When it comes to hysterical game shows, the 70's smash Match Game is usually near the top of the heap. A version of the show appeared to minimal attention in the 60's, but a reconfigured version hit the air in '73 and quickly became a hit. The game was pretty simple, a fill-in-the-blank scenario in which average contestants would try to match the answers of celebrity panelists. The spicy possibilities that came to mind produced much of the humor. The regular cast included Richard Dawson, Brett Somers, and Charles Nelson Reilly. Three other celebrity seats would be filled by guest stars. The announcer was legendary game show announcer Johnny Olson. The real linchpin to the show, however, was the genial MC Gene Rayburn, who commanded the stage with a mixture of charm, class, and child-like mischief. The show was recorded in groups of three, with a lunch break before the third episode was taped. You can spot the third session episodes because they're quite a bit laxer and more crazy. This is largely due to the liquid refreshments served during lunch! Match Game became one of the most popular game shows on television, and lasted into the early 80's. When the show finally ran out of steam, Richard Dawson had already moved on to Family Feud, which had replaced Match Game as the most popular show of it's kind. Various attempts to revive the show fell flat in short order. It's not the game that made the magic, it was the cast and their moment in history that did it. Re-runs of the series became a ratings giant for The Game Show Network. The channel even produced a documentary: BEHIND THE BLANK, THE TRUE STORY OF MATCH GAME, narrated by Jamie Farr. Weirdly, the show vanished from their listings shortly after (and then I cancelled my dish service, so I don't know if it ever came back).
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