Match Game 78 (Episode 1146) (Gene Celebrates 50 Years "On Air" on CBS)

Gene wears a tuxedo today in honor of CBS celebrates 50 years of radio and television.
David Doyle, Brett Somers, Charles Nelson Reilly, Didi Conn, Richard Dawson, and Fannie Flagg

[@scottm.franklinnc7942]

Dee Dee is such a bubbly ray of sunshine 😊

[@robertdubs9466]

Growing up in the 90's, I knew her as Stacy Jones on the PBS Series 'Shining Time Station', which also starred, first Ringo Starr, and later George Carlin as the magical mystical Mr. Conductor.

[@kevansf]

H/H match update and preview of the week ahead: ... This is now week 230 of our favorite classic game show (the show ends with week 291 and episode number 1455). These episodes were taped on December 11, 1977, and originally aired in late January and early February of 1978 (Jan. 31 to Feb. 3 and Feb 6). Our stalwart regulars are all in their places with bright, shiny faces, and this time they're joined by these three familiar panelists: ~~~Semi-regular Fannie Flagg is back after two weeks off for her 73rd week (of 90). Fannie's H/H track record is marvelous at 48.5% (16 wins in 33 attempts). ~~~David Doyle returns for his 2nd week (of 8 total). David made his MG debut the week of 1111-1115 without being chosen to answer a head-to-head question. ~~~Last but not least, Didi Conn joins the fun for her second and final week. We met Didi as a panelist in episodes 821-825. She wasn't called on for a H/H in her debut week either. King Richard was the unanimous choice for the H/H again last week, playing all five questions, matching four of them. Reviewing the past 84 weeks, Richard has played *361* times. Everyone else combined played *54* times. (Charles had 17 opportunities, Brett 13, Fannie 13, Betty 3, Lynn Deerfield 1, Gary Burghoff 1, Rosemary Forsyth 1, Nipsey Russell 1, Meg Bennett 1, Scoey Mitchell 1, Trish Stewart 1, and Marcia Wallace 1.) Percentage-wise, Richard has answered an amazing *87.0%* of all the H/H questions over these past 84 weeks. Richard starts the week off with a very good track record, having matched 42.2% of his H/H questions, ever-so-slightly behind Brett's accuracy score (42.3%), and further behind Fannie's (48.5%) and Charles's (48.6%). Well, judging from the past, there's very little chance of seeing anyone but Richard play the H/H this week, but I can still hope! Nothing against Richard who does well at the H/H, but it's more interesting and exciting to see someone else have a shot at it once in a while, and since everyone else has actually done a better job of matching in the past, it doesn't seem like a sacrifice to call on them once in a while. I always point to the week of episodes 851-855 as a perfect example of how fun and exciting the head-to-head match could (and should) be, with *four different celebs* all scoring matches that week! - Betty 1/2, Richard 1/2, Charles 1/2, Brett 1/1 Here we go with another ______ week of fun and games with Match Game '78! ~~~Today's action: Fannie's miraculous "Bale of Hay" saves our champ and sends the game to a tie-breaker. (My answer to that question was "A Pat on the Rump.") And Brett's "Horseshoe" was enough for her to win the tie-breaker and earn a second Super-Match. *Today's audience match question: "Birds________"* (My thoughts: Of a feather, Nest, and the Bees) The celebs: Richard (and the bees), Fannie (of a feather), Charles (nest) - Wow! I always put my answers done while the video is paused. It's not too often that I come up with the same exact three answers as the panel! The choice: And the Bees The answers: Nest, Of a Feather, And the Bees (I'm a little surprised that one's on top!) Well, our champion tried with Richard last time but didn't match. I still expect she'll choose him again. This is Richard's 15th consecutive H/H attempt. Stats: Richard has matched 131 of his 302 most recent attempts (43.4%), 70 of his last 162 attempts (43.2%), 51 of his last 118 attempts (43.2%), 23 of his past 54 attempts (42.6%), and 9 of his past 27 attempts (33.3%). His overall success rate is *42.2%* and this is his 780th attempt so far. For the sake of comparison: Charles has matched 34 of his 70 attempts (48.6%), Fannie has matched 16 of her 33 attempts (48.5%), Brett has matched 30 of her 71 attempts (42.3%), and Richard has matched 329 of his 779 attempts (42.2%). Neither David Doyle nor Didi Conn has yet answered a H/H question. *Today's H/H question: "________of Gas"* (This sounds easy to me. Gallon of Gas. Tank of gas is a distant second choice. I guess Price of Gas might be a reasonable thought too, but I'll stick with Gallon.) Richard contemplates for a second before writing. The champion doesn't seem to be happy with this question either. Hmm. I wonder what answers she's considering? With a glance to Fannie, King Richard files his card. Our champion says "Out" of gas. Hmm. It hadn't occurred to me, but it doesn't sound bad at all. I think the audience was almost equally mixed between applause and disappointed aws. Something about Richard's expression makes me think he matched. Let's see... Yes, he did! "Out" of gas. Richard scores his 330th H/H match today. *And I need to rearrange the leader board for the third day in a row, now that Richard has clawed back ahead of Brett yet again.* ~~~Here's our updated leader board showing the 11 celebs with at least 3 H/H matches, ranked by accuracy: (An asterisk before a celebrity's name signifies that she has "retired" from the show and her H/H stats are now complete.) (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). Betty - 50.0% (19 wins in 38 attempts). Charles - 48.6% (34 wins in 70 attempts). Fannie - 48.5% (16 wins in 33 attempts). (*)Jo Ann Pflug - 44.4% (8 wins in 18 attempts). Richard - 42.3% (330 wins in 780 attempts). 42.3076% Brett - 42.3% (30 wins in 71 attempts). 42.2535% Bert Convy - 33.3% (5 wins in 15 attempts). *These stats include every head-to-head match from episode 1 through 1146, excluding the missing/damaged/unavailable episodes: 31, 32, 33, 311, 312, 313, 324, 325, 645, 910, 1024, 1025, 1026, 1027, 1028, 1029, and 1030. *Also, note that episode 849 was never produced. (These stats do, however, include the H/H results of missing episode 968 as those results were revealed in episode 969. Note: There was no H/H in missing episode 1035, as we learn in 1036.)

