I’m sitting here watching one of my favorite game shows, “Wheel Of Fortune,” and wondering how long Pat Sajak has been doing this show. I didn’t know until I looked it up. So, do you know? How much do you know some of the other game shows? Take this quiz and see…
1. It seems as though Pat Sajak has been hosting “Wheel of Fortune” since he was born. So, is this question true or false: Pat Sajak has never regularly hosted any game show other than “Wheel Of Fortune.”
2. A version of the game show “Password” has been around since the sixties. Several different titles have been used for the different versions. Which of these names was NOT used as a title for one of the versions? “Super Password”; “What’s The Password”; “Password Plus”; “Million Dollar Password.”
3. This game show has been updated several times over the course of its long run. Now it’s mostly about the cash, but in the early years, it was more about the prizes. The ending of the show used to feature the winning contestant looking at various prizes and “shopping” with their winnings. What’s the name of this show? “The Price Is Right”; “The Newlywed Game”; “The Prize Is Priced”; “Wheel of Fortune.”
4. Who was the very first game show host of “Family Feud?” Ray Combs; Martin Saunders; Louie Anderson; Richard Dawson.
5. What’s the name of the character that wants to take all of your money on “Press Your Luck”? Whammy; Bammy; Sammy; Chammy.
6. Which of the following was NOT a panelist on “Match Game?” Betty White; Orson Bean; Nipsy Russell; Wink Martindale.
7. Which game show won the most Emmy Awards for Best Game Show in the 1980s? “The Price Is Right”; “The $25,000 Pyramid”; “Name That Tune”; “Family Feud.”
8. What game show had the winner choose one of three cars with a key in the ignition, and if the car started, it was theirs? “A Split Second”; “The Big Game”; “Whew!”; “I’ve Got A Secret.”
9. Who created “Jeopardy?” Mark Goodman; Ronald Reagan; Dick Clark; Merv Griffin.
10. Alex Trebek has hosted all of the following except: “High Rollers”; “Jeopardy”; “Battlestars”; “The $20,000 Pyramid.”
ANSWERS
1. The key word is “regularly.” In 1997, as an April Fools joke, Sajak and Trebek from “Jeopardy” switched hosting jobs for one night. While Trebek hosted “Wheel,” Sajak and co-host Vanna White were contestants, while Pat’s wife, Lesly, turned the letters. 2. “What’s The Password.” Allen Ludden served as host of “Password” from 1961 until 1975, and then hosted “Password Plus” from 1979-1981. NBC followed with “Super Password” hosted by Bert Convey, from 1984-1989. Regis Philbin is the host of “Million Dollar Password,” which began in June of 2008 on CBS. 3. “Wheel of Fortune.” The “Price Is Right” features the “Showcase Showdown.” “Newlywed Game” usually gave away a grand prize the newlyweds could use, such as a new bedroom suite or a washer dryer. 4. Since Richard Dawson was so popular on “Match Game,” he was given his own game show with “Family Feud.” 5. Whammy. This show was hosted by Peter Tomarken from 1984-1986. It was brought back to life in 2002 with a few modifications. It’s hosted by Todd Newton and is called “Whammy: The All New Press Your Luck.” 6. Wink Martindale was never a panelist on “Match Game.” 7. The “$25,000 Pyramid,” hosted by Dick Clark, won six Emmys during the 1980s. 8. “Split Second,” hosted by Tom Kennedy. 9. Merv Griffin. 10. “The $20,000 Pyramid.” Yes, $20,000 was a pyramid prize amount, as were 10, 25, 50, and 100 thousand.