- 3 minutes ago
The game show era had no shortage of wild stunts, tricky trivia, and unforgettable moments. Join us as we count down our picks for the most memorable TV competitions that are no longer airing new episodes! Which classic would you bring back for one more round? Let us know in the comments below!
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00Where in the world is Carmen Sandiego?
00:04Welcome to Miss Mojo.
00:05And today, we're counting down our picks for the most memorable TV competitions
00:09to ever put contestants, prizes, and bragging rights on the line.
00:13We're only considering classic series that are no longer airing new episodes.
00:17Number one, can you think of how you would like to be celebrated?
00:21Yeah, I've always had a great respect for Arbor Day.
00:25Number 20. Legends of the Hidden Temple.
00:28Nickelodeon made kids feel like pint-sized adventurers
00:31instead of ordinary televised game show contestants.
00:35Hosted by Kirk Fogg, the 1993-95 original
00:38moved teams from the moat and steps of knowledge
00:41through the temple games to the climactic temple run.
00:44You could start by running to the room of the three gargoyles.
00:48Push in the right tongue,
00:50and a door might lead you down to a staircase into the wall climb.
00:55Here, you must choose your next path.
00:59That finale gave players just three minutes to retrieve an artifact
01:02while navigating puzzles and dodging temple guards.
01:05With the Shrine of the Silver Monkey becoming especially notorious,
01:09the series produced 120 episodes, and its mix of brains, brawn, and jump scares
01:14left enough of a mark to inspire an adult revival on the CW in 2021.
01:28Number 19. Dog Eat Dog.
01:31Ten points. Are you going for the bullseye?
01:34What's your strategy now, Ward?
01:38Ten points!
01:41He won't do that.
01:43This was strategy with a mean twist.
01:46Sizing up rivals could be as important as conquering the stunt.
01:50Brooke Burns hosted six contestants who spent a day observing one another
01:53before voting on who was most likely to fail a challenge.
01:57Fail, and you landed in the Dog Pound.
01:59Succeed, and you could banish someone who doubted you instead.
02:03The last player standing became Top Dog,
02:05but the five eliminated contestants could split the $25,000
02:09by winning a trivia showdown.
02:11Airing on NBC from 2002 to 2003,
02:14it made betrayal part of the gameplay itself.
02:17There's a lot of pressure here, and it's not easy.
02:20No.
02:20It's definitely harder than it looks.
02:21You gave it a valiant effort, but you know what this means, right?
02:25You have to the Dog Pound.
02:26I can't vote out who I wanted to.
02:28First seat belongs to you, I'm afraid, Tiana.
02:31Number 18.
02:32Supermarket Sweep.
02:33Plenty of game shows offer cash,
02:35but this one made loading a shopping cart feel like an Olympic event.
02:39The original ABC series debuted in 1965 with Bill Malone,
02:43while David Ruperecht hosted its 1990s Lifetime Revival,
02:46and later Pax Run.
02:48Teams answered product-based questions to earn time for the big sweep,
02:51where they filled carts and grabbed bonuses before the top pair
02:54advanced to a clue-driven $5,000 bonus suite.
02:58For a great fruit drink to keep you fresh and loose,
03:01pick the ball to the repeating name.
03:03Juicy Juice.
03:03Juicy Juice.
03:04Fruit Juice.
03:05Fruit Juice.
03:05You know the fruit juice?
03:06Yes, over here.
03:07ABC revived the format again in 2020 with Leslie Jones.
03:12Across every era, the appeal was beautifully simple.
03:15Frantic shopping makes excellent television.
03:17That's your second cart you had most of the time,
03:20and you jogging in here.
03:22Blue Cram's racing in, lets the cart go on its own.
03:25Save the balloon!
03:26Can't make it through the checkout in time?
03:28Don't worry.
03:29You can always race over to Miss Mojo's 24-7 live stream instead.
03:33Scan the QR code on screen to join us live for nonstop pop culture fun.
03:37These guys will be going for it for the big sweep.
03:41Number 17.
03:42What's My Line?
03:43A simple yes-or-no question could turn an ordinary occupation into a surprisingly gripping mystery.
03:49Moderated by John Charles Daly, the CBS original asked celebrity panelists,
03:54including Dorothy Kilgallen, Arlene Francis, and Bennett Cerf,
03:58to identify a contestant's job through questioning.
