Customer Reviews

The Encyclopedia of TV Game Shows

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The Editors of "The Encyclopedia of TV Game Shows" have done a surprisingly nice job of covering a particular niche in the history of television programming. Except for the mania over the big prize game shows in the early 1950's and the brief resurgence of their popularity with "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire," game shows have mostly been the province of day time programming and syndication. Consequently, a reference book like the Brooks and Marsh "Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows" is only going to cover those relatively few series that went on the air at night. "The Encyclopedia of TV Game Shows" not only has the virtue of covering every single Game Show in the history of television, it is done with an enviable balance between the historian's concern for air dates, hosts, assistants and rules of the game with the fans need for compelling pop culture details and television trivia with their "Did You Know" sections. Certainly, this is the best of both worlds collected into one reasonably priced volume. I picked up this book hoping it would be almost as good as Brooks and Marsh, but it turns out to be much better in terms of its particular corner of the television universe. Whatever you want to know about Game Shows, whether it is how many were hosted by Gene Rayburn, which has been on the air the longest, or which had the contestant who won the most money, you can bet this book has it and not even need to worry about what is behind Curtain #2.

I must admit that I'm only 13, but I watch Game Show network a lot! I found game shows in here that I never even heard of and ones I had forgotten about like "Press Your Luck"(used to be my favorite). Now I can show my friends these old game shows that I watch! This book has every game show thinkable and a little blurb about when it was started, syndicated, the rules, and the general description. Some even have highlights of certain moments. Very well done!

This book is absolutely super! When I first looked at it, I went through and found all these old game shows I remember from when I was little that I didn't think anyone remembered (like All-Star Blitz, Chain Reaction, The New Chain Reaction, Press Your Luck, etc.). I was truly impressed by this book. The book is absolutely wonderful! It's a comprehensive guide to game shows from the beginning of television to the present! It's a great reference book about game shows, plus it's great for reminiscing about old game shows you used to watch, learning things you didn't know about your favorite game shows, and learning about game shows that you'd never heard of before. Plus, this book introduced me to Bill Cullen, Peter Marshall, Allen Ludden, Bert Convy, and other hosts that I had never seen before, or saw but was too young to remember (Chain Reaction and All-Star Blitz come to mind). In conclusion, this is a great book. The only thing I can think of that would make this great book even better would be to add more pictures.

The Encyclopedia Of TV Game Shows is a must for all TV Game Show Fans! (and who isn't?) It's "SUPER! " With all my popular favorites like "Pyramid" and "Press Your Luck"...(Did you know the latter was an updated version of 1977's "Second Chance") as well as more obscure game show treasures like "The MoneyMaze" and "Whew!". They're all here in this great book! My first copy was read by friends and co-workers so I'm buying an additional one to keep in "mint" condition! I can't wait for edition 4 ...and 5!

This encyclopedia, which I first came across in 1989, gets better with each revision.

All the authors are closely associated with quiz shows. Their love for and knowledge of the game show form shows in their attention to detail. And in the odd case when little is known of a particular program (often the case with 1940s and 1950s shows), they say so.

The items are often cross-referenced several ways, such as specific programs a host/announcer did and number of Emmy Awards won. And the minutiae is woven in with wonderful photos, some of them rare.

One burning question I'd like answered in any future revision is exactly how involved other Goodson staffers were as the actual creators of TV games that are usually credited to Mark Goodson himself. The book doesn't make clear, for example, whether or not Bob ('Pyramid') Stewart himself created 'Password,' 'To Tell the Truth' and 'The Price Is Right' during his tenure with Goodson-Todman Productions, as most reference books say he did. (Nothing against Goodson, who was a true genius as a producer -- the authors might also want to mention how very important Goodson was in supporting actors who were otherwise out of work during the dreaded McCarthy era.)

All in all, though, this is a wonderful volume.

Wink Martindale, Alex Trebeck, Bob Barker, Pat Zajac, Bob Eubanks, Bill Cullen, Allen Ludden, Gene Rayburn and Johnny Carson are just a few of the game show hosts we grew up with and they're here in this book.

Relive so many memories from The Price is Right, Let's Make a Deal, Family Feud, Double Dare and so many others. You find out about the show, who hosted it and what the game was about.

Sit down and take time to look back at what is the most complete book on television's hottest, brightest weirdest and worst games shows in history all packed into this 350 plus page scrapbook.

Once again Facts on File has given you a real winner and this one is sure to please everyone. By the way who hosted Bank on the Stars? Or Child's Play? Or better yet Pass the Buck?

"The Encyclopedia of TV Game Shows" is the bible to game shows. Over 500 game shows are recorded in this book, full of information to rack your mind on game shows. Classic favorites from yesterday such as "What's My Line?", "I've Got a Secret", "Beat the Clock", "Strike It Rich", and "Twenty-One" are included with current favorites such as "Wheel of Fortune", "The Price is Right", "Jeopardy", "Family Feud", "Hollywood Squares", and "Pyramid". Included also is information on the celebrities who guest stared on the game shows, the personalities and a synopsis of their careers, airdates of the shows, what network they were on, the rules, the different versions, and even the prizes won and funny moments or bloppers that happened on the show. The book also includes information on awards won, a tribute to Mark Goodson, a brief history of game shows, and over 170 photographs to help you remember. The only negative things about the book was that some shows were short-changed ("Press Your Luck" for example, they should have talked about Michael Larson and the different whammies), and it hasn't been updated, so some shows are MIA ("Millionaire", "Weakest Link", "Blind Date", updated versions of old shows, etc.), but these are minor things that don't hurt the book much at all. In 60 seconds and for the grand prize:
-How many shows did Bill Cullen host?
-Who hosted "All-Star Blitz?"
-What game show was on CBS in the 1990's for only one episode?
-What three game shows did game show announcer Johnny Gilbert host?
-What was the orignial format of "Wheel of Fortune?"
-What host brought the Beatles to L.A.?
-What game show had a town named after it?
-What game show was made into an ice cream by Baskin-Robbins?

You will learn the answer to these quesions and more by reading this book. It's a lot of fun and you won't be able to put it down.

An important book for any TV GAME SHOW FAN!
This book lists ALL game shows from the start of TV until the publshing date. (I can't wait for the fourth edition.) This book includes all detailed information about each show including air dates, hosts , announcers even music theme names. It also contains great photos from shows... even more than the second edition. IF YOU LIKE GAME SHOWS YOU'LL LOVE THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TV GAME SHOWS!

Very accurate, very informative, THE authoritative source on TV Game shows! One minor criticism is that the book is not as pictorial as it's previous edition and the numerous pictures really helped to enhance the game show information in the book. But it is nonetheless the BEST off-line game show source EVER!

This is the ultimate game show book to end all other game show books. This book lists every game show ever aired on television including the Dumont Network and cable channels. This book covers 517 different tv game shows in alphabetical order from the first tv game show special "Truth Or Consequences" on NBC, July 1, 1941, the first continuing CBS tv game show, "CBS Television Quiz" on July 2, 1941 and hundreds of others to 1995. 341 pages full with 152 photographs that will stimulate your memory. This book includes a listing of when all network tv stations and some cable stations began tv service. Even DuMont is listed. A chronology of game shows from the first in 1941 to 1995. A list of tv game shows by network. A list of the longest-running television game shows. Game Show Award winners and Nominees. Top-rated game shows from 1952-1971. TV game shows that began on radio. Game Shows that have had multiple runs. Index of game show personalities. A game show index. Name index and profession index. It was good to see Geoff Edwards, Art James, Jim Lange and Tom Kennedy again.