The Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour: The First Episode

[14DaveHunter]

Best version of both games ever. Jon Bauman was underated.

[McAllen07]

I'm wondering if the theme song was borrowed by The Price Is Right before or after this was cancelled. (I think TPiR also used the old Family Feud theme once in a rare while.) As to another earlier comment, Tic-Tac-Dough/Hollywood Squares wouldn't have ever happened because Mark Goodsen never bought Tic-Tac-Dough away from Barry-Enright, of Joker's Wild and Twenty-One fame.

[mathewbailey08]

They should have produced a Tic Tac Dough /Hollywood Squares series.

[gameshowfan100]

It's a new car!!! The sporty 2009 Suzuki comes with standard equipment plus radio system. Drew??

[DiegoTehMexican]

You know, this show might just have worked if they'd had Charles as a regular in the center square (to replace Paul Lynde) and Brett on his left or right.

[14DaveHunter]

Personally, I thought this was the best of both shows' history. Sadly, Rayburn didn't get along with Bauman. This may have been the main reason the show was canceled; after a year.

[DiegoTehMexican]

I know that this is where it originated, but it's really weird to hear this music doing anything but introducing a Really Spiffy Car.

[jackbauer6543]

You know you have an awesome theme when the Price is Right borrows it as a car cue.

[milkbon3]

What's with the Price is Right music? lol

[rotjohns]

@milkbon3

That's the music TPIR took over after this show ended for use in their car cues.

[floralparkkid]

Gene Rayburn was great as he always was, but the rest of this show was brutal. The celebrities were terrible and the Hollywood Squares were not funny. Jon Bauman was awful as a game show host. It just was a bad concept poorly executed.

[TVgeinus90sSim]

I believe this version would've been great in syndication, though it would've been brutal.

[theshadowgame007]

The music sounds like something that is on the Price is Right

[nowhammies10]

It is used as a car cue now on Price is Right, and was also used on Card Sharks '86.

[domirules28]

yep it was used for the prize reveal in superball...

[gshow1970]

wow nellie olsen

[animegal2686]

I know alot of people wanted Peter Marshall to host the HS segment, but it makes me wonder if the show would've lasted longer if he did. Don't get me wrong, I like Peter Marshall too, but it makes me wonder.

[Noveltooner]

Peter Marshall had been approached, but he disliked the concept of combining the two games into one. Also, he did not like the kind of Q&A and scoring format foisted on "Squares" by Mark Goodson's staff.

[UnzipTarasSleeper]

i rember this very well the bord on here with everyones names on it was high tech back in 1983 again thanks for posting i wish GSN would Show More clasic games like this GSN is not what it used to be

[geoffnet1]

It's a brand new car! =D

The first thing I thought of was that the same song is used on The Price Is Right to showcase some of their cars.

[animegal2686]

It is used on TPIR, I think its called lottery, if it matters.

[WestechWatcher]

Skip Stephenson was the funniest and coolest guy of his time. It's sad that he died so young. He looked and dressed like a true stud of the 80's and ladies loved him! He was great on Real People and it went under after he left. His comedy album is hard to find, too.

[MrBlackSW]

I remember watching the commercial as a kid in Brooklyn, N.Y. and thinking that this was a great idea at the time. 3 pm on NBC 4. Then I saw the show .... and wondered how on Earth did the producers not even consider Peter Marshall for this show! I mean, imagine the spontanious comedy that would be on all show long? Heck, Bob Eubanks would be better off, but Peter Marshall at that time should have been the only option.

[WhatsAYak]

@MrBlackSW - Eubanks actually appeared as a panelist for a week in March 1984, as did other NBC GS hosts, most notably Pat Sajak.

[Rlotpir1972]

If this show were to succeed, Mark Goodson and Merrill Heater would do the same for "Card Sharks" and "High Rollers". The theme music in this show was later used as a car cue for "The Price is Right".

[gameshowfrk]

I also remember it being the theme for the short-lived NBC/Goodson-Todman show "Mindreaders" hosted by Dick Martin.

[devares2006]

Actually, Rlotpir1972, Orion aquired the rights to H2 when the original ended in 1981.

[Noveltooner]

Heatter-Quigley had been sold to Filmways in 1969 during the run of the original "The Hollywood Squares." Filmways was absorbed into Orion before the original left the air. The John Davidson version was produced by Rick Rosner, the creator of "CHiPs."

[MGHSHour2]

when this got canned, i watched game shows on KYW including Gom, $otc, NTT, WOF,LMAD, ETC.

[JTWRZK]

Twyla Littleton was a Miss Maryland back in the 70s, I believe.  Alison Arngrim was Nellie Olson on Little House, Skip Stephenson was on a show called Real People back in the 80s and Phil Proctor was from a radio show called Firesign Theatre.

[gameshowluvr86]

I know Jimmie Walker, but who the hell are these other people?

[animegal2686]

DYNOMITE!!!! That was him was it not?

[gladfan1989]

It sure was.

[jgee1981]

In my area, WGRZ did show the MGHS Hour at 9AM instead of 3PM to coincide with reruns of "The Rockford Files".

[Quartzquiz]

Actually, in Buffalo Match Game/Hollywood Squares was soon on the UHF affiliate WUTV at 12 Noon.

[ejchiefsfan]

The theme song was also sometimes used on Card Sharks (Eubanks) when Gene Wood (or whomever) would describe the car that could be won (during the car era).

[smashwhammy]

wow, bouman as a civilian and not as "bowser"

[animegal2686]

Was this after Sha Na Na??

[Hondo20132]

After Wheel of fortune, I think.

