Ah, game shows. What better way is there to while away a sick day at home
than with a marathon of “The Price is Right” or “Family Feud”? We were
crazy about TPIR’s Bob Barker and “Family Feud’s” Richard Dawson in the
80s, fer sure, but let’s focus on those shows we loved back then that
are no longer in production today. Thanks to YouTube and Game Show
Network, these eighties game show gems are neither gone nor forgotten.
Here’s a countdown to my personal fave of the 80’s game shows (hint: BIG
MONEY!):
6. Win, Lose, or Draw (1987-1989) was first hosted by
Vicki Lawrence (of “Mama’s Family” and “The Carol Burnett Show” fame)
and then by veteran game show host Bert Convy. It was like watching a
fun little game of charades (except with drawing instead of acting) in
your family room, with the additions of a live audience and some really
perky famous people. Two teams, each consisting of two celebrities and
one contestant, competed in the “quick-draw” game while kneeling on the
carpeted floor.
5. Face the Music (1980-1981) was a more
traditional game show. I love the full orchestra and sassy interplay
between smooth host Ron Ely and singer Lisa Donovan. Contestants
listened to clips of songs and buzzed in to name the tunes, which
then provided clues to the identities of famous people, places, or
activities. Kinda complicated in retrospect, but a very fun show
nonetheless.
4. Love Connection (1983-1994) was hosted by Chuck
Woolery. Sort of like “The Dating Game” re-envisioned for viewers of
the 1980s, “Love Connection” hit on what today’s reality shows
demonstrate: Americans LOVE being nosy about strangers’ personal
lives. Each “Love Connection” guest was shown pre-recorded video
interviews of three potential dates. The studio audience voted on
who they thought the guest should select, and then the guest could
choose to go with the audience’s selection or use his or her own
discretion. After the (unchaperoned - gasp!) date, the guest would
come back on and, in embarrassing detail, describe what had
transpired. He or she then got the option of going back out with the
first person or trying a different one, all in the hopes of making a
lasting love connection.
3. Double Dare was the first incarnation of kid
channel Nickelodeon’s ultra messy game show. The hit show, hosted by
Marc Summers, premiered in 1986. “Double Dare” is often given credit
for the young television channel’s success. In 1988, the name
changed to “Super Sloppy Double Dare”, and in 1990 it changed once
more to “Family Double Dare.” The show ended in 1993. The appeal of
“Double Dare” was the gross-out factor: two teams of kids competed
in silly physical challenges involving stuff like whipped cream,
pies, and green jello.
2. Tic-Tac-Dough, everybody’s game of strategy,
knowledge, and fun, had its first run in the 1950’s. Eighties kids,
however, will remember Wink Martindale hosting the version that
began in 1978. Martindale was replaced by Jim Caldwell in 1985, and
then Patrick Wayne hosted the show in 1990 and 1991. Wink, however,
will always be the “Tic-Tac-Dough” host of my heart. Contestants
chose trivia subjects on the board; correct answers let them add
their X or O to the board and got them one step closer to a
tic-tac-toe style win. Like “Press Your Luck,” “Tic-Tac-Dough” had
its own animated villain: the DRAGON. Oooooh, scary!
1. Press Your Luck (1983-1986) was a frenetic game
played around a flashing board. Peter Tomarken hosted the hugely
popular show. Contestants answered trivia questions to earn spins on
the board. Spins caused the board squares to flash and the pieces to
interchange, so players couldn’t really judge when to halt the spin.
Halting it on, say, the Hawaiian cruise or the $4000+Bonus Spin spot
was GREAT. Halting your spin on a Whammy, however, would cause a
cheeky animated imp to breakdance across the screen and steal all
your accumulated money. Of course, what all the players REALLY
wanted was Big Bucks. “Big bucks, c’mon big bucks, NO WHAMMIES!” I
loved Press Your Luck for its unpredictability, its big prizes, and
most of all for those diabolical little Whammies:
