History YMMV / HotPotato

* MemeticMutation: In 2000, the show became something of an Internet Meme on the former game show Google Group alt.tv.game-shows (ATGS for short), when trolls began flooding the pages with statements like "how wuz hat putato played? did bil kulin toss a putato at thuh kontestants? tat wuld be a funi".

* MemeticMutation: In 2000, the show became something of an Internet Meme on the former game show Google Group alt.tv.game-shows (ATGS for short), when trolls began flooding the pages with statements like "how wuz hat putato played? did bil kulin toss a putato at thuh kontestants? tat wuld be a funi"

* SuspiciouslySimilarSong: The opening theme uses a very similar melody to the beginning of Donna Summers' "Stop, Look, & Listen", while the closing theme begins with guitar riffs that sound similar to those used in Sylvester's "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)"]]. The series pilot used the real songs.

* SuspiciouslySimilarSong: The closing theme begins with guitar riffs that sound similar to those used in [[https://youtu.be/gaCbOLrTtQg "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)"]], a 1978 hit disco track performed by [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sylvester_(singer) Sylvester James, Jr.]]

* DiscreditedMeme: A {{troll}} on the newsgroup alt.tv.game-shows (ATGS) would frequently make posts asking how "[[RougeAnglesOfSatin hat putato]]" was played ("how wuz hat putato plaed? did bil kulin tos uh putato at thu kuntestintz? tat wud bu funi!"). The first "hat putato" post was made in 2000, and the majority of the game show community left to create The Game Show Forum in June 2003 due to the increasing number of such trolls at ATGS. References to "hat putato" followed, much to the chagrin of fans who were already sick of it by that time.

** A lot of celebs took their wisecracks and shenanigans far more seriously than they did the game (giving bad answers just to be funny should ''not'' be happening, generally speaking, unless you've been challenged and legitimately have zero clue). The producers probably sensed this would be an issue, as the Seven-Straight Jackpot was removed upon the format change...which bit them on the butt immediately, as a contestant on the first ''Celebrity'' episode managed to give seven straight right answers '''[[MomentOfAwesome all by herself]]''', after her wisecracking celeb teammates got benched.

* MemeticMutation: A {{troll}} on the newsgroup alt.tv.game-shows (ATGS) would frequently make posts asking how "[[RougeAnglesOfSatin hat putato]]" was played ("how wuz hat putato plaed? did bil kulin tos uh putato at thu kuntestintz? tat wud bu funi!"). Even though the first "hat putato" post was made in 2000, and the majority of the game show community left to create The Game Show Forum in June 2003 (due to the increasing number of such trolls at ATGS), references to "hat putato" followed.

* SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic: The closing theme is a favorite among GameShow fans.

* MemeticMutation: A {{troll}} on the newsgroup alt.tv.game-shows would frequently make posts asking how "[[RougeAnglesOfSatin hat putato]]" was played ("how wuz hat putato plaed? did bil kulin tos uh putato at thu kuntestintz? tat wud bu funi!"). Even though the first "hat putato" post was made in 2000, and the majority of the game show community migrated to a message board in June 2003 (due to the increasing number of such trolls), references to "hat putato" followed.

** Instead of moving the show from its Noon timeslot, on April 23 the format went from using teams of three people with the same occupation to teams of two celebrities and a single contestant. The infusion of celebs worked about as well as it did on ''[[Series/BullseyeUS Bullseye]]'' in late 1981 — i.e., [[EpicFail not very well at all]].
** A lot of celebs took their wisecracks and shenanigans far more seriously than they did the game (giving bad answers just to be funny should ''not'' be happening, generally speaking). The producers probably sensed this would be an issue, as the Seven-Straight Jackpot was done away with upon the format change...which bit them on the butt immediately, as a contestant on the first ''Celebrity'' episode managed to give seven straight right answers all by herself, after her wisecracking celeb teammates got benched.

* DudeNotFunny: The June 25, 1998 episode of {{GSN}}'s ''Faux Pause'' had its {{Jerkass}} hosts make fun of the Premiere (Moms-To-Be vs. Teachers). Among other things, they mocked the smoking logo, Oregon, Shelley Long, New Jersey, and ''Creator/BillCullen''.