[@crissrudd4554]

For those who are interested, Gene does ask Didi about Grease in Episode 1148! :)

[@Tre404]

Richard was always doing things like this; he had a good heart.

[@markgaston4416]

Great matching on “Out of gas”, Richard. Incredible how he could hit the home run as frequently as he did, given his volume of selections!

[@bluebear1985]

There was another movie that Didi Conn did that year that did alright at the box office. You probably know which one that is.

[@MatchGameProductions]

January of 1978. Richard already left Match Game by the time Bob Crane was murdered.

[@lynbaker3973]

wonderful gesture by RICHARD - when contestant crying she won --- RICHARD goes for tissues - a caring gesture :)

[@Tubewings]

The special Gene is referring to was "CBS: On the Air", which was a week-long special dedicated to the golden anniversary of the Columbia Broadcasting System. They must have taped the opening with the numerous CBS stars on the same day as this Match Game episode.

[@paullarue2010]

Lynn Wells shed tears of joy? It's ok to cry.

[@NEPatsFan]

I think she looks a lot like Elisabeth Shue. When i watch these old game shows I always wonder where they are today. Unless they were really old. then I assume they are no longer with us.

[@rlrshepherdstown]

Gene reminds of him back in the 60s Of The Match Game NBC .

[@dannyhill8797]

saw the first episode of ''Match Game'' from NBC: didn't know it was done in New York, as opposed to this incarnation out of Hollywood....

[@landrykkb]

CBS celebrated 50 years on the air in 1978 while I celebrated my 5th birthday on April 14th of that year.

[@scottm.franklinnc7942]

I joined the Navy in June and went to basic/boot camp on July 1 1978

[@bluebear1985]

Grease is the word!

