Match Game 77 (Episode 961) (Charles is Away)

[@MarqusW1]

Although nominated for an Emmy, Gene - nor MG itself - ever won one...it's a crime against humanity that he nor the show ever won an Emmy...

[@pencils812]

And Betty mentioned that Family Feud was nominated, and Richard added that he personally was not.

[@helenlogsdon7822]

Peace prize

[@kevansf]

H/H match update and preview of the week ahead: ... We're now starting week 193 of our favorite classic game show (the final week is number 291). These episodes were taped on April 23, 1977, and originally aired in early to mid-May of 1977. Sadly, Charles is away this week, and so regulars Brett and Richard are joined by: ~~~Semi-regular Betty White is here after a two-week breather for her 50th week of 75. Last week Fannie dropped out of their three-way tie, leaving Betty and Charles both still at a 50% H/H accuracy rate. Will this be Betty's week to break free? ~~~Dick Martin returns (in Charles's seat) for his seventh week (of 22 total). We last saw Dick four weeks ago (941-945), and he is still awaiting his first call to the head-to-head. ~~~Mary Wickes is back for her seventh week (of 14 total). She last visited in episodes 916-920, and she also hasn't been called on to play the H/H yet. ~~~Last but not least, we have another one-and-done celeb in the first seat. This time it's Tom Hallick spending his only week on the Match Game panel. Commentary: The show won't be quite the same this week (and next) without CNR, but at least the producers had the good sense to book Betty in the sixth seat (she and Fannie are the two most frequent semi-regulars) and Mary Wickes for the third seat. Mary has really fit into the MG vibe from her first appearance, and her wacky, sarcastic, grumpy-ish, silly brand of humor really fits in well. As for Dick Martin in Charles's spot... well, he wouldn't be my first choice, but at least he's well-known to the MG audience by now and he is a comedian. I'm wondering where's Gary Burghoff, our usual CNR fill-in? If I had my druthers, I would've booked Orson Bean or even McLean Stevenson! Although the most fitting choice might have been Richard Deacon who also sat in for Charles in episodes 336-340... It also wouldn't have been my choice to book a brand-new panelist this week, especially someone we'd never see on MG again after this week, but who knows? I haven't seen the week yet, and perhaps Tom Hallick will make a good contribution (which would also be somewhat bittersweet given he'll never return). Anyway, looking back to last week, King Richard's reign continued, with him playing three out of the four H/H questions. Reviewing the past 48 weeks, Richard has played 203 times. Everyone else combined played 37 times. (Charles had 13 opportunities, Brett 10, Fannie 7, Betty 3, Lynn Deerfield 1, Gary Burghoff 1, Rosemary Forsyth 1, and Nipsey Russell 1.) Percentage-wise, Richard has answered an astounding *84.6%* of all the H/H questions these past 48 weeks. Last week Fannie Flagg got to play another H/H (only her 27th so far). Although she didn't match this time, it was nice to see her the hot seat. If I had my druthers, I'd see at least two celebs beside Richard have a chance to play each week. The week of episodes 851-855 is a perfect example of how fun and exciting the head-to-head match could be, with four different celebs all scoring matches that week! - Betty 1/2, Richard 1/2, Charles 1/2, Brett 1/1 Well, whatever happens on this no-Charles week of Match Game, I'm sure it will be a good time! ~~~Today's Action: Let's start right off with the head-to-head match! (Our champion scored a $500 audience match win as time expired on the previous episode.) It's interesting that she's facing a panel with four "new" celebrities (ones who weren't there during her regular game). This means she hasn't had an opportunity to see what sort of answers they give on the regular questions to help her gauge if they tend to think the same way she does. Although, with the exception of Tom Hallick, she may already have an idea about them from watching the show at home. But I imagine she'll just pick Richard anyway... Yes, this is King Richard's fourth consecutive play and now he's been chosen 89 of the past 95 times. (Charles answered three of the remaining questions and Rosemary Forsyth, Nipsey Russell, and Fannie got one each.) Richard has matched 63 of his 144 most recent attempts (43.8%), 46 of his last 101 attempts (45.5%), and 26 of his last 51 attempts (51.0%). His overall success rate is 42.0% and this is his 622nd attempt so far. For the sake of comparison: Betty has matched 19 of her 38 attempts (50.0%), and Brett has matched 28 of her 68 attempts (41.2%). The other three panelists have never answered a head-to-head question. Today's H/H question: "________ Graph" (My first thought is Spirograph, as I had one back then. After a moment of staring at the paused video, the obvious photograph occurred to me, and even though I like my first thought, I don't think it's likely to match, so I'll go with photograph.) The contestant's expressions indicates she's already come up with a satisfying answer. Richard quickly writes his answer as well, and takes his customary look at the sixth seat before filing the card. She says "Photograph" which has got to be the definitive answer. (The way Gene is clarifying her answer is hinting at "phonograph" as another possible response.) And... it's unanimous! (Gene and Richard mention several other possibilities, including telegraph, seismograph, autograph.) Richard scores his 262nd 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). TIE: (*)Jo Anne Worley - 75% (3 wins in 4 attempts). TIE: Joyce Bulifant - 75% (3 wins in 4 attempts). Gary Burghoff - 71.4% (5 wins in 7 attempts). TIE: Charles - 50.0% (33 wins in 66 attempts). TIE: Betty - 50.0% (19 wins in 38 attempts). Fannie - 48.1% (13 wins in 27 attempts). Jo Ann Pflug - 44.4% (8 wins in 18 attempts). Richard - 42.1% (262 wins in 622 attempts). Brett - 41.2% (28 wins in 68 attempts). Bert Convy - 33.3% (5 wins in 15 attempts). *These stats include every head-to-head match from episode 1 through 961, excluding the lost/missing/damaged episodes: 31, 32, 33, 311, 312, 313, 324, 325, 645, and 910. (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!") -- Also, note that episode 849 was never produced.

