Come on Down!

Tincan Zanotto is the host and announcer of a cooking-based game show called Ram It Down. The object of the game is to cook a meal before the time expires, and contestants also have to contend with a myriad of deadly traps. The set decorations have a 1950s aesthetic, and Tincan carries himself like a true professional. He always puts on a good show for the audience, and he shows a lot of energy. Whether he’s hyping up a mystery box or throwing to commercial, Tincan is a smooth operator. It’s almost enough to make me forget that he’s both a goat and a hand puppet… and completely imaginary! As it turns out, the entire show exists within the mind of a skittish psychic name Compton Boole. Ram It Down reflects Compton’s tendency to judge himself too harshly, and Tincan Zanotto is a representation of one of his colleagues.

Mad Moxxi is a woman who wears many hats, both figuratively and literally. The alluring proprietor of numerous red light bars is a single mom and a full-time slut, but she still finds room in her schedule to host colosseum matches. These arena-based challenges are a bit of a slog, but Moxxi keeps things exciting by providing color commentary via her megaphone. She speaks with a seductive tone and her dialogue is laced with innuendo, but her unbridled excitement is justified. The contestants will have to kill hundreds of people in the Underdome Riot in order to survive, but the prize for winning is Moxxi herself! Incidentally, the whole thing was devised as a way for Moxxi to choose her fourth husband. The game isn’t very fun and the prize is something that countless others have had for free. The live crowd seems to enjoy it, however.

In Paper Mario, Chuck Quizmo appears at various locations throughout the Mushroom Kingdom to test Mario’s knowledge about his adventure. He takes his role as quiz master very seriously, and it’s hard not to be impressed by the production values of his makeshift game show. When speaking with Chuck, Mario will be whisked away to a proper stage and situated behind a podium. The event takes place before a live studio audience, and Chuck even has a lovely assistant to help him out. Chuck has a total of 64 questions to ask, and Mario has the potential to win a star piece for every correct answer! While Chuck has been MIA since Paper Mario, his influence can be seen in MC Ballyhoo from Mario Party 4. Hat Kid totally stole his style too, and she’s not even from the same series! Despite his early retirement, Chuck Quizmo made his mark.

Ugly, cruel, and incredibly gross, Gruntilda Winkybunion is a stereotypical witch who draws obvious inspiration from fairy tales. The despicable hag is so vain that she kidnaps Banjo’s sister Tooty in a bid to steal her beauty. When Banjo finally catches up to her, she decides to offer Tooty as a prize in a game show of her own design! Grunty’s Furnace Fun is surprisingly elaborate, and Grunty is a much better host than you might imagine. She’s completely vile, but her propensity to talk in rhyme makes her a natural entertainer. Her twisted game puts players in the hot seat and tests their knowledge about Banjo-Kazooie. Whether you’re partaking in a visual challenge or identifying audio samples, Grunty’s game show make sure you were paying attention during your adventure. Naturally, you’ll be thrown into the lava if you get too many questions wrong.

In the far-off future of 1999, violence has become the driving force in entertainment. Smash TV lets contestants compete for fame and fortune in a “kill or be killed” competition that draws obvious inspiration from The Running Man. After stepping into the arena, the participants battle hundreds of enemies in the hopes of earning their way into the elusive Pleasure Dome. As an added incentive, they can win prizes ranging from toasters to big-screen TVs. The aptly-named Evil M.C. acts as the host of the show, and he occasionally chimes in with plagiarized catchphrases. (I’d buy THAT for a dollar!) The dude is clearly rooting against the players, and even shows up as the final boss. The M.C. looks like a regular schmaltzy game show host from afar, but he turns out to be a massive android with laser eyes and tank treads! How’s that for a whammy?

Many video games try to emulate televised game shows, but Buzz! goes the extra mile in this regard. The game was even bundled with special controllers that replicate the buzzers that you see in real-world quiz shows. The first Buzz! game was essentially an elaborate music quiz, but subsequent versions have focused on sports trivia, pop culture, and general knowledge. Every version of the game is hosted by Buzz himself, who is voiced by Australian soap star Jason Donovan. His boisterous personality is almost as loud as his outfits, and he’s not afraid to berate contestants when they answer incorrectly. He’s a little too smarmy for my liking, but I’ll concede that he’s an accurate reflection of real-world game show hosts. Buzz has been featured in more games than anyone else on this list, so he must be doing something right.

Mettaton is a charismatic robot celebrity that was built by an introverted scientist. Although he was specifically intended to be an entertainer, anti-human combat features were added in an effort to make him more useful. In spite of this, he continues to treat humans as honored guests. More than anything, Mettaton lives for his ratings and the love of performing. Although he has a narcissistic personality, it’s largely overshadowed by his natural charm. He’s really great at improv, too. At one point, he smashes through the wall like the Kool-Aid man and starts hosting an impromptu quiz show on the spot! His rapid-fire questions are hilarious, but Mettaton departs the show after it loses its dramatic tension. He’s a natural entertainer, however, and he later finds employ as the host of a cooking show, a news anchor, and the star of a musical.

The Black Baron is a boxing pimp and the reigning champion of a lethal game show called Deathwatch. He refers to himself as the “bishop of blood and carnage” and enjoys showcasing his talents to rabid audiences. The battles in Deathwatch are strictly “no holds barred” affairs, but the Black Baron fights with his own two fists even though his rivals use various weapons. He may be a loudmouth with an inflated ego, but his famed “Super Sexy Fists of Fire” are no joke. It’s hard to laugh when you’re engulfed in flames. Even though he’s the champ, he also acts as the M.C. for a series of violent mini-games dubbed “Bloodbath Challenges.” The Baron appears to be killed on several occasions while demonstrating the events, but he always lives to fight another day. He repeatedly puts his body on the line to entertain the fans, and that’s what makes him a good host.

As co-hostesses on the zombie-killing game show, Terror is Reality, Amber and her sister Crystal taunt the contestants and instigate conflict. The salacious jezebels are outwardly flirtatious and could easily be written off as eye candy, but they are an ambitious pair that will do anything to capitalize off the zombie apocalypse. The sisters kidnap a reporter, frame a motocross champion for causing the outbreak, and use katana blades against anyone who tries to get in their way. Amber and Crystal will hit on anything that moves (including each other), but this is likely all part of their act. The bond they share with each other is undoubtedly profound, however. If one of the sisters dies in battle, the other twin will be so distraught that they’ll take their own life! Neither twin can feel complete without the other.

You Don’t Know Jack and its sequels are framed as trivia game shows where high culture and pop culture collide. Although the series has seen many hosts over the years, Cookie Masterson (voiced by Tom Gottlieb) is arguably the most well-known. Gotlieb estimates that he has recorded ten thousand hours of dialogue for the character. He merely acted as the sign-in assistant in the first three installments, but he was eventually promoted to permanent host. The main selling point of the series is its unique brand of irreverent humor, and the way the questions are presented is more important than the questions themselves. To that end, Cookie always has something witty to say. He mocks contestants, he makes shit up, and he has killed at least one intern with a chainsaw. Despite all this, the fans can’t get enough of his condescending remarks.