04:02Famous mystery guests flipped the formula,
04:04with blindfolded panelists instead trying to name the celebrity.
04:07Have you a mustache that is rather well-known?
04:11In fact, could you be almost caricatured just by that?
04:14Yes.
04:14Oh, well, thank you, Arlene. Are you Salvador Dali?
04:17Salvador Dali is right.
04:19Running from 1950 to 1967,
04:21the series became one of American television's longest-running primetime network game shows,
04:26and won three Emmys.
04:28A syndicated edition continued from 1968 to 1975,
04:32extending the remarkably durable guessing game for another seven years.
04:36You see, I am a dramatic actor.
04:39Yes.
04:39Or even more appropriately, may I say Simon Templer?
04:42Yes, this year, last year, and three years before.
04:45Number 16.
04:46Sale of the Century
04:47Getting the answer right was only half the battle.
04:51Knowing when to spend your lead made this quiz unusually nerve-wracking.
04:55The original NBC run began in 1969, while a later revival arrived in 1983,
05:01with Jim Perry, and continued through 1989.
05:04Let's check out the buzzers. Lynn, if you will.
05:07And Joel.
05:09And finally, Janice.
05:11Everything is in working order.
05:13We'll start all three of you off with $20.
05:15Contestants earned or lost money on trivia,
05:18then faced instant bargains offering prizes at steep discounts,
05:21if they were willing to sacrifice part of their score.
05:24The fame game offered additional prizes and chances to boost their totals,
05:28while champions could keep returning in pursuit of increasingly lavish rewards.
05:33Across its different runs, the show turned bargain hunting into a genuine tactical dilemma.
05:39Let's talk business.
05:40Let's talk business.
05:40Come on.
05:41Let's talk some serious business.
05:43Hit that buzzer.
05:44You've got that beautiful, beautiful motor scooter and
05:48$2,000 in cash.
05:51Going once.
05:54Going twice.
05:56Number 15.
05:57Remote control.
05:59Traditional quiz show decorum had no chance in a fake basement full of recliners,
06:03flying snacks, and irreverent humor.
06:06Debuting on MTV in 1987, the Ken Ober-hosted series tested three contestants on TV, movies,
06:12music, and other pop culture trivia, while Colin Quinn supplied commentary.
06:17It's an exciting high-scoring game, and I think part of the problem is,
06:21Richard's got the Def Leppard t-shirt, but he looks like he listens to Richard Moss.
06:24As far as I'm concerned, then you've got Kirsten over here.
06:27She's the kind of girl that corrals you in the corner of a bar and starts telling you,
06:30I listen to progressive music, but I don't call it progressive.
06:32I hate that term.
06:33Eliminated players were yanked backward through the breakaway walls,
06:36and the winner faced a frantic bonus round identifying artists from music videos.
06:41The show also gave early exposure to Adam Sandler and Dennis Leary,
06:45who appeared in recurring comedy bits.
06:47Running five seasons through 1990, plus a concurrent syndicated edition,
06:52it helped prove MTV could build programming beyond its music videos.
06:56He was a car, and a solo flex, and a guitar, and a bike, and a car stereo,
07:03and a video game package, and a telescope, and CDs, and a codaphone. Unbelievable.
07:09Number 14, The Singing Bee.
07:12Pitch-perfect vocals were optional, knowing every word was not.
07:17Joey Fatone hosted NBC's 2007 version, which challenged contestants to complete popular song
07:23lyrics exactly after the music stopped.
07:25When the band stops playing, you guys have to sing in the correct answer.
07:29And when I say correct, I mean correct exactly word for word.
07:33Its rounds played like a karaoke-flavored spelling beat,
07:36with mistakes eliminating players who couldn't supply the right words.
07:40CMT revived the format in 2009 with Melissa Peterman, shifting the playlist mostly toward country music,
07:46while keeping the lyric-testing core intact.
07:48The cable run continued through 2012, proving that confidently belting the wrong line
07:54can be almost as entertaining as nailing every syllable under pressure on television.
08:00Here's the reason for the teardrops on my guitar.
08:06The only thing that keeps me wishing on a something star.
08:14Oh, Matthew!
08:15Number 13, Truth or Consequences.
08:19Getting a question wrong was usually where the fun began.
08:22Created by Ralph Edwards, the format moved from radio to regular television in 1950,
08:28pairing deliberately difficult questions with goofy stunts for contestants who missed them.
