The Ultimate Countdown: Discover the All-Time Longest-Running Game Shows in Television History

Summary

Some of the longest-running game shows of all time have managed to stay entertaining due to their unique formats or charismatic hosts.

Jeopardy! and Family Feud have smoothly transitioned to new hosts while maintaining their popularity. The game show, with the longest-ever run in television history, enjoyed an impressive span of several decades on the air.

The longest-running game shows share a common factor that sets them apart. Not only do they offer contestants the opportunity to win amazing prizes, captivating the audience, but they also maintain their entertainment value for various reasons. This stems from either the show's format or the charisma of its hosts. Jeopardy! serves as a prime example, as it presents challenging questions that keep viewers glued to their televisions. However, the added enjoyment factor brought by its former host, Alex Trebek, is what has ensured its presence on television for over 50 years.

The greatest game shows are those that are incredibly enjoyable to watch, allowing new hosts to seamlessly continue the show. Despite the belief that no one could replace icons like Bob Barker on The Price is Right or Richard Dawson on The Family Feud, both were successfully replaced, and the shows remain just as popular as they were before. Wheel of Fortune will face a similar challenge, but when it comes to the longest-running game shows of all time, there is a plethora of series that have lasted for more than 20 years, with some even surpassing the half-century mark on the air.

12 Match Game (1962–69, 1973–1982, 1990–1991, 2016–2021): 22 years

The Match Game, a timeless television game show, has an impressive 22-season run, making it one of the longest-standing game shows ever. It initially premiered in 1962, featuring Gene Rayburn as the host along with two celebrity panelists. After a successful seven-year run, the show made a comeback in 1973, boasting an expanded panel of celebrity guests and a more substantial prize fund. This iconic show was one of the first to reintroduce five-figure winnings since the infamous quiz show scandals of the 1950s.

Among the notable panelists were Richard Dawson, who later went on to host The Family Feud, as well as familiar faces like Jack Klugman, Vicki Lawrence, and Michael Landon. The premise of the game involved two contestants attempting to match their fill-in-the-blank questions and answers with the responses provided by the panelists. After a brief return in the 1990s, the show was revived once again in 2016, with Alec Baldwin taking on the role of host.

11 Who Wants To Be A Millionaire (1999-2021): 22 years

Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, a popular game show since its introduction in America in 1999, has left its mark on pop culture. This show has been adapted into various international versions, including the Indian edition which inspired the 2009 Best Picture Winner, Slumdog Millionaire. Originating from The United Kingdom, none of the versions have achieved the same level of success as the American adaptation of Millionaire.

While there are thrilling moments of triumph, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire often showcases notable failures due to the high stakes involved, resulting in intense entertainment. Since its debut in 1999, the show has consistently aired, featuring a series of hosts such as Regis Philbin, Terry Crews, and Jimmy Kimmel. The latest episode was broadcasted in March 2021, and it remains uncertain whether ABC will continue the show beyond the most recent season.

10 Hollywood Squares (1966-1981, 1983-1984, 1986-1989, 1998-2004): 24 years

Hollywood Squares, one of the longest-running game shows in history, featured a tic-tac-toe board with nine celebrities. Two contestants vied for prizes while the host posed questions to the celebs. The contestants had to determine if the celebrities' answers were correct or not. Adding to the show's entertainment value, the celebs often included comedians who would offer hilariously unexpected responses before providing their actual guesses.

Notable celebrities who participated in the game included Rich Little, Roddy McDowall, Buddy Hackett, Florence Henderson, Vincent Price, Weird Al Yankovic, Charo, Sandy Duncan, Jonathan Winters, Joan Rivers, and more. The show experienced two revivals in the 1980s following its cancellation, and then had a final return in 1998 with Tom Bergeron as the host, who would later go on to host Dancing with the Stars.

9 Password (1961-1975, 2022): 24 years

Password is a long-standing game show that has experienced numerous revivals and remakes over the years. It is a word association game where contestants are paired with celebrities. The show's peak popularity was observed between 1961 and 1982, during which time Allen Ludden served as the host for the majority of its successful run. Actress Betty White, who was married to Ludden, frequently appeared as a featured player on the show.

The original Password had two separate runs, the first from 1961 to 1967 and the second from 1971 to 1975. Following that, the show underwent several revamps. The first was Password Plus, which aired from 1979 to 1982. This was followed by Super Password, which ran from 1984 to 1989. The most recent edition, Million Dollar Password, had a brief stint from 2008 to 2009. In total, Password aired for 23 years and produced 2,855 episodes. It returned for another season in 2022, further adding to its impressive run.

8 What's My Line? (1950-1975): 24 years

Despite being off the air for almost 50 years, What's My Line? remains one of the longest-running and earliest televised American game shows. This game show involved a panel of celebrities who had to deduce the contestants' job occupations by asking a series of questions, serving as a precursor to popular shows like To Tell The Truth and Figure It Out.

