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who were the original match game celebrities

by Mrs. Laurie Gerlach Published 3 years ago Updated 3 years ago

1962–69, NBC
The Match Game premiered on December 31, 1962. Gene Rayburn was the host and Johnny Olson served as announcer; for the series premiere, Arlene Francis and Skitch Henderson were the two celebrity panelists.

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4 rows · Mar 21, 2020 · The 10 Best '70s Match Game Celebrity Panelists Richard Dawson. Richard Dawson ruled over ...

Were there any famous contestants on Match Game?

And for more wild Tinseltown trivia, check out these 20 Celeb Friendships You Never Could've Predicted.Jon Hamm was on The Big Date. ... Arnold Schwarzenegger was on The Dating Game. ... Vanna White was on The Price is Right. ... Steve Martin was on The Gong Show. ... Aaron Paul was on The Price is Right.More items...•Jul 11, 2018

Who was the most famous person on Match Game?

1. Richard Dawson. Richard Dawson ruled over Family Feud as its host, but he was the king of Match Game.Jan 15, 2016

Who was on the old Match Game?

Brett Somers and Charles Nelson Reilly were the perfect pair. The Match Game has gone through several iterations over the years, but none have been better than the one that aired on CBS in the 1970s. It was hilarious without trying too hard. It was edgy without being raunchy.Jan 24, 2017

Are any of the original Match Game celebrities still alive?

A • Rayburn, long the host of the game show, passed away in 1999. What I think of as the Big Three of the panelists — Charles Nelson Reilly, Brett Somers and Richard Dawson — are also gone. So are such frequent participants as Richard Paul, Marcia Wallace, Dick Martin, Patti Deutsch and Bill Daily.Jul 3, 2019

Why did Gene Rayburn leave Match Game?

His last TV appearance was in the form of a 1998 interview with Access Hollywood for the 25th anniversary of March Game '73. Sadly, Gene would suffer from dementia and he would die of congestive heart failure on November 29, 1999, at the age of 81.

Who was Orson on Match Game?

Orson Bean (born July 22, 1928, died February 7, 2020) was an American film, television, and stage actor. He appeared frequently on televised game shows in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, and was a long-time panelist on the television game show To Tell the Truth. He also did episodes of the 70s Match Game.

Who was Sarah on Match Game 76?

Sarah Kennedy (actress)Sarah KennedyBornJanuary 27, 1948 Coquille, Oregon, U.S.OccupationActressYears active1971–1981Height5 ft 2 in (157 cm)

Is Charles Nelson Reilly alive?

May 25, 2007Charles Nelson Reilly / Date of death

Is Gene Rayburn still alive?

Deceased (1917–1999)Gene Rayburn / Living or Deceased

How long were Brett Somers and Jack Klugman married?

In 1953, Mr. Klugman married actress and comedian Brett Somers, best known as a game-show panelist on the “Match Game” in the 1970s. He and Somers separated in 1974 but never divorced. She died in 2007.Dec 24, 2012

How many times was Betty White on Match Game?

White made frequent game show appearances on What's My Line? (starting in 1955), To Tell the Truth (in 1961, 1990, and 2015), I've Got a Secret (in 1972–73), Match Game (1973–1982), and Pyramid (starting in 1982).

Is Brett Somers still living?

September 15, 2007Brett Somers / Date of death

What is the match game?

Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour. Blankety Blank. Match Game is an American television panel game show that premiered on NBC in 1962 and has been revived several times over the course of the next six decades. The game features contestants trying to match answers given by celebrity panelists to fill-in-the-blank questions.

How many editions of the NBC game were made?

Starting in 1963, Milton Bradley made six editions of the NBC version. Each game contained crayons, wipe-off papers, 100 perforated cards with six questions per card, a plastic scoreboard tray with colored pegs and chips, and 6 "scribble boards". After the first edition, the vinyl scribble boards and crayons were replaced with six "magic slates" and wooden styli.

