Match Game 73 (Episode 61) (Nipsey Russell First Episode)

Nipsey Russell had many appearances on Match Game. Enjoy his very first episode on Match Game 73.
Nipsey Russell, Loretta Swit, Charles Nelson Reilly, Brett Somers, Richard Dawson, and Betty White

[@bradstephan7886]

Betty White brightens-up every show she's in.

[@annika_panicka]

LONG LIVE BETTY WHITE! Among other things, she was one of the first and most powerful female TV show producers back in the day - brains, talent, beauty and balls!

[@mlchc9004]

She never ceases to be amazing

[@AxYoMama]

Make that “ovaries” instead of “balls”, Daddy-o, and everything will be groovy…you dig?

[@churchofgod4016]

Not anymore.

[@lateshachurney5965]

She almost made to 100 years old too. Who would have ever guessed that.

[@venator0405]

In this and the next episode John and Donna are so charming. Half the good stuff on this show is not just the celeb's personalities, but the people's too. Such a gem, this show.

[@antster1983]

First appearance on the CBS Match Game of game show poet laureate Julius "Nipsey" Russell. He served in the US Army in the Second World War as a medic, and on his return became a carhop, where he got extra tips for making his customers laugh, which led to him turning to stand-up comedy. This path eventually led to appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show, the Tonight Show with Jack Paar and Johnny Carson, and a supporting role in Car 54, Where Are You? (he would also appear in the remake over 30 years later). Nipsey became the first black performer to appear regularly on a gameshow (ABC's Missing Links in 1964). Always with a poem to hand for any and every occasion, Nipsey was in demand for gameshows from the 60's through to the 90's, appearing on To Tell the Truth, Password Plus and Super Password, Pyramid and of course the original NBC Match Game. Nipsey made several appearances throughout the CBS run of Match Game, even going so far as to fill in for Charles when he was away. He made further appearances in the syndicated run in 1979 (one week) and Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour in 1984 (one week) Speaking of Charles, this is his fifth week overall. Fourth week for both Loretta Swit and Betty White, and fourth and final week of Brett in the fourth seat. After this week she'd be firmly in the upper tier above Richard.

[@michaelnivens6267]

rest in peace , Nipsey

[@TheOfficialIceman]

He also starred in award winning movie, "The Wiz", and comedy movie, "Wildcats".

[@storylass9071]

thank you for that information

[@ddmc424]

​@@TheOfficialIcemanGreat movie!

[@promptoargentum120]

I love this show

[@luvronp]

I'm 70 yrs. young.I watched MATCH GAME PM every chance I could.I was'nt allowed to watch tv'till my homework was completed,so I never got to watch the afternoon version. I truly miss the original line-up of stars'cause I thought they were witty,timely,and REALLY funny,especially when they played off each other! May GOD bless them all,and I'm glad I got to see all these episodes I missed as a kid,thanx only to our new technology.

[@theskilz00]

You were around 20 when this show premiered in '73. What homework did you have? And who made you finish it?

[@JW-xx1um]

Best cast!!! Awesome panel!!!

[@neversaygoodbye4]

John’s smile is adorable!

[@LarryTaint-qn8pd]

Contestant Donna Lee could be a stand-in for Goldie Hawn.

[@michaelnivens6267]

If Jack Klugman was on the panel & called , he would have said Horse Race - it was the first thing to come to my mind

[@simonwaffleman]

We love you @MatchGameProductions

[@MatchGameProductions]

Simon Waffleman thank you very much. Just because you said that, any episode request you'd like me to post? Thank you for enjoying the channel.

[@SgtKOnyx]

MatchGameProductions If you haven't posted the East Side Story episode lol

[@MatchGameProductions]

Do you know what episode # this is, the year, and what the panel was? Need that info to post it.

[@simonwaffleman]

Nothing in particular. Just have fun. :-)

[@SgtKOnyx]

Unfortunately no. I also can't seem to actually read this thread oddly

[@Echognomics101]

12:33 Biggest ASP "Watch your language!" 🤣

[@nohandle62]

Love the production snafus. Makes it more interesting.

[@ajmittendorf]

This episode has quite the cliff hanger!!

[@kevansf]

This was Richard's second time with a successful head-to-head match (and his 10th time chosen). He joins Charles, Jo Ann Pflug, Jack Klugman, Betty White, and Stu Gilliam who have already matched twice each in the head-to-head. But the reigning champion as of this episode is Bert Convey with 4 correct matches (out of 7 tries)! *note: these stats do not include the missing/lost episodes 31, 32, 33...

