http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/tv/hollywood-game-night-and-the-problem-with-the-celebrity-fun-bus/2015/07/06/f85beaa6-2054-11e5-aeb9-a411a84c9d55_story.html

The Jane Lynch-hosted NBC game show, says Hank Stuever, “serves as another reminder that we live in a sad, unimaginative era of acquiescence to celebrity status. Large swaths of network TV — from morning shows to late-night, from midday to afternoon to prime time — have been given over to constant, publicist-pleasing opportunities for stars to advance their own brands, unchallenged, and pass off their self-promotion as the very definition of fun. Celebrities no longer have to prove that they are talented; they mostly have to prove that they are always good company.”

What Mark Goodson and his employees understood is that the game shows were about the actual contestants (the average, everyday joes), not the emcees or the celebrities. The best part about Goodson-Todman shows was learning these contestants' life stories and seeing what eccentricities they brought with them onto the set.

IF you watch a late 1970s/early 1980s broadcast of "Match Game" or "The Price is Right," you'll notice much of the camera time went to audience reactions and the contestants, not Bob Barker, Gene Rayburn or the celebrity panelists.

That's why their shows were so successful.

It also showed why the Goodson-Todman shows, What's My Line, I've Got a Secret, To Tell the Truth, The Price is Right and Beat the Clock stayed on the air in the aftermath of the quiz show scandals. They were people oriented shows that didn't give away a lot of money (e.g. the top prize on What's My Line was $50) and the focus was on unique civilians and the game.

Goodson-Todman game shows are definitely the best the game show business ever put out.