Introduction
I’m a sucker for game shows. I can’t help it; there’s just something about the overlapping shouts, colorful lights, and that beautiful sound of a buzzer that gets me every time. I grew up in front of the TV watching Hollywood Squares and my grandfather’s favorite game show, The Price is Right. That was when Bob Barker was the host, so you know this love goes way back! Over the years, I’ve watched plenty more game shows to keep myself entertained during commercials or to lull me to sleep on lazy Sunday afternoons (again: shout out to Bob Barker). I’ve come to appreciate them as a great escape from reality and also just good clean fun. And how about you? Do you like watching re-runs of Jeopardy? Do you know someone who loves Wheel of Fortune? Do you have fond memories of sitting at home with your family after school watching Press Your Luck or The $25,000 Pyramid? If so, then this blog might be for you! We’ll feature episodes from some our favorite game shows (with most emphasis on Hollywood Squares), facts we’ve learned through exhaustive research (okay… Google searches) about their hosts & stars, and all kinds of fun tidbits that only true fans would love.
I love many game shows from the past and present.
There’s a lot to love about game shows. They’re fun, entertaining and educational. Game shows are an excellent way to spend time with friends and family, whether you’re watching them together or playing independently. Game shows are also a great way to learn new things and improve your brain power!
Think of the classic game show The Hollywood Squares as a particularly good example of this combo of entertainment, education and social interaction—and now you know why I love it so much!
No matter what time period a game show was on or is on, there are always favorites.
No matter what time period a game show was on or is on, there are always favorites. The Hollywood Squares is no exception to this rule. It has been the favorite of many people since its debut in 1966 and it continues to be one of the most popular syndicated shows today.
The stars are celebrities who are vying for cash and prizes by answering questions about their lives or in some cases just playing a game of charades. It’s fun for contestants and audiences alike because you never know what might happen when you ask your favorite celebrity something about their life!
One of my favorite games of all time is The Hollywood Squares.
The Hollywood Squares was a game show that was on TV from 1965 to 1980, hosted by Peter Marshall. It was originally on NBC and then it moved over to ABC in 1974. The show featured celebrities answering questions with the help of their three-sided squares (they were called “triangles” for some reason). The celebrities would be sitting in a giant tic-tac-toe board pattern where each square had a different personality type (like “television star” or “movie star”) and each celebrity had to try and guess which square they should be put into based on their answer. If you guessed right, you won money; if not, then your opponent got another chance at picking the right square while getting more money!
You may remember that it had nine stars, with three across and three down, who answered questions for points, using their humor and intelligence to help contestants win prizes and money.
You may remember that it had nine stars, with three across and three down, who answered questions for points, using their humor and intelligence to help contestants win prizes and money.
The 9 stars were:
Tommy Smothers
Joan Rivers
Paul Lynde
Bert Convy (who replaced Jack Barry when he died) Peter Marshall Charles Nelson Reilly Richard Dawson Charley Weaver Alice Ghostley
This show was in first run for 16 years with different runs by different networks.
This show was in first run for 16 years with different runs by different networks. The first run was on NBC for 10 years starting in 1965, then ABC picked it up 6 years later to air it from 1968-1973 (the third series), and finally NBC again ran the fourth series from 1973-1979.
This is an amazing feat considering most game shows don’t even last 3 seasons!
Many people have hosted this show but only two were able to catch my attention and make the list of hosts I liked the best.
You may have noticed that I have not named the second host. This is because he was not the best by any means but instead, he was the most surprising to me. That would be Jay Johnson who hosted from 1974 until 1981. He was a well-known comedian at this time but it wasn’t until his stint on Hollywood Squares that people really saw what he could do in front of a camera.
He had a good sense of humor and knew exactly how to play off of those around him, making for some great moments during his time as host. His banter with contestants was always fun to watch as they would try their best at one-upping each other in an attempt to make themselves look good while also making their opponent look bad—and failing miserably most of the time! The only problem with him hosting is that it made me realize how much I missed Peter Marshall’s dry wit when he left after five years (see above).
The first host I liked was Peter Marshall. He did a good job in the role of host and kept the show moving. He knew how to work with his stars. He also hosted a talk show on TV Land and made guest appearances on various shows including VH1’s Love Lounge that aired in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Peter Marshall was a good talk show host. He hosted a talk show on TV Land and made guest appearances on various shows including VH1’s Love Lounge that aired in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
He was also a good game show host. He did a good job in the role of host and kept the show moving. He knew how to work with his stars.
So, in short: if you’re looking for an entertaining, funny man who can do just about anything well—and look great doing it—then Peter Marshall is your man!
Conclusion
So there you have it! The Hollywood Squares is certainly a fun and exciting example of how game shows can take the world by storm. It’s been decades since the show ended, but fans still celebrate those who made it happen: Peter Marshall, Tom Kennedy, and all the stars who filled out the squares. How could they not? With so many clever jokes and spontaneous moments of humor, this game show will forever be remembered as one of our favorites.