USA TODAY International Edition
Summer has a lot to offer if you are game
This summer, the category is ... high-octane game shows you might be missing.
James Holzhauer may have finally stumbled, walking away from the “Jeopardy!” stage with a whopping $2,464,216, but he isn’t the only game show contestant out to win a bundle of cash this summer. The warmer months have brought a feast of game shows, with broadcast networks handing out cash left and right on competitions new and old.
To celebrate a summer of average Joes and celebs trying their hands at trivia – and prove that Holzhauer isn’t the only thing making game shows great – we picked 10 series worth tuning into as temperatures climb.
‘Jeopardy!’
Check local listings
When it comes to game shows, there’s a definitive king. Even without such breakouts as Holzhauer or Ken Jennings, day in and day out, “Jeopardy!” delivers smart questions, skilled contestants and the wonderful Alex Trebek. And if big money is what you want, wait around for the occasional tournament, when six figures are tossed around.
‘Press Your Luck’ ABC, Wednesdays, 8 EDT/PDT
ABC has revived a number of game shows over the past few years (several of which are on this list), but its latest might just be its best. “Luck,” hosted by the ever-charming Elizabeth Banks, recreates the gloriously 1970s set, music and even the hand-drawn “Whammy” cartoons of the original. The game, where contestants spin for the chance to win cash and prizes while trying to avoid Whammy spaces that drain their banks, gets a small update
with a whopper of a bonus round. The new formula is addictive and adorable, and might even bring a tear to your eye.
‘Card Sharks’
ABC, Wednesdays, 9 EDT/PDT “Sharks,” another of ABC’s latest revivals, is hosted with spicy wit by “Community” and “The Soup” alum Joel McHale. Contestants constantly are guessing “higher or lower,” whether it’s trivia or the card they’re going to draw next. Once one player wins $10,000, they get to gamble their winnings for far more dough. Once you get the rules (and if you didn’t watch the original, it might take a few rounds), the game of (mostly) chance is tense and fun.
‘Deal or No Deal’
CNBC, Wednesdays, 9 EDT/PDT This 2000s classic was revived on CNBC last year with all the briefcases, glittery dresses and Howie Mandel you could handle. It’s back for a new season and is just as reliable at making you shout at the contestants when they make the wrong call. Never make the deal, obviously.
‘The $100,000 Pyramid’ ABC, Sundays, 9 EDT/PDT
If you’ve ever wanted to see how stressed celebrities can get, this is the game for you. Michael Strahan hosts the word-guessing game, where celebs including Leslie Jones and Rosie O’Donnell are partnered with contestants competing for money. Some famous people are pros at the game and breeze through. Others are definitely not very comfortable in the hot seat.
‘Beat Shazam’ Fox, Mondays, 8 EDT/PDT
The game show of choice for music lovers or Jamie Foxx fans (or both), this Fox series takes its title from the popular music-recognizing app, as teams try to be first to recognize the song playing. Hosted by Foxx, and DJed by his daughter Corinne, the show is more of jukebox party than a tense competition, but there’s nothing wrong with jamming to hits.
‘Match Game’ ABC, Wednesdays, 10 EDT/PDT
Host Alec Baldwin proves he has more comedic skills than his “Saturday Night Live” impression of President Donald Trump. As the master of ceremonies of this fill-in-the-blank game, Baldwin has a grand time with the weird phrases the writers come up with and the contestants who try to match their answers to a panel of celebrities. Given its format, “Match” is always unpredictable, if sometimes a little too zany.
‘Spin the Wheel ’
Fox, premieres June 20, Thursdays, 9 EDT/PDT
Dax Shepard joins the ranks of actors trying out their game- show hosting abilities in this new Fox competition, produced by Justin Timberlake. The series is kind of a combination of “Press Your Luck,” “Wheel of Fortune” and “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire,” as contestants, with the help of a team, answer pop-culture trivia questions for varying sums chosen by the spin of a wheel. A wrong answer loses the corresponding amount. The prize money is huge and can go up into the millions, but that means losses can be just as big.
‘Hollywood Game Night’
NBC, returns July 11, Thursdays, 9 EDT/PDT
If you like Jimmy Fallon’s brand of silly celebrity antics, you’ll love this low-key show hosted by the great Jane Lynch, where celebs compete in jazzedup party games to raise money for charity. If you ever wanted to see Jennifer Garner dive into a ball pit or tiny red balls thrown at Kristen Bell’s face, this is the place.
‘Wheel of Fortune’
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Another oldie but an extreme goodie, “Wheel” has been around almost as long as “Jeopardy!”, although it tests your English-class skills more than any other subject. With the inimitable Pat Sajak and Vanna White at its helm, it’s always a treat to visit the series, even if only for one episode while you’re cooking dinner.