Match Game 73 (Episode 84) ("Mistletoe?")

Jim Backus, Brett Somers, Nipsey Russell, Patti Deutsch, Richard Dawson, and Betty White

[@Mikesbabygurl7]

I love watching these shows, i just pretend that i'm back in 1974 and i'm watching this with my mom and siblings. Most of them are no longer with me but for just a little bit it seems like they are xo.

[@josebro352]

Same here. I feel like I'm twelve again and in sixth grade when I watch this. That's a very nice memory you have with your family. Peace.

[@tonystone1016]

Gene certainly made some bold choices in his clothing. Even for the 70s

[@marywoodruff6640]

I have watched several episodes from each year and watched Richard change from the flippant answers and attitude to become the one chosen most of the time until they brought in the effing wheel. whether his nature changed or something else there was both humor and a kindness in him people saw. Miss you, Richard.

[@sailorbychoice1]

it's my understanding that as Richard Dawson got more popular on the show he became a larger nightmare to work with behind the scenes. I do sometimes wonder if he didn't have a smidgen of esp (if there is such a thing), because he hit an awful lot of less-likely answers correctly. You can't take that away from him, but there were times when he acted as though he was more important than his co-workers on the panel~ like when he totally blew an answer and the judges refused to overturn their decision because "he said wrote the wrong thing, but was thinking the right one, so, since he had thought it, even though he didn't write it..." yaddda yadda... He acted very much the poor sport, and not like he was the first to blow an answer. It happens, but his ego ~~~ In all honesty imho, he was a talented player, but his ego grew too big, that's why they started with the wheel. That, and they were already planning on giving RD a show of his own and they needed wean the public off of Dicky.

[@bradstephan7886]

Also, game shows thrive on variety and spontaneity, which is lost when the audience always knows what's going to happen next. But, given the choice, I'd always pick Dawson.

[@geneburn5769]

@@sailorbychoice1 Or if the contestant didn't take his audience match answer and it was at the 500 dollar mark and then picked him for the head to head he always say why didn't take my answer we would be playing for 5000 now.. Or why didn't you go with your first choice, which he had at the time but they gave their second choice and didn't match.. Or if someone went with someone else for the head to head and missed but he had the contestant answer he would show it like see you shouldn't gone with me not them..

[@jeannehall7199]

On the 8th dwarf: they should have went for the obvious- Sleazy!

[@JT-lt5gr]

With all the Paul Lynde imitations on this show, especially by Richard Dawson, did they ever have him on as a panelist? He would've been great, especially after Richard left. The show was missing something after that. Paul Lynde could have filled Richard's spot. Probably the only one who could.

[@Observer-jw8wv]

They never did! He was committed to The Hollywood Squares on NBC until 1979. His departure hurt that show badly (sound familiar?) and he briefly returned until its cancellation. I think it would have been fun to have him on MG, but I suspect he had a non-compete clause.

[@bannedheretic2971]

Myron was adorable! He looks like Jon Voight.

[@stellarjay3314]

"Settle down!" That's telling her, Patti!

[@antster1983]

For anyone wondering where Episode 85 is, it was uploaded on this channel in 2014 in high quality. It’s the one where contestant Myron gives “milk” as an answer leading to a classic game show blooper. kzbin.info/www/bejne/rJOQoqF4ZbKjmKs

[@beckydutra6543]

I'm surprised noone said Bed, for the Marshall and Kitty question

[@Hevynly1]

Patti really did have gorgeous hair! It looked so healthy.

[@peekaboots01]

Richard was so tan. That was before self tanners and teeth whiteners.

[@memoryrinehart]

The women's hair never moved (hairspray).

[@mlchc9004]

Brette is only 2 years younger than Betty, but she talks like she’s much younger. Wishful thinking LOL Betty looks younger tho

[@peekaboots01]

Betty looks much younger!!

[@beckydutra6543]

I think they needed Brett to offset all the sweetness on the panel of women. She made it fun. That was her purpose. Can't you guys think positively instead of always using negative insults? Ugh

[@berniehobabykat]

Nothing worse than a starched loincloth....you will feel a little stiff!!!😜🤪🤪

[@peekaboots01]

I like Nipsey!!

[@josebro352]

Cathy looks like Shelly Duvall

[@unistat1]

What exactly was Betty doing at 7:19 ?

[@sailorbychoice1]

straightening the back of his suit jacket.Of course with Betty, I wouldn't put it past her to grab his butt while there... lol.

[@tomitstube]

she would always mess with gene when he came back there, soon she would start rolling up one of his pant legs while brett or charles occupied his attention.

[@mlchc9004]

@@tomitstube Betty is checking out Gene’s suit lining with Richard

[@rasputinsliver9092]

Never made sense that people would choose Brett, Betty and a few others for the big money match. Always go for either Richard or Charles or Bert if either of those latter two are on. Go with a decent likely answer from Brett and Betty for the super match. But then trade over for the sharp minds. Even Brett and Betty indicate in a variety of ways you shouldn't pick 'em for the big money match.

[@mlchc9004]

Richard has also missed matching with contestants for the Super Match. They’re all good.

[@kevansf]

If it were the early 1970s and I was the winning contestant, I totally would've chosen Brett. My answer to "_____ House" was the same one Brett gave! She can be flippant or silly with the regular answers (as can all the celebs at times) but when it comes to the head-to-head match she really does her best to match.

[@sailorbychoice1]

Holy crap, Patty actually matched someone when they needed it!

