Will TV Get Back In The Game?

I don't think I would want to be a kid these days. I mean, the pressures of life today are hitting at earlier ages and kids are facing a lot of stress. Add to that increased peer pressure, social anxieties and fears of being bullied, it's a tough life. I wouldn't want to do it.

But another reason for me is that daytime television....well it's just bad. At least from a kids viewpoint, I think. When I was young, you had morning cartoons, cartoons when you got home from school on several channels! Now it's just a lot of people yelling at each other or telling about their new movie / TV show / album. In the day a kid could have hours of entertainment in front of the TV and not even notice if they were home alone. I may be speaking from experience here. But the funnest part of my daytime TV days, mostly during summer breaks, the daytime TV game shows.

Game shows have been a popular form of entertainment in the United States for several decades. Their popularity has persisted because they offer a combination of suspense, competition, and the chance to win big prizes. In the early years of television, game shows quickly became a staple of daytime programming. They were a way for advertisers to promote their products and for networks to attract audiences during the daytime hours.

One of the first game shows to gain popularity was "The $64,000 Question," which debuted on CBS in 1955. The show featured contestants answering increasingly difficult questions for the chance to win a large cash prize. The show became an instant hit, drawing in millions of viewers each week. It sparked a wave of imitators, and soon, game shows became a staple of daytime and prime-time programming.

In the 1960s, game shows faced a scandal when it was revealed that some of the shows' contestants had been given answers in advance. The scandal led to a decline in popularity for game shows, but they quickly bounced back. Shows like "The Price Is Right," "Jeopardy!," and "Wheel of Fortune" continue to be popular to this day.

Game shows have evolved over the years, with new formats and rules being introduced to keep them fresh and engaging. Some shows, like "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire," have become global sensations, with versions airing in dozens of countries.

Others, like "The Amazing Race," “American Idol,” “The Voice,” and “Survivor” have taken the concept of a game show and turned it into a reality TV competition.

In recent years, game shows have experienced a resurgence in popularity. Shows like "Family Feud" and "The Masked Singer" draw in millions of viewers each week. Streaming services like Netflix and Amazon have also gotten in on the action, producing original game shows like "Floor Is Lava" and "The Big Fib."

It seems like we have always enjoyed watching everyday people compete with a chance for a life changing event. And I know there are still a few daytime game shows on the air today but nothing like they used to be. It makes me kind of sad. Where's Paul Lynde in the center square when you need him?