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The Joker's Wild

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TV Series

The Resume

    (September 4, 1972-September 13, 1991)
    Aired on CBS (1972-1975) and in syndication (1975-1986, 1990-1991)
    Hosted by Jack Barry (1972-1984), Bill Cullen (1984-1986), and Pat Finn (1990-1991)
    Premise: contestants spin a giant slot machine containing various categories and the occasional joker and answer questions based on the categories
    If a contestant landed on three jokers and correctly answered a question, they automatically won the game

Why The Joker's Wild might be annoying:

    Goodson and Todman turned it down when Jack Barry pitched the idea to them.
    The trivia questions were really easy.
    It spun-off an unsuccessful kids' version called 'Joker! Joker! Joker!' (1979-1981).
    On the kids' version, the kids often picked the joker, thinking it was a category.
    Many feel that the show 'jumped the shark' after Jack Barry died.
    The 1990 version completely butchered the original format, with contestants trying to solve word definitions.

Why The Joker's Wild might not be annoying:

    It combined (some) knowledge with luck.
    It boosted Jack Barry's career after his involvement in the quiz show scandals of the 50's.
    It ranked #32 on TV Guide's '50 Greatest Game Shows of All Time.'
    The 90's version eventually went with the more traditional format shortly before it was canceled (although the definitions stayed).
    Reruns aired on Game Show Network for a while.

Credit: Diplomat


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 10 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 6 Votes: 16.67% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 19 Votes: 52.63% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 19 Votes: 47.37% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 5 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 7 Votes: 57.14% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 9 Votes: 55.56% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 10 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 11 Votes: 45.45% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 132 Votes: 68.94% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 23 Votes: 65.22% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 30 Votes: 73.33% Annoying
    In 2007, Out of 45 Votes: 48.89% Annoying