Jonathan Goodson
Encyclopedia
Jonathan Michael Goodson (born August 20, 1945) is an American television producer who specializes in game shows. He is the son of legendary game show producer Mark Goodson
and began his television career in 1973 as chief counsel of Goodson-Todman Productions. He later produced several of the company's shows. After his father's death in December 1992, Jonathan took over the company in March 1993 (in the early 1980s the Goodsons had acquired the Todman heirs' portion of the company) and ran it until it was sold to All American Television
in 1995.
Goodson also runs his own production company, Jonathan Goodson Productions, whose output has consisted mostly of state-based lottery game shows, including Illinois Instant Riches, the only state-based lottery game show to be shown to a nationwide audience, thanks to Superstation WGN.
. He received a B.A. at Stanford University
in 1967, and an L.L.B. Yale Law School
in 1970.
Mark Goodson
Mark Goodson was an American television producer who specialized in game shows.-Life and early career:...
and began his television career in 1973 as chief counsel of Goodson-Todman Productions. He later produced several of the company's shows. After his father's death in December 1992, Jonathan took over the company in March 1993 (in the early 1980s the Goodsons had acquired the Todman heirs' portion of the company) and ran it until it was sold to All American Television
FremantleMedia
FremantleMedia, Ltd. is the content and production division of Bertelsmann's RTL Group, Europe's second largest TV, radio, and production company...
in 1995.
Goodson also runs his own production company, Jonathan Goodson Productions, whose output has consisted mostly of state-based lottery game shows, including Illinois Instant Riches, the only state-based lottery game show to be shown to a nationwide audience, thanks to Superstation WGN.
Personal life
Goodson was born in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. He received a B.A. at Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
in 1967, and an L.L.B. Yale Law School
Yale Law School
Yale Law School, or YLS, is the law school of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Established in 1824, it offers the J.D., LL.M., J.S.D. and M.S.L. degrees in law. It also hosts visiting scholars, visiting researchers and a number of legal research centers...
in 1970.
Shows associated with Jonathan Goodson
- Double DareDouble Dare (1976 game show)Double Dare is an American television game show, produced by Mark Goodson—Bill Todman Productions, that ran from 1976 to 1977 on CBS. Alex Trebek was the host, with Johnny Olson and later Gene Wood announcing...
, producer - Card SharksCard SharksCard Sharks is an American television game show created by Chester Feldman for Mark Goodson-Bill Todman Productions. Two contestants compete for control of a row of oversized playing cards by answering questions posed by the host and then guessing if the next card is higher or lower in value than...
, executive producer - Child's PlayChild's Play (game show)Child's Play is an American television game show in which adult contestants tried to guess words based on definitions given by children. The Mark Goodson-produced series debuted on CBS from September 20, 1982 at 10:30 AM Eastern/9:30 AM Central...
, executive producer - Trivia TrapTrivia TrapTrivia Trap is an American game show produced by Mark Goodson Productions. It was created by producer Goodson and originally ran from October 8, 1984 to April 5, 1985 on ABC. The game featured two teams of three contestants each who competed against each other to answer trivia questions in various...
, producer - Now You See ItNow You See ItNow You See It is an American television game show created by Frank Wayne for Mark Goodson-Bill Todman Productions. Two Now You See It series were produced, and both aired on CBS. The first series ran from April 1, 1974 until June 13, 1975, and was hosted by Jack Narz...
, executive producer (1989 version) - Match GameMatch GameMatch Game is an American television game show in which contestants attempted to match celebrities' answers to fill-in-the-blank questions...
, producer (1990 version) - CramCram (game show)Cram is a game show that aired as an original series for GSN in 2003. The show featured two teams, each composed of two contestants. For 24 hours before taping, the contestants were sequestered in a warehouse, with the intent of staying awake and "cramming" various material such as trivia...
, creator and executive producer (with Jonathan Goodson Productions) - Dirty Rotten CheaterDirty Rotten CheaterDirty Rotten Cheater is a game show that aired on PAX from January 6 to April 14, 2003, hosted by Bil Dwyer and produced by Jonathan Goodson. Thirteen episodes were produced....
, executive producer (with Jonathan Goodson Productions) - The Big SpinThe Big SpinThe Big Spin is the California Lottery's first television game show. Originally a Fred Tatashore production, it was later an Alexander Media Services production, followed by a production of Cal Image, and then finally a Jonathan Goodson Production....
, executive producer (with Jonathan Goodson Productions, 1999-2009 [episodes from 1985-98 did not have him involved]) - Illinois Instant Riches, later Illinois' Luckiest, executive producer (with Mark Goodson Productions 1994-1996, Jonathan Goodson Productions 1996-2000)
- Flamingo FortuneFlamingo FortuneFlamingo Fortune is an American game show for the Florida Lottery that aired from 1995-1999. It was originally produced by Mark Goodson Productions, at the time also producing game shows for state lotteries alongside his regular game shows...
, executive producer (with Jonathan Goodson Productions, 1995-99) - Bonus BonanzaBonus BonanzaBonus Bonanza was the official state lottery game show of Massachusetts, running from 1995 to 1998. It was hosted by Brian Tracey and Dawn Hayes...
, executive producer (with Jonathan Goodson Productions, 1995-98) - NY WiredNY WiredNY Wired was a short-lived lottery game show aired from 1997 to 1999. The weekly show was produced by Jonathan Goodson Productions in conjunction with the New York Lottery....
, executive producer (with Jonathan Goodson Productions, 1997-99) - Make Me RichMake Me RichMake Me Rich is a Michigan Lottery game show filmed in Detroit, hosted by Brady Bunch star Christopher Knight and co-hosted by Beth McLeod. The show is produced by Jonathan Goodson. Unlike other lottery game shows, the program airs on a quarterly schedule instead of weekly...
, executive producer (with Jonathan Goodson Productions, 2009-present) - Powerball: The Game ShowPowerball: The Game ShowPowerball: The Game Show was a lottery-based game show that aired from October 2000 to September 2002 in some of the jurisdictions that offered the Powerball game...
, executive producer (with Jonathan Goodson Productions, 2000-02)