Balderdash (2004–2005) User Reviews

Absolute Dreck!

[fwdixon · 1/10 · 13 October 2022]

Balderdash was an exceptionally egregious example of the worst gameshows ever. It literally torpedoed the career of comic Elayne Boosler - I mean has she done anything notable since? If so, I haven't seen it. At the time, she was still popular and was frequently seen on the late night and afternoon talk shows. After "Balderdash" she just disappeared.

The so-called celebrities on the show were, for the most part D-listers at best and some were never heard from either before or after their appearances. The alleged comedy was stultifying and the prizes unbelievably chintzy.

Whoever green lighted this show was probably forcibly escorted from the premises after the first episode aired!

Wonderful old school game show

[jdc121 · 8/10 · 7 September 2013]

Balderdash had two contestants trying to discern which of three celebrities was telling the truth concerning numerous topics. Like many games shows from the golden age of television, the rules as well as the set were relatively simplistic. It was a fresh change from the obnoxious over-the-top lighting and graphics of the likes of "Who Wants To Be a Millionaire?", "Weakest Link" and "Million Dollar Password".

Elayne Boosler did an honorable, if not outstanding job as emcee, and the "B" celebrities were generally quite entertaining. (And George Wendt showed on several occasions what a knowledgeable person he is in real life.) It's really too bad that this game show was short-lived. However, as it only appeared on the ever floundering PAX network, it probably never gathered an audience to justify even its limited production cost.

I only wish that more "old school" game shows would make their way back to the airwaves. They're so much fun to play along, and they don't give you a seizure with the bells, whistles, flashing lights and graphics which seem to be in vogue with the more recent attempts at resuscitating the genre.