Match Game 73 (Episode 1) (PREMIERE EPISODE)

[@TheLeadSled]

I want to thank you for putting these videos up. I just was released from the hospital with covid pneumonia and I laid in ICU watching one Match Game after another, it kept my mind off the agony I endured, big thank you!

[@katiedockery2843]

I hope you made a full recovery ❤️

[@bryanburnap4537]

Love this show so much !!

[@jexiecamron1358]

That's where I'm at now. I remember being sick as a child sitting at home watching match game. Massive fever and covid positive but match game is still making me feel better.

[@timothykozlowski2945]

One of the best games shows

[@lindamegli6582]

I hope you are doing well. This show helps me alot also

[@justinmay3451]

Happy 50th Anniversary to one of my favorite game shows! Vicki Lawrence (74), Jo Ann Pflug (83), and Anita Gillette (86) are all still living! We lost Gene Rayburn 11/29/1999; Michael Landon 7/1/1991; Jack Klugman 12/24/2012; and Richard Dawson 6/2/2012. Thank You all for so much happiness and laughter over the last half century!

[@pamhowden8161]

Amen and it is the #1 game show

[@wmbrown6]

Mr. Klugman, Ms. Lawrence, Mr. Landon and Ms. Pflug also appeared as "squares" on the Peter Marshall "Hollywood Squares." Charles Nelson Reilly wasn't on "MG" yet at this point, but he had made at least 10 appearances as a "square" on said show between 1970 and 1973 - the last of which (alongside Paul Lynde) several months before this show's debut. Of the "MG" regulars, only Fannie Flagg was a "square" (appearing one week in 1974); Richard Dawson never appeared, from all indicators, on the Marshall "Squares." (Nor did his successor in his seat, Dick Martin; weird, though while Marshall bore a grudge against Dan Rowan dating to Tommy Noonan's death, he remained fond of Martin.) Unless it was on one of the "lost" shows of the early years, from Dawson's days on "Hogan's Heroes." (Brett Somers was also nowhere to be found among "squares" on the Marshall incarnation.) Gene Rayburn himself was a "square" at least 13 times between 1968 and 1980. The bulk of his appearances were in 1968-69; he did one appearance a year before this "MG's" debut, another a few months after, and of course one in '80. How the celebrities were laid out and seated on this incarnation of "MG" was reminiscent of the show Heatter-Quigley produced before "The Hollywood Squares": "The Celebrity Game" (1964-65).

[@marym.5025]

My go to game show, back in the day. Even skipped school to watch an episode. Good times. Richard Dawson was the prize.

[@21melpomene]

I'm in my 20s but still love this series. Grew up watching classic reruns and playing along with my grandma. Thanks for uploading! Brings back awesome memories. :)

[@21melpomene]

@ Don't worry. I will.

[@21melpomene]

@ Thank you. Would you mind telling me what one of your best memories is that you have of your grandmother?

@@21melpomene it was playing cards with her at her house in Florida and going to spring training games. Her house always smelled so good I wrap myself in that smell

[@21melpomene]

@ That sounds really nice. :) I know what you mean about smell. My favorite smell involving my grandma is her fresh-baked bread.

[@21melpomene]

@ I can - my grandmother is still alive, fortunately. Just elderly. So I'm trying to appreciate and be with her as much as I can before she's gone.

[@billlevins7460]

This show took time to find itself. The first episode still has a late 60's feel to it even though it was 1973. The contestants and the panelists have that 60's way about them. Later on as the show got more popular it all came together making it one of the best game shows in history.

[@JackiePhillipsTheSocialPet]

1973 was still the 1960s!!! Vietnam was still on, people were dying of drug OD, being assassinated and the government was in shambles! Nothing different!!

[@wmbrown6]

I'm sure the booze helped . . . But then, the Peter Marshall "Hollywood Squares" also started out pretty "strait-laced" before Paul Lynde and his "zingers" helped make it what it ultimately became. (And I seemed to notice, Mr. Lynde never appeared on "Match Game," certainly not this version - would he have made any appearances on the 1962-69 NBC incarnation?)

