To be honest, the crop of new game shows at the halfway mark of 2025 hasn’t been the most promising. Following a year that featured a handful of new stalwarts, it’s been difficult to find a show that’s on par with the novelty of The Floor, The 1% Club, The Quiz With Balls, Lucky 13, Human vs. Hamster, or Trivial Pursuit that takes the familiar and reinvents it enough to make for the perfect piece of escapist entertainment. Part of it is simply that these shows have filled in the gaps in ways that make new programming unnecessary, but it also leaves one to wonder what there is to even enjoy right now.
Outside of the basic channels, Game Show Network should be highlighted on anyone’s menu looking for quality competition. They feature some of the peaks of modern game show history, and it’s the perfect compulsory network. In a time where the alternatives aren’t taking as many risks on new properties, they are currently on their third original production in the past calendar year. It can be argued that Flip Side is their most appealing, and a lot of the reason is owed to its host Jaleel White. Even then, the promise of two more before 2025 was halfway over presented hope for something fresh.
While today’s essay will focus on Tic Tac Dough, it is important to note that it has been in an hour-long block with Bingo Blitz where it airs new episodes anywhere from the 7 PM hour weekdays to various reruns on weekends. It’s commendable that GSN is capable of producing so much to have ready at disposal because, at its core, these shows work like hot cakes. They have the hypnotic ability to lure anyone in with their multiple-choice simplicity that also creates the illusion of strategy. Bingo Blitz seems the most attractive at first blush because the outcomes are greater and more spontaneous. However, I’d argue that Tic Tac Dough takes basically the same premise and does something even greater.
This could be because Tic Tac Dough is a rebrand of sorts. In the week that it premiered on GSN, original host Wink Martindale passed away, which included a partial reminder of his time hosting an earlier version. The formula also feels reminiscent of any fledgling throwback on Buzzr that Mark Goodson and Bill Todman would produce. It was so simple and gave off the impression that anyone could play it because just about everyone has played tic-tac-toe. All it takes is a piece of paper and two shapes to fill in the blanks. Add in that CBS is also currently airing the similarly structured Hollywood Squares, and it reveals how versatile the format is.
To be honest, Tic Tac Dough will never be as attractive as Hollywood Squares. Who could pass on Drew Barrymore cracking jokes as the center gets the square? There is a more recognizable history there. However, I’d argue that it owes as much to trivia as it does the Match Game school of thought, where it only works if the audience is laughing. It’s the perfect breezy summer entertainment. With that said, Tic Tac Dough is far and away a more engaging show for those in love with competition.
The larger goal is not dissimilar from traditional tic-tac-toe. In any given round, two players will be met with a board of nine categories. From there, they will choose any spot and answer trivia in hopes of acquiring the square. As evident, a correct answer guarantees an X or O capturing the box. With prize values also increasing per round, there are chances for the second-place player to make a comeback. Along with the typical X's and O’s impacting their opponents' block, wrong answers can result in unusable squares. There’s also the presence of the board’s foe, The Dragon, who randomizes its hiding place each time. To find him is to immediately lose the square and, in later rounds, other advantages like time. Finally, those wanting the center square will have to answer a two-part question. There is no half-credit.
If there is one conflict with the formula, it’s that the structure is too simple. Each time out, the contestant picks a category before being presented with a question. The answers are cleverly written in a patterned way that is humorous but also can be misleading for those not fully in the know of the subject at hand. With that said, the three answers tend to be familiar trivia pieces that can wear on those needing a Jeopardy!-style push. While this is counterbalanced by needing to get a desired three in a row for increased points, some may be turned off by the simple strategy.
With that said, the increase in difficulty keeps everything engaging enough for those who get a kick out of pure luck. The two contestants are often equally matched, and one only comes out on top because of having the first strike. If they can get the right corners, then there’s a chance the board will work in their favor. Anyone who has played the game knows how difficult it is to keep your opponent at odds, and so far, the suspense has worked for the show’s dramatic flair. Again, it’s not a revolutionary formula, but it has a share of devastating blows. When a square is blocked from one bad decision, it seeks to unravel the larger board. Do it too many times, and suddenly the nine squares become a death trap.
The simplicity is the joy of Tic Tac Dough. It’s not only a chance to compete against another player, but against a larger system that won’t play nicely. With the cryptic category names, there’s a chance that it misleads someone into thinking they know more than they do. This becomes especially relevant in the timed segment called “Beat the Dragon,” where the dragon jumps to different squares that become unavailable for one question to be answered. The inconvenience isn’t consistent, but it’s enough of a threat for those who have to work against an easy strategy. Still, what could be an easy three across becomes delayed because The Dragon resided in the lower corner during an especially trying time.
On some level, this show has a throwback charm to its structure that keeps it from feeling as essential as other GSN properties. Even with the updated graphics, there is something rudimentary and familiar about the field. Comparatively, Bingo Blitz tends to have a significantly showier level of production values that, at times, distracts from its equally simple formula. With that said, Flip Side is an even more barren set-up that still works. Game shows have always been about the driven passion of their players, and Tic Tac Dough doesn’t lack that energy one bit. There is a fun camaraderie that can elevate the most trivial of turnouts.
Credit must be paid to host Brooke Burns, who brings warmth and focus to the larger format. Her ability to empathize with the players and keep the mood lighthearted allows for the silliness to feel more alive. Her passion to make The Dragon seem more intimidating than a simple graphic allows for everything to form a deeper mythology. Even in promos, she plays into the corny vibe by highlighting the “Doughs and Don’ts.” It’s a show that understands its limitations and plays with those elements in compelling enough ways.
The ideal audience for this show is anyone who watches GSN not so much for hours upon hours of stimulating competition but more the need for small novelty with their facts. The lack of complexity creates a zippiness that keeps the rounds moving at a brisk pace. Nothing lingers for too long and instead allows for consistent contrast of trivia and strategy in between Burns’ fun banter with the players. This is perfect original programming because it’s inoffensive nor innovative enough to stand out as a network show. Even if it lacks the flashy gimmicks of GSN originals like Beat the Bridge, Switch, or Chain Reaction, it still has the propulsive nature that makes it quality filler.
Most of all, it’s a better alternative to Hollywood Squares because it’s not bogged down in unnecessary elements. There is a tightness that means contestants aren’t forced to spend minutes contemplating the accuracy of one question. That would eat up too much of a half-hour. For what it lacks in celebrity glitz, it more than makes up for in recentering the everyman who wants to prove their smarts on television. Everyone wins or loses on their own skills, and that’s always an endearing form of entertainment.
There’s still time for this summer to deliver a surprise hit. While I recognize that Fox is producing a show called The Snake, which looks to be more in the reality show vein that doesn’t interest me. What I want is short and sweet with little involvement. It’s what you put on when the long day is over and there is a need to unwind for half an hour. While some have gotten away with lengthier formats, I have found comfort in GSN’s ability to cater to directness. Tic Tac Dough isn’t a show that I believe works in large doses. However, it has enough for those lazy nights when deep, methodical strategy is not doing it. There’s nothing wrong with that. In my mind, it makes sense why it’s paired with Bingo Blitz solely because it’s about filling in the blanks through luck and strategy. However, Tic Tac Dough’s old-fashioned style is so different that it, in some way, is more compelling. There are no added twists to learn as bingo balls roll to the screen. It’s just about filling in nine boxes. Anyone could do that, and I love watching them try when the night beckons.
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