[@beckydutra6543]

Betty White and Mary Wicks help make the show while Charles is away.

[@tomsaaristo6294]

"Wait a Week!" "She got a new hairdo and now her head doesn't work"

[@laurenewittmer2511]

Congratulations, Gene, on your EMMY nomination!! 👏😉

[@markkonzerowsky8871]

Always sad to see the Merm go, but good ol' Mary Wickes is here to put starch in your G.I. shorts!

[@MatchGameProductions]

Mark Konzerowsky I love when Brett would always try to sing “Curtain Up”. Ethel would tell her to go shut up or ________ off! So awesome!

[@mlg1948]

Yes I love them both - Ethyl and Mary. Actually loved almost all the panelists (except Gary Berghoff and Kaye Stevens). This show is so entertaining and even though so many comments would be considered politically incorrect today, they were funny there. And honestly who believes that anyone had cruel intents? They were just funnin’.

[@m.e.d.7997]

I liked Mary Wickes. She seemed like a cool lady.

[@MensAsses33]

@@m.e.d.7997 she was a good friend of Lucille Ball.

[@proud_brettsomersfanclub8687]

@@MatchGameProductionsBrett and Ethel were good friends it didn't mean anything.

[@GizmoFromPizmo]

In the previous show, Brett said to Charles, "I wish you would leave town!" So this time, Dick Martin is sitting in his seat.

[@pencils812]

Where is he? How long will he be gone?

[@lyndabarr2878]

so true

[@beckydutra6543]

Itt was probably a planned joke, I'm sure she knew he was leaving.

[@ts.elliot5870]

Brett joked that Charles was off to get a face-lift lol.

[@jimwilloughby]

I wonder how many winning cards, signed by Richard Dawson, are still around in 2020

[@laurenewittmer2511]

I've wondered that, too... 🤔

[@CousinOresama]

I would love to have one.

[@helenlogsdon7822]

Check the land fill

[@chrischeshire6528]

Thanks for the new post!

[@walkerbrown8591]

19:51 “Don’t forget to watch Tom on The Young and the Useless on CBS” 😂

[@helenlogsdon7822]

Handsome

[@mlchc9004]

Hospital bed was another definitive answer

[@ts.elliot5870]

Can there be more than one definitive answer?

