Dear Game Show Network programming people: More of the oldies, please

For many decades, I have been a fan of game shows. I grew up during what I would say is the golden age of game shows in the 1970s and 80s, when the best (or at least the best versions) of the classic shows were on the air.

I don't have time to watch much TV these days, but when I do, I like to flip to the Game Show Network to see what's on. GSN is always entertaining, though I used to like it better when it concentrated more on the old shows.

I realize the need to move on and create new classics (and cultivate a younger audience), but I kind of wish there were more old episodes of "Joker's Wild" and "Tattletales," or even some "Price Is Right" from when Bob Barker had dark hair.

I looked over the GSN schedule for one 24-hour period recently. There were a lot of new games that are probably decent if I gave them a chance, but I focused on the three legacy shows on the grid:

• "Family Feud" hosted by Steve Harvey: Don't get me wrong, I like Steve Harvey. He's a Cleveland guy and does a good job hosting Feud. But, through no fault of his own, he isn't Richard Dawson. This show hit its absolute peak when Richard was wearing a tuxedo and kissing all of the women (and occasionally the men) on each team.
• "Match Game": There is no such thing as an unentertaining episode of "Match Game." Gene Rayburn was a master. And speaking of Richard Dawson, he was the best panelist in terms of actually playing the game. Throw in Charles Nelson Reilly, Brett Sommers, Fannie Flagg and the others, and it's television gold, Jerry. I have a good Richard Dawson story at the end of this post, if you're interested.
• "Whammy!/Press Your Luck": This is a new version of one of my favorite 80s shows. If you're not familiar with the 1984 Michael Larson "Press Your Luck" scandal, this is a good recap, or you can search for it on YouTube. The whole thing was bizarre and, ultimately, tragic.

I would like to have seen some "Newlywed Game" and "Tic Tac Dough" thrown in there, but again, I get the need for new programming to reel in new audiences.

Still, today's young people will never quite know the joy of watching Peter Marshall host the "Hollywood Squares" or Dick Clark guide "The $100,000 Pyramid" at 10 o'clock on a Tuesday morning when they're home sick from school. That was paradise.

MY RICHARD DAWSON STORY: I've managed to get through an entire post about game shows without mentioning that I appeared as a contestant on two of them. Although I guess I really didn't get through the whole post without mentioning it. Anyway, this is my Richard Dawson story: In October 2002 when I taped my appearance on "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire," one of the people with whom I was playing was a grade-school teacher from Tennessee named Shirley. She once dated Don Henley, apparently. Anyway, she had also appeared as a contestant on "The Match Game" in something like 1974. She won the game that day, and when it came time for the bonus round in which you selected one celebrity with whom you would try to match, she like many others picked Richard because he was so good. The producers hemmed and hawed and tried to get her to select someone else before finally revealing that Richard was so drunk that day there was no way he would be coherent enough to participate in the bonus round. So Shirley picked Betty White. The clue was "Planet <BLANK>." Shirley said "Earth." Betty said "of the Apes." I'm positive Richard, had he not been imbibing that day, would have said "Earth" and won Shirley some more money. Oh well, it makes for a great story.

Ten random thoughts on a Wednesday

(1) A while back, I made mention of my fascination with the Duggar family of "19 Kids and Counting" fame. Or is it 20? I don't know. Anyway, the point is, there's a new kid on the huge family TV block: The Bates. Their show, which is on TLC just like the Duggars, is called "The Bates Family: Baby Makes 19." I caught part of an episode recently and actually liked it (and them). But do they meet the basic criteria for reality TV families with lots of kids? Well, let's see: Are they white? Check. Do they live in the South? Check. Are they very religious? Check. Do they give their kids names that all begin with the same letter? BUZZ! Ohhhhh no, I'm sorry. Your family is very Duggar-like, but Jim Bob and Michelle still reign over this particular corner of the TV universe.

(2) On the subject of lunch meat: Am I the only person in the universe who likes Dutch loaf? It seems like I am. And if I am, why do they still make it? I appreciate the effort, but we hardly ever buy it, so really fellas, maybe you should concentrate on some other processed, food-like item. I'm not worth the effort.

(3) I would give almost anything right now to see an episode of the old "Hollywood Squares." I'm talking 70s-era "Hollywood Squares" hosted by Peter Marshall with Paul Lynde in the center square. That was good TV.

(4) I can't believe our telephones used to have cords. Remember that? You would answer the phone in the kitchen and you actually had to carry on your conversation in the kitchen because the cord would only go so far. If you had one of those fancy extended cords, you might be able to make it into the living room, but that was about it. Cordless phones are one of the most underrated inventions of the last half century.

(5) This is true: When I was little – like 5 or 6 years old – I learned all of the U.S. presidents in order. We had the 1964 edition of the World Book Encyclopedia, and I read the article on "Presidents" so many times that the pages eventually became ripped and dog-eared. My dad thought this was hilarious and would have me recite the presidents to anyone who cared to listen. What a freak I was. Anyway, I must have displayed this talent in school at some point, because one time Mrs. Potts put up a timeline of presidents on her classroom wall, and she invited me to come in and look at it. She wasn't even my teacher. I had no idea what my reaction was supposed to be. So I stared at it for awhile, said something to the effect that I liked it, then returned to my own 2nd-grade class. What exactly were they expecting from me? This is still baffling.

(6) I've been going around telling people that my 13-year-old son Jared is 6 feet tall. It turns out I'm a liar. Jared recently contracted strep throat and had to see the doctor, and they officially measured him at 5 feet, 11 3/4 inches. This makes me feel infinitely better about my 5-foot, 9 3/4-inch self.

(7) Speaking of my strange body, I know I've whined to you before about my freakishly small hands, but now it's getting out of control. My 11-year-old daughter Melanie's fingers are longer than mine. I'm a 42-year-old man, for Pete's sake. What is wrong with me?

(8) Rush is one of those bands I'm supposed to like, as a rock/pop music fan, but I just don't. I feel bad about this, but there's nothing I can do about it.

(9) About a month ago, I came out of my office and was walking to my car when I was approached by a young man in a wheelchair. He asked me for some spare change. I told him I didn't have any, which was 100% true. I usually don't carry cash (though I should). He said that's OK and shook my hand. But instead of releasing my hand, he then put it up to his lips and kissed it. Really. I'm generally not a germaphobe, but believe me when I tell you that I advanced directly to the nearest bottle of Purell with all due haste.

(10) I have never – really, never – met a girl named Vicky whom I didn't like. Same thing with guys named Dave.