Match Game

Match Game '73

The Matching Game.

Match Game was a game show where contestants attempted to match fill-in-the-blank answers to questions posed to celebrities. The show became known for its bawdy humor from the six celebrity panelists, which often included regulars such as Richard Dawson, Charles Nelson Reilly, and Brett Somers. Many incarnations of Match Game have been on the air since 1962, with Gene Rayburn hosting the first five versions of the show.

References

• In Sesame Street episode 1257, then television-obsessed Telly Monster lists TV shows beginning with the letter M, one of which is Match Game.

• In The Sesame Street Dictionary, the show was spoofed as a Sesame Street game show hosted by Guy Smiley. In "The Matching Game," Cookie Monster, Grover, Prairie Dawn, Bert, Ernie, and Betty Lou take the same spots as the celebrity panelists on Match Game. Their blue answer cards replaced with shapes.

Muppet Mentions

• The August 2 edition of Match Game '73 has Sesame Street as the top answer for the Audience Super Match of "____ STREET."

• In episode 16 of Match Game PM, the celebrity head-to-head prompt is "Sesame _____." The contestant successfully matches with Richard Dawson in guessing Sesame Street.

• The August 14, 2016 episode featured the question, "Sesame Street is being rocked by a tabloid scandal. Instead of a Rubber Duckie, Bert and Ernie were photographed in the bathtub playing with ______."

• The January 24, 2018 episode featured the question, "Have you tried Kermit the Frog's new line of craft beers? Bartenders warn that the extra hoppy pale ale is so strong, it'll make you ______."

Connections

• Kirstie Alley appeared as a contestant on Match Game PM.
• Anthony Anderson was a panelist on the 2016 revival.
• Alec Baldwin served as host and executive producer for the 2016 revival.
• Lance Bass played the game on Gameshow Marathon.
• Wayne Brady was a panelist on the 2016 revival.
• Michael Che was a panelist on the 2016 revival.
• Kristin Chenoweth appeared as a panelist in the 2016 revival.
• Chris Colfer appeared as a celebrity panelist in the 2016 revival.
• Dick DeBartolo wrote many of the game's questions.
• Taye Diggs was a panelist in the 2016 revival.
• David Alan Grier was a panelist on the 2016 revival.
• Cheryl Hines was a celebrity panelist in the 2016 revival.
• Emma Hunter was a panelist on the 2012 Canadian version.
• Ice-T was a panelist on the 2016 revival.
• Ellie Kemper was a panelist on the 2016 revival.
• Jane Krakowski was a panelist on the 2016 revival.
• Bruce Lanoil was a contestant on the 1990 revival.
• Jack McBrayer was a panelist on the 2016 revival.
• Ethel Merman appeared as a panelist in the 1970s run.
• Caroline Rhea was a panelist on the 2012 Canadian version and the 2016 revival.
• Martha Stewart appeared as a panelist in the 2016 revival.
• Bradley Walsh hosted the 2020 revival of the UK version Blankety Blank
• Betty White was a regular panelist (1963-1969) on the original version, and more occasionally thereafter (1973-1982).
• Paul Williams was a panelist on Match Game '79
• Mary Wickes was a regular panelist during the '70s version, Match Game PM, and the 1990 revival.