[@keithhyttinen8275]

Dawson....my favorite Hogan's Hero. You could sense his delight filming the camp scenes.

[@gaildavis9825]

Dawson couldn’t be beat on Match Game!

[@wmbrown6]

Does anyone know if, in the "Hogan's" years, Dawson ever made any appearances on the Peter Marshall "Hollywood Squares"? There's no record in IMDb on that . . . and the consensus thus far is, no, he was never a "square." Of this panel, those that did time on that venerable show were Jack Klugman, Vicki Lawrence, Michael Landon and Jo Ann Pflug. Charles Nelson Reilly was a "square" at least ten times pre-"MG," and Fannie Flagg did one week of shows as a "square" in 1974.

[@raygordonteacheschess5501]

This show caught fire in a way few shows ever have. Housewives, kids home during the summer or after school, it was like this big party/happy hour and of course the "celebrities" were interesting. Joann Pflug had the coolest name and was hot. Watched this so much as a kid.

[@Observer-jw8wv]

Yep. I ran home from school to watch it.

[@wmbrown6]

I'm sure, when it started, it was also a welcome diversion from the Watergate mess . . .

[@NelsonVlog66]

Stanley was awesome during Match Game 73's premiere week. From my understanding, she passed away in 2016. May she rest in peace.

[@georgemaster9979]

@Keith Johnson Aww,sad to know 😞

[@tamarakurtz6690]

How'd you find out?

[@KerryManderbach]

Interesting that one of the prizes won by Stanley was hair coloring called "Born Blonde"....

[@MaureenSchorsch]

Stanley??????

[@rhythmannblues1182]

Ohh... Rest in Peace, Stanley. She was very pretty. And who doesn't love Bette Davis movies?

[@davidganderson870]

I'm sure I've commented this at some point already some time ago, but thank you so much for your tireless efforts to bring all of these episodes too us! Such a classic show!

[@Kurt77777]

Me to!

[@joeygagliardi7380]

All I can say is Thanks for when TV was Great !! All the way around.Was just a kid, but never forget getting home from Grade School,, and this would be just Starting. Thanks for all these Great Episodes.. 2019

[@nwnmonk7034]

Right? I was 10 yrs. old when this aired!

[@cotus2408]

The shows are in repeats on BUZZR television channel, afternoons and late nights !

[@michaelnivens6267]

rest in peace Michael Landon , Jack Klugman and Richard Dawson and Gene Rayburn

[@markcushines3120]

How did they die?

[@greggsheaffer2521]

And Johnny Olsen too

[@gibsonj338]

Markcus Hines Michael Landon died from pancreatic cancer, Jack Klugman died from prostate cancer, Richard Dawson died from esophageal cancer, Gene Rayburn died from congestive heart failure, and Johnny Olson died from a cerebral hemorrhage.

[@musicfanhawk4523]

@@gibsonj338 wow, sad.

[@sldl04]

They're all dead now except for Vicki Lawrence

[@ih82r8]

I always really enjoy watching this show. My grandma loved when Fannie Flagg was a panelist.

[@daithio.7378]

Jennifer She was Hot 😍 and I'd say so was your grandma 📸. I was only born then and someone said fanny was gay ahhh what a waste for men.Fanny is a naughty word in Ireland 🍻.

[@Rod_Rider]

American game shows had much better prizes than our Canadian ones, where grand champions were lucky to get a box of carpet samples and a week’s worth of Granola bars. 😁

[@WooWoo4511]

Thank you soo much for all these episodes (and having them in order 🙏🙌😁🤩). Soo many episodes are skipped over on tv and now I can find the episode where Ava Gabor gave an answer that made me laugh soo hard I cried

[@johnperry4572]

Here's some classic TV trivia....a few years later....Jack Klugman and Anita Gillette would be boyfriend/girlfriend (and later husband and wife) on Quincy

[@sisterbenson]

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you so much, for sharing these!!!! One of my favorite shows EVER!!! And THERE IS SSOO MANY EPISODES!!!!!!! I can watch these all winter and enjoy some good tv, when there was just good ole shows, with all the different stars joining the cast! Bret, Charles, and Richard was the best regulars! Thank you again! You can find about anything on KZbin!!! :-))

[@brookehanley3659]

The questions got funnier the following year. Love seeing these old stars!!

