Gene Rayburn on Regis Philbin's Lifestyles, 1985

Game show host Gene Rayburn and Regis try to figure out an exercise bike while talking about Gene's new game show "Break the Bank". Around 1985

[@ChadQuick270W]

Gene was looking good for 67 years old. Still his same smiling laughing self. I loved watching him on The Match Game. Perfect host for that show.

[@rlrshepherdstown]

Hey , I like that ,and I have admired Gene Rayburn ever since I first watched NBC's Original Match Game in the 60's ,and I was born back in the early 60's . Today , I still watch the Match Game shows on GSN as well as here . Sadly Gene is no longer with us ,but I will never forget him ,and perphaps he is in heaven today living well & happy .

[@landrykkb]

Gene Rayburn's career effectively ended after he was fired from Break The Bank,as he would be discriminated against because of his age.That seems so unfair in hindsight because of how long Bob Barker hosted TPIR,and let's not forget he was on TV for 50+ years.

[@johnissoevil]

He talks highly about Break the Bank in this segment, but his opinion would change within weeks.

[@blitzburghbilly7813]

WOW DAMN ! ..... THIS WAS A NIIIICE SURPRISE GENE RAYBURN & REGIS PHILBIN

[@HelloooThere]

I have been seeing Match Game/Hollywood Squares hour and it saddens me how unhappy he looks. He deserved better and I’m sorry with what happened to him in BTB. Looks like he could have even had his own talk show or partnered with Regis and had a game show component with the audience!

[@jwgreek8606]

He would have promoted Match Game if a reporter didn't expose his age. I still thing MGP should have went on with MG85

[@drewski1535]

😭😭😭😭😭 we miss you Regis

[@landrykkb]

@jwgreek8606 I actually didn't realize that a revival of Match Game was in the works in 1985,and i'm one of the few who actually didn't think MG/HS Hour from the previous year was that bad,only for the HS format differing dramatically from the original and also that it would have worked better in primetime syndication due to NBC always showcasing their own stars.

[@Valedc03ls]

@landrykkb It was not because of his age. His execution of BtB was not the style that the producers wanted. The producers wanted a more serious style, and Gene had trouble with the execution of the stunts. This was why the show changed the format thus getting rid of the stunts all together, and because Joe Farago was already familar with the show he became the host. His execution style was far better, but the producers made the show cheesier, which caused the show's demise.

[@andrewschroy6368]

And Richard S. Kline wanting the show to be serious made him a hypocrite-- watch the 11/4/85 episode to see him running around in a gorilla suit at the start of the show and during a Prize Vault playing.

[@jwgreek8606]

@landrykkb I agree, I think MGP should have went on with Match Game 85 and

[@jwgreek8606]

you know he should have never committed to BTB. At the time, there was a revival of Match Game coming about. But MGP shelved plans for it after he committed to Break the Bank. If I had a time machine, I would write him a letter and tell him to host Match Game because it was his baby.

[@catholicpriest1]

@landrykkb No one has a right to a job.

[@joefagan6244]

He lost a lot weight in 1985. Probably after that he wasn't working and gain weight again.