The man who created the iconic horizontally spinning wheel on 'Wheel of Fortune' has died.

According to 'The Hollywood Reporter,' art director Ed Flesh died in California on Friday of congestive heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. He was 79 and is survived by his partner of 44 years, David Powers.

The prolific designer shaped the look of dozens of TV game shows including 'The $25,000 Pyramid,' 'Jeopardy!,' 'Name That Tune' and 'The Newlywed Game.'

Paying tribute to Flesh, Bob Eubanks, original host of 'The New Newlywed Game,' said "He truly was a master of his craft."

The dynamic duo of gameshows, 'Jeopardy!' and 'Wheel of Fortune' have been renewed through 2014.

According to The Wrap, ABC-owned stations have reached a two-year renewal deal with CBS Television Distribution to keep the shows on Disney TV stations through the 2013-14 season. 'Wheel' host Pat Sajak and 'Jeopardy!' host Alex Trebek have also extended their contracts with Sony Pictures Television, the producer of the two shows.

However, CBS Television Distribution also needs to renew 'Wheel' and 'Jeopardy!' to many non-ABC stations that air the show.

Game shows used to flood the dial of my TV back in the 1980s and '90s. And that was when my TV could only pick up eight channels, three depending on the weather.

Back then, almost everything from daytime fare to the occasional prime time bit of airtime starred game show hosts. Their purpose on television was solely to wear smart suits, make sure their teeth reached the optimum level of whiteness and keep the game moving but entertaining.

Now that game shows are making a slow but steady return to television, it seems the traditional role of "host" has turned away from the traditional "game" emcee like Chuck Woolery, Wink Martindale, Bob Barker and Art Fleming and more towards lively hosting personalities from other walks of entertainment life like Drew Carey, Wayne Brady, Howie Mandel and Guy Fieri. Does this mean that the role of the traditional TV game show has gone to that great big "Curtain No. 2" in the sky?

Remember that "self-potato" contestant in the Wheel of Fortune clip we posted the other day? Remember how we all laughed and laughed at her unfortunate brain fart on national syndicated television?

Well, who's laughing now? Technically, still some of us since it's pretty funny.

Nevertheless, the contestant, Lolita McAuley, has become an Internet meme of her own thanks to that memorable clip. She talked to the New York Times about how she scored a spot on the show, her reaction to the momentary loss of her cognitive abilities and the wave of funny it has created on the Internet.

Mr. Sassone, I'll see your "Kelly Ripa" and raise you a "self-potato."

That's how one contestant responded to a toss-up puzzle. Then again, at least she pronounced "self-potato" correctly on her first try.


[via Buzzfeed]

Hosting a game show is something of an art. You've got to be amiable but authoritative, and you've got to make it look easy. You've got to look happy when a contestant walks away with thousands of dollars (or even millions, at this point) and you've got to look contrite when a contestant loses -- especially if due to a bad answer. You've got to project warmth, seem approachable and always appear ready for fun, even when enforcing the rules.

Since the first quiz shows of the late 1940s, through the infamous scandals of the 1950s, up until the present day of huge cash prizes, game-show hosting has been an amazing long-term gig for the people -- almost always men -- who get the job. Who, then, are the 10 greatest game-show hosts in history? Check out our after the jump.

Remember this name: Michelle Loewenstein. No, she's not running for political office, or a network executive, or part of a sex ring that Charlie Sheen participated in at one time or another (and, what sex rings hasn't Charlie Sheen participated in?). You want to remember that name because Michelle became Wheel of Fortune's first million dollar winner.

If you recall, a few months ago we mentioned that Wheel, now in it's 26th syndicated season, was upping the maximum amount a contestant could win during the Bonus Round. The only thing they needed to do was hit the million dollar spot on the wheel (slotted between two Bankrupts, those bastards), not get another Bankrupt throughout the rest of the rounds, chance on hitting the right slot on the bonus wheel (a 1 in 25 shot) and solve the Bonus Round puzzle. Seemed like a pretty big feat to accomplish.

The Price is Right ... Hollywood Squares ... Family Feud ... see where they rank on our list.

Come on down ... you're the next reader of AOL TV's Top 20 Game Show countdown, our list of the finest tube efforts to have contestants name that tune, make a love connection and guess if the price is right.

Did your favorite game show make the cut?

Survey says: Keep reading to find out.

You may or may not be watching Wheel of Fortune right now since its currently in repeats. I mean, it's not as fun to watch these shows when you already know what the answers to the puzzles are. But, I digress. If you have been watching this top-rated syndicated game show over the last week or so, you'll know about the big thing that is coming up for the 2008-09 season. And, when I mean big thing I really mean one million big things.

Next season, Wheel will join the ranks of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, Million Dollar Password, and Million Dollar Naked Concentration (copyright me...don't make me come after you) by offering a million dollar cash prize. It won't be a part of the regular game, though. According to the promotions it will be part of the Million Dollar Bonus Round. This jump to a seven-figure cash prize is the biggest for Wheel since going from $25,000 to $100,000 as the premium cash total.

So, if you are interested, go ahead and register to be a contestant right now at the official Wheel of Fortune site. Don't dawdle, because the 26th season of Wheel (35th overall since premiering on NBC) begins in September.

Oh, the humanity! Wheel of Fortune is not all frivolity and fun. Merv Griffin knew what he was doing when he created this venerable game show. Drama, ensues! You think it's so easy spinning the wheel, buying a vowel, laughing at Pat Sajak's jokes and ogling Vanna's gorgeous gait? Well, it's not. Under all that pressure you'd be surprised -- or maybe you wouldn't -- to see how some people simply come up short in the solution department. The letters all float together and instead of spelling a word you know as well as your own name, you pick the wrong consonant and you're WAH-WAHed in shame and regret. The fortune goes to the next player and you're left with egg on your face.

Watch these great examples and you'll see what I mean (a sample is after the jump). Like Jay Leno's simple "man in the street" questions about common knowledge, you see that there's no telling how stupid people can be, especially with a camera and microphone in their face.

[via digg]

The news is not good for 82-year-old talkshow host and game show producer Merv Griffin. It is being reported that the TV legend is in grave condition after a return of prostate cancer.

Griffin was admitted to Los Angeles' Cedars-Sinai Medical Center back in July for a recurrence of the cancer, which he first battled in 1996. Various media outlets, such as Entertainment Tonight and KNBC, are reporting that the prognosis is not good and that Griffin is currently in the hospital's Intensive Care Unit. Griffin's representatives have yet to reply to press inquiries.

What probably comes as no surprise to anyone, both Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune have been renewed for two more years. That means that the two top-ranked syndicated game shows will remain on the air through the 2011-2012 season.

Currently, Wheel is the number one show in syndication, averaging 8.3 million households. Jeopardy is number three with an average viewing audience of 6.5 million households. By the time the 2012 season ends Wheel will have been on the air for an impressive 29 seasons while Jeopardy will have been on for an equally impressive 28.

One can only assume that Alex Trebek, Pat Sajak and Vanna White will remain with their respective shows. Then again, assuming is a bad thing. Heck, for all I know Howard Stern could be hosting the final two seasons of Jeopardy. Ratings may pick up then if the 'Daily Double' features half-naked lesbians giving out answers.

King World, the people behind Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy have created two new game shows and will offer the shows to syndication in a one hour block starting in the fall of 2007. NBC Universal is prepping a syndicated version of Deal Or No Deal. So now the show will be on 300 times a week.

The King World news is great, but frustrating, since there are no details at all yet on what the game shows will be. If they're successful, maybe this will mean a little resurgence of game shows (and not just reality show type game shows). But I won't be happy til they come back to daytime.