[@whommee]

So glad you posted this first episode . thank you

[@vincegay986]

I watched this the first day it aired.

[@lloydkline3265]

Used to be my favorite game show

[@lloydkline3265]

Really, I used to watch it , it was the best game show

[@ivanmay7890]

I think the producers of Match Game (as well as some CBS executives) knew very well that the 1973-82 version of Match Game was going to be a hit. And sure enough, they had a really good premonition, and Match Game became one of the greatest game shows CBS ever aired!

[@lilypangchan5764]

I love this show watching together with my one year old. Most of the stars passed so was my son, last year from COVID after 7 years in a vegetative state. Tons of memories from this game show and I am still watching today, it is on the Game Show Network.

[@antonsmith9788]

I am so very for your loss. 😢

[@nazfan01]

@@antonsmith9788- I was wondering about this lady Stanley. Her name is so unusual for a lady. (Considering the next winner contestant lady was a bartender named Gary, from Indiana) I want to look Stanley up. I am hard of hearing and cant understand or make out her last name. Sounds like Welsh or Belch or something like that to me. She was a pleasant contestant to watch and did very well in winning in the first few episodes.

[@sharksport01]

​@@nazfan01 She died. Obamas mother was also named Stanley.

[@Orion_TheyThem]

Man, as a 28 year old, I wish tv was like this nowadays. Not afraid to make jokes or say things (especially if it wasn't politically correct), humour was humour and it was great. I remember watching rerun episodes with my family of this and the OG Family Feud with Richard Dawson. The new Match Games and Family Feuds can't compete.

[@jamescombs8316]

Me, too....things were less rehearsed and more spontaneous ...

[@nwnmonk7034]

Good to know some younger people feel that way! ❤

[@georgemaster689]

Jillian Rachael This and The Price Is Right classsic I can binge watch.Good TV from a bygone era.

[@wmbrown6]

Nor could the reboots of "Hollywood Squares" . . . in all cases it was the proverbial "lightning in a bottle," a moment in time that could only come once, and all efforts to recapture it were destined to fall short.

[@judithparsons1920]

It is soooo nice to watch something innocent!!

[@MegaRazorback]

When i looked up Gene Rayburn's wiki page i was rather shocked to see that he was the target of age discrimination...I say if you can still do the job well you should be able to do that job until it becomes too much for you and i've watched every episode of match game and he never lost that spark throughout the series!

[@dimitriberozny3729]

ABC television network HATED Gene Rayburn!! They wanted every game show host to be under 40 years old.

[@LoyalmoonieProductions]

My sentiments exactly

[@JoeBobTarheel]

can't trust Wikipedia, boy!!

[@bluebear1985]

Sometime in the mid-80s, there was supposedly a reboot of the show in the works for syndication. However, when "Entertainment Tonight" reported on this, they made a mention of Gene's age, which was older than many people thought. After this, the reboot got scrapped, and he had difficulty finding any regular work in television for the rest of his life.

[@dimitriberozny3729]

@@bluebear1985 Actually,NBC had the rights to this reboot,but it would have been in syndication.

[@omega311888]

SO WEIRD not seeing Brett on here! THANKS for posting these! gameshow/comedy at its finest! PS. im AMAZED the censors back then allowed the word "orgy" :P

[@administration8961]

she was so annoying; always trying to garner attention. ALWAYS.

[@Marojalm]

At Least at the time of the taping, her husband was on the show.

[@slash101ification]

Attention whore

[@EricPetersen2922]

It’s amazing just how much of the premise of the show they got right on this first episode. They didn’t have many differences for years. Many shows premier are very different from the “working version” of the show. They had very few bugs to work out. Even the comfort level of everyone was very natural. Didn’t feel staged. And Johnny Olsen sounded like he had done 1000 episodes the first day!!! Wow! They had it figured out from the jump. They question writing was key for the success of the show(my opinion). Edgy and very 70’s kept it naughty in a good way. And their first questions were just that, amazing foresight. But the nature of the questions, celeb panel, everything else was spot on from day one. Who could imagine what this show would become-even 45 years later? True genius. Just shows when it’s right, it’s just right. A rare thing in life. This is a important piece of TV history. Even for people who don’t like this show, the fact stands they had a brilliant formula from day one. Fun times.