Spanning over 24 years, What's My Line? had a total of 2,196 episodes. It had two separate runs, the first from 1950 to 1967, and the second from 1968 to 1975. The original iteration was a pioneering game show that won both Emmy and Golden Globe awards, notable for introducing celebrities into the format.

7 Pyramid (1973-1988, 1991, 2002-2004, 2012, 2016- ): 27 years +

Contestants are paired with celebrities in Pyramid, a word association game based on various categories shown in the shape of a pyramid. Since its premiere in 1973, Pyramid has undergone multiple versions, each offering a different grand prize amount that has progressively increased over time.

Initially named The $10,000 Pyramid, the show was hosted by the legendary Dick Clark and ran from 1973 to 1988. Throughout its 15-year run, multiple versions of the show aired simultaneously, with prizes ranging from $20,000 to $25,000, $50,000, and even up to $100,000. Additional iterations of the show were produced in 1991, 2002, 2012, and the most recent one, in 2016, is still on the air today. With over 1,000 episodes aired, Pyramid is currently hosted by the hilarious and versatile Michael Strahan.

6 Let's Make A Deal (1963-1977, 1980-1981, 1984-1986, 1990-1991, 2003, 2009- ): 37 years +

Let's Make A Deal is one of the longest-running game shows. Audience members dress up in crazy costumes, hoping to be selected to go on stage and make deals to win various prizes. The show has been canceled and revived multiple times, but it has accumulated over 6,000 episodes throughout its 35-year existence.

The original Let's Make A Deal was incredibly popular from 1963 to 1977. Following that, there were several short-lived revivals between 1981 and 2003. However, in 2009, the show found its footing once again and returned to the air. Wayne Brady, a hilarious member of the Whose Line Is It Anyway? cast, now hosts the lively game show.

5 Family Feud (1976-1985, 1988-1995, 1999- ): 38 years +

The game show, Family Feud, is widely recognized as one of the longest-running and most popular shows in history. Despite being off-air for some years, it has consistently maintained its audience appeal since its premiere in 1976. The show originally ran until 1985, was later revived in 1988 until 1995, and then revived again in 1999, where it has continued to air to this day.

The initial success of Family Feud can be attributed, in large part, to the beloved host, Richard Dawson. However, the show's current ratings have reached unprecedented heights with Steve Harvey as the host. In addition, the show features a highly acclaimed celebrity version, pitting various stars against each other in the trivia game instead of the usual American families.

4 Wheel Of Fortune (1975- ): 48 years +

Wheel Of Fortune, with co-hosts Pat Sajak and Vanna White, holds the title for the longest-running television show hosts in history, spanning an impressive 39 years. As the show continues to air, they are poised to further extend their record-breaking tenure.

With over 7,000 episodes and counting, Wheel Of Fortune boasts the highest number of episodes for any game show. Originally debuting in 1975, the show gained significant popularity in 1982 when Sajak and White joined the team. Its accessible format has contributed to its enduring success, as viewers readily engage with the show from the comfort of their own homes.

It should be noted that Pat Sajak is set to retire in 2024, at which point Ryan Seacrest will assume the hosting role.

3 Jeopardy! (1964-1979, 1984- ): 54 years +

Jeopardy! remains one of the most cherished and enduring game shows ever. A knowledge-based contest for the intellectually sharp, it also boasts one of the television industry's longest-serving hosts in the beloved Alex Trebek, who led the program until his passing in 2020.

Originally airing from 1964 to 1979, Jeopardy! truly gained momentum and captivated audiences with its 1984 revival, which coincided with Trebek's debut as host. Following Trebek's departure, the show enlisted new hosts, including Mayim Bialik from Blossom fame and former champion Ken Jennings, who now share the responsibilities that Trebek held for an extensive period of time.

2 Des Chiffres Et Des Lettres (1965-1970, 1972- ): 56 years +

Des Chiffres et des Lettres, the French show known as "Numbers and Letters," holds the record as one of the longest-running game shows in history, having been continuously on air since 1965. With a focus on testing contestants' knowledge in mathematics and spelling, the show features multiple rounds comprising a variety of challenges.

While Des Chiffres et des Lettres may not be widely recognized by American viewers, it is immensely popular in France. Its immense success has led to the creation of several international adaptations, although an attempted version for the US in 1990 never made it to the small screen.

1 The Price Is Right (1956-1965, 1971- ): 60 years +

With over sixty years on air, The Price Is Right holds the esteemed title of the longest-running game show in history. It initially aired for nine years from 1956 to 1965, and since its revival in 1972, it has continued to dominate the television landscape, surpassing the longevity of most shows regardless of genre.

The Price Is Right never fails to captivate audiences with its energetic contestants, who engage in a wide array of mini-games centered around modern commerce. Notably, Bob Barker was the iconic host of the show from its revival in 1972 until his retirement in 2007. His role was later assumed by Drew Carey, who presently serves as the show's host.