Match Game 78 (Richard Refuses To Smile) (Episode 1226)

[@wolfyhound]

I do love Dawson's tactic when Gene tries to manhandle him into smiling, go limp! And he did smile a little here and there during the episode.

[@Werewolf0216]

It's so funny how whenever Brett starts singing Gene says "that's enough of that".

[@lindathompson922]

Brett needs to shut up. All she wants is attention.

[@Werewolf0216]

@@lindathompson922 are you the actress, beauty queen, former girlfriend of Elvis, etc.?

[@lindathompson922]

@@Werewolf0216 no she was from Memphis Tn

[@MatchGameProductions]

This was in 2003 for Match Game's 30th Anniversary All Day Marathon. This was around the time when a computer was doing it! This was my favorite day of television on GSN history. 24 hours of Match Game!!

[@nassauleaf]

We can I see that?

[@michaelangst6078]

Dawson had the biggest ego, but he was incredibly witty and full of charisma so he could get away with it. he wasn't trying to sabotage the show, as you can tell by him falling down at the end and playing along with Gene.. He was just going with the motions and wasn't going to put extra effort into making all the extra comedy jokes, because he wanted out of his contract to focus on family feud.

[@tenllell8325]

I do not get the witty part, to me he never said anything funny or witty. In the early shows he tried to do impressions of Paul Lynne , Groucho Marx, WC Fields and Stan Laurel that most people walking the streets could have done on the same level or better.

[@4seeableTV]

@@tenllell8325 And he did those same impressions over and over. He had a few good moments on the show, but his ego was just too big to accept being 1/6th of the panel. He was better on Family Feud, if only because he wasn't so damn grumpy.

[@stevenfarnesi9126]

I wish I lived in a world where 5000 dollars is a lot of money

[@dennisbeers]

No one can be happy all the time. Thank you for the post.

[@shrapnel77]

Elaine Joyce is smokin'!

[@Werewolf0216]

Also so funny when Charles says (about Brett) "that's not hollering, that's how she talks..."

[@whewfan]

In his last interview, Richard said he didn't like the nature of some of the questions, and to his defense, how can you write "boobs" and "tinkle" on a semi-regular basis and still be funny? Interestingly enough, in 1980, Richard was vacationing in Hawaii, and threatened to settle there permanently if he didn't get more money for Feud. Goodson wanted to get a new host, but ABC intervened and Dawson got more money.

[@mrgreenjeans1794]

Dawson gets a bum wrap for not smiling or looking happy. By 78 Dawson had been taping for two shows, Match Game and Family Feud going on three years. The taping always took place over the weekend and aired at later dates. I read the Match Game taping was over 12 hours a day. Imagine going on to tape Family Feud in the next studio afterwards. That had to be a tough schedule. I doubt smiling was an option on some days.

[@soberup5017]

This was the season he wanted out his contract with the show so the producers refused he made it hard for the rest of the season to play along

[@debrawolf8458]

This show brings comfort and it's funny.

[@karterares3064]

I guess Im asking randomly but does anybody know of a method to log back into an Instagram account?? I was stupid forgot the password. I would love any tricks you can offer me

[@axlnixon8955]

@Karter Ares Instablaster =)

[@helenlogsdon7822]

Agree

[@DaveyNY]

He did eventually smile, watch the very last moments when he pops back up into camera frame while Gene is horsing around with him. My gut feeling is either they had a bet that he couldn't go a whole show without smiling or he was just playing up to the camera.

[@rodneylanders4969]

Always hated how Gene picks on the contestants when they give a a bad answer. Can’t imagine how nervous I’d beans then to be booed after that. ? I think this was Richards last year on the show. Perhaps he was just tired of listening to Brett Sommers all the time. He looked sick and tired of life.

[@matthaddock1817]

Richard had a game show, Family Feud, he was hosting. He's the person who would most often be picked by contestants, especially women, in the Big Match Super Round.

[@voiceover-impressionist]

Never seen Richard so quiet.

