Match Game 76 (Episode 721) ("Did You Say "Gene Rayburn" Johnny O?") (Rare Episode)

[@MatchGameProductions]

This has to be one of the greatest openings on Match Game 70s! Johnny Olsen coming out to announce Gene Rayburn was absolutely fantastic! Thank you very much Johnny O!

[@beatlequeen06]

Gene needed to turn his hearing aid up.

[@arielledavisson8172]

@MatchGameProductions I appeal to your greater knowledge. I think that was Gene getting a salary bump for Johnny, wasn't it?

[@jeanthibodeau8686]

000@11Q Q QA

[@chaupin5]

Johnny Olson was definitely the best

[@georgemaster4225]

Anytime that Johnny Olson makes an appearance is fun.

[@daviddriver2692]

Gene Rayburn, Johnny Olsen,,Richard Dawson, Brett Summers, Charles Nelson Riley...You are ALL So missed!!😥

[@frastass131]

This show and most the games shows in the 70s were more lit than any now.

[@TheBooks810]

i love when fanny and elaine are on the same ep.. two of my biggest match game crushes.. 😁

[@kevansf]

H/H match update and preview of the week ahead: ... We've hit week 145 (of 291) for our favorite classic game show. These episodes were taped on April 18, 1976 and first aired in late May and early June of 1976. Of note, we are rapidly approaching the halfway mark of the show's run, which will occur during episodes 727 and 728 next week (the final episode of Match Game '7x is number 1455). Once again, our three stalwart regulars are all in their places with bright, shiny faces. They are joined by: ~~~Semi-regular Fannie Flagg, who last appeared just three weeks ago. This is now her 40th week (of 90 total). She remains at an excellent 50% accuracy rate for the H/H, now just a hair below Charles and Betty. A little Fannie Flagg (and Brett Somers) trivia: for episodes 1126-1130 in 1977, Fannie will sub for Brett in the #2 chair, and that's the only week that Brett ever missed since becoming the second chair regular back in episode 66. (Brett had appeared earlier, and even in the #2 position earlier, but from 66 on, she occupied that seat every single show to the very end, excluding that one week Fannie sat in for her.) Since Fannie also sat in the #4 chair (76-80 and 156-160), she is only celebrity ever to sit in all three "female" celebrity positions (2, 4, 6) during the run of Match Game '7x. ~~~Elaine Joyce, making her first visit back since episodes 626-630. This is now her 14th week (of 26 total), and she's 1 for 1 in the H/H match. ~~~And Jimmie Walker, here for his sixth week (and "sans chapeau" today for the first time on the show). He last appeared for episodes 656-660, and his next week (831-835) will be his seventh and final stint on the panel. Jimmie was chosen once for the H/H, but didn't score a match. The top of my wish list this week is for Elaine to earn her second H/H match. So far, there are only 17 MG celebs to have achieved that goal! Elaine is an important part of the MG family (she made her debut in episode 46) and is actually a good player (despite her somewhat ditzy persona). I'd also love for Fannie to be chosen for the H/H match again. Beyond being an integral member of the MG family, she's great at the H/H match. It would also be nice to see Jimmie get his first H/H match before he retires. So far, there have been 36 celebs to have achieved that goal. (I re-post the lists of celebs who have scored one and two matches whenever someone new joins either club, or periodically on slow days when there isn't a H/H match for whatever reason. I'll definitely post all the lists again around episodes 727/728 to mark the show's halfway point.) Anyway, whatever happens in the H/H this week, I plan to just sit back and enjoy some 1970s-style ________! ~~~~~ Today's action: Well, it certainly wasn't the first time a contestant won a game with "boobs." In this case, 5 sets of boobs was just enough to secure our champion her fourth victory. Today's audience match question: "Rat _________ " (My thoughts: Fink, Pack, -a-tat-tat) The celebs: "Richard" (Pack), Fannie (Fink), and Charles (Trap). The choice: Fink The answers: Trap, Race, Fink Well, now I'm wondering who she'll choose for the H/H. Even though she and Richard didn't match last time, I think she'll stick with him, although there's a chance she'll go with Fannie, since she took her suggestion and won $500 with it. -- Recap of our champion's H/H adventures: 1) Betty, match. 2) Richard, match. 3) Richard, no match. 4) Let's see... She turns to the panel and seems to debate before choosing Richard. Over the past 10 weeks (from episode 671 to today), Richard has played 33 times and matched 12 of them. That comes to a 36.4% accuracy rate, below his cumulative average of 40.4% (prior to this question). Today's H/H question: "__________ Hot" (Hmm. Several possibilities. Spicy hot. Boiling hot. I feel like there's something better, but I can't think of it...) Our champion is visibly puzzled, repeating the question with a pained expression. Richard, however, seems to have thought of something right off the bat. The camera was on the contestant most of the time while Richard wrote, so I don't have a clue. I guess I'll have to say spicy hot because I'm still drawing a blank. Hoping the contestant comes up with something better... Even as Gene does his ESP spiel, the contestant looks dazed and undecided. "My mind is a blank," she says when asked for an answer. A brief pause, and then "Red" hot, she blurts out with enthusiasm. -- That's it! That's the answer I couldn't think of! It's got to be! Yes, indeed! Richard scores his 170th H/H match today. Here's our updated leader board showing the 11 celebs with at least 3 H/H matches, ranked by accuracy: (Note: An asterisk before a celebrity's name signifies that she has "retired" from the show and her H/H stats are now complete.) (Note: For tied scores, I consider the one with the greater number of matches to be higher; if the matches are equal, the celeb who first achieved that score goes on top.) Orson Bean - 100% (4 wins in 4 attempts). Gary Burghoff - 83.3% (5 wins in 6 attempts). TIE: (*)Jo Anne Worley - 75% (3 wins in 4 attempts). TIE: Joyce Bulifant - 75% (3 wins in 4 attempts). Betty - 51.4% (18 wins in 35 attempts). Charles - 51.0% (27 wins in 53 attempts). Fannie - 50.0% (10 wins in 20 attempts). Jo Ann Pflug - 44.4% (8 wins in 18 attempts). Brett - 41.4% (24 wins in 58 attempts). Richard - 40.6% (170 wins in 419 attempts). Bert Convy - 33.3% (5 wins in 15 attempts). *These stats include every head-to-head match from episode 1 through 721, excluding the lost/missing/damaged episodes: 31, 32, 33, 311, 312, 313, 324, 325, and 645. (As per MatchGameProductions, these episodes "are nowhere to be found and also aren't in the Goodson/Todman Library. Sadly, looks like they are lost forever!")

