The Top Nine 90s Gameshows You Cared Deeply About

Because you probably heard 'on your mark, get set, go!' in your sleep. For these words, generally uttered by Mark Summers or a sibling of Cuba Gooding Jr., clearly meant someone was about to climb the Aggro Crag, cruise through the supermarket straight to the butterball turkeys (where else?), or participate in a physical challenge. Either way it was a rip-roaring good time.

Anywho, whether you wanted to single out Jenny McCarthy or you feel that Nitro could've taken out every single one of the new b-side American Gladiators blindfolded with one hand behind his beautifully-spandexed back (spandex is a privilege, not a right) - I do hope you enjoy this top 9. If you want to make your own video mashup/playlist do so with Searchles TV...easy as pie.



1. MTV's Singled Out. The show that almost launched Jenny McCarthy into an entertainment career - but where is that studly Chris Hardwick these days? Regardless, I'm sure a lot of happy happy couples met right here after weeding out all those scrubs from the 'dating pool' with cleverly chosen categories.

2. American Gladiators (Vintage 90s-style). I remember summer of '03 Spike TV played two hours of American Gladiators a day...it was like my birthday and Christmas all rolled into one. I even remember some of the little tidbits they used to throw out about the gladiators, contenders - like the fact that Sky had been 6'2" since the fifth grade. Or the contender who did a front tuck over the defending gladiator in breakthrough and conquer. Or when Malibu got knocked out cold after a cannonball hit. I will never forget... and I will not watch new gladiators.

3. Supermarket Sweep. Every trip to the grocery store was turned into a fierce competition of supermarket sweep between my sister and I. She'd hit the turkeys while I'd head for the gallon containers of olive oil...sweet sweet victory, poor poor mom. How about those boldly colored sweaters with the collared-shirts underneath. I think my favorite part of this show was watching the contestants get all antsy when their opponents got a head-start.

4. Double Dare. Fun fact - did you know Mark Summers is apparently crazy OCD?? And he hated all the slime and mess he was constantly surrounded with. Talk about the wrong line o'work - not that we would've traded him for anything.

5. Shop Till You Drop. Looved it. The set was a mall...flippin' awesome. This show was also big on high-fives, a highly underrated celebratory gesture these days.

6. Legends of the Hidden Temple. Letting kids nationwide feel like they were sorta part of a treasure hunt. There's something to be said for that. Olmec walked the line between lovable and creepy but the host swung onto the stage from a vine soooo yeah...I watched religiously.

7. Wild & Crazy Kids. God they always looked like they were having sooo much fun. It was like field day EVERY day.

8. What Would You Do. Enter Mark Summers again - he was a real Nickelodeon go-to guy. This show heavily featured pies-to-the-face (another Mark Summers nightmare) and audience participation in the neverending quest to figure out what people would do to make fools of themselves on national television - before that meant making out with Flava Flav.

9. Nickelodeon GUTS. Oh man...the extreme arena, Mike O'Malley, the Aggro Crag, that fake lightning crap. It was the closest a 12-year old could get to being on American Gladiators at the time which made it awesome by default. Do you have it?