Strike A Match - Rare Game Show Pilot

It was a sensation on AOL but when Merv tried to take his wife's idea of Strike A Match to TV, no one matched and the board went back! ;) Now you can see it in all its glory. Should it have sold? Let me know in the comments below. And as always, enjoy!
Go behind the scenes with TV and radio legend Wink Martindale!
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[@poppopw5305]

The theme music was one of the prize cues on "Wheel" during the contestant shopping years. Interesting game

[@georgef551]

Was about to say the same thing, until I saw your post.

[@LeoVargas94Oficial]

Yep, titled "Struttin' on Sunset".

[@wecantfightgravity]

Besides a WOF prize cue being used as the theme song, the WOF name tags for contestants were even used here.

[@BenJabituya]

Randy Hamilton. I've heard that name before. He was the emcee of the dance show "Videopolis" on The Disney Channel.

[@hoagie1978]

He also hosted in the early days of Nickelodeon a teen show called " America Goes Bananaz" (1978-1980). Later he hosted "Kids Are People Too" in the early 80's.

[@johnd8167]

I recognize the host. Randy was an actor on the daytime drama "Texas" (a short-lived spinoff of "Another World"). I don't know if he's made any career moves besides this pilot.

[@MMB18abel]

I remember he made an appearance on THE DUKES OF HAZZARD as Luke Duke's (Tom Wopat) brother. I believe he did record a few country albums but never reached Garth Brooks territory.

[@hoagie1978]

He also hosted (after the departure of Michael Young) a teen show in the early days of Nickelodeon called " America Goes Bananaz" 1978-1980. When Michael Young left the show " Kids Are People Too" in 1981....Randy was brought in to replace him again.

[@accampbell]

This is a format that could still hit the air and work. It's quite enjoyable and dang it's fast.

[@DLCOrganization]

Now, THIS... is what you call a GAME SHOW concept!

[@blind_t2]

well whoa! good to see you here my dude!

[@GameShowFanMan]

Thank you for sharing this, Wink! I really like this pilot. I could see this getting at least a season, maybe not as a network show. But this would work as either a USA or a CBN/Family Channel show with lower stakes.

[@samuelfouther2882]

I don't know how you do it. But you're truly the King of Game Shows. I've been a fan of you since the Tic-Tac days. And I'm still a fan. Thank you for this post.

[@willmack5909]

Somewhat similar to the Orson Bean 1985 Concentration Pilot. Love the Wheel of Fortune sound effects and shopping music cues. Randy would have been an excellent game show emcee. He had been a soap opera actor on NBC's "Texas" which ran from August 4, 1980 - December 31, 1982 (wow coming up on 40 years since it was axed!) Wink, as always thank you very much for these awesome gems. And a very belated Happy Birthday to you too.

[@howtube61]

Randy Hamilton was the third and final host of ABC's Kids Are People Too.

[@jackdelorenzo8498]

I enjoyed this immensely! The gameplay is challenging enough. It's a shame it didn't pick up. Was there ever something like this in another part of the world? Regardless, keep up the Great work! Looking forward to the next video!

[@smartguy39]

I know the third round of the British game show Only Connect is basically the same as the final round here, only with a 4x4 wall (and four connections of four) instead of a 3x3 wall.

[@Englishham]

What I love about all these pilots is that there is already a champ

[@billbell48]

I feel like this could have earned itself a season. It wasn’t the worst, by all means. A little dull, but not as bad as some of the others out there. Thanks for the share!

[@kelperdude]

The 'ran out of time' seemed to be a bit subjective.

[@Markwah11]

Great pilot!

[@giovannia5685]

Another interesting pilot; thanks for sharing, Wink! Some takeaways: Another Merv Griffin pilot using a Wheel of Fortune cue; this time it’s Struttin’ on Sunset. James Bradley is once again the announcer, like he has been for lots of Merv’s pilots. Set’s pretty creative, Merv once again opting for Red/Yellow/Green. Randy Hamilton’s hosting is a bit wooden. I definitely wish this game and Boxerjam was still around so I could understand the gameplay more.

[@jnadle1]

They should've gotten Bob Goen in instead.

[@andrewschroy6368]

@@jnadle1 Actually, I could've pictured "K.O. from G.O." himself, Kevin O'Connell, hosting it, too.

[@herezmikey4013]

Interesting game. I loved the bonus round where there was an answer that could fit into more than one category so you have to be careful with that.

[@FrankTeddy2011]

Thanks, Wink! I enjoyed this! The Hawaii Five-O theme at 6:30 ! 🌴 Not a bad concept, but the repetitive matching gets stale rather quick. Randy might’ve grown on me as host, but I’d much prefer someone who can punch up the pace of a show like a Martindale, Tomarken or Perry. 🙂 God bless Merv for trying unique concepts like this and Monopoly! Happy Holidays, Everyone!

[@PridePinball]

I loved playing Strike A Match! I always thought it would make a good game show. I guess we'll find out how wrong I was.

[@marcpower4167]

I think it falls into that category: fun to play, kinda dull to watch..eg. golf, bowling, bingo.

[@Benwah]

I've only watched the first five minutes, and I'm already reminded of the British Show "Only Connect." Two teams of four compete against one another and the third round of play consists of a wall of 16 items, with four groups of them being connected in some way. The teams score points by finding the connections and then defining how they're connected.

[@JohnWatsonPuppetChannel]

It’s uncanny that an interesting show like this would be discovered by you, Wink.

[@ABCEasyas--]

I guess Wink has connections or has access to practically any game show episode.