[@tomitstube]

number 1 game show 5 years straight. from 1973 to 1977. in 3 of those years it was #1 in all of daytime t.v.

[@MarqusW1]

And not a SINGLE Emmy won...it's criminal...

[@georgemaster4225]

@@MarqusW1 MG 73-79 was robbed!!

[@styxfan4022]

Contestant Pete reminds me of Peter Faulk.

[@LisaMarie51968]

Why can’t they have shows like this today, I Love everything nostalgia!

[@edwardlozano8807]

unfortunately it's because everyone seems to get offended by everything that someone says or does!

[@mikehunt4986]

Because nowadays a show like this would be accused of racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, xenophobia, and every other "ism" and "phobia" you can think of...and even some you can't.

[@markjamesmeli2520]

Interesting to note that Gene was approximately 59, and Richard, 44 when this episode aired.

[@pencils812]

Richard looks much older than 44.

[@Doug41160]

12:05 "did they show that in the hospital Auntie…."

[@rodneyspears4867]

No more Dickie Doo from Darlene?😁😁😁😁

[@lesacalisch2794]

🤮🤮 she made me ill with all that nonsense. I was embarrassed for her, trying way too hard

[@ottojones3162]

She probably wanted Dickie to do her.

[@caseyyarnold2959]

The contestant reminds me of Burt Reynolds. (yes, a little like Peter Falk, too.)

[@fododude]

Dear panel: The clown was named Clarabell, not Clara.

[@Observ45er]

On Howdy Doody, along with Buffalo Bob, Clarabell the Clown , who had a horn, was played by Bob Keeshan, later to be come Captain Kangaroo with his friend Mr. Green Jeans played by Hugh Brannum. . en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Keeshan

[@mikehunt4986]

16:03 Did Fannie want more than a hug at the end? lol

[@gericummings6122]

She looked disappointed.

