7 The Gong Show

In case you aren’t familiar with this chaotic favorite game show, it was essentially a wild talent competition hosted by Chuck Barris where judges displayed their dislike for a performance by striking a giant brass gong. If all three judges hit the gong, the act was stopped immediately amidst hilarious noise. Some of the performers were quirky, offbeat, and absolutely hilarious. The legendary band Oingo Boingo appeared on this game show before achieving mainstream musical fame, and Paul Reubens (as Pee-wee Herman) was also seen on The Gong Show once upon a time. It remains one of the most unapologetically bizarre TV competitions ever broadcast.

6 Let’s Make a Deal

This iconic game show has been entertaining audiences since the mid-sixties, originally hosted by Monty Hall. The audience members are famous for wearing outlandish costumes in hopes of catching the host's eye and standing out in the energetic crowd. Members of the audience are selected on the spot to participate in unpredictable trades. The host offers the contestant an initial deal, and it is then up to the contestant to decide whether to accept or swap for mystery prizes behind Door #1, Door #2, or inside a box. It’s always a thrill to see whether a deal turns into a luxury prize or a hilarious "Zonk" gag!

5 Family Feud

Two families compete against each other in this timeless favorite game show to guess the most popular responses to survey questions posed to 100 people. Points are awarded when a contestant or family member comes up with top survey answers. The family that accumulates the most points advances to the Fast Money round for a chance to win the cash jackpot. If you love competitive family dynamics, you can visit the Family Feud official website to test your knowledge or watch hilarious moments. Much like predicting prices on The Price is Right, the fun comes from trying to guess what ordinary people answered under pressure!

4 What’s My Line

I never get tired of the witty antics that arise on this classic panel game show. The world of television improv and celebrity panel guessing was truly an amazing format. Panelists tried to guess the occupations of mystery guests by asking yes-or-no questions. In various sections of the show, celebrity guests showcased brilliant quick thinking. For instance, in improv-focused variations like Hollywood Squares, quick comedic banter was key to keeping viewers entertained. One popular segment gave four contestants random objects to incorporate into mini-skits depicting what the object could be used for, while another portion involved all four contestants pretending to be at a party where the host had to guess their secret identities by observing their actions.

3 Hollywood Squares

Two contestants play a giant game of tic-tac-toe with the help of nine celebrities seated inside a three-story grid. When a question is posed by the host, the contestant chooses a celebrity square. The celebrity delivers a funny, improvised "bluff" answer or a real one, and the contestant must agree or disagree with the answer provided. If the contestant agrees or disagrees correctly, they are awarded the square (X or O).

Key features that made this favorite game show a hit include:

2 Wheel of Fortune

Like most long-running game shows, Wheel of Fortune has evolved over the years. When I was much younger, contestants would use the money they won by solving word puzzles correctly to purchase items on a rotating stage. Today, the money won is taken home directly, and various trips and cash prizes are also placed on the spinning board for contestants to collect. Just as contestants on Let’s Make a Deal weigh risks for bigger rewards, players here must decide when to spin or buy a vowel. I still enjoy trying to solve the puzzles along with the contestants on the show.

1 The Price is Right

Bob Barker was a fantastic host for this game show, and I miss seeing him on the show today. This was one televised game show that my family and I rarely missed. Today, Drew Carey continues the tradition on The Price is Right. There are multiple contestants on this show, but only two people play at a time. Each pair of contestants participates in a game of skill or chance, and the winner moves on to the final round. The final round involves the top two contestants bidding on a package deal that usually includes household items, a trip somewhere in the world, and a new car. The contestant who bids closest to the actual retail price of the entire package, without going over, wins.

These were 7 of my favorite game shows that I enjoyed watching as I was growing up. A few are still on the air today, but I don’t get to see them very often. It seems like most of the game shows on television today are more about endurance and competing in major physical activities against one another. I think each of the 7 I listed above were just plain fun! What are some of your favorite game shows?