Match Game 76 (Episode 724) (Over The BLANK?) (BLANK Tobacco?)

Today's Panel: Jimmie Walker, Brett Somers, Charles Nelson Reilly, Elaine Joyce, Richard Dawson, and Fannie Flagg

[@funfunster]

Rita has to be one of the most adorable contestants MG has ever had.

[@kevansf]

H/H match update: ... Today's action: A brand-new champion won a hard-fought victory in the final moments of yesterday's program, and now she gets her well-deserved trip to the Super Match and a chance to win "over $5,000"! Today's audience match question: "Over the _________ " (My first thought was that if the contestant calls on Richard, he'll say something like: "What Brett is, over the hill!" -- Top, Hump ) The celebs: Brett (Hill), Richard (Rainbow), and Fannie (Top). -- Ha! Brett beat Richard to the punch on that joke! The choice: Hill The answers: Mountain, Rainbow, Hill Alright, now for my favorite guessing game: Who will the new champion pick for a shot at $5,000? I recall on yesterday's show, the contestant said something that made me think she's a big fan of Brett, and today she called on Brett first and took her suggestion (wisely, it turns out). I'd say 70% chance of choosing Brett, 25% of Richard, and 5% someone else (Fannie being the strongest alternate candidate). "I don't know about ESP, but I'll take Richard!" she gushes. Okay. Reviewing Richard's 15 most recent attempts, he matched 6, which is 40%, nearly identical to his current cumulative track record. Today's H/H question: "__________ Tobacco" (I'll say chewing tobacco. Is there another good answer? I guess I'll find out...) The camera stays on Gene (asking Ira about the spelling of the question) while Richard writes, so no clues, except that it didn't take Richard long to decide on an answer. "Chewin'" says our new champion. I bet that's a winner! Yes, Richard had the same answer! Richard scores his 171st 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). Fannie - 52.4% (11 wins in 21 attempts). Betty - 51.4% (18 wins in 35 attempts). Charles - 51.0% (27 wins in 53 attempts). Jo Ann Pflug - 44.4% (8 wins in 18 attempts). Brett - 41.4% (24 wins in 58 attempts). Richard - 40.7% (171 wins in 420 attempts). Bert Convy - 33.3% (5 wins in 15 attempts). *These stats include every head-to-head match from episode 1 through 724, 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!")

[@kevansf]

Speaking of ESP... Brett's jaw-dropping match at 18:08! How on Earth? -- I thought of zipper, button, and pocket. When the contestant said "flower" I was sure he was going to get zero matches!

[@skipmoto3438]

Russ looks like that guy on the Crackerjack commercial back then, that was always trying to get the Crackerjacks from the kids.

[@LynxSouth]

Jack Gilford. Yes, he does. I'd forgotten about that.

[@beckydutra6543]

If Russ was in our present time I could fall in love with him! He's an adorable sweetheart! 🥰

[@donaldleroy6502]

If Rita had gone with Charles for the head to head match and said chewing tobacco she woulda lost bigly. How about it's dangerous to take a walk on the freeway?

[@MitchelleMangine]

I think Elaine Joyce thinks she’s just the prettiest, funniest person ever lol

[@neoserenityangel]

Wow as good natured and funny Gene can be looks like he had a bossy streak in him

[@noampitlik2332]

He had a way of making sure they knew it was his show.

[@pencils812]

@@noampitlik2332 he said it all the time.

[@noampitlik2332]

@@pencils812 He said what all the time?

[@pencils812]

@@noampitlik2332 that it was his show. So bossy.

[@noampitlik2332]

@@pencils812 I think you replied to the wrong commenter.

[@rodneyspears4867]

So Gene peddled pecan logs for Stuckeys. 😉

[@sdlively27]

Paid the bills I guess. ;0)

[@sheristewart3940]

LMFAO ! ! !

[@ts.elliot5870]

Stuckey was well known back in the day. Loved the pecan logs. I thought they were made of peanut but I'll take your word for it. I was a little kid the last time we were at one.

[@Observer-jw8wv]

Who says at 14:55 "We're getting raunchy"? Is that Charles or Richard?

[@Observer-jw8wv]

@@sdlively27 I listened again and I think you're right... the intonation is more like him too. I love how there's often something I haven't noticed before when I re-watch! I've really enjoyed episodes 701-740-ish, which is where I am now. Everybody's in pretty good spirits and there are some really hilarious moments.

[@sheristewart3940]

It's CNR. BTW, Joyce's cake response was the most ridiculous thus far, even Fannie's aren't that off the wall!

[@kevansf]

Definitely CNR

[@walkerbrown8591]

15:49 You can tell that "hot cross buns" quip absolutely killed Gene because you hear him stomping his feet after 😂

[@raynaberg1862]

Our stuckys in Florida burned down in 1998

[@sheristewart3940]

Stuckey's restaurants were great, way far more better than Denny's

[@ts.elliot5870]

​@@sheristewart3940I remember they had great salted peanut logs. I don't remembermuch besides that but I liked them.

[@jacobestevez7570]

uh? "cake"?

[@sheristewart3940]

LMFAO ! ! !