[@kingramaxi7065]

Nipsey was famous for his poems on match game

[@joeambrose3260]

And everywhere else too

[@drawken]

CRAZY Charlie only had his ear(s) pierced? The 70s were a different time.

[@TruckTaxiMoveIt]

Ohhhhhh I was wondering why I couldn't figure out why they all kept saying ears hahaha

[@tomitstube]

very true, odd to think of it now but piercings were not a thing in the 1970's, hippies had beads, long hair, and necklaces, but men with earrings weren't a thing yet.

[@sharonknee7883]

Ears pierced was a thing in the 70's. One pierced ear; Left ment you were gay & right ear stood for straight. I miss the 70's. Was a great time to be young. There was no PC & people had a sense of humor.

[@ts.elliot5870]

​@@sharonknee7883it was the other way around. Piercing were big by the late 70s. If you could name it you could have it pierced. Trust me.

[@lcfflc3887]

First row : hearses hearses hearses Second row : coffins coffins coffins it's a tide.

[@broughtbackin]

Been binging these for days...thank you! (Only problem with this one is the volume is sooooo low)

[@klipkultur2951]

Not only this girl looks but also acts like Goldie Hawn.

[@jjryan1352]

CNR was a hoot in Lidsville.

[@nopetuber]

So weird seeing Brett on the lower tier!

[@nickblalock4039]

TheAtheistGardener loved seeing Brett on the lower row . Charles needs to interact with other panelists on the upper row . Richard has no problem with celebrity interaction or panelist interaction or conversation

[@ts.elliot5870]

Charles would've got some much more freedom if Brett had stayed there IMHO.

[@beckydutra6543]

Here's when "asp" becomes the Cleopatra questions a poplr favorite answer. 🥰

[@leefalls8703]

I think brett's brain is on the blink

[@kevansf]

That's part of her charm. I love her unpredictability. Sometimes she gives the definitive answer and sometimes her answers leave you shaking your head. But she was smiling, laughing, and having a good time, and I do the same when I watch.

[@ts.elliot5870]

100 proof

[@rubinnz]

John is gorgeous with a beautiful smile. I'll marry him.

[@nadja1618]

He's like 75 years old now..

[@dmnemaine]

@@nadja1618 So a 75 year old can't get married or have a beautiful smile?

[@nadja1618]

@@dmnemaine Naw man.. don't get me wrong.. maybe I was too flippant. We all deserve love til the day we die.. Shoot.. I'm 58 and just starting a new love relationship.. Am giddy as a schoolgirl! 😍♥️👍

[@sharcrum]

He looks like my son in laws dad!

[@der22672]

Forgot that the "Cleopatra's asp" question was that early in the run. They would have may Cleopatra questions over the years, and invariably "asp" would be the answer.

[@enricosanchez894]

16:05 Richard Dawson, after working with him for 5 seasons, should have answered "Klink".

[@timothyball7502]

Yes, but it may have been a forbidden for him to write Klink! Just a timid guess, 5-31-2022

[@tomitstube]

contestant donna lee going for the goldie hawn look? boy did she get lucky with "clink", an actual rhyme with "pink", that meant the same thing as jail...

[@stevenginsberg8471]

On first hearing it, I thought the question was so easy that it was unfair to the other contestant.

[@timothyball7502]

Host is the best title for Mr Rayburn. Star is a space object. 11-9-2021

[@timothyball7502]

They turn the stage and the guest just fade in the history of time. Bizarre. 5-31-2022

[@timothyball7502]

Take Back Clock. KKK. 5-31-2022

[@ts.elliot5870]

I imagine the was a pay raise that went along with the title.

[@wcwindom56]

they should have made JoAnn Pflug and CN Reilly regulars as well

[@Kevin2297.]

wcwindom56 not sure if your joking or not but Charles was a regular

[@joeambrose3260]

Cut the crap

[@Echognomics101]

Charles did become fairly regular later in the season. Although MASH's Radar, Gary Burghoff, did fill the third seat when CNR took some time away.

[@ts.elliot5870]

​@@joeambrose3260You're a ray of sunshine!

[@erichaynes7502]

Everybody on this show looks good, we live in a much unhealthier state here in 2022.

