Game Shows/Quiz Shows

[Domino]

"Spot the Tune" ran from 1956 to 1962. "Name that Tune" was more or less the same format in the 1970s.

Dave

[Stephen]

As a child, I loved Larry Grayson's Generation Game from the late 70s/early 80s. A huge, gleaming spectacle of fun, complete with a cuddly toy on a conveyor belt! Larry Grayson himself came across as a sort of eccentric headmaster, and along with Tom Baker's Doctor Who was a staple character of Saturday night viewing!

I also remember Bruce Forsyth's Play Your Cards Right from around the same time which was great because of its simplicity (is it based on an actual card game?) But what spoilt it for me was Bruce's tendency to chat the contestants about their private lives for about ten minutes or so. As a kid, you're not in the slightest bit interested in anecdotes from people's honeymoons!

[Anita Bensoussane]

I used to watch The Generation Game more often when it was hosted by Bruce Forsyth - "Give us a twirl, Anthea!" I only occasionally watched Play Your Cards Right but it wasn't such a fun format, so I suppose it was felt that more chat was needed.

Other game/quiz shows I liked included Mr. and Mrs., Blankety Blank and Blockbusters.

[John Pickup]

I liked Blankety Blank when Les Dawson presented it. I didn't care for Terry Wogan.

[Bannerman65]

Blankety Blanks was also on in Australia, as well. Graham Kennedy, I believe, hosted it.

2 other game shoews over here, were Wheel of Fortune, and Catchphrase. Both of which, were hosted by John Burgess. John Burgess is back on Perth (Australia) radio, for 6ix (1080 on the AM band). He hosts the breakfast show (5:30am - 9:00am).

[Moonraker]

We loved Wogan's Perfect Recall, but then our son did appear on it!

[Anita Bensoussane]

We had Wheel of Fortune and Catchphrase too, Bannerman. I also used to like The Krypton Factor, Countdown (still on!) and Family Fortunes. I think Mastermind is still on as well, though I haven't watched it for a while.

I'm afraid I don't have any recall of Wogan's Perfect Recall but it's interesting that your son appeared on it, Nigel.

[Courtenay]

Do you have Letters and Numbers in Britain?

We get Eggheads in Australia - the British show, not an Aussie remake (my mum watches it). Oh yes, and QI.

[Stephen]

I liked The Krypton Factor, but some of those mental agility and intelligence rounds looked impossibly difficult - and I say that as a member of Mensa!

Blankety Blank was good fun, but I have to admit as a child I never really "got" Les Dawson who would also spend ages chatting to the contestants rather than getting on with it, whereas Terry Wogan seemed a lot more straightforward. Still, I loved the zany Kenny Everett with his microphone-bending antics. But I seem to recall there were a few panellists - Spike Milligan being the worst, who would constantly give out deliberately stupid answers rather than helping members of the public win a prize!

[Anita Bensoussane]

Do you have Letters and Numbers in Britain?

I haven't heard of it, so if we do I've missed it!

I liked Blankety Blank when Les Dawson presented it. I didn't care for Terry Wogan.

I was the other way round. Blankety Blank seemed warmer and more cheerful to me when it was presented by Terry Wogan and I didn't watch it as much when Les Dawson took over.

[Courtenay]

Here it is - Letters and Numbers I'm sorry to see it's not being produced at present, only shown as repeats. My parents and I, while staying in Paris a couple of years ago, were amused to find the French version (Des Chiffres et des Lettres) on TV in our hotel room!

Here's a clip from it that shows both the letters and numbers games. The co-hosts who confirm the best solutions are Richard with his huge dictionary and Lily the maths genius - boy, it's good to see a game show where the female co-host ISN'T simply a walking dress shop mannequin!! (Watch till the end to see her human calculator abilities at work.)

Wikipedia says it's very similar to the UK's Countdown, so I assume some of you will know that one?

[Anita Bensoussane]

Ah yes - it's Countdown by another name. A very popular programme which I watch now and then.