"Match Game 73" (1973) TV series 1973-1982

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 9 | unknown

Release Date:

25 June 1973 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Game-Show

Tagline:

Get ready to match the stars...

Plot:

The five-day-a-week syndicated successor to the popular CBS game show, where two contestants compete to match fill-in-the-blank phrases with those of the celebrities.

Plot Keywords:

Fill In The Blank | Panel Game | Non Fiction

Awards:

6 nominations

Cast

Gene Rayburn	...	Himself - Host / ... (221 episodes, 1973-1982)
Johnny Olson	...	Himself - Announcer (220 episodes, 1973-1982)
Brett Somers	...	Herself / ... (97 episodes, 1973-1982)

Series Directed by
Marc Breslow		(29 episodes, 1973-1976)
Ira Skutch		(9 episodes, 1975-1976)

Series Writing credits
Dick DeBartolo		(17 episodes, 1973-1976)

Series Produced by
Mark Goodson	....	executive producer (39 episodes, 1973-1976)
Bill Todman	....	executive producer (39 episodes, 1973-1976)
Ira Skutch	....	associate producer / producer / ... (22 episodes, 1973-1976)
Robert Sherman	....	associate producer / executive producer (17 episodes, 1973-1976)
Joel Hecht	....	associate producer (4 episodes, 1976)
Mark Sherman	....	associate producer (3 episodes, 1976)
Jake Tauber	....	associate producer (3 episodes, 1976)

Series Art Direction by
Peter Clemens		(5 episodes, 1975)

Series Makeup Department
Verne Langdon	....	makeup artist (3 episodes, 1975)

Series Production Management
Gordon Ferris	....	production supervisor (32 episodes, 1978-1980)
Rita Burton	....	production supervisor (5 episodes, 1975)
Bruce Chamberlin	....	production supervisor (5 episodes, 1975)
Carl Ginex	....	production supervisor (5 episodes, 1975)
Michael McDaniel	....	production supervisor (5 episodes, 1975)
Tom Richmond	....	production supervisor (5 episodes, 1975)
James W. Ripple	....	production supervisor (5 episodes, 1975)
Roxie Wenk Evans	....	production supervisor (5 episodes, 1975)
Nancy Bradley Wiard	....	production supervisor (5 episodes, 1975)

Series Sound Department
Janice Bendiksen	....	sound (5 episodes, 1975)
Larry Eaton	....	sound (5 episodes, 1975)
Don Helvey	....	sound (5 episodes, 1975)
Bob Marencovich	....	sound (5 episodes, 1975)
Jerry Martz	....	sound (5 episodes, 1975)
Joseph McNeil	....	sound (5 episodes, 1975)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Charles F. Guzzi	....	camera operator (5 episodes, 1974-1980)
Tom Barnes	....	lighting director (5 episodes, 1975)
Ed S. Hill	....	lighting director (5 episodes, 1975)
Rick Hiner	....	lighting director (5 episodes, 1975)
J. Bruce Nielsen	....	lighting director (5 episodes, 1975)
Pat Stine	....	lighting director (5 episodes, 1975)

Series Editorial Department
Elliot Feldman	....	editorial staff (5 episodes, 1975)
Joel Hecht	....	editorial staff (5 episodes, 1975)
Jake Tauber	....	editorial staff (5 episodes, 1975)

Series Music Department
Michael J. Malone	....	music supervisor (unknown episodes)

