Playing Games

Our airwaves are pervaded with Jeopardy! Following in the footsteps of 24-hour news networks and all-day sports broadcasting comes GSN: the Game Show Network. A channel solely committed to airing game shows, both current and classic. Each show should begin with a stanch warning: Caution, more addictive than heroin, though not as fatal.

Game shows are the best thing since bread. If Marx was still alive today, he would have said that game shows were the opiate of the masses. This is the spirit that the gladiators were trying to capture.

Although the network itself started in 1994, it encompasses the entirety of game show history. Such timeless favorites as The Price is Right, Match Game, Wheel of Fortune, and Family Feud play regularly. In addition, GSN airs more current syndicated programs and even created a few original shows. Men like Alex Trebek, Pat Sajak, Bob Barker, and Gene Rayburn are dominating presences.

Perhaps the cause for game shows popularity is their simplicity. Anyone with a television can quickly understand the rules for any game by simply watching. In contrast to the rules, the game play itself can sometimes be challenging. Quiz shows such as Jeopardy and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire purposely ask their contestants difficult questions. However, the prize for intelligence is usually a large sum of money. Although viewers at home are rarely able to win money themselves, they can impart some knowledge from the show and be richer for the experience.

Most recent game shows have done away with the trivial aspect and substituted it for luck. One example is Deal, or No Deal, wherein contestants point at briefcases and expect to be paid exorbitant amounts of money. Other shows, like American Gladiators, require their participants to participate in rigorous physical actives. These shows, while less educational, allow the audience to revel in the contestants' failure and absolute stupidity.

With that said, I'll take Renaissance Paintings for 400, Alex. Final answer.