History Main / GameShowTropes

** If you can find the flag in this giant snot-filled nose, you win a car! (Not just limited to game shows, but was a ''staple'' of kids' game shows and their spinoffs in the late 80s-mid 90s.)

** When game shows collide with fiction. Usually makes no difference in the characters and keeps the Status Quo intact, but on occasion will set up a plot thread or change a character for the better (or worse).

** What, you think you have an advantage just because you won the first nine rounds out of ten? (This trope shows up outside of game shows as well.)

** Could be something good, could be a Klunk, could be $25,000 in cash... (Most commonly recognized from its use in ''Deal Or No Deal'', although it was certainly not the first game to use the idea.)

** If you can find the flag in this giant snot-filled nose, you win a car!!! (Not just limited to game shows, but was a ''staple'' of kids' game shows and their spinoffs in the late 80s-mid 90s.)

* {{Zonk}} with the wall of stuff, people would get cards that would send them to a pie contraption

* {{Zonk}}

** TheVanna
*** Shows off the toasters, cars, and swimsuits. Or maybe just stands around as something to make sitting through the horrible format/emcee/contestants worthwhile.

* [[{{Ptitlefkpij48d}} Let's Just See What WOULD Have Happened]]

''"This is [[TheAnnouncer Tropey McGregious]] speaking for '''Game Show Tropes''' — a [[ThisVeryWiki TV Tropes]] Production! This program was edited for broadcast."''

** Stop at $5,000 + One Spin! (Not explicitly a game show Trope, but still very common on them.)

** What, you think you have an advantage just because you won the first nine rounds out of ten? (This Trope shows up outside of game shows as well.)

* AllOrNothing
** One wrong move and you walk away with bupkis.
* AudienceParticipation
** Come On Down! You're the next contestant on ''The Trope Is Hung''!
* BigWinSirens
** Clang-clang-clang (whoop, WHOOP, ''WHOOOOOOP!!!'').
* BonusRound
** You've won the game, now here's your chance to make some more money!
* BonusSpace
** Stop at Get $5,000 Regardless Of Outcome!
* CarriedByTheHost
** There really isn't much of a game here, so let's get a ''really'' solid host who can make drying paint entertaining.
* CelebrityEdition
** Hey, it's that guy! And he's playing for charity! (Producers who value their handiwork should ''not'' adopt this full-time on a game usually played by civilians. It's been tried several times, and on every occasion the show in question was canned within a year.)
* ConfettiDrop
** Let's dump a bunch of stuff on the winner!
* ConsolationPrize
** Well, you just had bad luck today, but you're not leaving empty-handed — you'll receive a supply of Rice-A-Roni, the San Francisco Treat! (''ding-ding!'')
* DeadlyGame
** This one's a real killer.
* DoubleTheDollars
** It's time for Round 2, where all the prizes and penalties are doubled.
* ExtraTurn
** Stop at $5,000 + One Spin! (Not explicitly a game show Trope, but still very common on them.)
* GameShowAppearance
** When game shows collide with fiction. Usually makes no difference in the characters and keeps the Status Quo intact, but on occasion will set up a plot thread or change a character for the better (or worse).
* GameShowWinningsCap
** You can only win so much, or stay for so long. Be wary of shows that could very well make you a one-and-done champion with -$250.
* GoldenSnitch
** What, you think you have an advantage just because you won the first nine rounds out of ten? (This Trope shows up outside of game shows as well.)
* HomeGame
** All the fun of the game (hopefully), without the fear of cameras or a large audience. Or the pleasure of actually boosting your bank account.
* HomeParticipationSweepstakes
** Call, send in postcards, or go to our website for your chance to win!
* [[{{Ptitlefkpij48d}} Let's Just See What WOULD Have Happened]]
** This has absolutely no bearing on the outcome of the game, but we're gonna do it anyway because we have to fill a half-hour. Or an hour, sometimes.
* {{Lifelines}}
** Don't know the answer? Call someone who does!
* LosingHorns
** BZZZZZZZZZZ! Ba-bum-da-bummmm...''AWWWWWWWWWWWW''.
* MysteryBox
** Could be something good, could be a Klunk, could be $25,000 in cash... (Most commonly recognized from its use in ''Deal Or No Deal'', although it was certainly not the first game to use the idea.)
* Personnel:
** TheAnnouncer
*** Introduces the host (and sometimes contestants), describes everything you could win, and describes everything you've won. Typically the first to be heard and the last to speak.
** GameShowHost
*** Asks questions, hands out money, and (if you're lucky) makes fun of bad contestants.
** StudioAudience
*** Smile! Laugh! Applaud!
** TheVanna
*** Shows off the toasters, cars, and swimsuits. Or maybe just stands around as something to make sitting through the horrible format/emcee/contestants worthwhile.
* ProductPlacement
** You've landed on the Hot Pockets JACKPOT space, brought to you by Hot Pockets!
* ProgressiveJackpot
** You lost today, but if you win tomorrow it'll be worth even more!
* PromotionalConsideration
** [=HeadOn=], apply directly to the forehead!
* RetiredGameShowElement
** Professor Price is gonna help you all he can, and that's good because he has ''all the answers''.
* RulesSpiel
** Here's how we play the game...
* ShowTheFolksAtHome
** Let's reveal who today's Secret Square is...
* SoundProofBooth
** Your partner is offstage, where they can't see or hear your answers.
* SpeedRound
** This will decide the game. Put 60 seconds on the clock, please. (''ding'') Time starts...now.
* ThingOMeter
** How much did the audience like your handiwork? Most notably seen on ''Queen For A Day'' (Applause Meter), although a few other games used similar ideas.
* ThinkMusic
** While you ponder on an answer to the question we just asked, here's your musical timer. (Most notably used on ''Jeopardy!'', although it's hardly unique.)
* UndesirablePrize
** What the hell ''is'' that thing, anyway? Did they really think someone would want this?
* UnexpectedlyObscureAnswer
** What the hell is Liederkranz?!
* {{Whammy}}
** I cannot tell a lie — you lose!
* WhoWantsToBeWhoWantsToBeAMillionaire
** How many different ways ''can'' you say "Is that your final answer?"
* {{Zonk}}
** And let's show you what's behind Curtain #3, it's a live raccoon!

