Hollywood Squares

Oscar with Squares regular Paul Lynde.

Carol Channing and Big Bird.

Hollywood Squares is a popular television game show where contestants compete for prizes while playing Tic-Tac-Toe. It was hosted by Peter Marshall from 1966-81, Jon Bauman from 1983-84 (in a combined hour-long format with Match Game), John Davidson from 1986-89, Tom Bergeron from 1998-2004, and Nate Burleson in 2025.

Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch appeared many times on the show during the Marshall era. Big Bird often addressed Marshall as "Mr. Marshmallow", akin to his difficulties with Mr. Hooper's name. It was here where Big Bird met M*A*S*H actor Gary Burghoff, who inspired Big Bird to name his teddy bear Radar. Big Bird and Oscar would also add on several appearances to their filmography during the Bergeron era. Caroll Spinney stated in The Wisdom of Big Bird, that he made over 140 appearances on Hollywood Squares, and in the audio commentary for I Am Big Bird, he more specifically cited 146 appearances.

Other Muppets who appeared on the show in the Bergeron era include Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Gonzo, Bear, and Elmo.

Appearances

Note that most dates indicate the start of a week on which a celebrity would appear. Big Bird also appeared on the Storybook Squares spin-off in the 1970s.

Peter Marshall

Big Bird and Carol Channing, January 19, 1976

Oscar during a 1970s appearance.

• January 19, 1976 — Big Bird/Oscar

Other guests: McLean Stevenson, Sandy Duncan, Carol Channing, George Gobel, Anson Williams, Demond Wilson, Marcia Wallace, and Paul Lynde.

• July 19, 1976 — Big Bird/Oscar

Other guests: Robert Fuller, Charo, John Byner, Jack Albertson, Paul Lynde, Jed Allan, George Gobel, and Nanette Fabray.

• July 26, 1976 — Big Bird/Oscar

Other guests: Richard Crenna, Karen Valentine, Anthony Newley, Ernest Borgnine, Paul Lynde, Bernadette Peters, George Gobel, and Lynn Anderson.

• September 5, 1977 — Big Bird/Oscar

Other guests: Steve Martin, Anne Meara, Earl Holliman, Bernadette Peters, Paul Lynde, Linda Lavin, George Gobel, and Kristy McNichol.

• February 13, 1978 — Big Bird/Oscar

Other guests: David L. Lander, Lynda Day George, Harvey Korman, Joan Rivers, Paul Lynde, George Gobel, Nanette Fabray, and Martin Mull.

• February 20, 1978 — Big Bird/Oscar

Other guests: Richard Mulligan, Dr. Joyce Brothers, Marty Allen, Joan Rivers, Paul Lynde, George Gobel, Valerie Bertinelli, and David Brenner.

• April 17, 1978 — Big Bird/Oscar

Other guests: Erik Estrada, Marcia Wallace, Charlie Callas, Cyb & Tricia Barnstable, Paul Lynde, George Gobel, June Allyson, and Lorne Greene.

• August 28, 1978 — Big Bird/Oscar

Other guests: Charlie Callas, Rhonda Bates, Mel Tillis, Loni Anderson, John Byner, Abigail Van Buren, George Gobel, and Betty White.

• June 4, 1979 — Big Bird/Oscar

Other guests: Vincent Price, Barbara Eden, Jimmie Walker, Susan Stafford, Paul Lynde, Lani O'Grady, George Gobel, and Eva Gabor.

• June 11, 1979 — Big Bird/Oscar

Other guests: Rose Marie, Dick Van Patten, Francine Tacker, Paul Lynde, Brianne Leary, George Gobel, and Erin Moran.

• September 3, 1979 — Big Bird/Oscar

Other guests: Richard Kiel, Dianne Kay, Kelly Monteith, Sydney Goldsmith, Vincent Price, Melissa Gilbert, George Gobel, and Doris Roberts.

• December 24, 1979 — Big Bird/Oscar

Other guests: Bill Saluga, Cathy Lee Crosby, Tony Randall, Scott Baio, Santa Claus (played throughout the week by different guests), George Gobel, Joanna Cassidy, and Tom Poston.

• April 7, 1980 — Big Bird/Oscar

Other guests: Tom Poston, Phyllis Davis, Tim Reid, Elke Sommer, Wayland & Macklehoney, George Gobel, Sydney Goldsmith, and Jim Davis.

