Can you play with me?

I have rediscovered the Game Show Network. I used to watch it occasionally to get caught up on my nostalgia. I loved to watch the old emcees and panelists that I enjoyed when I was at home more often during the daytime hours. Now, since I do my newspaper work at home, I am again at home during the day more than I used to be. Our new arrangement with our TV packages includes the Game Show Network so sometimes instead of watching Judge Judy I turn to that channel.

The problem is, it isn't my old favorite shows often, but new gimmicks that I hadn't seen before. Some of them, especially the ones that deal with words, get my attention quickly. Some others seem so complicated that I have to watch several episodes before I really understand all the quirks of the show.

Two things stand out as I watch these shows. One is that the women don't show as much cleavage as almost any network show that is airing now. Their attire is much more modest and I think therefore is more becoming. The other thing I notice is the excitement of the contestants over winning what almost seems like a paltry amount by today's big show standards.

In those shows, $20,000 was a tremendous prize. The 2008 ones usually begin with a similar amount. We forget just how much inflation has raised our expectations. Of course I would still be very happy to win $20,000.

Some of our new prime-time shows are no more interesting or exciting than some of those old game shows. Last week I watched "My Dad is Better Than Your Dad" and was upset to see the stress the children in the show had when they are trying to win money in a partnership with their Dads. The concept is OK but having the children excel at an activity in order to help their Dad win money seemed hard on the children.

However I am a fan of "Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader." It is partly because of the conversation our red-necked host has with the contestants and the 5th graders, but it is also because only the adult participant is ever made to feel slightly stupid. Some of those first and second grade questions are not all that easy, especially the ones that use terms that weren't used in the textbooks of my time. (Yes, we did have printed textbooks in my youth and we didn't have to use coals from the fire to write on our slates!)

What I like in any show that is not a drama is some clever conversation. I used to love to watch "What's My Line?" and "To Tell the Truth" because the panelists that we got to know week after week, were very witty. Their conversations were as much fun as playing the game.

The old game "Password" was another favorite with me because I love word games. In fact we bought one of the printed games that came out at the time of the show's popularity. I wish I knew where it is now.

The only thing bad about me watching the old shows again is that it would be much better if I would just remember the shows and get someone to play a modified version of them with me. Games are much more fun when you are a player instead of a spectator. That may not be as true in sports games as in mental games, but I still want to get involved. But Vanna doesn't always hear me when I try to buy a vowel.