When did the head to head match happen?

Once the wheel stopped, the contestant attempted to match with the indicated celebrity. If the wheel did not make at least one complete revolution, the contestant was required to spin again.

Who was the original host of the Hollywood Squares game?

Rayburn, after a year as a morning show host in New York, agreed to return as host. However, few of the regular Squares cast appeared on this version. Jon Bauman ( Sha Na Na) was tapped to host the Hollywood Squares segment of the game and he and Rayburn swapped seats while the other hosted his portion of the show. The primary announcer was Gene Wood, with Johnny Olson, Bob Hilton, and Rich Jeffries substituting.

What song was used in the Match Game?

Match Game featured several theme songs throughout its various runs. From 1962 to 1967, Bert Kaempfert 's instrumental " A Swingin' Safari " was used as the theme, a slightly different rendition ( Billy Vaughn 's cover of the same song) was used on the pilot. From 1967 to 1969, a new theme composed by Score Productions was used.

How many episodes are there in the best of match game?

A DVD set called The Best of Match Game featuring a collection of more than 30 episodes of the 1970s version including the original 1962 pilot episode (which was originally called The Match Game) was released in 2006. An eight episode collection, called "The Best of Match Game: Dumb Dora Is So Dumb Edition!", was released later on in 2007 by BCI Eclipse Company LLC (under license from FremantleMedia Enterprises ), which contained 8 original episodes, uncut and un-edited, and digitally restored, re-mastered and transferred from the original 2-inch videotape recording masters for optimum video quality.

When was Match Game PM first aired?

On September 8, 1975, the first syndicated version, a weekly nighttime series dubbed Match Game PM premiered. The series, sold to many ABC affiliates (including the network's owned and operated stations such as WABC-TV in New York), was produced by Goodson–Todman and distributed by Jim Victory Television, G-T's syndication partner for Concentration.

When did Match Game end?

In Closer ’s recent profile of Gene Rayburn, game show historian and Gene’s biographer, Adam Nedeff, detailed that Match Game ended its first run on NBC in 1969, but was resurrected in 1973 thanks to the success of The Hollywood Squares.

What was the first attraction of the show business?

Born January 13, 1931 in the Bronx, New York, his first attraction to show business came when he was a kid and used to create his own puppet theater. At the age of 13, he was a survivor of the horrific Hartford, Connecticut circus fire of 1944 that took the lives of 167 people, but was so emotionally scarring to him that he reportedly found it difficult to attend the theater or immerse himself in large crowds. He nonetheless was drawn to the idea of becoming an opera singer and joined the Hartt School of Music as a voice major, but ultimately gave it up feeling he didn’t have the necessary natural ability as a singer.

How long has Mary Tayler Moore been on TV?

She has also been a part of so many series as a regular since almost the advent of the medium: Life with Elizabeth (1953 to 1955), Date With the Angels (1957 to 1958), The Mary Tayler Moore Show (1973 to 1977), The Betty White Show (1977 to 1978), Mama’s Family (1983 to 1984, 1986), The Golden Girls (1985 to 1992), The Golden Palace (1992 to 1993), Bob (1993), Maybe This Time (1995), Ladies Man (1999), Boston Legal (2005 to 2008), The Bold and the Beautiful (23 episodes between 2006 and 2009) and Hot in Cleveland (2010 to 2015). How’s that (not even including the many game shows she was a part of) for a Classic TV legacy?

Who is Jo Ann Pflug?

“Jo Ann Pflug appeared in the pilot of Match Game ’73 and popped in from time to time in the early years of the show, a beautiful brunette fresh from guest shots on Love, American Style and The Love Boat.

Where is Patricia Neal?

The actress, comedian and author was born Patricia Neal September 21, 1944 in Birmingham, Alabama. Besides appearing on many game shows, as a writer she worked on Candid Camera and wrote a number of books, including the novel Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café, which was adapted into the 1991 movie Fried Green Tomatoes. She’s made many guest star appearances on different TV shows, but her stint on Match Game is undoubtedly the thing she is most remembered for.

