History Main / RetiredGameShowElement

* Time Is Money (debuted 2003): In its original incarnation, there was a major rule change on its third playing that removed the $500 voucher that could be traded for a second try (making its name an ArtifactTitle, plus the producers had trouble filming and editing the game. Roger had planned a comeback on the Turntable with a smaller set, but never ended up getting around to it before he was fired. The game was absent for 10 years until making a surprise return in September 2014, with a new set and revamped rules (specifically, now being played for a large cash prize, and the second try becoming a TrialAndErrorGameplay round a la Race Game, but with the money draining away).

** In the Fleming version and the first 30 years of the Trebek run, players who finished tied for the lead were declared co-champions and played again on the next show. Since November 2014, ties have been decided by tiebreaker clues. The winner becomes the returning champion on the next show, and the loser given the $2,000 prize for second place.

** A new tournament format was tested for the National College Championship. 12 quarterfinalist matches were followed by four semifinals. The two-game final consisted of the three highest scoring winners of the semifinals. With the outcry that followed the inevitability of a contestant winning a game and not qualifying for the finals, it's unlikely that this format will ever be used again. Thankfully, the show allowed the eliminated semifinalist to compete in a Second Chance Tournament.

** The first new tournament format was tested for the National College Championship. 12 quarterfinalist matches were followed by four semifinals. The two-game final consisted of the three highest scoring winners of the semifinals. With the outcry that followed the inevitability of a contestant winning a game and not qualifying for the finals, it's unlikely that this format will ever be used again. Thankfully, the show allowed the eliminated semifinalist to compete in a Second Chance Tournament.

** The Seniors Tournament, held annually from Season 3 through Season 12. This tournament was open to people at least 50 years of age, although redundant in the sense that qualifiers could audition normally. Originally aired in May, it moved to July to accommodate the College Championship. The last Seniors Tournament was held in December 1995, likely so it could be burned off.

** The Seniors Tournament, held annually from Season 3 through Season 12. This tournament was open to people at least 50 years of age, although redundant in the sense that qualifiers could audition normally. Originally aired in May, then moved to July to accommodate the College Championship. Its last tournament was held in December 1995, likely to burn it off.

* The style of clue-writing on ''Series/{{Jeopardy}}'' has generally evolved over time such that the simple answer-to-a-question prompts have been mostly replaced with longer clues featuring secondary facts. One style of clue that's entirely disappeared is the list of items with a common bond (save for the rare "Common Bonds" type category, of course). An example from [[https://youtu.be/Z4g27HTZNXg&t=3m30s the 1987 Teen Tournament]]:

* For a time in 1997, ''Series/{{Jeopardy}}'' tried "Bonus" categories, which were clues written to have two correct responses. Anyone who rang in with a correct response could try for the second right answer (for the same value), or offer the other right answer for another contestant. These were only used three times.

* In the late 1990s/early 2000s, any undefeated five-day champ won two new cars.
* When the show returned in 1984, one notable change was that only the contestant who won the game got to keep the money they won — the other players left with a ConsolationPrize. Beginning on May 16, 2002, the show replaced the prizes with $1,000 for third place and $2,000 for second place.
** In 2003 (Season 20), [[GameShowWinningsCap the five-day limit for champions]] was lifted as well...just in time for Ken Jennings to make his legendary 75-game run.

** The nighttime '''Jackpot''', which started at $5,000 and increased with every dollar amount hit. To claim the Jackpot, a contestant had to hit the wedge (adding $500 to the total), call a right consonant (worth $500 a pop), and solve all on the same turn. Introduced in September 1996, retired June 2013.

* On the Nose (1984-85): Car game that focused on one of five sports-related stunts (the pricing aspect determined how many chances the player got, although picking the right price awarded $1,000), which ended up being [[http://gameshowgarbage.com/ind101_onthenose.html quite a loss magnet.]] Quite an accomplishment for a game played just 19 times (two more were planned, which would've brought the game into 1986, but these were later replaced).

** The '''Free Play''' wedge. It worked similar to the Free Spin except the extra turn was taken as soon as the wedge was hit, and no extra turn was offered if the first turn was successful. The wedge also offered a free vowel. ''Free Play'' was removed from the wheel in the first run of ''Celebrity Wheel of Fortune'', and its retirement was made official at the beginning of Season 39.

** The '''Free Play''' wedge. It works similar to the Free Spin except the extra turn is taken as soon as the wedge is hit, and no extra turn is offered if the first turn is successful. The wedge also offers a free vowel. ''Free Play'' was removed from the wheel in the first run of ''Celebrity Wheel of Fortune'', and its retirement was made official at the beginning of Season 39.

** The ''Free Play'' wedge. It works similar to the Free Spin except the extra turn is taken as soon as the wedge is hit, and no extra turn is offered if the first turn is successful. The wedge also offers a free vowel. ''Free Play'' was removed from the wheel in the first run of ''Celebrity Wheel of Fortune'', and its retirement was made official at the beginning of Season 39.