[@maxcohen13]

This was around the time he was in a fight with producers of the show. On June 28, 1978 the "pick a star" format used in the Head-to-Head Match was replaced with the "Star Wheel", eliminating what effectively was Richard Dawson's "spotlight" feature. Dawson, dissatisfied with the change and more focused on his role as host of Family Feud, left the panel on Match Game a few weeks later. He didn't like where this show was going, that why he was nasty this time.

[@scrabtree1]

He smiled at 19:05 when he matched.

[@ericsloss4385]

Exactly!!!!

[@iand1122]

I saw Richard smile a few times.

[@DA90027]

He was also unhappy about that star wheel being implemented so the contestants couldn't just choose him but had to spin the wheel. I guess he was costing them too much money cuz so many won the jackpot. He felt slighted and it was a slap in the face.

[@crissrudd4554]

True though to be fair the wheel had not been introduced at this point.

[@halffasthaiku7526]

The others were jealous of him especially Brett. That's why the wheel happened.

[@hazelspirk9628]

Truely a great classic. So much fun, so many laughs.

[@ReturnofTheBunny]

Yeah, I figured. I've witnessed a few mis-timed automated credit squeezes since I started watching last year. Boy I wish I had been into Match Game 10 years ago, I'm kicking myself now for missing a marathon like that (and kicking myself even more for not being into it 11 years ago and missing Brett, Charles, and Betty on the CBS Early Show!).

[@crissrudd4554]

Just my opinion. I honestly don't think Richard was being nasty here. If anything I think he was being humorous albeit in a not so obvious way. Richard's mood was kinda in and out at this point, which only declined more once the wheel was added, that I think Rayburn decided to poke fun at it. If you skip back to episode 1220 Rayburn actually pokes fun when he sees Richard smiling. At one point Richard jokingly remarks 'I gotta go back to my evil ways'. Also check out Episode 1229 from the same week as this episode. Richard talks a bit more there and can be seen smiling during the Audience Match. Check out episodes 1234, 1235, and 1237 where he also seems to be in a rather good mood. :)

[@Werewolf0216]

I'm not seeing it. Richard doesn't strike me as particularly sour in this episode.

[@ericsloss4385]

He did smile when he matched his wet cement to her cement. So your description is 100% false. In the opening sequence, he didn't look too happy. But other than that, he was fine.

[@davidfallon6018]

One of the best TV games ever. Stars and host with great personalities

[@garrygriffy1866]

I’m not going until you smile... NO I’m not going until you smile SMILE

[@promptoargentum120]

I love this show

[@je9337]

We are all allowed to have "off" days!

[@je9337]

Sounded like he had a cold!

[@spuwho]

Did you notice how they compensated for Dawson by having the others spend more time with their answers? Elaine Joyce.....she is still alive. Has a thing for playrights after Bobby passed.

[@amazinggrace3538]

Best game show ever! Would be nice to see it again with today’s stars. Never be another Richard Dawson or Gene Rayburn.

[@ns4270railfan]

Maybe Richard was having a bad day for this episode. But when round two started, I really like that question about Dumb Donald having his smoke detector installed in his garage. I broke out in laughter with that one!

[@wh4193]

I said attic 😂😂😂

[@fastdude2002]

I said oven 🥴

[@grigorb.5221]

19:44 - Really GSN?

[@aspersive]

Actually, Richard does crack a tiny twitch of a smile at 19:08.

[@christopherlucas4620]

He obviously wanted off Match Game. His show was a hit by this point, he was tired of playing second banana on Match Game. He couldn’t immediately get out of his contract.

[@archybunker53]

Richard Dawson didn't want to be on Match Game anymore, because of his new show the Family Feud, he wasn't into Match Game anymore.

[@whatdidoursurveysay]

Fantastic episode, everybody was really on top of their game. Except Richard, of course, but I don't think he was unhappy as much as he was just plain bored.

[@crissrudd4554]

***** MG was in decline at this point due to the ratings change in '77. FF by now was the number one rated daytime game show and Richard wanted to focus on Feud. Call it ego if you will but he wanted to move on from MG and embrace his stardom.