08:32Mr. Scott, for having eaten the most wallpaper paste tonight,
08:37why, don't worry, it's just molasses and whipped cream. You receive a Westinghouse television set.
08:43Bob Barker took over as host in 1956 and stayed for 18 years, including its transition from network
08:49television to syndication. Its cultural footprint became wonderfully literal in 1950,
08:55when Hot Springs, New Mexico renamed itself after the program. Later syndicated revivals followed in 1977 and 1987,
09:03but the enduring hook was always the same. The punishment was usually more entertaining than getting the answer right.
09:11Every time you were telling a joke, Phyllis was throwing a pie in your husband's face, you see,
09:15and that's what the audience was laughing at. I think it's a good sport, we should bring Phyllis,
09:19and what's your husband's name? John. John. I think John and Phyllis should come on up here. How about a
09:23big round of applause?
09:24Number 12, Nickelodeon Guts. Every backyard athlete suddenly had something much bigger
09:30to dream about. Hosted by Mike O'Malley with Moira Quirk refereeing, the Nickelodeon series pitted
09:36three young competitors against one another in exaggerated sports challenges involving pools,
09:41sponges, and obstacle courses. Each episode ended with a race of the aggro-crag, where players hit targets
10:04while battling flashing lights, foam rocks, and other distractions. Winners took home a gold medal
10:10and a glowing aggro-crag trophy. In 1995, the final season became Global Guts, bringing in contestants
10:16from around the world and upgrading the mountain to the super aggro-crag.
10:21You are hearing the national anthem of the United Kingdom. She is so proudly represented here today,
10:27as she will bring back to her a proud nation of the glowing piece of the Radical Rock.
10:33Number 11, Blingo. Word nerds got a wonderfully tense mashup of vocabulary
10:39skills and bingo-style luck here. The U.S. format debuted in syndication in 1987,
10:45asking teams to solve five-letter words, then draw numbered balls to complete a bingo-style card.
11:04Game Show Network revived it in 2002 with Chuck Woolery, whose edition ran for six seasons through 2007,
11:12before bringing the format back in 2011 with Bill Engvall. CBS brought the concept back in 2023 with
11:19Paul and a $50,000 jackpot. Apparently, five-letter words become much harder when money and a clock are involved.
11:27This game is so addictive. Oh, I don't know, my mind's going blank, no!
11:33Number 10, Battle of the Network Stars. If you watch a show long enough, you might tend to permanently
11:40associate the character onscreen with the actor portraying that character. Which is why, of course,
11:46when stars are thrown into real-life competitions, it can be quite entertaining.
11:49Yes, once again, the Network Stars have come together to do battle on the fields of Pepperdine
11:54University in California. Battle of the Network Stars was a competition-style show whose contestant base
12:00was made up entirely of then-notable actors from television and film.
12:05That's a hit and a dunk. The stars were divided into teams and had to compete against each other
12:11in obstacle courses, football and basketball games, swimming, and even bike racing. The original ran
12:16from 1976 to 1988 and then was revived for a brief time in 2017. Each competitor gets 25 shots and
12:25the
12:25most in wins. Patsy will go first. That's terrible. Aim for the rim, Anton. Aim for the rim. Fonzie's what
12:31everyone wanted to be, which is what every parent wanted their kid to be, and I was kind of what
12:35everyone was. 9. Play your hunch. Forget obscure trivia. This question asked couples to trust their
12:43eyes, instincts, and sometimes, plain luck. Created by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman, the 1958 series
12:50presented three possibilities labeled X, Y, and Z, then challenged players to identify which one matched
12:57the clue or condition. Merv Griffin hosted through 1962, with Gene Rayburn and Robert Q. Lewis
13:12later taking over. The show bounced from CBS to ABC before finding its longest home on NBC, ending in
13:191963. Even Robert Redford appeared in 1959 as one of three mystery subjects, long before his film
13:27stardom. You don't know what it will be like, or what will happen, and you wonder.
13:358. Where in the world is Carmen Sandiego?
13:38All these people want to know! Where in the world is Carmen Sandiego?
13:45Geography homework became a globe-trotting detective adventure in this show. Based on
13:49Bruderbund's computer game, this PBS favorite cast three young contestants as Acme Gumshoes,
13:55tracking crooks through geographical clues and puzzles.