** Instead of moving the show from its Noon timeslot, on April 23 the format went from using teams of three people with the same occupation to teams of two celebrities and a single contestant. The infusion of celebs worked about as well as it did on ''[[BullseyeUS Bullseye]]'' in late 1981 — i.e., [[EpicFail not very well at all]].

** Instead of moving the show from its Noon timeslot, on April 23 the format went from using teams of three people with the same occupation to teams of two celebrities and a single contestant. This worked about as well as it did on ''[[BullseyeUS Bullseye]]'' two years previous — i.e., [[EpicFail not very well at all]].

* DudeNotFunny: The June 25, 1998 episode of {{GSN}}'s ''Faux Pause'' had its {{Jerkass}} hosts make fun of the Premiere (Moms-To-Be vs. Teachers). Among other things, they mocked the smoking logo, Oregon, Shelly Long, New Jersey, and ''BillCullen''.

* TheyChangedItNowItSucks: Instead of moving the show from its Noon timeslot, on April 23 the format went from using teams of three people with the same occupation to teams of two celebrities and a single contestant. This worked about as well as it did on ''[[BullseyeUS Bullseye]]'' two years previous — i.e., [[EpicFail not very well at all]].

* SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic: The [[http://www.gameshowthemesongs.net/sounds/Hot%20Potato/HOTPOTATOEND.mp3 closing theme]] is a favorite among GameShow fans.

* MemeticMutation: A {{troll}} on the newsgroup alt.tv.game-shows would frequently make posts asking how "[[RougeAnglesOfSatin hat putato]]" was played. Even though the first "hat putato" post was made in 2000, and the majority of the game show community migrated to a message board in June 2003 (due to the increasing number of such trolls), references to "hat putato" followed.
** The post in question went something like this: "how wuz hat putato plaed? did bil kulin tos uh putato at thu kuntestintz? tat wud bu funi!"

** A lot of celebrities took their wisecracks and shenanigans far more seriously than they did the game (giving bad answers just to be funny should ''not'' be happening, people!). The producers probably sensed this would be an issue, because the 7-Straight Jackpot was done away with on the first celebrity episode. This bit them on the butt immediately, as a contestant on the first Celebrity episode managed to get seven straight right answers all by herself, after her wisecracking celeb teammates got benched.

** A lot of celebrities took their wisecracks and shenanigans far more seriously than they did the game (giving bad answers just to be funny should ''not'' be happening, people!). The producers probably sensed this would be an issue, because the 7-Straight Jackpot was done away with on the first celebrity episode. This bit them on the butt immediately, as a contestant on the first Celebrity episode managed to get seven straight right answers after her wisecracking celeb teammates got benched.

** Then comedians were featured, since they took their wisecracks and shenanigans far more seriously than they did the game (giving bad answers just to be funny should ''not'' be happening, people!). Either right when the format changed or when the aforementioned happened, the show decided to cripple the format even more by '''ousting the 7-Straight Jackpot'''.

* CrowningMusicOfAwesome: The [[http://www.gameshowthemesongs.net/sounds/Hot%20Potato/HOTPOTATOEND.mp3 closing theme]] is a favorite among GameShow fans.

* TooGoodToLast: In addition to a bad timeslot and the suicidal ousting of its three-of-a-kind contestant teams, ''Hot Potato'' further suffered by being very low-key in an era when the trend was toward glitz and glamour. Nonetheless, it's fondly remembered by game show fans.

** ItGotWorse when comedians were featured, since they took their wisecracks and shenanigans far more seriously than they did the game (giving bad answers just to be funny should ''not'' be happening, people!). Either right when the format changed or when the aforementioned happened, the show decided to cripple the format even more by '''ousting the 7-Straight Jackpot'''.

** ItGotWorse when comedians were featured, since they took their wisecracks and shenanigans far more seriously than they did the game (giving bad answers just to be funny should ''not'' be happening, people!). Either in anticipation of the format change or when the aforementioned happened, rather than try to rein in the celebs the show decided to cripple the format even more by '''ousting the 7-Straight Jackpot'''.