[@stevedesmedt7321]

+crissrudd 4554

[@richarddawsonchannel]

@@crissrudd4554 you are exactly right. He asked to be let out of his contract with MG towards the end of 77 beginning of 78 and they refused. He was starting to burn out with all of the tapings from MG and then Feud. He also filmed a movie and made guest appearances on Fantasy Island and Love Boat. He gave them 5 good years on MG but it was time for him to move on. He wanted to focus on his show and there was nothing wrong with that.

[@goodusernameorwhat]

@@richarddawsonchannel it's crazy how it was okay im Hollywood to own actors. Like if you worked for CBS, you couldn't work for nbc or ABC. Same with the movie actors. no actor had control over their career.s back then, crazy. Humans are not a thing. It's sad because they cared about things.more than human beings. L

[@MatchGameProductions]

Mckinley wolf, this episode is famous for the end segment with Dawson refusing to smile. Nobody is picking on Dawson or hating on him. This is one of his rather stunning moments on the show where he refuses to give his friends in the audience what they wanted. A simple smile. That's all he needed to do!

[@wolfyhound]

+MatchGameProductions I thought it was hilarious. Especially when he just oozes down in the chair.

[@DJMikey242]

But GSN accidently did the credit crunch about 35 seconds before needed...

[@cinemaniac86]

MatchGameProductions What's so stunning about it? He was being acerbic in his refusal to smile. Dawson loves to kid around and he jokingly refused to smile. Your description labeling it as not one of his finer moments is utter garbage, because it negatively implies that he's being a dick. Don't take everything so seriously. He didn't, and he was better off than some of his bitter colleagues!

[@michaelnivens6267]

James De Roxtra , I concur

[@VicMartino]

Unfortunately the beginning part at the end where Gene confronted Richard regarding his lack of smiling was interrupted! He obviously was in a real bad mood over something that day. Dawson could be "dushie" at times. And "letchie" especially on The Family Feud! That kissing "routine" of his was a bit over done. He eventually appeared to be burnt out! But he was only human and for the most part he wasn't a bad guy and he did care about the contestants on Match Game and Family Feud!

[@abrahammorrison6374]

Lompoc is a small city in Santa Barbara County.

[@megamanj2004X]

Once Dawson left the Match to concentrate on Feud full-time, him and Gene (Rayburn) had quite the falling out from one another.

[@Lisa-di1wi]

Last night, I watched an episode where a contestant named Betty White picked the other Betty White instead of Richard Dawson. And now, this Margaret picked Elaine Joyce instead of him. Up until they got that huge wheel, everybody was picking Richard Dawson. This is how it should have been. After all, there were five other celebrities on there besides Richard Dawson.

[@crissrudd4554]

+Nan Fagan Many of the panelists went for the joke in regards to their responses to the questions. Richard, while also a comedian who loves to crack his wits and one liners, went for the logic of the game being to write what he thinks the contestant will say. He explains it in his 2010 interview with EmmyTVLegends. He would try to feed off of the vibes of the contestants in order to get a sense of what they would say and 9 out of 10 times he was usually right. Combine that with his success on Family Feud, he was easily the popular favorite on Match Game. When the wheel was added, Dawson's reign on MG was going downward. I dont think it was so much ego as much as it was he felt a blow to the contestants. Whats the fun in trying to win $5000 or double if you have to match people like Joyce Bulifant, Scoey Mitchell, Patti Deutsch, etc?? On both MG and FF, he wanted the contestants to win and never played favoritism. This caused a lot of friction with the producers on both shows as Dawson would sometimes question their moves in regards to the questions/answers.

[@johnvisconti3007]

amen to that

[@johnvisconti3007]

amen to that

[@bethdibartolomeo2042]

Richard may have been the popular choice, but I would rather have gone with my favorites than the status quo. Charles and Betty (among the regulars) would be my preferred choices for the extra points, but I'd include Richard and Brett for the Super Match. I have nothing against 'Richard, he's wonderful and funny, but as someone who doesn't like a lot of touching I found his kissing everybody creepy.

[@crissrudd4554]

Beth Di Bartolomeo He kissed people for luck. Thats all. As far as his being picked, thats not his choice, its the contestants choice. And what were the others expecting him to do? Give dumb answers so he wouldnt be picked anymore??

