Game theory on television
Each show contains a brief synopsis, highlighting its relevance to game theory. Some films contain links to reviews, discussion, as well as links to the film's page at Amazon.com Some movie clips (
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and sound clips
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Numb3rs |
Brilliant university professor helps CIA-agent brother solve crimes using seemingly complicated (though generally nonsensical) mathematical theories.
Two episodes involved game theoretic themes directly.
>> read about how this relates to game theory Movie scene: "Ah! behavioral game theory. Yeah, we studies this in Quantico ..."
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Friends |
Multiple iterations of common knowledge are often dizzying, as are lines like
"But see they don't know that we know that they know!"
>> read about how this relates to game theory (Comedy, 1998, Season 5) Website at IMDB, episode description
Movie scene: "They don't know that we know that they know ..."
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South Park |
When arrested for decorating a teacher's house with toilet paper, the boys face a prisoner's dilemma. Cartman confesses receiving a week's detention while the rest receive two weeks.
(Animated Comedy, 2003, Season 7) Website at Comedy Central, episode description
Sound clip: "We better get our stories straight ..."
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Alias |
TV series stars Victor Garbor as "our best game theorist" who spouts vague strategisms like "It complies both sides to adopt a mutually reinforcing course of action."
>> read about how this relates to game theory (Serial Drama, 2001) Website at ABC
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Simpsons |
Rock-Paper-Scissors is often imployed to settle disputes.
In one game, Bart thinks "Good ol' rock. Nuthin' beats that!"
which Lisa of course predicts. Highlights the importance of unpredictable mixed strategies
>> read about how this relates to game theory |
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Dilbert |
Arrested for the murder of a fictitious coworker, Dilbert and colleagues face interrogation by the police.
Dilbert announces that his knowledge of the prisoner's dilemma will save him.
(Animated Comedy, 2000) Episode summary
Movie scene: "I happen to understand a little thing called the prisoner's dilemma ..."
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Survivor | Deciding who to keep and who to vote off requires understanding of extensive form games. At what point do you start voting off the strongest? Survivor Thailand featured a challenge which is a simple game of Nim as illustrated in the video. |
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Joan of Arcadia |
An episode titled "Game Theory" has two characters engaged in a battle of rock-paper-scissors and discussing the value of
mathematical versus behavioral approaches to game theory.
>> read about how this relates to game theory (Drama, 2005) Show site at CBS
Movie clip 1 (long): "This is the domain of philosophers and poets and not the mathematicians ..."
Movie clip 2 (long): "Perhaps its the psychology she's using ... everything has a strategy, from government to romance" |
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Banzai |
This short-lived irreverent satire of Japanese game shows featured the "Old
Lady Wheelchair Chicken Challenge," a weird take on the game of chicken.
(Satire, 2003)
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Blockbusters |
A game show built around the combinatorial game, Hex, where contestants must answer a question correctly to move.
(Game Show, reruns) Theme music at link on right
Website at the Game Show Network,
rules description
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Friend or Foe |
After partnering to answer questions and increase the potential prize, contestants face off in a prisoner's dilemma to decide how the money is split.
(Game Show, 2002) rules description,
parody song about the show
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Weakest Link |
Contestants help you make money, but you have to beat them in the end to keep it.
Deciding who to keep and who to vote off requires understanding of extensive form games.
(Game Show, 2001) Website at BBC, a research article
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