13:58Remember the clues that we heard? Runs north and south, passes through five states, and all water
14:02east of it flows east, all water west of it flows west. Okay, come up with an answer as quickly
14:06as
14:07you can. This one may be a little, little difficult. Greg Lee hosted alongside Lynn Thigpen's
14:12Formidable Chief, while Rockapella supplied comedy, musical cues, and an unforgettable theme.
14:17The winning gumshoe ultimately raced across a giant floor map, identifying locations within 45
14:23seconds for a chance at a trip. Airing from 1991 to 1995, it earned a Peabody for blending quiz show
14:29excitement, detective storytelling, animation, and music without making learning feel boring.
14:35And since all work and no play makes a gumshoe cranky, we found a way to combine the two. Use
14:42this
14:43world war to study the globe. And then, when the work is done, take time out to perfect your slam
14:50dunk.
14:54Number seven, win Ben Stein's money. He's been a writer, a lawyer, and has been involved in politics.
15:01In 1930, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, in an effort to alleviate the
15:08effects of the... anyone? Anyone? So with all that success, he decided to give us his money by
15:14answering trivia questions? Not quite. Win Ben Stein's money was a trivia game show that debuted on
15:21Comedy Central in 1997. So if you're smart enough, fast enough, and if you've got the guts, you can win
15:29Ben Stein's money. Players were quizzed, and if they made it to round two, they'd compete against Ben
15:35himself in an effort to try and win his cash. It won several daytime Emmy Awards, and even featured
15:41Jimmy Kimmel as a co-host for the first three years. Well, what can I say, gals? That sound means
15:47the
15:47round is over, and Lisa, you've got $700 of Ben Stein's money. The show went off the air in 2003,
15:53and no,
15:54despite the name, players didn't actually win Ben's real money. Number six, are you smarter than a
16:00fifth grader? Back in 2007, the Fox Network decided to remind adults how much grown-ups don't recall
16:07from their school days. Hi, everybody. I'm Jeff Foxworthy, and welcome to this show that gives
16:12grown-ups the chance to prove that they are actually smarter than a fifth grader. The premise was simple.
16:18The contestant was asked a series of questions that would easily be answered by children of a certain
16:23great. The more questions players got right, the more money they earned.
16:36There were plenty of laughs as contestants proved time and time again that much of what we sat through
16:41in school doesn't necessarily apply to day-to-day life. The last iteration of the show aired its final
16:51episode in 2019. Number five, the dating game. Romance got a televised makeover long before reality
16:59TV started handing out roses. That's your number three. What is this thing called, love?
17:06I'm not ready for that, so I don't want to have a definition for it. I just want to goof
17:11around
17:12until I'm 26. Are you a heartbreaker? No, I'm polite. Yeah.
17:17Created by Chuck Barris and hosted for years by Jim Lang, the 1965 ABC series seeded one bachelorette
17:24opposite three unseen bachelors, letting questions, not looks, guide her choice of a paid date. The roles could also
17:32be reversed and even some celebrities join the fun. Steve and Marcia, there are many definitions of
17:37the word excitement and we're very happy you're happy to see each other, but we plan a date where
17:41you can get to talk over all those three years you've missed. We believe the essence of the date is
17:46excitement because you'll be heading southward to see the bullfights in Tijuana, Mexico.
17:52Its guest list became a time capsule. Farrah Fawcett, Tom Selleck, Steve Martin, and Arnold Schwarzenegger
17:59all appeared. After ABC ended the original run in 1973, several syndicated revivals followed,
18:06while the kiss-blowing sign-off gave the cheeky format one last flirt with the audience.
18:18Number four, one versus 100. It seems that no matter how far we go down this list,
18:24there's no lack of different versions of trivia games. Wow, you know how this works,
18:29right Catherine? Yes. All right, either you are gonna win, or they are gonna win!
18:33For one versus 100, a single contestant faced a hundred other individuals known as
18:38The Mob, as they all answered general knowledge questions. For each round, the members of The Mob
18:44that answered incorrectly were eliminated, with the prize pot increased. Now let's see how many people
18:50got that wrong. There you go. The idea was to be the last one standing and earn the largest cash
19:01payout. This one too garnered enough attention that it spawned several dozen international versions.
19:06The show ran on NBC for two seasons before moving on to the Game Show Network,
19:10where it lasted for only one year before being canceled in 2011.