[@maynardsmoreland]

0:25 Could anyone look more unhappy on TV than Dawson at this time?

[@danielryan9930]

It’s worse when he got the dark glasses

[@jackies961]

He had an eye infection

[@michaelnivens6267]

way to go , Elaine !!!

[@bethe192]

love the title, then the stupid ad you put in RIGHT AT THE MOMENT DESCRIBED. Great work - 👿

[@davewollenberg1518]

I wonder if Elaine Joyce and Joyce Bulifant, ever appeared on the same panel.

[@gregorylincoln5331]

Gene is also in a weird mood. He stumbles through the whole episode and continually tries to make himself feel important, though in jest. Probably he was tense because of Richard's mood and feelings of resentment towards the show. And that's why Gene tried to make Richard smile at the end, because he was trying to break Richard's spell.

[@nestorsuan2182]

Great job Elaine!

[@matthaddock1817]

Yeah, good for Elaine, and the contestant who wisely picked her instead of Richard, just because of Richard's attitude and mood. Hate to see him give the contestant a bite rather than a kiss even if that wouldn't really happen. Yikes.

[@jerdog71]

poor richard

[@crissrudd4554]

I'll vouch for that!!

[@revinevan87]

Little does Brett know, fortune cookies are an American invention

[@johnvisconti3007]

Brett knows very little about everything, except that irritating cackle of a laugh she has

[@johnvisconti3007]

Brett knows very little about everything, except that irritating cackle of a laugh she has

[@danicegewiss862]

Apparently the audience and Betty didn't know either.

[@jimmxxx685]

No fan of Brett, loved the show watching 74-75-76-77-78 reruns. Understood American invention, buttttt how many American restaurants do you eat at that give you a fortune cookie! I selected fortune cookie also, not thinking about history, but more of what’s common in Chinese American restaurants.

[@plushbatfan]

99% of the contestants (prior to '78) have chosen Richard as a face-to-face match.

[@garrettsimms-rowe8531]

Such an odd time for GSN to do a credit crunch

[@ballzinthepocket]

So .. SAD .. they are all dead (except for betty White and Elain Joyce).

[@ballzinthepocket]

MadelineTopper Thank you Dear !

[@drewandjeffers5695]

Bob Barker is also alive don't forget he was on the show as a special guest, and a short lived panelist on Match Game 78 since Richard Dawson left the show, even though he was hosting Family Feud.

[@BugzKiller]

OMG! Elaine Joyce!!

[@WILDCHILDNJ]

do know the exact air date? i always wondered if his bad mood was due to his friend Bob Cranes murder on 6.29.78

[@crissrudd4554]

I think this aired before that. His last MG appearance aired in August and that was at least 50 some episodes after this. Keep in mind these are taped in advance as well so each episode aired roughly a month or so after taping.

[@richardhardesty586]

According to the Match Game episode guide available online, this episode was taped on April 29, 1978, two months before Crane's murder. Dawson taped his last episode around June 25, 1978, a few days before Crane's murder. markgoodson.fandom.com/wiki/Match_Game/Episode_Guide

[@teriwarzeka4948]

This was a great show why don't they still have it on TV? I'm sure there's enough people that would play???

[@crissrudd4554]

It's on GSN 8-9pm on weekdays

[@maristella287]

The new show is on and hosted by Alec Baldwin. It is horrible. Alec does not give a hoot about the contestants or anyone there.

[@LarryTaint-qn8pd]

Gene's 6' 1" tall, that girl must be about 6' 4" tall.

[@crissrudd4554]

I think 'nasty' is too harsh a word. Perhaps withdrawn is better. At least he sorta cracked a joke during the first audience match.

[@jalenbuchinski9344]

love match game

[@paullarue2010]

Gene Rayburn forced him to smile. Why did he do that?

[@danicegewiss862]

The audience requested it. It's not shown here, but there is a video showing this. He wouldn't do it for them.

[@IcouldBNE1]

He does look depressed, or tired. Must of been working too hard on family feud.