[@genkatqltr737]

Wow! Gene really got after everyone to hurry up these last two episodes! Sometimes the silliness and the "performances" get old. I always wondered if the sponsors would finally put their feet down at the delays. 🤔

[@DJRitty]

Prob just TIME lol this show is only 22 ins (which i fins weird for that time of day so the sponsors were ok it was the 1 day time program I believe.

[@MensAsses33]

I want a hug from Rita!

[@pencils812]

She looked a little like David Bowie.

[@brachio1000]

8:25 -- John Steinbeck.

[@Observer-jw8wv]

Poor Gene... he tried.

[@StevenFeldleit]

Gene snapped at Elaine saying Brett was a regular

[@wmkyle1]

5:06 " OK, last chance for over the hill, Slide it Earl. "

[@noampitlik2332]

Guys got some play on this show.

[@Observer-jw8wv]

08:24. Well, that went well... Gene proves once again that he is a little more literate than the average American. LOL, poor guy, trying so hard to draw out the contestant!

[@tomsaaristo6294]

My first answer was CAKE then I changed it to BUNS

[@ts.elliot5870]

Gene's favorite tie again.

[@FerintoshFarmsPhotography]

I'm this far on my rewatching

[@pencils812]

I've been watching these episodes in order from number one in 73. I can't believe I've watched over 700. I started watching after Betty White died.

[@DJRitty]

JFC lol does Brett EVER pay attention? lol

[@sheristewart3940]

LMFAO!!!

[@ts.elliot5870]

Short answer is no.

[@bobhoward6676]

Over the Limit

[@robertboyers3349]

Since a great deal of people doesn't like Brett.... who would've been a good replacement in her spot? Personally think Betty White would've been if she wasn't so good on the MTM show

[@KG-xt4oq]

Anybody...lol. I really like that zinger Elaine got on her this episode where Brett makes the comment about "blah blah blah, I'd have been fired years ago" and Elaine says, "There's always hope!" You know Brett had her claws out and the stinkeye for Elaine after that remark...lol.

[@garfield2439]

@@KG-xt4oq me too but Gene defended his side piece

[@KG-xt4oq]

@@garfield2439 Brett was Gene's 'side piece'? Did he have a kink for ugly women? I've seen a few photos of his real wife...oof.

[@sheristewart3940]

@@KG-xt4oq I just Googled, "Gene Rayburn wife," and Helen Ticknor with her picture came up! Oy, chihuahua! She's a dead ringer for Bret Somers, and IMHO, prettier.

[@beckydutra6543]

A great deal of people *Like* Brett!!

[@Julie-sl8ul]

I like Brett but she really goes off the rails when JJ is on. Those two are impossible 😞

[@scottlareva9820]

The show would have been better without Brett...but Jack had to get his wife on TV.....

[@kristabrewer6736]

HAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHHHAHHAHAHHAAHAHA

[@sheristewart3940]

LMFAO

[@ts.elliot5870]

​@@kristabrewer6736Can't blame him for wanting to get her working. He'd have to pay less alimony that way. Pretty smart guy.

[@davidmitchell9575]

Ricky D!👍🏻🇺🇸

[@HansDelbruck53]

Fannie's spelling was so atrocious it's hard to believe she's a college grad. The fact that she was educated in Alabama explains a lot though.

[@LynxSouth]

She really is dyslexic. A teacher noticed a pattern in Fannie's misspellings here on MG and wrote to her, suggesting she have herself tested. It made a huge difference in Fannie's life, as she had thought she was stupid.

[@HansDelbruck53]

​@@LynxSouth Hard to believe Fannie ever thought she was stupid. She did write a play or two and at least one book. Stupid people can't do that. She was one of my favorite celebrities from that era. She has a great sense of humor and is just naturally funny. I'll always be a fan of Fannie Flagg.

[@LynxSouth]

@@HansDelbruck53 I agree, and she's always been one of my favorites. But, it was after she understood her dyslexia that she wrote her most popular works. I've read that it was the change in her self-perception that made the difference. I heard her herself say in an interview that she had thought she was stupid.

[@sheristewart3940]

@@LynxSouth that's fantastic! I'm glad that teacher was able to ascertain and diagnose dyslexia and advise Miss Fannie who truly benefited from that lady. I hope Fannie remained friends with her benefactor.

[@kevansf]

Fannie Flagg has written numerous books including "Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe" which was published in 1987 and remained on The New York Times bestseller list for 36 weeks. I also just read (and enjoyed) her 2020 novel "I Still Dream About You." In 1992, she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for "Fried Green Tomatoes." Her dyslexia is in no way a reflection on her intelligence or on the Alabama school system.

[@markkonzerowsky8871]

Wow...my first ever FIRST! Also, question: Could modern day Jim Carrey pull off Gene in a MG bio-pic?

[@linkwray009]

His neck is too long.

[@DJRitty]

@@excelsciors Carrey had his time. He KNOWS all he has left is AV3.

[@deanstrand4260]

No way. Jim Carrey is too immature and abrasive to pull off Gene Rayburn. Chuck Barris would be much more like it.

[@sheristewart3940]

@@DJRitty what's, "AV3?"

[@DJRitty]

@@sheristewart3940 Ace Ventura 3 lol ;)

[@lishiewilliamson227]

Brett is getting on my nerves she forces her laugh and talks all the time😮