Top 10 Game Shows That Don't Exist Anymore

#10: “Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?” (2007-19)

Back in 2007, the Fox network decided to remind adults how much grown-ups don’t recall from their schooldays. The premise was simple: the contestant was asked a series of questions that would easily be answered by children of a certain age. The more questions players got right, the more money they earned. There were plenty of laughs as contestants proved time and time again that much of what we sat through in school doesn’t necessarily apply to day-to-day life. The last iteration of the show aired its final episode in 2019.

#9: “The Newlywed Game” (1966-74)

How well do you really know your significant other? Well, starting in 1966, recently married couples had the chance to put that to the test. The original version of “The Newlywed Game” featured married couples who would attempt to answer revealing questions about each other. They’d often have... quite the hilarious difference in their answers. This led to both funny and heated debates that would play out in front of audiences and fellow contestants. The show went through several variations over the years, with one of the more recent versions appearing on the Game Show Network back in 2009, where it also featured its first same-sex couple.

#8: “Win Ben Stein's Money” (1997-2003)

He’s been a writer, a lawyer, and has been involved in politics. So with all that success, he decided to give us his money by answering trivia questions? Not quite. “Win Ben Stein’s Money” was a trivia game show that debuted on Comedy Central in 1997. Players were quizzed and if they made it to round two, they’d compete against Ben himself in an effort to try and win his cash. It won several Daytime Emmy Awards, and even featured Jimmy Kimmel as a co-host for the first three years. The show went off the air in 2003. And no, despite the name, players didn’t actually win Ben’s real money.

#7: “Password” (1961-75)

What’s the password? Passwords are an essential part of modern daily life. But back in 1961, passwords were the focus of a clever word association game show. It featured two teams of two players. Both would have to convey a word, called the password, to their partner using only single word clues. Contestants had to be very creative in what words they chose, and how strongly they emphasized the sound of the word itself. The show ran for 14 years before bowing out in 1975. Variations of the show have since followed and according to Wikipedia, we may see another one sometime in the near future.

#6: “Double Dare” (1976-77)

It’s hard to imagine the late Alex Trebek hosting anything other than “Jeopardy!”. Yet if we wound back the clock to 1976, we would find him reading clues for a different show called “Double Dare”. Two players were given a series of clues to help them identify a person, place or thing. If they thought they knew the answer, they buzzed in and the opposing player’s booth would be closed, preventing them from hearing the answer. Players could then “dare” another opponent to guess an answer, hoping they’d fumble and lose out on the points. The show only lasted one season and Trebek started his “Jeopardy!” duties eight years later.

#5: “Minute to Win It” (2010-14)

One of the coolest parts of this game show was its use of everyday items. Instead of a giant wheel, board, or other flashy distractions, the show focused on 60-second challenges that incorporated objects you’d find around your home, or even at work. Stacking nuts, tossing balls, and threading a needle were just a few examples of the countless games showcased. Players progressed through 10 “levels” of the game, earning more money each time. The show was so popular that it inspired international versions in more than 50 countries. The US version went off the air in 2014.

#4: “1 vs. 100” (2006-11)

It seems that no matter how far we go down this list, there’s no lack of different versions of “trivia” games. For “1 Vs 100”, a single contestant faced 100 other individuals, known as “the mob,” as they all answered general knowledge questions. For each round, the members of the mob that answered incorrectly were eliminated, with the prize pot increased. The idea was to be the last one standing and earn the largest cash payout. This one too garnered enough attention that it spawned several dozen international versions. The show ran on NBC for two seasons before moving to the Game Show Network where it lasted for only one year before being cancelled in 2011.

#3: “American Gladiators” (1989-96)

Take a group of amateurs, throw them in various games of physical prowess and endurance, and see who comes out on top. That’s essentially the plot of “American Gladiators”. Players, both men and women, would engage in or take on wrestling matches, aerial gymnastics rings, climbing walls, and countless other challenges, all of which were physically demanding. Contestants would often compete against the show’s own “gladiators” to prove their worth. A bracket system was used to determine which players moved forward as the season progressed. The show ran from 1989 to 1996, with a remake appearing in 2008, but a revival is apparently being pitched that would feature WWE stars as gladiators.

#2: “Battle of the Network Stars” (1976-88)

If you watch a show long enough, you might tend to permanently associate the character on-screen with the actor portraying that character. Which is why, of course, when stars are thrown into real-life competitions, it can be quite entertaining. “Battle of the Network Stars” was a competition style show whose contestant base was made up entirely of then-notable actors from television and film. The stars were divided into teams and had to compete against each other in obstacle courses, football and basketball games, swimming, and even bike racing. The original ran from 1976-1988 and then was revived for a brief time in 2017.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

“What's My Line?” (1950-75)

Celebrities Question Contestants to Guess Their Occupation

“Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?” (1991-95)

Kids Game Show Inspired By the Video Game

“Scrabble” (1984-90, 1993)

Like the Board Game, but on TV

#1: “Hollywood Squares” (1966-2004)

Who knew playing tic-tac-toe could be so fun? For this classic show and its later iterations, the standard 3x3 grid was filled with celebrities who were given questions to answer. If the contestant guessed correctly as to whether the stars were telling the truth or not, they would “get the square”. The gameplay itself was quite simple, but what made the show so memorable were the often hilarious bits of humor introduced by the occupants of the squares. They would give hysterical answers to get a laugh both from the players and the audience. Introduced in 1965, the latest variation went off the air in 2004.