Password Plus: Kirstie Alley and Lucille Ball

This is one player who was one of the biggest stars on film.

[@Sheldonwh]

Kirstie Alley isn't on this show by accident. Actors' publicists regularly booked them on game shows to get them some exposure. I've seen episodes of "The Dating Game" with people like Tom Selleck and Robin Williams, let's not forget that time when Courtney Cox was "spontaneously" pulled up on stage to dance with Bruce Springsteen in his music video. Nothing you see in Hollywood is real, kids. Even those "shocking" news stories are all planted to get attention.

[@brookehanley3659]

And as I mentioned, Dick Martin was on the panel on both game shows with Kirstie Alley. This one and he was a panelist on Match Game when she was on. No coincidence IMO.

[@markzappasodi]

NotYourBusiness : I read not too long ago that The Dating Game featured a lot of local, unemployed comediens on their show. THAT'S why s lot of these guys appeared over the top. They also went for the free meals provided.

[@ParkerJoey]

I love how confident Kirstie is (and not intimidated by Lucy).

[@MrsPeebles62]

Kirstie made the whole game show circuit, she was on the Match Game and the Dating Game too.

[@LiberalsArePoop]

Most likely her agent pulled lots of strings to get her on these shows. This looks like grooming - getting her used to being in front of the camera before she moves on to bigger projects.

[@brookehanley3659]

Drugs.

[@gkundo]

Funny how this is titled for Kirstie Alley as one of the biggest stars... yet... Lucille Ball, the one and only from I LOVE LUCY, is right there. lol

[@eileensmith7691]

Just looked up Kirstie's biography and found out that she was an interior decorator at this time and became known by a part in a star trek movie in the eighties.

[@christopherthorkon3997]

+Eileen Smith Saavik in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. It was a big break for her and made her a star the world over.

[@tasaab]

BTW this is when Kristie was posing as a normal person, when she was really trying to break into who business. Watch her approach here, especially her introduction, totally pre-rehearsed and written out, as if she was a "lucky" person that got on a game show.

[@grievousangel09]

Just to be seated next to Lucy. Not to mention playing a game show with her!

[@kyolym]

she looks like Gilda Radner!

[@DucNguyen0131]

Kirstie Alley was the Password Plus/Match Game equivalent to Vanna White on The Price is Right by the year 1980.

[@MissLilRedRooster]

Wow, I got rather sad there for a moment, since The Ponderosa Ranch closed years ago. I used to love visiting there for the pancake breakfasts and hay rides when I was a kid.

[@tomryan4968]

Dick Martin was a panelist on her Match Game appearance, as was Betty White (Mrs. Ludden). Showbiz synchronicity.

[@lisaaugustin3223]

kirstie has the thickest hair, i've ever seen!!!!

[@emnem100]

The host was Allen Ludden who was married to Betty White from 1963 until his death in 1981 :)

[@chickennugget1027]

both lucy and kirstie are very intelligent!

[@tomitstube]

kirstie was also on matchgame a year before, she seemed so comfortable in front of the camera on each show, and quick as a whip. she's already 29 yrs old in this, didn't start her acting career until her early 30's. (wiki)

[@tomitstube]

trha2222 i think they meant professionally.

[@TacomaPaul]

Kirstie was also on a Match Game. (should be listed over to the right) >>>

[@miss_midge_]

And, she is. :-).

[@JWCinPDX]

I think Kirstie Alley must have made the rounds of the game shows. I've seen other old shows where she played as other than the celebrity contestant.

[@AutumnExplore]

Have a look at the other Dick Martin Password Plus episodes. They filmed a week's worth of shows in the same day, and he didn't change his suit. Lucy changed her outfits and Allen Ludden changed his suits though.

[@ncfeline1959]

This is truly great

[@laustcawz]

Kirstie was on "Match Game", too.

[@themotownboy1]

I think this shows that lesser known actors were regularly and intentionally used as contestants on game shows.

[@summerkisses95]

Lucille Ball and Dick Martin? Betty White has been on here too. Pretty big stars to me

[@davidrbecken]

Agents used shows like this to get their clients some attention. Many went on to become famous. A gal from Shreveport, where I live, was on The New Dating Game in 1968. She was not known, and the other contestant was Sally Field, who was very young, but known. Karen Carlson won a date with Robert Vaughn, and after that show she began being cast in shows and movies. She played Robert Redford's wife in the movie "The Candidate" and had roles on Dallas and In The Heat Of The Night. She also married David Soul, who starred on Starsky and Hutch. I imagine Kristie moved to LA to become an actress, but she didnt mention that on here. Maybe her agent wanted her to be 'discovered' from the show?

[@brookehanley3659]

They meant the contestants. Aspiring actors actresses. Interesting when Kirstie Alley was on Match Game Dick Martin was also on the panel. He may have known her or her agent. Inside jobs. I think you are right that lesser known actors were players on game shows. Back then we never knew! On Match Game they said Kirstie was an interior designer as her line of work.

[@deydraniadiancecht8298]

They mean Kirstie Alley. The contestant.