[@daithio.7378]

Eric Petersen I was only two years of age and some have died some are old hmm great show I watch it everyday ☘.

[@Gcat-ln6ok]

A bunch of drunk celebrity friends goofing off together. It wasn't a very precise formula, but it worked out well, for sure.

[@newstarcadefan]

@@Gcat-ln6ok well yeah you knew exactly which episodes were taped for Fridays (and this was before PM).

[@vincegay986]

There were several working versions of an earlier iteration of "The Match Game" on NBC in the 60's. It started as a somewhat serious show that really wasn't working. After NBC cancelled it and Goodson & Todman had nothing to lose, they allowed Dick DeBartolo (who wrote great stuff for Mad magazine) to write humorous questions. The show took off, was "un-cancelled", and ran successfully until 1969. So it was in pretty good shape when it was revived on CBS in 1973.

[@newstarcadefan]

@@vincegay986 Yup, and CBS wanted it to be played straight initially, but the comedy questions won out.

[@stuffingtonjfluffypantsiii]

Richard was pure gold from the get go.

[@tomy5868]

as long as if you were a cute contestant you picked him for the final round...that way he cop a feel and slobber on you...

[@8202057]

thetony458 I like it

[@stevieb6455]

I do wonder just how much hot water both he and Rayburn would be in these days if their behavior on Match Game was any indication. #metoo

[@duaneeklof1764]

Just enjoy the show already - enough of that #MeToo BS - after all, I'd rather see kissing instead of endless 'dick jokes' that fill up today's version of the show - if that ain't sexist, then I don't know what is!

[@krisfletcher9560]

@@stevieb6455 I am a Rape Victim and Sexual Assault Victim. I am certainly in the know to know the difference. I have posted #MeToo . . . whereas Richard Dawson (Colin Emm 1932 - 2012 R.I.P.) was a Fine Gentleman. The only ones needing to pull their heads out here, are those making these disgusting comments!

[@tnawcwvictoria]

Gene Rayburn returning to Match Game after 4 years God Bless Him and God Bless Richard Dawson, R.I.P. to these 2 Game Show Legends

[@raygordonteacheschess5501]

Richard will be back, but only in a rerun.

[@matthewsnyder2114]

@@raygordonteacheschess5501on the Game Show Network and Buzzr

[@lawrencetate145]

Richard Dawson deserved every bit of love he ever got! He even married a contestant... What, 15 years later? This was a very special moment, watching this, for me.

[@jamesdavison2927]

AMEN on Richard Funny .....so witty and entertaining

[@TeamCat1128]

Yes, 8 years later he married Gretchen Johnson when her family was on The Family Feud in 1981.

[@leonardbrinkman4410]

I remember that episode very well I was living in Stockton California when that was aired on CBS in 1973 and I believe it was either on September 5th or 6th of that year

[@holton345]

Loved this show. When I would stay home sick from school my mom worked, so I was alone. I would empty the piggy bank, order a delivery pizza, and watch Match Game, The Price is Right, Hogan's Heroes and Star Trek. Before that were soaps, which as a nine year old boy I truly despised. Did anyone else notice that Richard Dawson did a Paul Lynde impersonation two separate times? HAHAHA!!!

[@clayz1]

Holton 345 I thought he was ‘filling in’ for Chuck Nelson Riley, but you might be right.

[@georgemaster6356]

Holton 345 Along with Stan Laurel and others.

[@georgemaster689]

I always thought that the Paul Lynde impersonation was so overused! I got tired of hearing it after a while,but it is what it is. I love Richard Dawson's Stan Laurel/Oliver Hardy impression combo.

[@lilypangchan5764]

You must be 57 now when you were a lad watching Match Game early 70s. I love this show watching together with my one year old. Most of the stars passed so was my son, last year from COVID after 7 years of vegetative state from a brain trauma. Tons of memories from this game show and I still watch it today, it is on the Game Show Network.