[@Sbaxter1989]

No, he was upset that they brought in the wheel to do the final match, because people always picked him, so he was offended I suppose, then left the show eventually.

[@richarddawsonchannel]

@@Sbaxter1989 the wheel was not on this episode though. He did not like the wheel but that is not why he left MG. He asked to be let out of his contract towards the end of 77 beginning of 78 and they refused to let him out of his contract. He was tired from taping Feud and MG not to mention doing a movie and making other appearances on Love Boat and Fantasy Island. He wanted to focus his energy to his show. Nothing wrong with that. He gave them 5 good years and wanted to move on.

[@antster1983]

3:29 possibly the only time David Doyle came up with a sensible answer! Shame he didn't match... Out of interest, do you have the episode of Match Game with David Doyle that has this question and "Too Hot For TV" answer? GR: Marvin said... "I just married a school teacher and you know what? On our honeymoon she gave me a ___________" DD: She gave him an oral exam!

[@ReturnofTheBunny]

I don't know what annoys me more, Richard's attitude or GSN's mis-timed credit squeeze (credit squeezes suck in general but this was just ridiculous. Was this when they still had an actual human running things or a computer?).

[@darrinh.2322]

how is that man's tie tied ?? looks like just folded over and stuffed into his shirt

[@ChrisBakerauthor]

Can we get this clip without GSN ruining it with their stupid promos?

[@MatchGameProductions]

Christopher Baker This was a very old upload. Are you familiar with how to use the playlists? kzbin.info/www/bejne/r36pY6qjnceXqac

[@airwolf612]

Is Brett Somers related to Susan Somers?

[@jeffclement2979]

Father

[@dontpickonme]

They're both women.

[@helenlogsdon7822]

⁠hehe

[@Lisa-di1wi]

I don't know why the contestants picked Richard Dawson over the other celebrities for the Super Match. Just by looking at him, he seemed like an unhappy person. He probably was exhausted doing Family Feud and The Match Game at the same time. He was also a very private person as well.

[@TiberiousNeruda]

They kept picking him because he was actually good at the game and wanted to see the contestants win. He was a sharp wit and knew when to be silly and when to be serious, and had a way to quickly get a feel for the kind of person the contestants were so he could match them when it counted most. Of course, the contestants aren't dumb and they want to win the money too, so naturally they'd take the option that would grant them the best opportunity at doing so. That just happened to mean "Pick Richard if you want to win" became the dominant strategy that players were happy to exploit. Sure, it sucked for the other panelists, but especially for Brett and Charles, all they had to do in order to get more chances was to get better at the game. Instead, they whined and got the wheel to make it essentially random. I can tell that didn't go over well with either the players or Dawson.

[@antster1983]

Sorry I don't have any production numbers, but the set is the rebuilt one used between 1978-82.

[@ChrisBakerauthor]

Stupid GSN cut out the part when the actually asks him. They had to show their stupid promos instead. Match Game: Smile!!!

[@whatdidoursurveysay]

Chris Baker At least they cut back to the show after showing their promo. They don't even do that anymore.

[@DJMikey242]

+Chris Baker And look at the size of the show in the credits. GSN has dropped the size to about 5%.

[@DannyBkyn]

Dawson was doing family Feud by this time. CBS wouldn't let him out his contract, so he acted like a spoiled brat to get back at them. He was a raging jerk. He actually had the producers of Family Feud banned from the set - he was so popular that he had that power. He was an asshole - on this and many other episodes of MG, it's obvious his attitude is bringing the whole show down.

[@ericpurkey7502]

+Daniel Seib the producers of Match game did finally let him go if would been me I would have just released him from his contract when he asked. Unhappy Panelists are not good for panel game shows.

[@oldiesgeek5156]

+Eric Purkey whenever i hear stories like this, it makes me wonder why shows insist the celebs sign contracts in the first place. it's like they're not worth the paper they're written on. CBS was literally forced to let Richard go due to his behavior. but in the end, CBS also had the right to sue Richard in my opinion. whether they did or not i don't know.

