Premiere Episode of Blankety Blanks Opening (Match Game)

[spxmet]

It all seems so...so familiar...

[btz2005]

im sorry but "blankety Blanks" is a bad name. Match game is way better and had style!

[Netstryke]

There might have been a legality in using the name "Match Game" in the UK but don't quote me on that.

[jewelrox]

@btz2005 match game....yawn....

[columbusmozart]

@jewelrox

Well, the US had a "Blankety Blanks" game in 1975 (different game though) and it didn't last long. There are no remaining videos of it (destroyed by wiping by ABC).

[heine71]

@columbusmozart Only the pilot and premiere of the US ABC Blankety Blanks survives on the game show trading circuit. There may be even a few audio from TV episodes surfaced...

[erikdraven1731]

@btz2005 Especially when the bonus board is called the "super match".

[deluteddotcom]

Anyone know where I can get a clean copy of the theme?

[junkaholic95]

gsthemes(dot)freehostia(dot)co­m

[Donnie2020]

He was a legend.

Hard to sum him up and what he meant for many generations.

He will be missed.

He led a sad life. Very unfortunate because he made many people happy.

[columbusmozart]

@Donnie2020

I love both Graham and Gene (US Host). Both are very funny. It would have been neat if they had swapped for a week...Graham going to the US and Gene to OZ.

[heine71]

Ugly Dave looks like the Aussie Charles Nelson Reilly clone!

[the06bug]

Musta been the idea!

[travis7310]

Yes. And, also, if you look closely, that Stuart guy at the bottom looks kinda like Richard Dawson. IMAO.

[rwboa22]

And the lady with the glasses was the Aussie equivalent to Brett Sommers.

[columbusmozart]

@heine71

I believe that was the intent.

[ojiisanhikui]

@heine71 Not only that, Carol Raye and her glasses would be the perfect counterpoint to Brett Summers.

[heine71]

@ojiisanhikui You mean Brett Somers (Mrs. Jack Klugman, that is).

[ojiisanhikui]

@heine71 Sorry. Wasn't sure how her last name was spelled.

[nua68]

I was aware Blankety Blanks was modelled on a US show, but until I saw old clips of Match Game I didn't realise they copied it to the tiniest detail, all except for the music, which I think is much better on Blankety Blanks. As the show relied on innuendo, Graham Kennedy was the perfect host.

[bluebear1985]

Well, I wasn't even alive yet during the 70s, but from the way I understand it, a lot of game shows in Australia copied the sets of their American counterparts. By the 80s, America copied Australia's set of "Sale of the Century" because America didn't debut their version until 1983.

[shoredude2]

@bluebear1985 Actually, the first US version of Sale of the Century debuted in 1969, followed by a UK version in 1971.  Australia wouldn't get Sale of the Century until 1980. And by then, it would be reincarnated in the US in 1983.

[columbusmozart]

@bluebear1985

Thank Grundy Television for that, as they researched and copied the sets very closely. Ironic that both Mark Goodson and Grundy Television have both been acquired by Freemantle today.

[JayBBluejay]

@columbusmozart I thought that the US set was shipped to Australia when the US Match Game debuted its new set, with the old set going Down Under to Blankety Blanks.

[columbusmozart]

@JayBBluejay

Not as far as I know. I've looked at both sets, and while they are close, there are telltale differences, especially on the Celebrity Rows. Still, as I said Grundy did a hell of a good job in the copy, and the style of BB. It would have been fun to see them swap Gene and Gra for a week, or perhaps Brett/Charles with Ugly John/Noelene.

[thefub101]

Haven't seen a such funnier game show since "Blankety Blanks". They should put on re-runs!!!!!!! I BET the RATINGS go through the roof.

[okiesteveus81]

anyway, to get more episodes of 'Blankety Blanks'?!

[mrmatchgame]

More clips will come.

[ryanschroer]

The tone of this version's much different, I think. I much prefer Rayburn's version..although some of Graham's biggest fans consider that blaspheming when I said that in another video. I'm sure, in his own way, Graham was also a brilliant man, like Gene was.

[crinos43]

Gorgeous recreation of the set, but seeing the BB title just kinda...appear does not feel right when compared to MGs sign.

[supremetaco]

The music doesn't feel right, either.

[columbusmozart]

@crinos43

No doubt the Ozzies feel the same way inverse...

[okiesteveus81]

The set looks just like, 'The Match Game' here in the USA.

[tcidolfan]

Maybe they've came over and "stole" it!! LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL j/k

[Wholelotofshakingoin]

There will never be another Graham and so are the good old days of Australian television.

[okiesteveus81]

should have been called, 'match game Australia.'

[doctorrkeats]

Earlier Aussie version (Channel O, late Sixties, hosted by Mike McCarthy) WAS called "The Match Game"...

They re-titled this version to capitalise on Kennedy's pulling power...