[@holton345]

@@lilypangchan5764, I am sorry for your loss. And yes, you were very close. I am 56 years of age. Take care!

[@Laura-i2r9r]

Oh my gosh !! Haven’t seen this since I was a little girl !! In grade school . My Mom loved this also she liked Hollywood Squares & To Tell the Truth . Wow this really takes me back to childhood . If mom wasn’t watching these it was the Soaps on ABC TV . Thanks for these memories ❤😊

[@sclements71]

Thank you for posting all of these! I have some fond memories of Match Game and enjoy watching them again and again! They are truly classics! Thanks again!

[@LOLMAN9538]

Richard Dawson had the longest tenure of any celebrity panelist on this show, starting from the first episode until episode 1285, when he finally left.

[@elizabethlowe15]

I love Michael landon so much. He was a blessing and his suit was fabulous

[@Observer-jw8wv]

He was so cute... and he had such a self-deprecating sense of humor.

[@dalebulman2342]

Perhaps the funniest game show in tv history

[@NelsonVlog66]

This and Hollywood Squares.

[@Memphis-Milkshake]

Well Ok Stanley, you represent girl ✌🏾

[@amberola1b]

The way Brett and Jack talk trash about each other, they should have renamed The Odd Couple after them

[@KittyCatKrew]

Love Love Love this channel! This was one of the much beloved (by my) gameshows I grew up with. Thank you so much for creating this channel! :)

[@ericsamuelson5656]

Happy 50th anniversary to Match Game as they begin a 9 year journey mostly on CBS before moving into daily syndication by 1979

[@joanieclark1766]

Thank you for posting all of these!

[@phaedrabacker2004]

Excellent presentation.

[@raynorsmith7103]

I Love Match Game. It is a riot

[@XMLarry]

Love Richard Dawson's response: Birth Certificate

[@michaelnivens6267]

he knocked it out of the park with that one

[@franklorentz9124]

@Nelson Robert Willis loop

[@hudsongraham2603]

Love this show so much that I miss Gene Rayburn so much as much as Brett Richard Charles and the show also and I really miss it when he made us laugh and really miss the old version of it and the old one reminds me of Gene Rayburn

[@l.a.gothro3999]

And Stanley is just so pretty; I love that dress and those shoes!

[@shawnsmothers4876]

Funny that on the first episode, Jack Klugman mentioned his wife. At the time, he was married to Mrs. Match Game herself, Brett Somers.

[@newstarcadefan]

True, though even after they separated, they still remained close.

[@triptopken6230]

And based on his answers, you can see why they divorced!

[@dallasbrubaker6054]

@@triptopken6230 They never divorced

[@nameunknown7883]

And remember Richard met his wife on Family Feud when her family, the Johnson's appeared in April 1981

[@susanbcao5097]

@@dallasbrubaker6054 Yes they did. CA state records (Divorce Index 1966-1984) show they divorced in August 1977.

[@stantheman9072]

Seems odd seeing Gene without his signature mic in hand.

[@davidfritz1331]

So much fun to see this first episode and the amazing show it became. Obviously, they knew Richard was a winner from the start. (Brett begged Jack to come on the show. Who knew at the time what a great addition THAT would turn out to be.) And Gene was obviously so nervous! They also learned to eventually let the leader start the second round so that both players would get equal time.

[@KalOrtPor]

Was he? I don't always pick up on it if they seem to be hiding it outwardly, I just figured after all those years hosting the '60s Match Game it'd still be old hat to him.

[@nancyhowell4505]

"Birth certificate" Richard and I are still matching consistently! 👏👍👍♥️

[@waymonpace3908]

Best game ever didn't start watching it until my early 30's

[@EricPetersen2922]

Pretty cool episode 1. I remember MG73 but couldn’t recall the first episode. Thx again!!

[@batterymakermarkii2654]

As the Game Show Network once said in a promo, "Here's the game show you watched as a kid!" Man, were they right! Fond memories...