[@mlchc9004]

Betty lookin’ gorgeous

[@laurenewittmer2511]

Yes, she does, and I SOOOO PRAY that she makes it to "the BIG 100" in January (2022), as she has been such a BLESSING on TV and certainly deserves to reach that RARE MILESTONE!!! 🙏👩‍🦳💖

[@laurenewittmer2511]

I LIKED her pun to the contestant for the Abraham Lincoln nose/Mount Rushmore question & her Kleenex answer: "I'm afraid, B.G., with that answer, you BLEW it!"... LOL!!! 😂🤧🤣

[@CousinOresama]

Betty was a comic genius and one of the most adorable people ever. Only a little longer. Tears came to my eyes when I heard she didn't make it.

[@mlchc9004]

@@CousinOresama me too, she was truly a gem, a blessing. Pure joy

[@trevorpanno5371]

Kind of unusual for Dick Martin to sit in chair #3 though he usually sits in chair #1.

[@trevorpanno5371]

Dick Martin was very good on game shows as well as “Laugh-In.”

[@baltimorez-wad7281]

Trevor Panno -- u must not watch him on Match Game very often as it's rare that he actually matches a contestants answer

[@trevorpanno5371]

When I watch “Match Game ’78” on buzzr, he does match.

[@CousinOresama]

Of course the contestants want to match to win the game and money, but the viewers wanted entertainment, and Dick Martin certainly provided that.

[@kevansf]

Later on (first in episode 1301), Dick Martin will even sit in chair #5 for a total of five weeks. He'll also return to #3 for the next-to-final week of episodes 1446-1450. ~~~ Also, let's not forget Richard Deacon who sat in chair #1 for 316-320, 1126-1130, and 1286-1290 ; chair #3 for 336-340; and chair #5 for 1381-1385.

[@revinevan87]

Dick Martin: (only?) panelist to appear in 3 different spots

[@Gator11srq]

Nope. Gary Burghoff was another one who did so. Remember in 1975 when he forgot to show up and Johnny Olson had to fill in (ep. 416)? I recall Burghoff in the 1 spot in 1976 and in the 5 spot after Dawson departed. In the later versions, methinks Bart Braverman did all three odd slots. Does anyone at MatchGameProductions want to verify this? Also, were there others, and how many gals occupied all three even slots? Only Loretta Swit, to my knowledge, did all three evens.

[@revinevan87]

Nipsey Russell too no?

[@Gator11srq]

@@revinevan87 Yup. Someone needs to keep a list. :-)

[@revinevan87]

@@Gator11srq i was already thinking that. i was gonna make a list of everyone who was in every seat ever. go through each episode on here week by week and add to the list. use microsoft excel so there's no duplicates

[@feudfan55]

Gary Burghoff, Bill Daily, McLean Stevenson, and Nipsey Russell all sat in three different positions. That’s the running tally as I remember it.

[@lynskyrd78]

6:30. Brett looks like Moe with her Bowl Cut hair..

[@robinstewart6422]

She looks beautiful and she says hi honey

[@beckydutra6543]

It's not a bowl cut and she looks great. You probably look like an old prune, 😅😅

[@ts.elliot5870]

LoL Nice burn.

[@lynskyrd78]

@@beckydutra6543 I dont see you posting any video's.. I can just imagine what you look like . Telling someone they look like a old prune.. What are you 10 years old? Or 80? Lol

[@lynskyrd78]

@@ts.elliot5870 another 80 year old ....old maid...lol. with No videos to show ....

[@garfield2439]

Wtg Richard. Good plug

[@pencils812]

You think he mentioned Gene's nomination to slide in his own mention?

[@kristabrewer6736]

@@pencils812 wouldn't surprise me a BIT!

[@LVSignChick]

Considering how everybody who had something to plug got plugged-and Richard didn't-sometimes you just gotta get it in when you can...

[@pencils812]

How long will Charles be gone for? Where is he?

[@patcrites5274]

If I remember right someone one of the other posts said that Charles mother was not feeling well, but I am not sure

[@dafyddhugh]

I'm glad someone corrected Gene on BG's name during the break!

[@kevansf]

Yes, even on the prior episode, he had called her "BJ" a couple of times. It's not good form for the host to screw up the contestants' names!