*** Originally a wedge that could be landed on to claim a Free Spin token, then replaced on October 16, 1989 by a single token placed on a money wedge. Anytime a contestant lost a turn, s/he could use Free Spin to get an ExtraTurn right away, or opt to hold it until later. It was replaced by the Free Play wedge, where the extra turn is taken as soon as the wedge is hit, and no extra turn is offered if the first turn is successful. (The wedge also offers a free vowel.)

* In 2020, the Ask the Audience and +1 lifelines were removed as a result of new ''Millionaire'' episodes being taped without an audience due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In its place, the Ask the Host lifeline was added to the American version; this lifeline enables the host to try to help the contestant answer the question.

Usually, these elements are retired without fanfare or any mention afterward, making this a game show-specific Subtrope of ChuckCunninghamSyndrome.

[[folder:''Let's Make A Deal'']]

* In February 1997, the trilon-based puzzle board was retired, replaced by a new board with touch-based screens. The last thing shown on the old board? FOR SALE. [[note]](In fact, the board was going to be sent to the Smithsonian, but was rejected as they didn't have enough space.)[[/note]]

[[folder:''Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?'']]

* ...And in 2015, the "Shuffle" format was dumped and replaced with a revised "classic" format that removed the other Jump the Question lifeline and reinstated the 50:50. The contestant had to answer 14 questions in order to win the grand prize.

* Time Is Money (debuted 2003): In its original incarnation, there was a major rule change on its third playing that removed the $500 voucher that could be traded for a second try (making its name an ArtifactTitle, plus the producers had trouble filming and editing the game. Roger had planned a comeback on the Turntable with a smaller set, but never ended up getting around to it before he was fired. The game was discontinued for 10 years until making a surprise return in September 2014, with a new set and revamped rules.

* Finish Line (1978): Mechanical problems, despite a favorable 12-4 record. Ehile it's also too similar to Give or Keep, it appears to have been intended as the latter's replacement, as the two were never in the rotation at the same time. Bob's dislike of horse racing also factored in its retirement.

** The nighttime '''Jackpot''', which started at $5,000 and increased with every dollar amount hit. To claim the Jackpot, a contestant had to hit the wedge, call a right letter, and solve all on the same turn. Introduced in September 1996, retired June 2013.

** '''25 Wedge''' and '''Big Money Wedge''', both used only in Season 25. The former offered a prize that was 25 of something (sometimes $2,500; i.e., 25 $100 bills), and the latter alternated among three different cash values (which were treated as an odd cross between a prize and a regular cash space: like a prize, it wasn't multiplied by the number of times the letter appeared in the puzzle, but if claimed the money could be used to buy vowels as if it came from a cash space, plus the Wild Card could be used to claim it a second time), Bankrupt, and Lose A Turn; if the cash value was won, the wedge reverted to a $1,000 space and eliminated the penalty options from appearing in it. Season 25 also included a double-sized $2,500 wedge for four weeks.

** Shortly into the run, Door #4 became a 20-space carnival-style "Deal Wheel" with spaces that could award {{Zonk}}s, varying cash amounts, or a new car. The wheel had a few different layouts and rules as the series progressed:

** The Wayne Brady version revived both elements, albeit as separate games: the People Picker as "Now Serving", the Deal Wheel as "Go For a Spin".

* In September 2010, the Clock system was replaced by "Super Mix" (where the questions and dollar amounts were randomized, the latter being revealed to the contestant after a correct answer), which also dumped Double Dip and Ask the Expert for two of Jump the Question. One of the two Jump the Question lifelines was replaced with the +1 lifeline in 2014, essentially the successor to Phone-A-Friend.
* ...And in 2015, the "Super Mix" format was dumped and replaced with a revised "classic" format that removed the other Jump the Question lifeline and reinstated the 50:50.

* The "Secret Category," which was the first special category introduced on the show and which doubled the entire pot for a correct answer. It was later replaced with the "Grand Question," which added $1,000 to the pot.

*** Version 3: Same as Version 2, but the sure thing was $1,000 and the cash amount on the wheel ran up to $4,000.

** Originally, this was a choice between a prize and a mystery amount ranging from $100-$5,000 behind said door.
** Shortly into the run, Door #4 became a 20-space carnival-style "Deal Wheel" with spaces ranging from {{Zonk}}s to a new car. The wheel had a few different layouts as the series progressed.

** The $10,000 cash prize, a 1/3-size $10,000 wedge surrounded by 1/3-size Bankrupts. It was treated as a prize and couldn't be spent on vowels. This was replaced in Season 26 by the identically-structured Million-Dollar Wedge.

** The '''½ Car''' tags which allowed contestants to win a subcompact or compact car by claiming both halves and solving the puzzle. For a week in Season 28, they were each a 1/3-size space surrounded by 1/3-size $500 wedges. When introduced permanently three weeks into Season 29, the tags covered the "5"s on two $500 spaces. Hitting one added $500 per letter to a contestant's score along with the tag. Each time a tag was landed on, a double car horn sounded. ½ Car tags were lost if a contestant hit Bankrupt or if an opponent solved the puzzle in the same round a tag was picked up. The ½ Car was not used on team weeks with the exception of episodes where married couples played. The tags were originally on the wheel for the first three rounds of play. Starting in Season 33, the tags were only available in Rounds 2 and 3. The ½ Car was retired at the end of Season 36.