[@shellshock36]

Anyone who loves Match Game should be given citizenship to Nerdo Crumbezia. LOL

[@dannyhill8797]

there's something about contestant Lynn that reminds me of Bonnie Franklin...and i think Lynn's a cutie....

[@lynbaker3973]

didi said : " you light up my life" movie

[@michaelnivens6267]

Richard is incredible

[@shaywhite172]

1978,and yes Richard Dawson left The Match Game,The Firm won the triple crown and the tragic murder of the late Bob Crane also happened.

[@colonelpotter]

MadelineTopper Affirmed Was the winner of the triple crown.

[@dannyhill8797]

i thought ''The Firm'' didn't come out until 1993 - unless there's been another movie with that same title.....

[@marywoodruff6640]

One of the things I've realized is that there was so much more to contestants picking Richard than a right answer -- there were plenty of times he wasn't right. It was the fact he wanted to give, and cared about GIVING a right answer and that caring seemed genuine. His gesture with the tissue spoke volumes. It was not something he had to do.

[@SweptAway529]

Mayo is a good, natural conditioner for the hair!!

[@scottm.franklinnc7942]

Really? on both ..have never heard of that🤔

[@smittykins]

I actually thought of "bumpers" for the first question. :p

[@robertbrauer6718]

What time of year was this episode taped? Richard's reference to "Hogan's Heroes" may have been somewhat grim, given that Bob Crane was murdered on June 29.

[@dakotalovett2450]

Interesting fact; Richard Dawson introduced Richard Carpenter (Bob Crane’s alleged murderer) to Bob Crane! Reportedly Richard wouldn’t publicly talk about the Crane/Carpenter connection; Crane’s case is still considered open while Carpenter was found innocent years later (although many feel that Carpenter did it and the prosecution didn’t prove their case).

[@dakotalovett2450]

John Carpenter

[@shoredude2]

For Birds -----, I would have said HIT.

[@Tubewings]

I solved my problems and I see the light. We gotta plug and think, we gotta think it right. There ain't no danger we can go to far. We start believing now that we can be who we are.

[@crissrudd4554]

he left in august 78 i believe

[@antster1983]

Richard Dawson's final appearance was in episode 1285, first TX Wednesday 23rd August 1978. Most likely recorded in June or early July 1978.

[@dorothyjohnson3728]

Alleluia!

[@ts.elliot5870]

​@@dorothyjohnson3728you're happy for the end of the show? Bless your little heart.

[@Tre404]

At 10:42 ... saved by the "belle." ;-) (...or the bale!)

[@paullarue2010]

CBS is still around.

[@johnstewart314]

Is that contestant REALLY a 911 dispatcher? She seems WAAAY too emotional !! I'm glad she wasn't dispatching when I was on Rescue Company 1. Ah, well, I guess that's pretty much typical for California. Sheesh !!

[@lynbaker3973]

i think RICHARD DAWSON 's last show was in march or april of 1978 - am i right?

[@angelokontogonis871]

Where's episode 1147?

[@MatchGameProductions]

It's not posted yet. It would be good to follow along with how the episodes are going. I am going in order right now. We are in 1977 at the current moment!

[@angelokontogonis871]

MatchGameProductions I watched the videos from 77 that you posted already. That's why I'm on 78.

[@MatchGameProductions]

Angelo Kontogonis You have watched all the 1976 and 1977 shows already? In the immortal words of Brett Somers "Good Gravy Marie"

[@angelokontogonis871]

MatchGameProductions Only the ones you have posted.

[@antster1983]

He's going back to the beginning of the CBS run on New Year's Day 2018, back to Match Game 73 Episode 1 and working his way up.

[@bOembastiCc]

where is Ms Betty White?

[@dorothyjohnson3728]

Oh Brett grow up up. She acted like such an immature little 16 yr. old girl. Waving the card like that, & always talking abt encino. She wishes! And Dawson thinks it’s his show always tells Gene what to do. Brett- a comedian?? Come on Fannie.

[@ts.elliot5870]

Wow! It'll be OK. Take two aspiring and log off for awhile.