Storyline

Game show in which 6 guest stars (which change from week to week) are given a humorous phrase with one word missing. The stars write down a word they think would be most appropriate for the missing word, and then two contestants try to guess what the stars have chosen. A point is given for each correct match, and the one with the most points wins.

Did You Know?

The 1st two guests to appear were women named Joan Roselle and Stanley Vilts. Stanley explained, "My mother went to the movies a lot & saw Bette Davis playing a girl named Stanley in In This Our Life (1942) and that was it." See more »

User Reviews

Get ready to match the stars on the star-studded, big-money Match Game!

What is match game?

Match Game (7x/P.M.) was the comedy game show where celebrities match contestants and vice versa, simply by filling in the blanks. If the contestants do it very well, they win lots of money.

When was the Star Wheel invented?

The "Star Wheel" was introduced in 1978 and was used until the syndicated version ended in 1982. Contestants spun the wheel to determine which celebrity they played with in the Head-To-Head Match, and could double their potential winnings if the wheel landed on an area of gold stars under each celebrity's name (later changed to three individual stars per celebrity to increase the difficulty of obtaining a double).

Who hosted Family Feud?

The idea for the bonus round (Super/Audience Match) would later be spun off as Family Feud hosted by famed Match Game panelist Richard Dawson from 1976 (1977 in the syndicated version) until 1985, then again from 1994 until 1995.

What episode of Match Game 77 did Richard Dawson and Debralee Scott revolt?

Match Game '77 “School Riot” episode is one of them, in which Debralee Scott and Richard Dawson revolt when the judges did not accept “Finishing School” as a match for “School” was ranked as #82 on the list.

Who played Marie on Mary Tyler Moore?

You may recall Bulifant from her role as Murray’s wife Marie on The Mary Tyler Moore show, and she also had a role in Airplane! Bulifant had a bubbly personality, and was, perhaps, not the best at this particular game. However, they kept inviting her back, because she was always delightful, usually in the bottom right seat, which was a rotating cadre of wonderful women, many of whom appear further up on this list.

Is Somers a heresy?

She is the queen of Match Game. If you ask people what Somers is known for, 99% of the time, the answer you will get is “ Match Game .” It made her a game show icon. Her then husband, Jack Klugman of The Odd Couple fame, suggested her for the series after he appeared on the first week of the program in 1973. She was brought in, and she basically never left.

Who was the voice of Edna Krabappel?

The late, great Marcia Wallace was the voice of Edna Krabappel on The Simpsons, and that alone makes her indisputably awesome. However, she was even better in the flesh as Carol, Bob Hartley’s receptionist on the aforementioned The Bob Newhart Show. Like Russell, she appeared on a ton of game shows back in the day, although she was not as adept at playing Match Game.

Who was Allen Ludden's wife?

White was already a veteran of television by the ‘70s, and was married to game show host Allen Ludden from 1963 until his death in 1981. White was pretty perfect, because she was great at playing the game, and was also, of course, hilarious.

Who is Patti Deutsch?

Patti Deutsch. This is going to be a divisive pick. Deutsch is a polarizing figure in the world of Match Game. One Tumblr dedicated to the show, and yes there are several Tumblrs dedicated to Match Game, referred to her as a “ditz.”.

Who is the host of Family Feud?

Richard Dawson ruled over Family Feud as its host, but he was the king of Match Game. He’s so iconic as a game show host a lot of people probably don’t remember him as an actor, outside of playing a game show host in The Running Man. However, he first started to make his name on Hogan’s Heroes (arguably the best sitcom about a Nazi prisoner of war camp). After that, he ended up on Match Game basically from the beginning, and it’s his work on Match Game that got him the job hosting Family Feud —and a legacy of kissing ladies was born.

Who played Roger Healey on I Dream of Jeannie?