19:23Number three, Double Dare. It's hard to imagine the late Alex Trebek hosting anything other than
19:30Jeopardy! Yet if we wound back the clock to 1976, we would find him reading clues for a different show
19:36called Double Dare. Play the game of Double Dare! With the host of Double Dare, Alex Trebek!
19:45Two players were given a series of clues to help them identify a person, place, or thing. If they
19:51thought they knew the answer, they buzzed in and the opposing player's booth would be closed,
19:55preventing them from hearing the answer. That's Roger's buzzer. Chuck's booth is closed. What's
20:00the answer, Roger? Eisenhower. You're right. Okay. Players could then dare another opponent to guess
20:05an answer, hoping they'd fumble and lose out on the points. The show only lasted one season,
20:10and Trebek started his Jeopardy! duties eight years later. Thank you very much, ladies and
20:15gentlemen. On behalf of all of us, welcome to America's favorite answer and question game, Jeopardy!
20:20Number two, Minute to Win It. One of the coolest parts of this game show was its use of everyday
20:26items. In this challenge, the contestant must move a total of two cookies from their forehead to their
20:32mouth using only their facial muscles. Instead of a giant wheel, board, or other flashy distractions,
20:38the show focused on 60-second challenges that incorporated objects you'd find around your home,
20:43or even at work. Come on, Michelle, you got it. Nice and steady. All right, that was close. You got
20:50it.
20:51Stacking nuts, tossing balls, and threading a needle were just a few examples of the countless games
20:56showcased. Players progressed through 10 levels of the game, earning more money each time.
21:01Do you want to play on or cash out? We want to play on!
21:05You want to play on? Yes. For 10,000 guaranteed dollars, this is your level five blueprint.
21:10The concept had a clear predecessor in Beat the Clock, which similarly challenged contestants to
21:15complete tasks within a set time limit. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable
21:29mentions. Win, lose, or draw. Celebrity Doodles made bad art ridiculously good television.
21:35It's a hip. He's got a bad hip. He skated, and he fell on his hip, and he came. Wipe
21:40out on the ice.
21:43Blockbusters. Letters, hexagons, and trivia paved the route to victory. What you can you get from
21:50worrying and... And this time it's Tom. Tom, you've done it. You've won the game. Congratulations.
21:57Pantomime Quiz. Classic charades became a fast-moving team competition on television.
22:03Hey, it sounds like a hat. A hat. A hat. A hat we've been to withdraw. At least you'll want
22:07to be alone.
22:15Card sharks. Higher or lower, one card could change everything. Okay, make it go low, please.
22:22Make it go... I can't do that, but I'll turn it over for you. Lower than a king. I did
22:26make it go low.
22:27It's a queen. Thank you, thank you. All right, make it go lower again, please.
22:32If you love games, be sure to check out WatchMojo's new game, Terrible Influence. Just launched for
22:38purchase at TerribleInfluence.com. Terrible Influence is a satirical board game about the
22:42dark side of fame from the writer of the most popular girls in school and us, WatchMojo. Boom.
22:48I can make an apology video. Oh, you so would. Click on the link in the description to check out
22:53the game and be the first to play Terrible Influence.
22:57Number one. The Newlywed Game.
23:00How well do you really know your significant other?
23:03Thank you and welcome to The Newlywed Game. Well, our newlyweds may be in for the shock of
23:06their young lives and they find out how much they do or do not know about each other.
23:11Well, starting in 1966, recently married couples had a chance to put that to the test.
23:16The original version of The Newlywed Game featured married couples who would attempt
23:20to answer revealing questions about each other. They'd often have quite the hilarious difference
23:25in their answers. Oh, yes, you have done a striptease to music. Your husband says,
23:30uh, no, you haven't. Well, I always do a striptease. You always just sit there.
23:35You don't, you just. You could have fooled old Bobby to music. Maybe it wasn't you.
23:41This led to both funny and heated debates that would play out in front of audiences
23:45and fellow contestants. The show went through several variations over the years,
23:50with one of the more recent versions appearing on the Game Show Network back in 2009,
23:54where it also featured its first same-sex couple. And we thought it was very progressive of them
24:01to reflect what's happening in our society. And we were honored and, of course, excited to
24:06uh, participate in a show that we had seen ages ago and never dreamt that we would get the invitation.
24:14So we leaped at it. Which classic game show would you bring back for
24:18one more round? Let us know in the comments.