[nflfan85]

the theme song is awesome!

[terjer01]

Channel 7 in Boston used this theme for its Lottery Live for many years. Bay Staters would have their tickets ready every time they heard this theme.

[IJustHadAGreatIdea]

I was curious to see if there was any Skip Stephenson footage on You Tube, so I did a search. This is one of two intros of Skip that came up. Thanks to whomever posted this. I managed Skip for many years, and it was good to see him again. He passed away a couple of hours after a long conversation where we planned out the next phase of his career. Thanks, Mr. Match Game, for letting me say "Hi" to Skip for a minute. E. Nash

[animegal2686]

Aside from Gene Rayburn, I liked Ross Shafer as well. I believe he hosted the 90s version of Match Game.

[Jnelson09Returns]

The first of the two 90s versions. The second one, which is widely considered to be a travesty, was hosted by Michael Burger.

[patrickballoonman]

Odds are it might not be possible, but I think there should be another version of MGHSH. Tom Bergeron could host "Squares," but who could host "Match?" Michael Berger or Ross Shafer?

[Jnelson09Returns]

If they did, they'd have to change it so they didn't have the mistakes this version had. All said, it's not likely to happen.

[midknightryder13]

Well, the REAL reason this would never happen again is the two games are owned by two different companies. THAT's the main reason you don't see this rerun anywhere -- clearance issues.

But if it were to happen -- WHY would you need TWO different hosts? Tom Bergeron would be PERFECTLY capable of hosting both 'halves' of the show. But they would have to restore the 'bluffs' in the HS section -- the game isn't NEARLY as much fun w/o them.

[SuperMatch2007]

No Brett? No Charles?

[SuperGamer7]

Heh, no Paul Lynde either.

But I think Charles was definitely a guest on a week or two during this series. Not sure about Brett.

The theme music is one of the best in all of game shows. We still hear it with regular frequency on TPIR!

[mrmatchgame]

Paul Lynde died before the show went to air

[huggyface]

Right, in 1982..I read.

[Jnelson09Returns]

No Rose Marie, no Charley Weaver, and I'm not sure why they couldn't get Peter Marshall either.

[someguy23475]

Charley Weaver (Cliff Arquette) had been dead for years when this aired.

[Jnelson09Returns]

Yeah. Found that out about a minute after posting that. If they had gotten Peter Marshall, this might have survived.

[sageofsuccess]

@Jnelson09Returns

Cliff Arquette was dead. Rose Marie had enough sense to stay away from this.

[snowden67]

Brett never appeated. Charles did appear at least one week. Arlene Francis did a week, as did Bill Cullen (He just stood near the panelist table and waved when introduced.) One problem with this show was NBC pushed for having their shows' celebrities and lots of soap opera stars on, reducing the spaces for performers who know how to make game shows watchable.

[NDW85]

Besides Bill Cullen and Bob Eubanks, does anyone know what gameshow hosts appeared as panelists on this show?

[someguy23475]

I'm sure Betty White appeared at least once.

[WhatsAYak]

Though they hadn't yet become GS hosts, both Bill Rafferty and David Ruprecht appeared, as well.

[the69chevykid]

I know that Pat Sajak appeared on the show; at the time he was still in his first season as the host of "Wheel".

[tnawcwvictoria]

Oh and don't forget, Pat Sajak was pulling Double Duties on Wheel for both Daytime and syndication which he still does to this day!

[huggyface]

I read that Howie Mandel (Deal or no Deal) appeared on MGHS hour at least once.

[Jnelson09Returns]

At the time, he was on St. Elsewhere.

[WhatsAYak]

@snowden67 - Re: Bill Cullen, they made similar accomodations for David L. Lander of "Laverne & Shirley" fame when he appeared, which came just before he was diagnosed w/MS.

[landrykkb]

@snowden67 There was absolutely nothing wrong with the concept of combining these two shows,but I'd have preferred it in a syndicated nighttime format where the producers wouldn't be partial to what celebrities they'd have on the panel.2 other things that weren't done properly were not sticking to the original Hollywood Squares rules with the bluff answers and no Secret Square game either.My understanding was that Mark Goodson refused to do so.

[nflfan85]

got any more of these clips, this is outstanding.

[MrBlackSW]

I love watching the hosts of any gameshow introduced. It's my favorite part of any gameshow. That signboard looked so cool when I saw it as a child. Like a Family Feud board from the future.

[landrykkb]

@MrBlackSW This intro was high tech for its era.

[ryanschroer]

GSN needs to get this.

[MGHSHour2]

i agree, this fame show was too damn funny to be replaced by some stupid soap opera

[SeanElGatoTelevision]

They did run it--only once (Gene Rayburn allowed this to run one time...neither he or his estate have cleared any future reruns since).

[bdicat]

What the heck was Phil Proctor of the Firesign Theatre doing on matchgame hour, the show that lasted three minutes???

[smashwhammy]

they play a game of both MG and HS

[NDW85]

I think Gene Wood is my favorite announcer of classic game shows. He had a lot of energy and enthuiasm.

[burr1aj]

you know every time i watch one of these clips i think to myself, gosh does that light board look expensive. it be cool to own it and program it to say whatever you want. lol.

[CraigFoye80]

Can you upload the entire first episode of the "Match Game/Hollywood Squares Hour", if you please???

[crinos43]

A hundred bucks says Gene was the one who was getting all those cheers in the intro.

[bluebear1985]

I would say you would win that bet. I'll bet no one even knew Bowzer's real name until this came on.

[chasrusso]

And they forgot it 30 seconds after the show was cancelled.