Tom Bergeron

	November 20, 2000 Big Bird
	April 30, 2001 Kermit the Frog
	May 11, 2001 Kermit the Frog Other guests: Laura San Giacomo, Michael Badalucco, Stephen Collins, Doris Roberts, Brad Garrett, Jeffrey Tambor, Caroline Rhea, and Whoopi Goldberg.
	May 21, 2001 Oscar the Grouch Other guests: Wendie Malick, Star Jones, Maury Povich, Kate Jackson, Kathy Griffin, Richard Lewis, Brad Garrett, and Whoopi Goldberg.
	May 25, 2001 Big Bird (500th episode) Other guests: Wendie Malick, Star Jones, Maury Povich, Kate Jackson, Kathy Griffin, Richard Lewis, Brad Garrett, and Whoopi Goldberg.
	August 29, 2001 Kermit the Frog Other guests: Laura San Giacomo, Michael Badalucco, Stephen Collins, Doris Roberts, Brad Garrett, Jeffrey Tambor, Caroline Rhea, and Whoopi Goldberg.
	November 15-19, 2001 Elmo Other guests: Anthony Edwards, Ice-T, Lisa Ling, Vivica A. Fox, Brad Garrett, Bill Bellamy, Martin Mull, and Whoopi Goldberg.
	February 18-22, 2002 Kermit the Frog
	February 25, 2002 Gonzo
	May 13-16, 2002 Kermit and Miss Piggy Other guests: Dyan Cannon, Nancy Kerrigan, Doris Roberts, Brad Garrett, Seth Peterson, Tangi Miller, Gilbert Gottfried, and Whoopi Goldberg.
	June 7, 2002 Bear
	July 16-20, 2002 Bear (Whoopi Goldberg's final episodes)
	January 20-24, 2003 Kermit
	April 28, 2003 Kermit Other guests: John Ritter, Vivica A. Fox, Lance Bass, Jeffrey Tambor, Chris Judd, Melissa Peterman, Martin Mull, and Reba McEntire
	May 12-16, 2003 Miss Piggy ("Blondes Have More Fun" week) Other guests: Loni Anderson, Phyllis Diller, the Hilton Sisters, Kathy Kinney, Florence Henderson, Charo, Nicole Sullivan, and Pamela Anderson.
	August 20, 2003 Kermit
	Week of October 27, 2003 Bear during "Daytime TV Week" promoting the release of Practice Makes Perfect. Other guests: Susan Lucci, Sally Jessy Raphael, Steve Edwards & Dorothy Lucey (from Good Day Live), Judge Marilyn Milian, Joshua Morrow (from The Young and the Restless), Liza Huber (from Passions), Ali Wentworth (from Living It Up).
	November 17, 2003 Kermit and Miss Piggy ("Dynamic Duos" week) Other guests: Isabel Sanford and Sherman Hensley, Pat and Debby Boone, Paige Davis and Doug Wilson, Joan and Melissa Rivers, Martin Mull and Peggy, Marlee Matlin and Jack Jason, Penn and Teller, and Tim Conway and Harvey Korman
	January 12-16, 2004 Bear Other guests: Rip Taylor, Jackie Collins, John Salley, Chuck Woolery, Kathleen Madigan, Randy Savage, Jay Thomas, and Martin Mull.
	April 12, 2004 Elmo Other guests: Hulk Hogan, Evan Marriott, Joan Rivers, Michael Gelman, Steve Schirripa, Daisy Fuentes, George Wallace, Alec Baldwin.

Gallery

"Blondes Have More Fun" week
(May 12, 2003)

Host Tom Bergeron with Miss Piggy
(May 12, 2003)

Piggy with producers Winkler and Levitt
(May 12, 2003)

Kermit with Bruce Vilanch backstage.

Kermit with Jo Dee Messina backstage.

References

• The show is spoofed in the Muppet Babies episode "Muppets Not Included" as Celebrity Circles.

• The game "Trivial, But True" in The Muppet CD-ROM: Muppets Inside is based entirely around the Hollywood Squares format.

• The September 2004 edition of Sesame Street Magazine features a pull-out poster of Sesame Squares, referencing the show.

Connections

• ALF replaced John Davidson in one episode of the 1986 version.
• Drew Barrymore is executive producer of the 2025 version.
• Jack Parnell composed the original theme for the UK version, Celebrity Squares (also an ATV production).
• Warwick Davis hosted ITV's revival of Celebrity Squares in 2014.

See also

• The Storybook Squares

External links

• ToughPigs.com review of the Kermit/Miss Piggy appearance