[@kevinsizemore8833]

Wow, this show is just as old as me , 47, where did the time go

[@brookehanley3659]

Wonderful guest stars! Michael Landon before Little House. Great to see him playing. Love his laugh!!

[@GeorgeMaster-xg7lg]

If only we had recording machines back then to capture the magic of this show! I probably would have boxes upon boxes of video tapes of all categories of this show(CBS 73-79/PM 1975-1981&Daily syndicated 1979-1982).

[@Tony-rn5fm]

i can almost remember seeing these as a 1st run on t.v., i wasn't but 4 years old......damnit thats a long time ago !!!!!

[@raygordonteacheschess5501]

Jack Klugman actually lived at 1049 Park Avenue, his address in the Odd Couple. I used to see him at the 70th and Second OTB near Sloan Kettering when he was getting cancer treatments.

[@georgemaster9979]

50 years later,and,in my book,still a great show! Had I been in my 20s and the vtr has been more available for purchase, I would have recorded ALL of the CBS,PM and the 1979-82 episodes for my personal collection.

[@michaelnivens6267]

Thanx for the memories , MatchGameProductions

[@gregbryant7787]

thank you posting this. since its the first show...how did they pole a previous audience...?

[@Observer-jw8wv]

There was a two-part pilot. Also, they could have polled the audience of a different game show.

[@robertthomas5736]

They Polled The First of The First Two Audiences

[@יעליעקב-ת4מ]

Michael Landon's laugh and Richard Dawson's suave ❤❤

[@matthartleyjr9180]

oh wow so cool you put up the very first episode before said you would love it

[@MegaZeldafan1]

The Director Marc Breslow is the same Director for Classic Concentration 1987-1991

[@mexicanspec]

I am glad the questions got more inventive as time went on.

[@robertthomas5736]

Incredible Show

[@MrMalibu30]

Two of these celebrities, were on my mail route..I was a mailman in Malibu, in the early 80's..Jack Klugman lived in a condo on PCH., near Christie Brinkley,, & Michael Landon lived in the Colony....I just happened to be at his house when he was giving his wife her birthday present,, a green Ferrari....

[@georgemaster6356]

47 years ago today!(7/2/73)

[@dennisbenedict5161]

This was and still is one of my favorite game shows of all time. The playlist title is misleading though. Missing the rest of Match Game PM and Match Game 76. Not to mention Match Game 77 and 78. All in all though Match Game 73-75 pretty much complete is rather awesome 😎

[@zq9m3xh8]

Wonder what would happen if a girl named Stanley met a boy named Sue.

[@timothyball7502]

Super funny comment, you win first prize!

[@cotus2408]

Their son would named be Sue Jr or Stanley ?

[@benmicek6829]

Too bad it wasn’t Stan Lee

[@leftylou6070]

Johnny Cash already did that one.

[@BrettMKW]

I can't believe no one said draw bridge. That was the first answer that came to mind.

[@pfflyer3381]

50 years..., was like yesterday.

[@tiffanyb94]

So fascinating to see the very beginning of the show! I agree with another comment down below that the show definitely took its time to find itself, but you can see the potential here. Kinda weird to not have Brett and Charles around, but seeing Vicki Lawrence on the panel is a delight. Richard was great from the jump though. That “birth certificate” answer was clever

[@rylanfeakes]

Happy 50th anniversary Match Game’73!

[@ChrisBakerauthor]

Vicki came back for one more week in 1978. They should have asked her back more often.

[@Wizardof]

Is that contestant's row I see at the front of the stage at :35? When it came to the game sets that taped in Studio 33, to switch between TNPRIR and Match Game 73 took _BLANK_ hours.....?

[@willmack5909]

To think, this episode is almost half a century old and yet half of the panelists are still with us. Interestingly enough it's all 3 females who are still alive as of Groundhog Day 2021. So many MG episodes now I see I think to myself "Wow, all six celebs are gone!" Usually we're lucky to have 1 or 2 who are still with us, but to have 3 of these 6 still around is awesome. I often wish they would interview them to ask them about this first episode, but now with Joann & Anita in their 80s and Vicki is in her 70s, I doubt they remember a whole heck of a lot from so long ago...

