Shark Bytes

To the poster from 5-28-07, Charles was not on the 70's version of "Match Game" from the beginning, as the first panelists were Michael Landon, Vicki Lawrence, Jack Klugman, Jo Ann Pflug, Richard Dawson, and Anita Gillette. Both Brett and Charles were guests about four weeks into the show. They both became regulars towards the end of 1973. Before Richard was the 'main man' for the Super Matches, Bert Convy and Jo Ann Pflug were two of the more popular go to's for that area of the game. Charles was famous for inducting contestant Janet Finn as the contestant with the most money won (at the time) in 1974, with a delivery like CBS used for the Watergate hearings.

This is probably only one of two shows (the other being PBS's "Sesame Street") that never really jumped the shark. Heck, I'd like to see Dale Earnhardt Jr. on a MG remake as one of the panelists, although finding a host would be difficult.

70s Version: Jumped when Richard left. One, because I'm biased and I like the man. Two, because they filled that spot with a lot of losers and idiots. Not every week, but more often than not. Jack Jones?? C'mon! In addition to the bottom middle doofus, they had too many other weirdos who, unlike some of the 73-78 weirdos, were NOT entertaining. Yuck. And that Star Wheel was sent directly from Satan himself. Gene was also looking bored with the whole thing by then.

MG/HS Hour: If Gene was bored before, his was barely phoning in his lines here. He looked like he'd rather be standing on a street corner in crack town begging for nickles.

90 version: Jumped the minute they hired THE MOST BORING HOST ON EARTH, Ross Shafer. Holy crap was he awful.

98 version: The clips alone made me throw things. Never should have been made. Not enough subtlty, too much in your face. The subtlty is what made the original version hilarious. Take that out, and all you have is a bunch of z-list hacks telling dirty jokes.

It had to be that 'revival' on Game Show Marathon; if MG was tipping on the edge of the tank before, this thing threw it into the shark's stomach! Everyone knows that when a contestant or panelist gives a stinker answer, the audience is required to boo... not even a hiss or dead silence could be heard from the audience! Even Richard would have been booed back to the Feud back then, so are we being too nice to charity players nowadays?

Come friggin' on, _____ Kong is the Final Match? To wish the Star Wheel was there just to tempt the possibility the celeb would land on Bruce Villanch; he would have the gut to answer "Donkey" or "Venice." A weak gimmie answer for charity... thanks for nothing!

Sing this to the tune of Grease Lightning!!

"Go, Gene Rayburn, you're runnin' up the quarter mile!
Gene Rayburn! Go, Gene Rayburn!
Hubba-hubba-hubba, Hubba-hubba-hubba-hubba!
Flee-ee-ee-eemmm!
Pistons, plugs, and shocks!
Flocks, flocks, flocks!
You know that I'm not braggin'
Have you ever seen a dragon?
Gene Rayburrrrrrrrrnnn!
Go!!"

The Proud Liberals here are like most liberals idiots. The host Gene Rayburn was an unabashed Liberal, Why do you think they were so free in their language and content.

This show is strictly for the Archie Bunkers of the Republican party who love hate speech that masquerades as humor. Non-stop bigotry is all you're in for on a typical episode of this repulsive show that I will certainly never let my child watch! This show should be taken off the air immediately and everyone who watches it should be ostracized the way people who patronize minstrel shows would be. If you like this hate-filled and nightmarish show I'll bet you're one of those stupid people who gave us a second term for George W Bush. No wonder hate crimes are through the roof.

To confirm the last poster's comments, TBS is, indeed, bringing back Match Game. An article was posted on Steve Beverly's GS website, www.tvgameshows.net.

Well the Match Game is coming back....

Gene, Brett, Charles and Johnny need to rise up from the dead and stop dis-mantle from putting on a new version.

This show jumped the shark when it came back on the air in 1998 hosted by a jerk named Michael Burger.

I read an interview recently w betty white where she said gameshows the reason they aren't as good as they used to be (ie up to the early 80s) is because they tell you now what to say during commercial breaks. So most of the match game stuff we thought was spontaneous probably really was.

Of course it also begs the question why does betty continue to appear on game shows (like that awful ricki lake match game revival) when she clearly knows that they suck. But I digress.

Here's one for ya...I was watching MG on GSN about 6 or 7 years ago (GSN is no longer part of our non-premium cable line-up as of Dec. 04') and one of the 6 panel matches was "blank-back". The contestant came up with "Quarter". The first 5 of the 6 celebs responded with either "Quarter, Half, or Hunch". But good-ole Marcia Wallace from the Bob Newhart show dropped the W-bomb.. "WET". Immediately Brett Sommers replied "We're gonna get letters!!". I'm not sure if this one ever aired on CBS, but this really did happen for damn sure on GSN. Imagine if a remark was made like that NOW!!!!

I almost fell off my chair reading ProudLiberal's scathing comments from June 17 2007. "Homophobia"? On Matchgame? With Charles Nelson Reilly on the panel??? Next you'll try to tell me that Paul Lynde once shared his cube on Hollywood Squares with Anita Bryant!

Watching this show is like going back in time 25 or 30 years to those holidays with relatives who are now deceased. Lots of smoking, drinking, ribald comments and raucous laughter. You can't spend time with Uncle Joe and Aunt Margie anymore, but you can do the next best thing: watch an episode of Match Game.

Why was Betty White's mother always in the audience? Anyone else think that was weird?