[@annika_panicka]

Lol! 6:45 Contestant: _I'll take Richard, please._ Betty: I don't blame you. Brett: _You can have him!_

[@TruckTaxiMoveIt]

Of all the shows that Brett has been on, I wonder if there is even one of them in which she doesn't complain -- does it exist?

[@tomitstube]

part of her schtick.

[@MWood-ry8uu]

Noooo..I could never stand her. There's absolutely nothing entertaining about her. Originally that spot was for her husband Jack Klugman. She filled in for him one night and never left.

[@enricosanchez894]

She was hired to be an irritant.

[@dmnemaine]

Her faux "complaining" was apparently part of her charm as she was a huge draw along with Charles and Richard for the show.

[@ts.elliot5870]

​@@dmnemaineI think it was her east coast/Jack Klugman outlook. It didn't work on this show. She adapter after a couple painful years and fit in better. I believe she cut down on the drinking too later in the series. The opinions expressed here do not reflect CBS or its sponsors. LoL.😊

[@annika_panicka]

0:21 Betty's holding a card that says "I've got a crush on..." with an arrow pointing at Richard. Harmless, I'm sure (and I don't blame her), but curious. 🤔 I guess they were like office spouses. It's a joy to watch them together-they seemed to have a genuine, supportive friendship and affection for one another on Match Game and made each other laugh like few others could. And RD was always respectful toward her-never a snarky comment in her direction.

[@michaelnivens6267]

Donna is delightful

[@teeohpee]

I’m sorry but it’s ears again because he had everything else pierced since the Navy 😹

[@oleandra3759]

Can you believe no one thought of mermaid!

[@delfindakila]

I wish to have this kind of game show in the Philippines in Filipino version. :)

[@TruckTaxiMoveIt]

Time for you to do it

[@joeambrose3260]

Recruit a crew and make it happen. I'll watch, if it has subtitles

[@jjryan1352]

How do you say " ... ___(blank)___ ." in Tagalog?

[@sdlively27]

First Cleo and Jonah question?

[@CrimsonCatacombs]

ahaha I had the same answer as Loretta and Richard. Asp. It seemed the obvious punchline answer. hehe . Got to love puns.

[@TruckTaxiMoveIt]

Ahhhh, the good old days when things were punny

[@dmnemaine]

I thought of barge right away.

[@ajmittendorf]

Richard Dawson has the greatest poker face I have ever seen---not that I play poker a great deal.

[@jools01]

Funny how had this 20:40been only a year later betty probably would have gotten whistles and some music. But in 1973 it was silence

[@robg5209]

hahahhaahaha "Me Too!" sign

[@timothyball7502]

How many people were in Egypt? All. 5-31-2022

[@fododude]

So I guess a man was crazy if he got his ears pierced in the 70s?????

[@ts.elliot5870]

Not crazy he considered his self to be a stud!

[@NMC21887]

10:50 So did Richard Dawson get away with a bad word there? 😜

[@kristabrewer6736]

Doesn't he always

[@ts.elliot5870]

​@@kristabrewer6736Just to irritate you. LoL

[@crystalheart9]

I can't believe they didn't say Girl!🤣

[@czechchicklet5847]

Loretta saying Drag Race, lol, Snatch Game is played on RuPaul's Drag Race.

[@TheOfficialIceman]

czechchicklet different kind of drag race

[@dmnemaine]

A drag race is a kind of car or motorcycle race that's usually in a short, straight line. The first person to cross the finish at the end of the straight line won. There is an example of a drag race in the movie "Grease".

[@pencils812]

Charles has worn that striped jacket before.

[@HaleTheTrev]

Did John have an prosthetic hand?

[@sharcrum]

I re-watched the episode for the purpose of checking and I don't think so.

[@QuicksaveGamesWI]

“Roses are red, carnations are pink…” resulted in possibly the worst contestant answer I’ve ever heard on this show

[@kristabrewer6736]

Why was Betty White not a regular?

[@jamiewillkner8742]

So just tv show celebrities were allowed, not ones who started in movies?

[@victoriajbara195]

Yes, because TV was considered to be less than.

[@dmnemaine]

They had movie people occasionally. They had to pretty much stick with who they could get. Also, this was a CBS show, so CBS used it to garner publicity for their other shows by having the stars of the other CBS shows on.