[@dirgesinthedark5637]

I believe he left not long after this

[@crissrudd4554]

DIRGES DARK Last episode was #1285

[@ronaldsteele6151]

Y'all should try the new ones like 2012, bunch of dummies. I can't watch more than 2 before I go crazy.

[@elizabethwilcox6490]

I do not like the 2020 show at all..

[@promptoargentum120]

it awesome

[@sonicboy678]

Fortune cookies are actually not Chinese, but Japanese.

[@cathyakins3995]

Richard must of had reason we don't know about.

[@jackfitzpatrick8173]

He was good...good as Newkirk and good on Match Game...but his ego was out of control.

[@joefagan6244]

Doing family feud as well.

[@valdezserg]

Margaret and Elaine are Gorgeous!!!

[@dannyhill8797]

i like Margaret a lot - she's got something of a spine..i like that!!....

[@allisons3663]

GSN is so annoying with their interruptions, always plugging one of their shows.

[@frankcook4959]

I hated the way Gameshow Network would always do credit crunches at the end. That's one thing I love about watching these classic shows on Buzzr. They don't do that.

[@clayz1]

David Doyle’s voice is as unpleasant here as it was in Chuck’s Angels.

[@matthaddock1817]

Charlie's Angels, although Chuck is nickname for Charlie.

[@Crockerish]

This show has Elaine,yum,I wonder what she looks like today??

[@versatilians]

I love me some 1970s Elaine Joyce! Sadly, it seems she's had all kinds of facial surgeries over the years and looks almost as plastic as Joan Rivers. She's somewhere in her 60s now. But, I imagine, she would look much better and naturally beautiful for an older woman had she not had all the cutting and chopping done to her face. :(

[@markread7333]

Margaret had a large Adam’s apple…

[@ellDiavolo666]

and this is so rare - a person in the dummy seat did a face-to-face and matched

[@nicholasblalock8596]

ell diavolo Fannie and Betty did alright in chair 6 however the dummy seat was great for immature people like Joyce Bullifant and Marcia Wallace

[@neilm2794]

I just don’t have any tolerance for people who show up for work and not give an effort. Dawson was very lucky that Goodson hired him for Family Feud; apparently William Shatner was his first choice, but Dawson’s agent basically twisted Goodson’s arm to give Dawson the job. He got big ratings then cast Match Game adrift.

[@dannydougin3925]

Never could stand Richard... So into himself.

[@sandythomas8911]

Sorry, not. Into yourself much?

[@danicegewiss862]

Hollywood and DC are full of people like that.

[@matthaddock1817]

@@danicegewiss862 I hear ya. Word of advice: never move either of those two. The worst you can do, like what Richard did, was show off your bitter and obnoxious attitude.

[@ts.elliot5870]

You were there huh? Gene, Richard, Charles and Ira remained friendly. It was business. Brett, the person with the least amount of talent caused a lot of division. She considered herself an equal when in reality she was a bit player. The show had been on top, through some poor decisions it was on its way down. None of the stars had any input on the changes, but that doesn't mean that didn't have feelings about the changes. Richard had done three pilots that didn't click. He finally had a vehicle that worked and he was ready to move on. MG couldn't find a replacement and they wanted to keep Richard to stop the slide in ratings. It wasn't going to last and unfortunately the end was public and messy. It was a great run and was never the same without him.

[@r.c.7762]

Dawson was a jerk.

[@kingramaxi7065]

Booze and Cocaine made for awesome 70's game shows

[@dannyhill8797]

the ''Saturday Night Live'' of daytime telly....

[@nestorsuan2182]

Richard just wants to meet all the women for this show for all the years he was involved !! that's why he is always an asshole...plus he never wins all the time … however, these women pick him no matter one …. It was great Elaine who won for her !!

[@crissrudd4554]

‘Richard was always an asshole’ says a guy who’s made repeated Richard Dawson hate comments on many videos. Coincidence?? I think not.

[@jennygreen3994]

TRUMP FOR PRESIDENT 2020. 2020. 2020 😊❤😊 QUARANTINE 🍉🍋🍒🍇🍋🍉🍒🍇🍋

[@wh4193]

Nope. This isn't the place for politics.