* LetsJustSeeWhatWouldHaveHappened

** TheJudge
*** The people who ring the bells when you're right, sound the buzzers when you're wrong, and decide close calls otherwise. (Not to be confused with the posers on ''Donnymid'' who refused to give credit if the category title wasn't said verbatim.)

* FlokatiRug
** What the hell ''is'' that thing, anyway? Did they really think someone would want this?

** You've landed on the Hot Pockets JACKPOT space [[DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment brought to you by]] Hot Pockets!

** You've landed on the Hot Pockets JACKPOT space!

''Describe for your partner these Tropes Associated With {{Game Show}}s. You need six to get into the Winner's Circle. Ready? GO!''

** [=HeadOn=], apply directly to the forehead...

** You've landed on Double Play!

** Your partner is offstage, where they can't see or hear your answers...

** How much did the audience like your handiwork? Most notably seen on ''Queen For A Day'' (Applause Meter), although several other games used similar meters.

''This is [[TheAnnouncer Tropey McGregious]] speaking for '''Game Show Tropes''' — a [[ThisVeryWiki TV Tropes]] Production! This program was edited for broadcast.''

* ThinkMusic
** ''Jeopardy!'' has the most known example, but it's hardly unique.

* ThinkMusic
** While you ponder on an answer to the question we just asked, here's your musical timer. (First used during the radio-quiz era, then transferred to late-1950s contestants in isolation booths. [[{{Jeopardy}} The most famous example]] came in 1964, followed in 1973 by [[MatchGame the second-most recognizable]]. [[WhoWantsToBeAMillionaire More recently]], this has become "heartbeat sounds".)

** Music played to indicate someone on stage is pondering an answer. Begun during the radio quiz show, it transfered to music played as '50s contestants sweated it out in isolation booths; with the 70s came the most [[{{Jeopardy}} famous example]] followed by the [[MatchGame second most recongnisable]]; and finally transforming into the heartbeat sounds heard during modern era [[WhoWantsToBeAMillionaire shows]].

** What the hell is Liederkranz?

** Hey, it's that guy! And he's playing for charity! (Producers who value their handiwork should ''not'' adopt this full-time on a game usually played by civilians. It's been tried several times, and on every single occasion the show in question was canned within a year.)

* [[{{ptitlefkpij48d}} Let's Just See What WOULD Have Happened...]]

** Could be something good, could be a Klunk, could be $25,000 in cash... (Most commonly recognized from its use in ''Deal Or No Deal'', although it wasn't the first game to use the idea.)

*** The people who ring the bells when you're right and buzz the buzzers when you're wrong.

** How much did the audience like your handiwork? Most notably seen on ''Queen For A Day'' (the Applause-O-Meter), although several other games used similar meters.