The game shows of the 1980s were colorful, energetic, and sometimes downright outrageous. They were a staple of daytime TV, with flashy sets, eccentric hosts, and prizes that seemed larger than life. But looking back, many moments from these shows wouldn’t fly today due to changing cultural norms, stricter broadcasting standards, and heightened sensitivity to fairness and inclusion. Here are 12 moments that would have audiences—and censors—reeling if they aired today.
1. Questionable Prizes for Women
Game shows like The Newlywed Game often awarded “kitchen appliances” or other domestic items exclusively to women. These prizes reinforced strict gender roles, assuming the wife’s domain was the home. Today, such gendered prize selection would seem archaic and tone-deaf.
2. The “Kiss Everyone” Hosts
Some ’80s game show hosts were notorious for planting kisses on female contestants, a practice that would now be seen as inappropriate and unprofessional. Richard Dawson on Family Feud was famous for this, and while it was often brushed off as charming, modern audiences would see it as an invasion of personal space.
3. Mocking Contestants’ Wrong Answers
While part of the fun of game shows was watching contestants struggle with ridiculous questions, some hosts took it too far, openly mocking participants for their mistakes. Today’s shows are more careful to keep things lighthearted, as overly harsh ridicule would risk backlash. Well, some stuff still makes it to the final cut.
4. Awkwardly Over-the-Top Audience Participation
Many game shows in the ’80s loved pulling people from the audience for impromptu games or reactions, often involving over-the-top antics like singing, dancing, or embarrassing personal questions. One famous example that comes to mind is Let’s Make a Deal. While it added a chaotic charm, today’s audiences might see this as exploitative or cringe-inducing, especially when participants were pressured into participating just to keep the energy up. Modern shows tend to give audience members a more respectful and controlled role, often as spectators or voluntary contestants.
5. Cultural Stereotypes in Questions and Answers
Many trivia questions and answers in the ’80s relied on stereotypes, often playing into outdated or offensive portrayals of different cultures, genders, or professions. Today’s trivia writing is more mindful of diversity and avoids perpetuating harmful clichés.
6. The Price Is Right’s “Barker’s Beauties”
While The Price Is Right remains a beloved classic, the portrayal of “Barker’s Beauties” as glamorous but silent women showcasing prizes feels outdated. The roles objectified women, reducing them to decoration. Modern game shows are more conscious of providing equal roles and recognition.
7. Ridiculously Dangerous Stunts
Shows like Beat the Clock sometimes featured stunts that, by today’s safety standards, were wildly dangerous. Contestants balancing on precarious platforms or being dunked in tanks of water would now require extensive liability waivers—or be scrapped entirely.
8. Humiliating Physical Challenges
Double Dare and similar shows delighted in messy, absurd physical challenges, but some moments crossed into outright humiliation for contestants. Modern audiences might feel uncomfortable watching participants forced into embarrassing situations purely for laughs.
9. Laughing Off Offensive Comments
There were moments when contestants or even hosts made off-color jokes or comments about race, gender, or sexuality, which were often laughed off in the moment. Such remarks today would face instant condemnation and social media uproar.
10. Lack of Inclusivity in Casting
In the ’80s, many game shows had little diversity among their contestants. The lack of representation would stand out today, where audiences expect shows to be more inclusive across race, gender, and background.
11. Overly Intense Product Placements
Game shows of the ’80s leaned heavily on blatant product placements, often integrating sponsors into awkward dialogue. Today’s audiences prefer subtler advertising, and strict regulations would prevent such overt commercialism from dominating the show.
12. Over-the-Top Consolation Prizes
Didn’t win the grand prize? You might still walk away with a fur coat or a year’s supply of cigarettes. Consolation prizes in the ’80s were often extravagant—or downright inappropriate by today’s standards. A box of cigars as a runner-up prize? Forget about it.
Game shows from the 1980s were undeniably fun, but they also reflected the cultural norms of their time—some of which have aged poorly. While today’s shows are slicker and more polished, they often lack the quirky, anything-goes energy that made ’80s game shows so memorable. Which moments do you remember most? Share your favorites!