Series Other crew
Ted Cooper	....	creative consultant: Goodson-Todman (1 episode, 1974)
Roger Dobkowitz	....	production assistant (1 episode, 1974)
Robert Gray	....	associate director (1 episode, 1974)
Kay Henley	....	celebrity coordinator (1 episode, 1974)
Diane Janaver	....	contestant coordinator (1 episode, 1974)
Stephanie Zilgitt	....	production assistant (1 episode, 1974)
Ray Angona	....	technical director (unknown episodes)
Patricia Berlly	....	stage manager (unknown episodes)
Buddy Borgen	....	stage manager (unknown episodes)
Lee Brougham	....	video (unknown episodes)
Steve Cunningham	....	technical director (unknown episodes)
Willie Dahl	....	stage manager (unknown episodes)
Audrey Davis	....	stage manager (unknown episodes)
Andrew Felsher	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Elin Frankel	....	program staff (unknown episodes)
Sandi Gough	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Sid Grosfield	....	stage manager (unknown episodes)
Dick Harwood	....	stage manager (unknown episodes)
Mary Lieberman	....	assistant to producer / production assistant (unknown episodes)
Bob Marencovich	....	technical director (unknown episodes)
Giovanna Nigro	....	stage manager (unknown episodes)
Patricia Fass Palmer	....	assistant to producers (unknown episodes)
Teresa Pfiffner-Krebsbach	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Doug Quick	....	stage manager (unknown episodes)
Phil Ramuno	....	stage manager (unknown episodes)
Jim Rice	....	technical director (unknown episodes)
Harry Rogue	....	stage manager (unknown episodes)
Karen Russak	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Jim Smith	....	stage manager (unknown episodes)
Nancy Stevenson	....	video (unknown episodes)
Harry Tatarian	....	technical director (unknown episodes)
George Thompson	....	technical director (unknown episodes)
Stephanie Voltz	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• Fremantle Media North America (2002-)
• Celebrity Productions (1973-1982)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1973-1979)
• Mark Goodson-Bill Todman Productions
• The Match Game Company

Distributors

• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1973-1979)
• Jim Victory Television (1979-1982)
• Mark Goodson-Bill Todman Productions

Other Companies

• CBS Television City  taping location
• Rubin Brothers International  gene rayburn's wardrobe
• Score Productions  music

Also Known As:

"Match Game" - USA (syndication title)
"Match Game 74" - USA (second season title)
"Match Game 75" - USA (third season title)
"Match Game 76" - USA (fourth season title)
"Match Game 77" - USA (fifth season title)
"Match Game 78" - USA (sixth season title)
"Match Game 79" - USA (seventh season title)

Runtime:

30 min (1970 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:TV-PG

Filming Locations:

CBS Television City - 7800 Beverly Blvd., Fairfax, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Fremantle Media North America

Trivia:

Brian Billick, head coach of the Baltimore Ravens, appeared on Match Game. He was at the time a college assistant coach who had been cut from an NFL team. After failing miserably in the game, Richard Dawson joked, "Failed at football. Failed at Match Game. Where will you go now?" Billick went on to coach the Ravens to a win in Super Bowl XXXV.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in "Saturday Night Live: Shia LaBeouf/My Morning Jacket (#33.11)" (2008)

Soundtrack:

MATCH GAME (73-79) Theme

A true blast from the past...

The Match Game shows of the 70's were a huge favorite of mine as a kid. Like "The Gong Show", I was allowed to watch this program as a kid despite the content of it being a little too "adult" at times, although I think it's much tamer than the crap that airs on FOX. It was a time, the 1970's, when everyone was much looser and there wasn't the hypocrisy and falsehoods of political correctness.

Match Game was similar to games like "What's My Line". The contestant was given a phrase with a blank in it and he/she would give a response and try to see if they could get matches from the celebrities. Whoever won the game would then go into a bonus round where they could win various amounts of money (depending on the version of Match Game) where they just had to match the response of the celebrity they chose.

Match Game was famous for their regular panelists. Richard Dawson wasn't just a comedian, he brought moments of arrogance, cockiness, and dry British wit that was so intriguing to watch. He may have not been a favorite of the regulars but the female contestants were in love with him. He was the guy who most of them chose as the one to match answers with in the bonus round before the celebrity wheel showed up. Of course, Brett Somers and Charles Nelson Reilly were awesome, too. Those two were a hoot. I also like Fannie Flagg; she was so out there.

The real star of the show was always Gene Rayburn. The Master of Ceremonies; he always played it cool and collected. He was a gracious, friendly, entertaining, non-overbearing host. I liked his rich tone of voice and charm to make the contestants feel comfortable. I always enjoy watching Match Game on the Game Show Network; I kind of wish they'd dump most of their homegrown game shows like Cram, Lingo, and others (except Whammy) and show more 70's and 80's classics like Match Game. I think re-showing stuff like "Regis' Gig" and "The Weakest Link" isn't a good idea.