Shows categorized as game shows that are NOT game shows - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

grundoontv · 11-24-2010, 10:51 PM

1. American Gladiators -- Why call "American Gladiators" a game show? I mean, come on. Based on what I've seen of both the original version and the Hulk Hogan revival, it was a sports competition show. Think about it--4 contenders every week fighting against a team of professional "Gladiators." That's NOT a game show--it's a sport equivalent of Pro Wrestling.

2. Love Connection -- Another show I don't understand why people call a game show; it was a talk/reality show. The reality portion came before the show, where the guest chose from among 3 potential blind dates to go on a date with--AFTER which the guests appeared, one sitting beside host Chuck Woolery, the other on a closed-circuit TV screen--talking about the date and whether or not there were any sparks. Another reality portion--the audience vote on who THEY thought was best after the date was described. I mean, come on--there's no real GAME in "Love Connection." No cash or prizes won if the date was successful or not. The only thing about "Love Connection" that it has in common with REAL game shows like "Jeopardy!" and "Wheel of Fortune" is the personalities--Chuck Woolery having hosted the original "Wheel" in the '70s and the original announcer being Rod Roddy, succeeded later by Gene Wood, Rich Jeffries, Johnny Gilbert, and John Cervenka.

3. What Would You Do? -- Created by Woody Fraser, "What Would You Do?" was an audience participation show hosted by Marc Summers ("Double Dare") that had people picked from a studio audience doing various things--among them go down a pie slide, do various dances, and, in one episode, a man even kissed a gorilla. Sure, once in a while on the show, the audience members might play various games a la bobbing for apples where the loser went on to the Pie Pod, but I'm sorry, folks--unlike Marc's other Nickelodeon show, "Double Dare," "What Would You Do?" IS NOT a game show, but rather an audience participation show.

4. Wild & Crazy Kids -- Created by Woody Fraser, "Wild & Crazy Kids" was a Nickelodeon sports competition show where teams of kids would play different kinds of sports; in one episode, a team of kids played a variation on water polo with water balloons going on their parents' heads. I'm sorry, but "Wild & Crazy Kids" was NEVER a game show, but a sports competition show.

5. Nickelodeon GUTS -- Another one I don't understand. Why call Nickelodeon GUTS a "game show?" It was a sports competition show where 3 individual kids played different kinds of sports, with each episode ending with "The Aggro Crag," where the kids do mountain climbing and receive a trophy.

TJ · 07-18-2024, 06:23 PM

American Gladiators - Wikipedia lists it as a sports/game show. They have it in various game show categories. There were some threads in Game Shows, All Other TV Shows and Reality TV Shows. I think it would be considerered more of a reality competition series. I moved them to a sub-forum under Reality TV Shows. I have a redirect under Game Shows. https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...lay.php?f=3364

Love Connection and The Dating Game - I could see them being called game shows, but I'm not sure if some of the more recent dating series are game shows or reality shows.

America's Funniest Home Videos (AFV) - Wikipedia lists it as a video clip series. I don't think it is considered a game show. I have it as a sub-forum of Reality TV Shows. https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...lay.php?f=3020

The Mole - Wikipedia lists it as a reality game show. There are some threads in Game Shows and some in Reality TV Shows. What do you think?

Fear Factor - Is it more of a game show or a reality show?

Whose Line Is It Anyway? - Wikipedia lists it as an improv comedy series. There have been some threads in Game Shows and All Other TV Shows. I have moved them to Sketch Comedy. https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...lay.php?f=2583

howilu · 07-19-2024, 09:54 AM

I would also put The Gong Show in this category. It was a mad, cracked, sick and crazy talent show from Chuck Barris.

icecream · 07-19-2024, 02:55 PM

No way is Fear Factor a game show.

AMackII · 07-19-2024, 05:11 PM

The Original Star Search was a weekly talent competition show from mid to late 1980s and early 1990s, so i think its a non game show to be exact

cd637299 · 09-13-2024, 11:27 PM

Late to the party here…

Agreed, sorta, on The Gong Show, and….

Going waaaay back to the 50s, Queen for a Day is also iffy. It was a competition, but the sad stories made it anything but a game show atmosphere.

Also from what I have seen, It Could Be You was anything BUT a game, although categorized as such.

