| Table of Contents |
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| How States See Themselves: Service and People Ratings |
| Closing Thoughts |
| Methodology |
Game shows have captivated American audiences for decades. With their high stakes and exciting challenges, they’ve outlasted the days of radio, transitioned into the age of TV, and even adapted to modern online platforms.
Hundreds of game shows have been created over the years, with some like “The Price is Right” and “Wheel of Fortune” finding decades-long success and establishing themselves as generation-spanning pop culture icons.
Game shows are such a staple of American culture that Congress got involved in preserving their integrity, banning rigged game shows with amendments to the Communications Act in 1960. The events that triggered these amendments also inspired the highly-rated 1994 movie “Quiz Show.”
From game shows that test everything from knowledge to pure luck, we’ve found the most popular in each U.S. state using Google Trends search data over the past five years. Read on to see if your favorite game show matches your state’s favorite and where to go if it doesn’t.
Every State’s Favorite Game Show
It’s no secret that Americans love some good old-fashioned competition, especially in the form of a game show. Although the states have a variety of favorite programs, there are a few clear winners across the country. Let’s dive into the most popular game shows on TV:
- Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? – 9 states
- Family Feud – 9 states
- Jeopardy! – 8 states
- Cash Cab – 6 states
- Supermarket Sweep – 3 states
- That’s My Jam – 3 states
- The Price is Right – 3 states
- Deal or No Deal – 2 states
- Wheel of Fortune – 2 states
- Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? – 2 states
With “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?” and “Family Feud” tying for the most popular game show overall, it’s clear that Americans like to see people test their knowledge against a source, whether it’s an elementary school textbook or an audience survey.
These shows are similar in popularity, but there’s a significant regional difference between their fan bases. Mainly western states – with the exception of Florida and South Carolina – want to know if they can outsmart a 5th grader, while the survey says southeastern states prefer to watch families feud.
Although “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?” is no longer in production, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce will soon host a spinoff show called “Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity?” It just might replace “That’s My Jam” as Missouri’s favorite game show and may even reignite America’s love for the original.
“Family Feud” pits five members of one family against five members of another, and their goal is to guess the results of audience survey questions. The show has had several hosts during its lifetime, but current host Steve Harvey seems to be a fan favorite due to his comical reactions to contestants’ strange answers.
Next on the list is a close second for America’s most popular game show. If you’re thinking, “What is Jeopardy!?” you’d be correct. This show – which takes answers in the form of questions – has 44 Emmy awards, making it the most award-winning game show in America. If you want to see how you’d do as a contestant, practice with the J! Archive, a fan-created database of all the clues and answers ever aired on the show.
The third most popular game show in America is “Cash Cab”, in which players picked up in a cab must answer increasingly difficult (and profitable) trivia questions before they reach their destination. “Cash Cab” is actually Canadian, not American, so it’s fitting that the states that prefer it are close to our northern neighbor.
Closing Thoughts
While it’s fun to watch other people compete to win big on TV, nothing compares to the thrill of doing it yourself. But not everyone has the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to appear on a game show. That’s why BetMGM lets you play game show-themed slots based on classic favorites such as “Deal or No Deal,” “Wheel of Fortune,” and “The Price is Right” online or in person at MGM Resorts.
If you want to live out your game show contestant dreams, play other exciting online casino games, or even try your hand at sports betting, visit BetMGM today.
Methodology
To get a comprehensive view of how residents feel about their states, we conducted a nationwide survey that gathered responses from 2,212 individuals across 44 states*. Participants were asked to rate various aspects of their state on a scale from 1 to 10, with 1 being the worst and 10 being the best. The categories included overall people, coworkers, bosses, housing affordability and quality, public transit, drivers, public education, entertainment options, and more.
We then calculated the average rating for each category for each state, as well as the national average for comparison. This approach allowed us to identify both the highest and lowest state rankings in each category, providing a detailed picture of the diverse perspectives across the country.