[@jjryan1352]

Cathy looks like a character from the Rabbitz cartoon

[@catman7153]

Did Richard Dawson REALLY think the contestant would have said, "mongoose"?

[@Bigbadwhitecracker]

I was thinking the same thing. He's usually much more in tune with the "civilians" than that.

[@antster1983]

He's still not quite there with the ESP yet.

[@mortenu.5606]

RIchard had some minor slips here and there - he was human after all

[@tomitstube]

would love to know what the statistics on being right was, i think most of dawson's mystic is myth.

[@Observer-jw8wv]

It was a little too arcane, but it WAS clever. As he said, it's a man-bites-dog answer. It's also probably a little too British. Rikki-Tikki-Tavi the mongoose was a character in The Jungle Book.

[@jjryan1352]

Gene saying "Fannie Flagg" on the "running up the flagpole" question was really clever. Surprised no one who said "dress" commented "here's to looking up your old address"

[@rogerscalf231]

McLean Stevenson wasn't there that day. That was the line he used on M*A*S* H all the time.

[@jjryan1352]

@@rogerscalf231 ahhh you are a fan! 👍🏻👌🏻

[@mlchc9004]

LOL Brett calls Betty White old, when she looks older than Betty🤣😂😅

[@dmnemaine]

Betty White was 51 (born Jan. 1922) when this episode aired. Brett Somers was 49 (born July 1924).

[@ts.elliot5870]

Drinking leads to prematurely aging from your head dropping on the bar.

[@Observer-jw8wv]

At 8:42 onward, Brett learns the danger of stepping into Richard's spotlight. She takes the ribbing like a champ. By 1976, the tone of their exchanges has definitely changed, though. The Synanon joke is funny as hell -- look it up if you're not familiar with it. It was talked about a lot in the 1970s.

[@tomitstube]

myron wins again, bet you he won't pick jim backus… "turkish (hashish)"

[@ifiwereamatchgamepanelist6779]

Nissley-Minor, round 1, question A: "That's a good answer, all right; I guess my mind is just too NAUGHTY." (Bzzt!) Question B: "'You BLEACH out all the spots; now me have to go kill another leopard!'" (Bzzt!) Round 2, question A: "I'm pretty sure this counts: BLOOMERS!" (Ding!) Question B: "And she was such a tiny little thing, it didn't even take it the full month to digest her. WIFE!" (Ding!) Super Match, part 1: DELIGHT Part 2: GREEN Nissley-Rayfield, round 1, question A: "You know they didn't have movies back then, so instead he took her to THE THEATER." (Bzzt!)

[@timothyball7502]

A gift for you! Me, I would just leave and not accept any gift, I came in with zero, so I leave with zero. It's just me. 6-9-2022

[@ajmittendorf]

Is Turkish Taffee the same as Turkish Delight?

[@memoryrinehart]

What is this constant hate from Brett toward White??? Betty was PERSECUTED!

[@michaelnivens6267]

Brett's a bit of a bitch

[@sailorbychoice1]

jealousy maybe. Betty is/was so much better than Brett, and she has never lost that whit even into her late 90's

[@tomitstube]

that was brett's job to be the antagonist. it wasn't personal, they knew that.

[@rasputinsliver9092]

Her..."job"? That's what was on her job description? I doubt it. I think Somers just kept repeating it because it was her self-entitled excuse to take sarcastic jabs at everyone. Jack was smart in kicking her to the curb.

[@flowertrue]

I get the feeling that it was staged to create drama. Somehow I didn't feel the hate.

[@770WT]

Betty White had so many things going on I am surprised she was on so many Match Games .

[@JamesJohnson-re9zw]

Why are always the contestants seem unenthusiastic

[@sailorbychoice1]

nerves. better than the fake enthusiasm they pump people up with now.

[@tomitstube]

@@sailorbychoice1 hear hear.

[@tomitstube]

as gene would tell them, 'we already have people to tell the jokes.' they were trying to win the game i presume, and guessing they've never been on t.v. before, what would you expect them to do? other than act naturally.

[@flowertrue]

Even in 1973 $100 was pretty lame. And how about a lighted mirror that costs like $40?

[@ginnismith1761]

L

[@tonypascale5317]

Brett Sommers made that show!

[@johnstewart6366]

Cathy is a pretty woman. She would be better-looking if she corrected that over-bite. Brett said something like "...I wish I could be anywhere else" So do we, loud mouth. Nipsey Russell SHOULD be anywhere else.

[@tomitstube]

somebody put salt in your cheerios?

[@jeffgemmill7907]

She could eat corn on the cob through a picket fence

[@flowertrue]

As a kid in the 70s, braces were not as common or as affordable as now and they were much more cumbersome and painful. That said, being from California I would think she would have it done.

[@dmnemaine]

@@flowertrue Carol Burnett didn't correct her overbite until the 1980s.

[@jayterry8536]

Bob barker Elaine Joyce Charles Nelson rellyPatti Deutsch Richard Dawson and della resse match game 73 Linda vs Keeley TESLOW

[@rhondahadnot4228]

Brett Somers really is jealous of betty White

[@Echognomics101]

*Richard Dawson Tracker* [84] _Possible Spoilers_ Game Matches Episode: 0/5 • .000 YTD: 101/373 • .274 Not Shown: 0 (34 tot) Celebrity Matches (All): 5 *Super Match* $500: 9 wins (14 given) $250: 5 wins (14 given) $100: 2 wins (9 given) Not Selected: 1 (45) *Head-to-Head* 5 wins, 18 att (27.77%) 🏧 *Cash Winnings: $26,950* 🏧