[@danaferguson462]

RIP Jack Klugman, Richard Dawson, Brett Somers, Michael Landon, Gene Rayburn, Orson Dean, Charles Nelson Reily...

[@paulapayne7940]

Wish Vicki Lawrence was a regular. She was awesome!

[@tombennett3827]

Paula Payne I wasn't aware she was constipated.

[@georgemaster6356]

Paula Payne Vicki was only on Match Game 73 and 78, including the walk on with The Carol Burnett Show cast.

[@seantodd8875]

@@georgemaster6356 But she also revived Match Game in the 90's!

[@georgemaster689]

@@seantodd8875 Wouldn't it be cool if Vicki Lawrence were to appear on the ABC version (Baldwin).

[@veggieoilerfan2940]

Vicki was a regular on the 1998 version of Match Game. I think she appeared somewhat frequently on the 1990 version.

[@vincegay986]

My brother briefly considered starting an Earl fan club. It was difficult to not be a fan of Earl and the way he could slide it.

[@trevorpanno5371]

@ 8:25; Paul Lynde impression by Richard.

[@steveprestegard5151]

The first question set the tone for the entire series, didn't it?

[@MegaZeldafan1]

Landon was in, before Little House on the Prarie premiered

[@globalcat]

50 years ago. Geez. Hard to believe.

[@JMasalle]

I really enjoyed this.

[@Norfolk250]

The best roasting of Brett I've heard so far.

[@georgemaster6356]

My guess is that every year from 1973-79,all shows were taped and aired without a summer break and in the fall,new shows would air, correct?

[@georgebeckett5632]

I was 12 when the show premiered I am 60 now. Still love it and gene Rayburn

[@karinavyrus4918]

One of my he rare episodes that actually had a couple of real stars.

[@goofballextreme1435]

Can’t wait to binge this entire thing

[@Farrah300]

I love Match Game 73. I however noticed that in most 1973 episodes , the questions are a bit more straight-laced than in later years. That is okay because it's very interesting to see how the show evolved through the years.

[@fanboy2015]

God damn, Jo Ann Pflug was a knock out.

[@jonburrows8602]

If you think she looks great hear, go view the Match Game pilot.

[@Observer-jw8wv]

The Super-Match was read BEFORE the celebrity was chosen... that didn't last!

[@antsy_does]

I could watch this all damn day long.......

[@QueenAlexis556]

No kidding! I love everyone on this show! Ron Valenti & Evie were my favorite contestants. Can't remember Evie's last name, but she passed away several years ago 😢

[@drawken]

"We polled a previous studio audience" I would assume in the following years they used the Match Game studio audience, but what about these earlier shows? Perhaps there were trial shows beforehand? Out of curiosity, does anyone know if they polled other studio audiences besides Match Game throughout the years?

[@michaelnivens6267]

have no clue , but I would surmise they did

[@thegameshowgeek]

I have to imagine they pulled that audience from the Price is right

[@gerryu21220]

My guess is they played several test games with an audience prior to the first episode to work out the kinks, etc.

[@paulapayne7940]

My suspicious mind says they didn't poll anyone. Some writer just thought them up. Hate being this cynical but there you go.

[@pencils812]

@@paulapayne7940 that's what I've been thinking.

[@brookehanley3659]

The beginning of something Wonderful

[@davidk86]

My mother loves this show still to this day. I can remember growing up as a kid years after the show aired & her watching it on the game show network. She now watches it on the buzzer network. Looking back at some of these they really don’t age well.

[@mickeymouse2able]

Wow. This show is a real time capsule of camp, fashions, trends, things people said and political incorrectness (whatever that means). It's soooo cool!

[@christopherlucas4620]

At the time Vickie Lawrence was only around 23 years old.

[@richardmiller191]

Gene Rayburn was definitely the best game show host ever, in my opinion. Funny, entertaining, and always knew what he was doing. Very good at ad-libbing.

[@TGoodman]

If there was one thing about the first episode which I actually preferred, but was changed, it would be the colors used in the closing credits. That looks like a super nifty logo all colorized.