Match Game/Hollywood Squares Hour

Does anyone remember the Match Game/Hollywood Squares Hour?




When both Match Game and Hollywood Squares ended in the early 80's, for some reason, producers thought it'd be a good idea to combine the two, so in 1983, the Match Game/Hollywood Squares hour was born

Click here to see a clip of Gene Rayburn plugging a contest promotion on the Match Game/Hollywood Squares hour --> [URL='http://gscentral.net/mghs.rm']Match Game Video clip[/URL]

The show was hosted by:




Gene Rayburn hosted the Match Game, while Jon Baumann (who was a former member of 70's band Sha Na Na) sat amongst the celebrity panel. The contestant who won Match Game went on to face another challenger in Hollywood Squares at which point Rayburn and Baumann would swap places.



In 1984, the Match Game/Hollywood Squares was cancelled, yet both Hollywood Squares and Match Game would later re-appear separately on TV.

Match Game: Short lived seasons in 1990 (with Ross Shaeffer as host) and 1998 (with Michael Burger as host)

Hollywood Squares: A 1986-1989 syndication (with John Davidson as host), and the 1998-2004 revival (with new host Tom Bergeon) that was cancelled.

The classic Match Game couldn't be beat.

I wish it would pop up on TV again. I haven't noticed it on the Game Show Network lately.

quote:

Originally posted by Dude111

Hollywood Squares: A 1986-1989 syndication (with John Davidson as host

I remember Joan Rivers was center square.
It was called The "New" Hollywood Squares.

quote:

Originally posted by wheregreggeats.com

The classic Match Game couldn't be beat.

I wish it would pop up on TV again. I haven't noticed it on the Game Show Network lately.

Rejoice, my friend, because the original Match Game is indeed on the Game Show Network. I don't watch GSN that much, but when I do, despite the fact that the show is older than me, it's one of my favorites.

As far as the Match Game - Hollywood Squares deal, I seem to vaguely recall seeing it a few times after I came home from school "back in the day." I don't remember it being all that enthralling...besides, for my money, The Price is Right and Jeopardy are still the absolute best.

Yes its on several times a day

The first is usually around 9am weekdays (And its the classic series)

I remember it very well. All things considered, it was good counterprogramming to General Hospital and The Guiding Light... both of which were in the top five at the time. The idea of running two games that both aired on NBC at one time looked good on paper. The way it was done didn't work.

On the original HS, the panelists were briefed to help them with bluff answers. Mark Goodson produced the MG-HS hour and did not supply answers to anyone. The secret square game was eliminated. On the original HS, if a contestant went for a win (and the opponent also needed that square for a win), and got the answer wrong, the opponent had to take a question for the win. On MG-HS, in the same situation, if the answer was wrong, the opponent got the win. Baumann was also not a good host. The idea behing HS is to be fast paced. As I understand, Peter Marshall was avalible when MG-HS went into production.

There were problems behind the scenes. Rayburn and Baumann did not get along. Apparently, Rayburn had to be dragged kicking and screaming into the tapings. One of the reasons MG-HS has not been rerun is per Rayburn's wishes.

Cross ownership is the other reason. Mark Goodson owned Match Game, but Orion (now owned by MGM) owned HS.

MG-HS frequently used NBS soap actors as panelists. Problem is, NBC soaps were in the ratings basement at the time. There was just so much working against MG-HS that it had little chance of success.

I really dislike those remakes of shows

1) PRESS YOUR LUCK -- The NEW show "Whammy" is a joke,its disgusting watching that trash!

2) FAMILY FEUD -- ANOTHER PIECE OF REMAKE TRASH