The first game shows involved general trivia contests, dating shows or talent competitions. The winner would receive a small amount of cash or other prizes.
Game shows reached their heyday in the 1970s. Some of the most popular game shows ever debuted during this decade, including "The $20,000 Pyramid," "Family Feud" and "The Joker's Wild."
Several game shows that are still airing today got their starts in the '70s and '80s including "Wheel of Fortune," "Jeopardy!" and "The Price Is Right."
Certain game shows and hosts have become pop-culture phenomena. Even people who don't watch game shows on TV would still recognize Pat Sajak, Alex Trebek, Bob Barker and other giants of the game-show world.
Because of the unscripted nature of game shows, unexpected moments are always right around the corner, and some of them become infamous. For example, Bob Eubanks of "The Newlywed Game" once asked a contestant, "Where is the weirdest place where you ever had the urge to make whoopee?" ("Make whoopee" was a famous euphemism for sexual intercourse, used by "The Newlywed Game" to get around the censors.) The contestant's answer? "In the butt." Despite Eubanks' insistence for years that the incident never happened, it is still one of the most famous uncensored game-show moments ever.
Game-show contestants occasionally go on to become famous. For example, Utah software engineer Ken Jennings became a household name in 2004 after a 74-game winning streak on the daily quiz show "Jeopardy!"
Many catchphrases originated with game shows and are part of our modern language to this day. A small sampling includes: "survey says ... " ("Family Feud"); "making whoopee" ("The Newlywed Game"); "come on down!" ("The Price Is Right"); "that's my final answer" ("Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?"); and "let's see what's behind Door Number 1" ("Let's Make a Deal").
Game shows take on many different formats. Many game shows feature contestants answering general-knowledge or trivia questions ("Jeopardy!" "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" "Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?"). Others involve word games ("Wheel of Fortune," "$20,000 Pyramid," "Password"), physical challenges ("Double Dare") or talent ("Star Search," "American Idol").
The vast majority of classic and contemporary game shows, however, involve no skill but a lot of luck ("Deal or No Deal," "Hollywood Squares," "The Joker's Wild," "The Price Is Right" or "Press Your Luck").
Game shows first debuted in the 1950s along with the advent of household televisions. The first game shows were surrounded by controversy and scandal involving the winners, but they began to gain popularity in the 1960s. Although the formats have changed, game shows are still popular today.
Game shows provide entertainment for TV watchers in more than 40 countries outside the United States including the United Kingdom, Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Canada and most countries in Europe and Asia.