cullen. Just a joy with humor.(64)
31 Win Ben Stein's Money. Self-consciously funny, but likeable for the Mighty Mr. Stein. (29)
32 PDQ/Baffle. A pretty good word game.(95)
33 The Gong Show. Well it was a game, and no show had more STUFF! (clap) (39)
34 World Series of Pop Culture. The token new kid - but very addicting.(NOT RANKED)
35 Truth or Consequences. Bob Barker's fiefdom before TPIR, and Ralph Edwards' before that. (34)
36 Remote Control. The one good game in MTV's history. (47T)
37 Tattletales. The one all-celeb game show that worked. (31)
38 Lingo. An addictive game, probably GSN's best original. (35)
39 Weakest Link. I'm not a fan of vote-em-off shows, but two good hosts and a catchphrase made it memorable.(49)
40 Inquizition. The gimmick got old quickly, but at its heart was a good fast-paced quiz. (NOT RANKED)
41 The Magnificent Marble Machine. Just for actually executing an idea that nobody thought would work. It didn't. But they tried.(100)
42 The Joker's Wild. Never a favorite of mine - it seemed too easy to fix, and having Jack Barry at the helm didn't increase my confidence any. (15)
43 Hollywood Showdown. Another good GSN original. (80)
44 Twenty One. One wonders if NBC had taken the revival seriously how well it could have done. (41)
45 High Rollers. Best of the dice games. (23)
46 Seven Keys. One of the first shows I remember watching.(NOT RANKED)
47 Dream House. Here for one reaso - on the original show, they gave away a house called "The Barrington." (86)
48 Sports Challenge. Its use of legends puts this a bit ahead of "Two Minute Drill," whose good points (Kenny Mayne hosting) were overshadowed by illiterate jocks trying to read rapid-fire questions. (NOT RANKED)
49 I'll Bet. Just one that's stuck with me from childhood. I could have included Showdown, Window Shopping, Everybody's Talking, or a dozen others in this spot.(NOT RANKED)
50 Stump the Stars. This sort of fell here when I ran long. But charades shows have a long tradition, so why not one here.(78)
(NOTE: When I recounted, I realized I had actually listed 52, so hoorable mention to Whew!, (38) in honor of Randy Amasia, and Beat The Clock, (24) which is easily the longest-running game I never liked.)
NOT ON MY LIST:
50. Gambit. Just never enjoyed it.
47T The Dating Game The foundation of Chuck Barris' empire, but Newlywed was the bigger hit.
45. Treasure Hunt. Just personal dislike
44. Deal or No deal.It's eye catching, but there isn't a game there.
43. Now You See It. Word search puzzles on TV? It doesn't work. Great theme, though.
42. Break the Bank. Too much of a Squares ripoff.
40. Go. Never got into it.
32. Chain Reaction. Ditto.
30. Jackpot! Like the idea of 15 contestants for a week but not silly riddles.
28. Supermarket Sweep. Never saw the updated version (sorry, Randy!) but I didn't like the original because I never heard of any of the grocery chains at the time.
22. Blockbusters. Good game, but I leaned toward Eye Guess.
15. Sale of the Century. I never saw the second incarnation of the show - all I remember is the Jack Kelly version, and it wasn't a favorite.
13. Card Sharks. I thought it was OK but maybe top 75, not top 50. Especially with two sub-par revivals of an original I thought was just OK. OK? OK.
