Game shows have been around since the UK’s Spelling Bee in 1938, which was followed a few years later by Truth or Consequences in the US.
With new ideas such as Buddy Games and Snake Oil joining established classics like Jeopardy in the last year, it’s clear that this market is still growing, but how is the ongoing appeal of these shows reflected in popular culture?
Their Appearances in Other Areas
Game shows like Wheel of Fortune have become cultural icons, inspiring copies and parodies over the years since their launch. The majority of us can repeat the most popular catchphrases from certain shows, and we instantly capture references to them in movies or sitcoms.
This means that game shows can be neatly fitted into many areas, such as the numerous board games based on the top shows.
Some of the biggest names have also turned into themes for versions of Slingo bingo online. This fast-paced game is similar to bingo in many ways but with some slot machine mechanics built into it.
Deal or No Deal Slingo has a feature where the Banker makes offers, while the Slingo version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire uses the show’s famous music and set design to appear instantly familiar.
The Chance to Learn New
The best game shows tend to have an educational element that we shouldn’t overlook. They offer the chance for us to learn new pieces of trivia and conveniently put our existing knowledge to the test.
This summary of some of the most difficult questions of all time on Jeopardy covers multiple areas such as opera, geography, Broadway musicals, and art.
It seems safe to say that a lot of people have learned interesting new facts just by watching these shows.
Few types of entertainment can inspire us and teach us something new like these shows, while also being interesting to watch.
While alternatives such as fascinating mentalist shows can open our minds to new ideas, game shows have a unique ability to boost our knowledge week after week.
The Future of Game Shows Looks Bright
According to data from Inscape, The Price Is Right was the most-watched game show in the first five months of 2023, with 0.52% of all live, linear minutes watched in that time.
It was followed by Family Feud and Wheel of Fortune, which shows the diversity of the industry and also confirms that the classic shows continue to attract huge numbers of viewers.
Game shows are attractive to TV networks, as they offer a way of producing interesting shows that appeal to a lot of people and don’t cost a lot of money to create.
Looking at it in this light, it’s almost certain that new game shows continue to appear on the scene.
The Floor featuring Rob Lowe is one of the most recent additions to the American TV landscape, with the host calling it the “most epic game show.”
While some new game shows fail and instantly disappear, the classics can carry on running for decades until watching them becomes firmly established as parts of our lifestyle.