[@kevansf]

@@dmnemaine And they also worked other CBS shows into the questions, such as "All in the Family" and "Maude" and "Gunsmoke", etc.

[@notapplicable3143]

@8:10 I didn't think Goldie Hawn was allowed to play? lol!!!

[@dmnemaine]

Yep. The resemblance was uncanny.

[@GandSAfan]

When the the closing credits rolled normally, they eventually rolled horizontally.

[@sdlively27]

Free spirit flying! ;0) ROFL! Another fine episode! ;0) ROFL! Love ya Gene! ;0) ROFL! Love ya Betty! ;0) ROFL! Love ya Charles! ;0) Little hand mic trouble there.. ;0) Menuer! Beer! celment! Hmm he doesn't always roll his r's.. ;0)

[@lcfflc3887]

All she needed to said was EAR

[@revinevan87]

what a load. she doesn't get the rhyming thing but matches anyway. it's almost as bad as the frog disease that makes you blank. the joke is croak, the contestant said ribbit but they matched it with croak anyways even though she didn't get the joke since ribbit isn't another term for die.

[@joeambrose3260]

That's phucked up

[@jjryan1352]

She lucked out for sure. Odd thing is she kept saying "I'm not good at rhyming" like maybe she thought of clink but wasn't sure about it. Brett also seemed to be going for clink too but might have been confused as well.

[@dmnemaine]

@@jjryan1352 Brett knew exactly what she wrote and what it meant. Part of her schtick was to play at covering up her non-matches by going on and on with rationalizations for them.

[@jjryan1352]

@@dmnemaine yes Brett absolutely does that, but seems here she got confused between 2 words. Clink and Brink. When Brett asked isn't that a slang word Nipsy said "it's a money house". They were both likey thinking of the famous "Brink's Armored Cars" which do look like jail cells and their synapses got jumbled.

[@johnalang]

Actual year of episode: BRQ....Before Racy Questions

[@enricosanchez894]

11:26 Racy question.

[@Echognomics101]

*Richard Dawson Tracker* [61] Episode: 1/5 • _.200_ Total: 71/266 • _.266_ Not Shown: 0 _(30 tot)_ All Celebrity Matches: 6 *Super Match* $500: 6 wins (10 given) $250: 3 wins (10 given) $100: 2 win (8 given) X: 0 (18 tot) Not Selected: 0 (35) *Head-to-Head* 2 wins, 10 att (20%) [ *_Hot_* Plate ] *Cash Winnings: $9,950*

[@michaelnivens6267]

wtg, Richard !

[@kristabrewer6736]

OH MY LAND!!!! saint Richard actually MATCHED!!

[@ts.elliot5870]

​@@kristabrewer6736give it a rest woman.

[@Norfolk250]

A barrel of .... Bretts

[@dorothyjohnson3728]

🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮

[@lateshachurney5965]

Piercings are that crazy now days.

[@dmnemaine]

Donna Lee looks a lot like Goldie Hawn.

[@tvtimetravel]

OAD: October 8, 1973.

[@kristabrewer6736]

OH MY LAND!!!!! saint Richard actually MATCHED!!

[@ts.elliot5870]

Give it a rest woman!

[@MooncricketsInc]

Oh my land, the whining and complaining about Richard has begun. I love it. Keep it up, old bitter cat lady..

[@pencils812]

Richard and his polka dots again.

[@dorothyjohnson3728]

Dawson: 🍇🍓🍉🫐🍏🍎🍌🍏🍎🍉🍇🍓🍒

[@ifiwereamatchgamepanelist6779]

Raglan-Stern, round 2, question B: "He was so crazy he thought he was Jesus, so he had his HANDS AND FEET pierced." (Bzzt!) Super Match, part 1: HORSE Part 2: COPPER Stern-Parrish, round 1, question A: "I'm with Loretta: LIVE COBRAS." (Bzzt!) Question B: "Well, given what he was doing with Cleopatra, I thought maybe she had the biggest FOOL OF A HUSBAND around." (Bzzt!) Round 2, question B: "Nope, sorry, I threw him in the DRINK too." (Bzzt!) Question A: "And then he loaded it with a live cobra so that business would pick up again. CASKETS!" (Ding!) Tie-breaker, question B: "Unlike Nipsey, I remembered that he was Jewish, so I specified a *KOSHER* PIZZA." (Bzzt!)