Bill Daily. Daily had key supporting roles in two iconic sitcoms of a bygone era. He played one of Major Nelson’s astronaut buddies, Roger Healey, on I Dream of Jeannie, and, more importantly, he played Howard Borden, the Hartley’s wacky neighbor on The Bob Newhart Show.

When was Match Game canceled?

Match Game was canceled in 1979 (and attempts to revive it have never matched its success). In 1999, Gene was given a Lifetime Achievement Award by the TV Academy and died a month later. Brett and Charles both passed away in 2007, and Richard died in 2012.

Who made the Family Feud?

Producers Mark Goodson and Bill Todman tried to appease Richard by hiring him to do his own game show, Family Feud, inspired by Match Game ’s “Super Match” round, in 1976. It soon took over Match Game ’s time slot and skyrocketed to the top of the ratings.

Who is Richard Dawson?

One panelist, British actor Richard Dawson, became so popular that he developed an oversize ego that rubbed some of his costars the wrong way. “He was the devil, but he was funny,” says panelist Betty White. “His mind worked like a steel trap, but he wasn’t the happiest man in the world.”.

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Overview

Later revivals

After the cancellation of Match Game 79, there was still enough interest in the series for Goodson–Todman and Jim Victory Television to consider a continuation of the daily series in syndication as the weekly Match Game PM was still airing and had not stopped production. The consideration eventually came to fruition as a daily syndicated Match Game, without a year attached and often referred to on-air as The Match Game, debuted on September 10, 1979.

1962–69, NBC

The Match Game premiered on December 31, 1962. Gene Rayburn was the host and Johnny Olson served as announcer; for the series premiere, Arlene Francis and Skitch Henderson were the two celebrity panelists. The show was taped in Studio 8H at 30 Rockefeller Plaza in New York City, NBC's largest New York studio, which since 1975 has housed Saturday Night Live, among other shows. The show originally aired in black and white, and moved to color on June 24, 1963.

Match Game 73–79 (1973–79, CBS)

In the early 1970s, CBS vice president Fred Silverman began overhauling the network's programming as part of what has colloquially become known as the rural purge. As part of this overhaul, the network reintroduced game shows, beginning in 1972. One of the first new offerings was The New Price Is Right, a radically overhauled version of the 1950s game show The Price Is Right. The success of The New Price Is Right prompted Silverman to commission more game shows. In th…

Episode status

Only 11 episodes of the 1962–69 series are known to survive —the pilot and 10 kinescope recordings, all of which are archived at the Paley Center for Media. Nine of these are black-and-white kinescopes and one is a color episode (from 1969 and on videotape). The pilot has since fallen into the public domain.
The 1973–82 incarnations are shown in reruns daily on Buzzr and GSN.

The Real Match Game Story: Behind the Blank

On November 26, 2006, GSN aired an hour-long documentary titled The Real Match Game Story: Behind The Blank, narrated by Jamie Farr. The documentary features rarely seen footage of the 1960s version, many odd or memorable moments from the main 1973–82 runs, and interviews with Rayburn (including the final interview before his death in 1999), Somers, Dawson, DeBartolo, producer Ira Skutch, and others involved in the show's production.

Music

Match Game featured several theme songs throughout its various runs. From 1962 to 1967, Bert Kaempfert's instrumental "A Swingin' Safari" was used as the theme. Kaempfert's commercial single, recorded in Europe, was used for the pilot; an American cover version by the Billy Vaughn orchestra was used through 1967. From 1967 to 1969, a new theme composed by Score Productions was used.

Merchandise

Several home game versions based on the 1960s and 1970s American television version were published by Milton Bradley from 1963 through 1978, in multiple editions.
Starting in 1963, Milton Bradley made six editions of the NBC version. Each game contained crayons, wipe-off papers, 100 perforated cards with six questions per card, a plastic scoreboard tray with colored pegs and chips, and 6 "scribble boards". After the first edition, the vinyl scribbl…

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