[@ericsloss3963]

Yes!!!!! I came to comment on this. Her name is BG not BJ. He messed up more than once. He can be so damn lazy at times with simple stuff.

[@markcushines3120]

Audience: How dumb is he?

[@ericsloss3963]

Drove me insane that Gene kept on calling her BJ when it is BG. At times I think Gene zones out in the interview portion. He doesn't remember what they said or anything.

[@dannyboyy8465]

The crew even have name cards set up next to each contestant. Lol

[@mercyprosperity9732]

3:50 Awwww. Richard made people happy.

[@dannydougin3925]

He was an asshole... do your research.

[@garfield2439]

@@proud_brettsomersfanclub8687 nobody gives a shit about your opinion

[@garfield2439]

Normal people he did

[@CousinOresama]

@@proud_brettsomersfanclub8687 Because Richard provided contestants with wins, while Brett provided everyone with headaches.

[@kristabrewer6736]

Awwww 🙄

[@donaldleroy6502]

Well I'm glad that Mary had some class unlike the rest, I mean I'm no prude but it seems like almost every question alludes to the answer boobs, however once in awhile the question can allude to another answer

[@eddieafterburner]

Dick Martin, the classiest CNR stand-in since … Gary Burghoff

[@noampitlik2332]

It was good to see Marla Gibbs as a contestant.

[@laurenewittmer2511]

LOL... She DOES resemble her in MANY ways! 🤪

[@Floymin]

Where was CNR during this?

[@darcyann66]

I am not sure .He would be gone days at a time.It had nothing to do with his hairpiece like Brett made a joke about because that was done in 74.He could have been traveling with the theater group he was teaching.They would travel and perform alot

[@Floymin]

Thanks for the info. That makes sense since he would often talk about productions that he directed.

[@dagmarkiontke]

Someone said, his mother wasn't well.

[@garfield2439]

@@dagmarkiontke she had been sick off and in. If it was for one of his plays they usually say so ahead of time

[@LVSignChick]

Thought it might have something to do with a project he was working on, or something else to do with Belle Of Amherst...

[@laurenewittmer2511]

Annnnd, again, Johnny O. plugged Betty's show but NOT Richard's... I wonder why he did once or twice but then, all of a sudden, stopped... 🤔 I bet he was "told" to quit saying it, which is unfair...

[@pencils812]

Was Mary Tyler Moore on CBS?

[@LVSignChick]

The other thing about all this that bothers me: Gene never used to refer to the Audience Match answers as "most popular" until after Family Feud started...Granted, FF's premise originates from MG's Audience Match, but "most popular" should have been in the vocabulary from the start...

[@RaineStudio]

At 0:29, something is visible to stage right of the turntable. Is that part of the mechanism?

[@LVSignChick]

I think that's the holder of the SuperMatch card...

[@markjamesmeli2520]

Mr. Riley was out due to what? Traffic court? Hospital visit? Writer's strike?

[@abrahammorrison6374]

Why was Betty White?

[@KimberlyGreen]

Because she thought she saw a __blank__

[@skipmoto3438]

It's better to be white then wong!!!! Lol

[@desertbreeze69]

Brett always had to interfere in other’s conversations. She must have been a needy person. Annoying😖

[@randydellinger2996]

She was a camera hog.

[@m.e.d.7997]

She grew on me.

[@proud_brettsomersfanclub8687]

Leave Brett alone. Brett MAKES Match Game and it wouldn't of been as successful without her.

[@garfield2439]

@@proud_brettsomersfanclub8687 "leave Brett alone" wawawa Im gonna 😭😭😭😭

[@CousinOresama]

@@proud_brettsomersfanclub8687 You really need to learn the difference between the words "of" and "have." Also the difference between people who have talent, like Richard, and those who had no business being on TV, like Brett.

[@aracelyguerrero360]

Match game sure didn't like having two male contestants against each other. Bob had 5 opponents. All female. BG's very first opponent was a male. Kinda sexist.

[@pencils812]

Has anyone seen the episode that Betty is talking about at the end of the video at 2:50? kzbin.info/www/bejne/mHa9nHakibB6jZY