* CrowningMusicOfAwesome: The [[http://www.gameshowthemesongs.net/sounds/Hot%20Potato/HOTPOTATOEND.mp3 theme song]] is a favorite among GameShow fans.
* DudeNotFunny: The June 25, 1998 episode of GSN's ''Faux Pause'' had its {{Jerkass}} hosts make fun of the Premiere (Moms-To-Be vs. Teachers). Among other things, they mocked the smoking logo, Oregon, Shelly Long, New Jersey, and ''BillCullen''.
* MemeticMutation: A {{troll}} on the newsgroup alt.tv.game-shows would frequently make posts asking how "[[RougeAnglesOfSatin hat putato]]" was played. Even though the first "hat putato" post was made in 2000, and the majority of the game show community migrated to a message board in June 2003 (due to the increasing number of such trolls), references to "hat putato" followed.
* TheyChangedItNowItSucks: Instead of moving the show from its Noon timeslot, on April 23 the format went from using teams of three people with the same occupation to teams of two celebrities and a single contestant. This worked about as well as it did on ''[[BullseyeUS Bullseye]]'' two years previous — i.e., [[EpicFail not very well at all]].
** ItGotWorse when comedians were featured, since they took their wisecracks and shenanigans far more seriously than they did the game (giving bad answers just to be funny should '''not''' be happening, people!). Instead of trying to rein in said celebs, the show decided to cripple the format even more by '''ousting the 7-Straight Jackpot'''.
* TooGoodToLast: In addition to a bad timeslot and the suicidal ousting of its three-of-a-kind contestant teams, ''Hot Potato'' further suffered by being very low-key in an era when the trend was toward glitz and glamor. Nonetheless, it's fondly remembered by game show fans.

** ItGotWorse when comedians were featured, since they took their wisecracks and shenanigans far more seriously than they did the game (giving bad answers just to be funny should '''not''' be happening, people!). Instead of trying to rein in said celebs, the show decided to ''removing the 7-Straight Jackpot''...crippling the format even more.

** ItGotWorse when comedians were featured, since they took their wisecracks and shenanigans far more seriously than they did the game (giving bad answers just to be funny should '''not''' be happening, people!). Instead of trying to rein in said celebs, the show instead decided to ''removing the 7-Straight Jackpot''...crippling the format even more.

* DudeNotFunny: The June 25, 1998 episode of GSN's ''Faux Pause'' had its {{Jerkass}} hosts make fun of the Premiere (Moms-To-Be vs. Teachers). Among other things, they mocked the smoking logo, Oregon, Shelly Long, New Jersey and ''BillCullen''.

* TheyChangedItNowItSucks: Instead of moving the show from its Noon timeslot, on April 23 the format went from using teams of three people with the same occupation to teams of two celebrities and a single contestant. This switch worked about as well as it did on ''[[BullseyeUS Bullseye]]'' two years previous — i.e., [[EpicFail not very well at all]]. ItGotWorse when comedians were featured, since they took their wisecracks and shenanigans far more seriously than they did the game (they gave bad answers just to be funny!). The being-dumb-for-the-sake-of-"humor" answers led to the 7-Straight Jackpot being thrown out entirely, which crippled the format even more.

* DudeNotFunny: The June 25, 1998 episode of GSN's ''Faux Pause'' had its {{Jerkass}} hosts make fun of the Premiere (Moms-To-Be vs. Teachers). Among other things, they mocked the smoking logo, Oregon, Shelly Long, and New Jersey...oh, and ''BillCullen''.

* TooGoodToLast: In addition to a bad timeslot and the suicidal ousting of its three-of-a-kind contestant teams, ''Hot Potato'' further suffered by being very low-key in an era when the trend was toward glitz and glamor. Nonetheless, it's fondly remembered by game show fans.

* DudeNotFunny: The June 25, 1998 episode of GSN's ''Faux Pause'' had its {{Jerkass}} hosts make fun of the Premiere (Moms-To-Be vs. Teachers). Among other things, they mocked the smoking logo, Oregon, Shelly Long, and New Jersey...oh, and ''Bill Cullen''.
* TheyChangedItNowItSucks: ...So on April 23, the show went from using teams of three people with the same occupation to teams of two celebrities and a single contestant. This switch worked about as well as it did on ''[[BullseyeUS Bullseye]]'' two years previous — i.e., [[EpicFail not very well at all]]. ItGotWorse when comedians were featured, since they took their wisecracks and shenanigans far more seriously than they did the game (they gave bad answers just to be funny!). The being-dumb-for-the-sake-of-"humor" answers led to the 7-Straight Jackpot being thrown out entirely, which crippled the format even more.