This chapter examines the relationship between the quiz and game show and television genre, while also using the quiz and game show to reflect on the concept of television genre itself. Although Chapter 2 offers a more explicit engagement with questions of history, Chapter 1 introduces aspects of change and development in the field, such as the increased prominence of the television format, the flow of global formats, and the rise of the ‘reality game show’.

Genre is a French word meaning ‘type’ or ‘kind’, and the concept has been widely used in the study of media forms such as literature, theatre, music, film and television. Nick Lacey (2000) explains how genres are constituted by ‘a repertoire of elements’ – setting, iconography, character types, narrative and style – as well as by the shared expectations which render a text comprehensible to its viewers. In the context of this book, it is fortuitous that Lacey applies this framework to the game show. He lists the genre's repertoire of elements as follows:

• Setting – television studio

• Characters – studio audience, ‘ordinary’ people for contestants and an avuncular host

• Narrative – the questions or tasks must be overcome to win the prizes

• Iconography – a high-tech, glitzy set

• Style – basic ‘live’ television including focus on host; audience and contestant reaction shots; segmented structure (Lacey 2000: 206).