[@mikehunt4986]

@@gericummings6122 I don't blame her lol

[@imnmbrone1492]

FF did flirt a lot w/female contestants

[@MrDesertBrad]

I think she did 😀

[@ottojones3162]

​@@imnmbrone1492she batted for the other side.

[@wmkyle1]

15:57 " Earl! Slide it. "

[@wcwindom56]

not Dickie Do this episode?

[@sonjacollier1523]

I didn’t want her to win🙄

[@pencils812]

The whole thing was a set up. Did you see that she had some relationship with Richard ?

[@GizmoFromPizmo]

Darlene changed her shirt for today's show. Same slacks, tho.

[@CousinOresama]

Well, she had either a day (Saturday and Sunday) or a week (Sunday and Saturday) between taping the last episode and this one. I should hope she would change her clothes.

[@pencils812]

@@CousinOresama it was odd that she wore the same pants.

[@ottojones3162]

She would have been fine in panties.

[@todddepue681]

So sick of Darlene and her pink pants

[@garfield2439]

Lol

[@maynardsmoreland]

The only bad thing about this episode? No Anitra Ford.

[@MatchGameProductions]

maynardsmoreland Anitra was delicious in that seat last week! Haha

[@pencils812]

@@MatchGameProductions what do you think about the fact that Darlene appeared with Richard on the dating game in 72 and he chose her as his date? This makes me believe this game was scripted.

[@withonelook1985]

I never knew that Elaine Stritchs daughter was on Match Game...

[@oneail89]

Elaine Joyce Told Brett to Shut Up 😂😂😂😂

[@Observ45er]

Not often enough.

[@gerryu21220]

Actually, the clown on Howdy Doody was Clarabell.

[@LynxSouth]

They've used Clara the Clown questions before, just a clown. It was Brett who interpreted it as Clarabell.

[@edwardlozano8807]

He did say Gene.....you and Fannie weren't paying attention!

[@Dizzyfingers2]

you and Joyce ... YOU weren't paying attention!

[@sdlively27]

Naa just another way to get Johnny O on the camera and on stage.. ;0)

[@Bobalicious]

Clarabell the clown.

[@pencils812]

Darlene is wearing the same pants that she wore in the past set of 5 episodes that were taped on a different day.

[@Shane07752]

I'm beginning to believe this game featuring Darlene was rigged.

[@sdlively27]

How?

[@jacobestevez7570]

I know, right? One can guess but never know.

[@susanrutherford866]

If she knew Richard Dawson probably was

[@connyelovin63]

Me too

[@garfield2439]

I wondered if it was

[@deboragustin9980]

Oh no not Jimmy Walker again. He was such a pest. Always loud when he didn't match.

[@tomitstube]

jimmy matched 2 out of 3 (tied for the best) and came up with the number 2 answer on the audience match. so...

[@magikexpert]

I know what you mean. And his Stupid fake laugh is obnoxious too!

[@sharondaniels5912]

And Brett?

[@LynxSouth]

Just loud all the time. Even though I skip past his bits, I turn the volume down because he brays in the background.

[@garfield2439]

Just like Brett

[@MikeSebastianVideos]

That question got me to thinking. Should guys be annoyed by having to wear something named “shorts” located right next to … well you know …

[@johnbailey3877]

Brilliant !!!!!

[@LynxSouth]

Certainly not most of them.

[@GizmoFromPizmo]

Richard Dawson is AMAZING and anyone who chooses any other celebrity is running a foolish and unnecessary risk.

[@pencils812]

Charles has been doing pretty well on matching.

[@kevansf]

That does seem to be the general consensus, both among contestants as well as among many who leave comments here. However, looking at the actual results of every H/H match since episode #1, of all 11 celebs with at least 3 successful H/H matches, Richard actually has the *LOWEST* success rate of all, except for Bert Convy. (The full stats are in my comment; I've left regular comments tracking the stats from the start, and it's been interesting to watch the evolution, now that we're approaching the midway point of the show's run.)

[@ottojones3162]

Richard remained cool and calm under pressure. He was always the best bet.