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You don’t have to be a game show fanatic to enjoy the enthralling celebration of chance on display in the 2018 documentary Game Changers. Now streaming on Prime Video, Game Changers is just about as must-see as it gets for anyone who’s ever found themselves shouting answers at their TV while watching Jeopardy, Family Feud, or The Price is Right.
Hosted by living legend Alex Trebek, the doc explores the rich history of the genre by interviewing a veritable who’s who of game show legends, including Monty Hall, Bob Eubanks, Wink Martindale, Pat Sajak, Vanna White, and many more. While the nostalgic stroll down memory lane is entertaining, the most compelling aspect of Game Changers is, naturally, all that hot game show gossip.
Listen, I love a behind-the-scenes look at how Jeopardy is made as much as the next Trebekian, but Game Changers offers a medley of fun game show trivia. I had no idea that William Shatner was Mark Goodson’s first choice to host Family Feud or that the late Alan Thicke helped Trebek launch his U.S. hosting career. The documentary also delves into the story of Howie Mandel repeatedly turning down the Deal or No Deal gig and how life-long game show fan Vanna White once wrote in to be a contestant on Wheel of Fortune and even appeared on The Price is Right before eventually earning her historic hosting job.
Plus, Game Changers also unearthed this iconic game show moment:
It doesn’t get much better than watching young Arnold Schwarzenegger ask what “hanky panky” means.
From classic shows to modern favorites, Game Changers is a festive commemoration of game show culture. I don’t want to spoil all the fun tidbits revealed in the doc, but one of the most interesting revelations has to do with the simple conversation that spawned what many consider to be the most iconic game show in TV history.
“The story behind Jeopardy is that $64,000 Question had just gotten busted for cheating,” Tony Griffin, son of Jeopardy creator Merv Griffin relays in Game Changers. “My dad came home one day and was on a plane with my mom and he just goes, ‘I can’t believe it, Julann, game shows are over. It’s a sad day for game shows.'”
That’s when Julann Griffin uttered the phrase that would eventually lead to the international phenomenon known as Jeopardy.
“She said, ‘Why don’t you just give them the answer?'” Griffin continued. “And she said ‘Baker Street,” and he said ‘Where does Sherlock Holmes live?’ That was the beginning of the game Jeopardy where you give the answer and they come up with the question.”
Game Changers is just the latest in a long list of titles game show fanatics can stream on Prime Video. Along with vintage episodes of Press Your Luck, Family Feud, and Match Game, the service also offers the documentaries Game Show Dynamos and Perfect Bid: The Contestant Who Knew Too Much.
Survey says… watch Game Changers. You won’t regret it.