[@josephustitusflavius1372]

Sara Rattai I think he was pertaining to the regular people who plays and gets partnered with a famous/well-known celebrity contestant of the day. Kirstie Alley was just starting her career in showbusiness during this time. She was a regular player for this episode. Nobody knows her yet.

[@alecsandrada973]

Kirstie is really smart woahh

[@Tubewings]

Actually, Kirstie was not one of the original cast members of "Cheers". In fact, she had just made her motion picture debut (a little movie called "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan") several months before the show debuted. She joined "Cheers" at the start of the sixth season in 1987.

[@VeryunOfficialTravelGuides]

I didn't realize Kirstie Alley is that old!

[@manley1983]

Go, Kirstie!

[@BlackwoodCompany]

We do remember that.

[@ksteiger]

Kirstie's voice hadn't changed yet...

[@phillipsmom6252]

Ken Steiger ...She was a smoker. Not enough smoking years behind her yet.

[@kristabrewer9363]

so I don't know if Kristy was on Match Game first or Password, but Dick Martin didn't seem to remember her on either show

[@TheBraveIntrovert]

Bwaah! Thats the year I was born.

[@eileensmith7691]

Kirstie Alley wasn't discovered as yet. Maybe she was from this.

[@CrimsonCatacombs]

Just came here after seeing Dick and Kirstie on Match Game. Lucy

[@hotsweetyboy]

isn't that Lucy form " i love Lucy?"

[@alanpeterson6224]

Kirstie seems intelligent. Strange that she became a scientologist. must be a short in her brain somewhere.

[@JohnnyBGood103170]

Ms. Lucy was correct in stating Genealogy. Family Tree is a Lamen Term for Genealogy. They needed a judge like Alex does on Jeopardy. Could be why the show isn't on the air?

[@robertdiamondoil2384]

I love Lucy and I love Kristie

[@neonlightsbam321]

Lucy

[@ksjoyjespeace]

Wichita,Ks. and Cats ...yipeeeee-Kirstie-ee!!!

[@fisher10000]

@hotsweetyboy Yup, that's the late, great, Lucille Ball!

[@johnlamphier9812]

document means the same thing as chart. no one said that

[@chrismc410]

She was a regular player in this? Didnt know that.

[@taniahymanb]

what year was this?

[@sweiland75]

When did this air? imdb seems to be missing her credit for her appearance

[@537garfield]

What year was this from? It had to be pre-1989.

[@MrLittleman606]

Lucy looks so mad D=

[@iChristinaGina]

kristie alley met lucille ball :'(

[@danbarker3846]

@Tubeings, did Kirstie replace Shelley Long on Cheers in 1987?

[@MrVidaeverdade]

Dan Barker Yes

[@kduideo]

she looked so HEALTHY and slim.

[@madamek4578]

She smokes/smoked.

[@brookehanley3659]

She does but had a big rear end always. Got bigger on Cheers.

[@gajaga789]

So Kirtstie Alley is a no one here?! Funny how that worked out.

[@travis7310]

If you were to add Lucy's name to the title, this video would get more views. Just sayin'!

[@paladin313]

How was it that she got on this AND the Match Game, and what managed to get her into show business?

[@Mascro1977]

in the 80's agents were getting their clients game show spots to be seen

[@dontellgucci1117]

trha2222 lol I love you. Actors used the Dating Game to be seen as well

[@kristabrewer9363]

STOP PICKING ON KRISTY ALLEY!!

[@cards1985]

Whatever happened to Barbara?

[@timothyp7300]

she went on to become a scientologist

[@puccamu]

She's stuck in the Upside Down. Everyone made a big fuss about Will but no one cared about Barb. (Sorry couldn't help it.)

[@LisaDawnn]

Three thoughts crossed my mind while watching this. One; Lucy looks very unhappy. Two; people back then weren't as quick-witted as they are now and three; Kirstie is very sharp.

[@annettemgilmore]

Its funny watching lucys expressions, you would think her mad if you didnt know her from the I LOVE LUCY shows. coupled with not aging well. I do love lucy, but her deep bassed voice, she didnt have during her youth, possibly heavy smoker? Her sense of humour...like the brits maybe.

[@themurph2000]

She actually was on a very short-lived drama on ABC just after her ST appearance. Don't remember the name, but she was part of a government team who recruited ordinary people to do spy work based on their skill set. Think Leverage with non-crooks. And not as funny. And lame plots. Actually, I still don't know how that show got to air. It sucked

[@tpir1972]

It'd be 2 years before she went onto Cheers in 1981.

[@catholicpriest1]

Was Alan Ludden ill with cancer at this time?

[@kurtkauffman4326]

Not quite yet he wasn't.

[@chrispritchett2946]

kirstie has a good personality but she is not that photogenic, not that attractive. I admire her but think she is probably difficult to get along with.

[@elizabethroberto7862]

+Chris Pritchett she also played in a little show called...... "Cheers" (1982-1993)

[@Janybody17]

what year was this?