Hair to dye for.

It seemed like they were always on.

Every host had that particular suit, type of delivery, and host haircut.

You know the one. (look left)

There were a few that stuck out but more or less you could trade in one for another and not skip a beat.  Now the games themselves were a whole lot different than the HD effects laden modern shows on tv today.

Here are a few of the great 80s game shows that really stuck out:

Press Your Luck

Flashing lights, modern graphics, big ol’ buzzers!

No expense was spared for this classic 80s game show.  Peter Tomarken held down the fort as host. And everyone seemed to cross every appendage they had for luck.

The battle-cry of “No Whammies. No Whammies!” lives on to this day.

Jason – ” I caught this documentary ‘Big Bucks:The Press Your Luck Scandal’ a few years ago. I wish I woulda thought of that!”

Bobby – “No Whammies!..Big Bucks is engraved in my brain!”

Card Sharks

This one got you clapping along right from the second it came on the air.

52 oversized cards and a theme that sounds like its right outta a James Bond flick.

About as low tech as you can get this great 80s game show seemed like it was always on, any time of day.

Jason – “They shoulda done an 80s hair band version of that theme. Woulda been a classic! “

Bobby – “I always thought Bob Eubanks was smooth… in that TV host kinda way ;)”

Win, Lose or Draw

This show was part of an evil plot to have Vicki Lawrence on TV all the time.

A true ‘boys against the girls’ battle royale taking place in a living room that was modeled after one of the producers homes.

If you watched this gem you definitely yelled at the TV more than once at how clueless some of the contestants were.

Jason – “I remember watching this thinking ‘I suck at drawing. I would definitely lose on this show.’ “

Bobby – “I thought this show was fun but just like Jason I would totally suck at this.  Stick figures is about my limit. Hangman anyone?”

Love Connection

Ah Chuck Woolery and the quest for true love.

Way before the Bachelor/Bachelorette had us peeking in on every single minute moment of the dating process, this was full access.

Watching the contestants kick their ‘game’ (or lack of it) and go down in flames was the highlight of this show.

The audience participation and their ego crushing opinions was just the cherry on top.  Long live true love!

Jason – ” I had a few friends back in the 80s go on this show as contestants. Needless to say true love was never found.”

Bobby – ” What a cheesy ass show but a lot of fun to watch. Chuck Woolery always brought his “A” Game”

Looking back at classic 80s TV shows you can see how easy it was to love the corniness, camp and overall care-free nature of it all.

It’s something that todays shows are trying desperately to emulate. Lucky for us the magic of the great 80s game shows can be relived on Youtube any time you want.