TVSquad

Veteran game show host Jack Narz has died at the age of 85.

I don't like the headline at this L.A. Times obituary for Narz, "Jack Narz Dies At 85; Host Of One Of First Programs Involved In Quiz Show Scandals." It makes the casual reader think that Narz actually had something to do with rigging the game show Dotto (found to have given some contestants the answers, along with Twenty-One and The $64,000 Question) in the 50s when in actuality he knew nothing about it. Sure, he's part of the story, but keep that info for the body of the article and not the headline.

The Onion's AV Club always does a good job of coming up with pop culture lists that have a good sense of a medium's history, not just listing things to generate controversy. For instance, they won't say that The White Stripes were better than The Beatles just to see what kind of pissed-off response they're going to get.

This list from last week, about the game shows they'd love to see return to the air, is no exception. Not only do they include the old favorites like Match Game, TattleTales, and To Tell the Truth, but a couple of obscure ones, like Hot Potato, Go and Second Chance (which was a forerunner to Press Your Luck). All of the items are accomapnied by video clips from YouTube, so you can get a good feeling for each show. My favorite obscure show on the list was Whew!, where a contestant had to traverse a "gauntlet of villains" in the bonus game. It was a set-sized nightmare that was more show than game. The clip reminded me that I was transfixed by this show as an 8-year-old. But I hadn't quite gotten into baseball yet, so my taste was questionable at the time.

Anyway, which games shows do you want to be revived? Let me know in the comments.

You know, if I was 37 years older, I think I'd have the hots for Betty White. She seems like a cool lady. And if I haven't said too much, please read on.

This Xmas day, GSN is having a marathon of Betty White episodes:

• noon: What's My Line (1955 - her first game show appearance)
• 12:30: Password (1963, with her husband, host Allen Ludden)
• 1:00: Tattletales
• 1:30: Match Game PM
• 2:00: Password Plus
• 2:30: To Tell The Truth
• 3:00: Family Feud
• 3:30: Body Language
• 4:00: Match Game
• 4:30: Match Game

[via TV Tattle]