I cannot really say that Truth or Consequences ever had “gameplay” as such, but just was a lot of fun for all involved.

cd

11-24-2010, 10:51 PM	#1
grundoontv Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Aug 12, 2007 Location: Long Island, New York Posts: 83	Shows categorized as game shows that are NOT game shows 1. American Gladiators -- Why call "American Gladiators" a game show? I mean, come on. Based on what I've seen of both the original version and the Hulk Hogan revival, it was a sports competition show. Think about it--4 contenders every week fighting against a team of professional "Gladiators." That's NOT a game show--it's a sport equivalent of Pro Wrestling. 2. Love Connection -- Another show I don't understand why people call a game show; it was a talk/reality show. The reality portion came before the show, where the guest chose from among 3 potential blind dates to go on a date with--AFTER which the guests appeared, one sitting beside host Chuck Woolery, the other on a closed-circuit TV screen--talking about the date and whether or not there were any sparks. Another reality portion--the audience vote on who THEY thought was best after the date was described. I mean, come on--there's no real GAME in "Love Connection." No cash or prizes won if the date was successful or not. The only thing about "Love Connection" that it has in common with REAL game shows like "Jeopardy!" and "Wheel of Fortune" is the personalities--Chuck Woolery having hosted the original "Wheel" in the '70s and the original announcer being Rod Roddy, succeeded later by Gene Wood, Rich Jeffries, Johnny Gilbert, and John Cervenka. 3. What Would You Do? -- Created by Woody Fraser, "What Would You Do?" was an audience participation show hosted by Marc Summers ("Double Dare") that had people picked from a studio audience doing various things--among them go down a pie slide, do various dances, and, in one episode, a man even kissed a gorilla. Sure, once in a while on the show, the audience members might play various games a la bobbing for apples where the loser went on to the Pie Pod, but I'm sorry, folks--unlike Marc's other Nickelodeon show, "Double Dare," "What Would You Do?" IS NOT a game show, but rather an audience participation show. 4. Wild & Crazy Kids -- Created by Woody Fraser, "Wild & Crazy Kids" was a Nickelodeon sports competition show where teams of kids would play different kinds of sports; in one episode, a team of kids played a variation on water polo with water balloons going on their parents' heads. I'm sorry, but "Wild & Crazy Kids" was NEVER a game show, but a sports competition show. 5. Nickelodeon GUTS -- Another one I don't understand. Why call Nickelodeon GUTS a "game show?" It was a sports competition show where 3 individual kids played different kinds of sports, with each episode ending with "The Aggro Crag," where the kids do mountain climbing and receive a trophy.

07-19-2024, 02:55 PM	#4
icecream Cat-tastic and Whiskerlicious Forum Celebrity Join Date: Sep 01, 2006 Location: The Catacombs Posts: 20,815	No way is Fear Factor a game show.
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07-18-2024, 06:23 PM	#2
TJ Site Owner Administrator Forum Star Join Date: Feb 03, 2000 Location: Marietta, GA Posts: 10,694	American Gladiators - Wikipedia lists it as a sports/game show. They have it in various game show categories. There were some threads in Game Shows, All Other TV Shows and Reality TV Shows. I think it would be considerered more of a reality competition series. I moved them to a sub-forum under Reality TV Shows. I have a redirect under Game Shows. https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...lay.php?f=3364 Love Connection and The Dating Game - I could see them being called game shows, but I'm not sure if some of the more recent dating series are game shows or reality shows. America's Funniest Home Videos (AFV) - Wikipedia lists it as a video clip series. I don't think it is considered a game show. I have it as a sub-forum of Reality TV Shows. https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...lay.php?f=3020 The Mole - Wikipedia lists it as a reality game show. There are some threads in Game Shows and some in Reality TV Shows. What do you think? Fear Factor - Is it more of a game show or a reality show? Whose Line Is It Anyway? - Wikipedia lists it as an improv comedy series. There have been some threads in Game Shows and All Other TV Shows. I have moved them to Sketch Comedy. https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...lay.php?f=2583

07-19-2024, 09:54 AM	#3
howilu Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 20, 2003 Location: St. Louis Park, MN Posts: 1,963	I would also put The Gong Show in this category. It was a mad, cracked, sick and crazy talent show from Chuck Barris.

07-19-2024, 05:11 PM	#5
AMackII Member Forum Star Join Date: Oct 23, 2015 Location: St. Louis Posts: 17,223	The Original Star Search was a weekly talent competition show from mid to late 1980s and early 1990s, so i think its a non game show to be exact

09-13-2024, 11:27 PM	#6
cd637299 cd637299 Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 14, 2022 Location: South Florida Posts: 851	Late to the party here… Agreed, sorta, on The Gong Show, and…. Going waaaay back to the 50s, Queen for a Day is also iffy. It was a competition, but the sad stories made it anything but a game show atmosphere. Also from what I have seen, It Could Be You was anything BUT a game, although categorized as such. I cannot really say that Truth or Consequences ever had “gameplay” as such, but just was a lot of fun for all involved. cd