[@nleggin]

Wink, are there any good books, articles or interviews with production/set designers from the 70s and 80s? I'd love to hear and learn more about the behind the scenes work that went into a show's aesthetics

[@LL-bl8hd]

Cool show! It reminds me a bit of the game app Red Herring, also the British show Only Connect.

[@MysteriousMM]

The contestants on this show need to be very intelligent. I’m surprised they didn’t ever try this show in later years

[@sha11235]

They didn't explain why the 5 square in the first game was empty at one point. Should've so as not to make us think an error occurred. Also, did we need the drawings when they showed the matches?

[@GameShowMike]

Merv later recycled the sound signaling the end of the round for the pilot of Monopoly hosted by Peter Tomarken when a player took over an opponent’s color group.

[@ericlimasshenanigansof1977]

I recognize Gale! She was on a pilot episode of Bullseye!

[@ronflatter1235]

This looks like it was shot at NBC Burbank, maybe studio 3. The giveaway was the cyclorama and the matrix of the countdown clock.

[@joeblevins1061]

This game is actually a lot of fun. Merv's wife was right.

[@alexromero2319]

I like this show, I played Strike a Match online before and it does work as a game show quite well. But a couple things I might have done, the doubles bonus should have been 20 seconds instead of 30, and they should be more clear about what happens when a double crosser gets put with the wrong match in the bonus round, does the contestant just stand there until the clock runs to zero or does it end immediately if the last three can't match? Maybe I would have offered the opportunity for the contestant to say "reset" no more than twice which in doing so would return all the answers to the board and the contestant starts over with the time remaining at that point.

[@scootover7]

This game is exciting . it is challenging to the brain , not always easy but not super hard . I admit some of those matches I didn't know

[@NEPatriot]

Lots of familiar sounds and music from a certain Merv show for sure (notably a key change in a certain cue from a certain Merv show).

[@andyleclerc3600]

Well, I would've bought this for MY TV station, had I owned one. A fun game!

[@JustinD41382]

One thing that I think would have needed a change was the time rule. I noticed clearly that a contestant began to call out a number, and got "number" in before the sound rang out, yet they were judged to be out of time anyway. That could have spelled some danger if someone were to complain about that, and there was no real effort on the host to explain that, though the contestants didn't seem to mind, which knowing how these pilots run, you have to think that no real sense of confusion of that rule would've only added to someone being squeamish seeing that. They could have at least made an effort to explain how the rule was and why they were ruled out of time even though they began to call out a number. Also, in the second round, the host was going "go ahead" as the contestant was waiting for the squares to refill with new words. When there's only one match present at any one time, they kind of need that information to fill in before they CAN "go ahead". Another trouble spot that would be easy to correct. If they could have cleared up the time rule, they could have had something here.

[@HectorHustles]

Thank you wink for showing this beautiful pilot too bad it didn’t sell as gameshows were dying by late 80’s early 90’s but I have a feeling 1 day gameshow will be back on top

[@jimscott2050]

8:17 Trumpet Fanfare from "Monopoly" Pilot

[@jimscott2050]

19:36 Here it is again

[@BRBTheFireball]

I played countless hours of this game on Boxerjam.

[@marcomacias3960]

Wink the game sounds fun but the rules are confusing. i liked it even your own pilots.

[@sha11235]

I think it had potential, but they needed to polish a few things. Like near the end of the game, when it became obvious no one could catch up to the winner, why keep going? Also, what kind of theme song was that?

[@TimBoyd2012]

The theme was used as a prize cue on WoF at the time.

[@DLCOrganization]

HOLD ON A SEC!! How could this have been "a sensation on AOL" when AOL -- _AND the public accessibility of the internet_ -- *NEVER EXISTED* in 1987?

[@glmathgrant]

Many years after Julann Griffin's game show idea didn't sell, she created Boxerjam and adapted the game show as a game on AOL. Boxerjam would later become its own website, which is now defunct; her new website is called Jam and Candy.

[@arhsmacdudeproductions1957]

It feels kind of weird that they used one of the prize cues from Wheel of Fortune as the theme for Strike a Match. I know they used a longer cue from Wheel for the theme to Crosswords, but, if this ever made it to air, surely they’d have to pick something different… right?

[@KiddBloo86]

I mean, look what happened with Merv Griffin's Crosswords.

[@alfonsogreen2722]

Interesting game show

[@yaphettvazquez9796]

Cool!!!!!

[@mdshonkkc]

I played a lot of S.A.M online years ago and always thought it would make a great TV game show. Maybe some tweaks to the gameplay would've made the transition to TV work, but this example just didn't have the suspenseful pacing of the online game.

[@SapinskiMath]

Gale's back again?! At least Merv didn't saddle her with the boyfriend gag from the B&E pilots she was on. (This actually makes her the 2nd person I've ever seen on pilots for at least 3 different shows.) The game was... simple, but the silence it played to made the lather/rinse/repeat of it very grating. There had to be another element to this game to give an audience chances to applaud. Without it, I feel like this would put me to sleep.

[@jaywilliams896]

Which network was this shot for? I think that this was being shot for ABC since NBC’s game show schedule was full at the time with Win, Lose or Draw a month away.

[@LittleRockElevators]

Possibly syndication.

[@kenman923]

It’s quite possible that it may have been a replacement for the epic failure “Bargain Hunters.”

[@devares2006]

​​​@kenman923 could be. Could've been one of the shows ABC used to replace reruns of Mr. Belvedere, but decided to pick up The Home Show instead.

[@GabeNotNewell]

Intresting format but i would extend looking time for finding match to 5 seconds

[@itstheshan]

Could they please re-use that Wheel prize music for another pilot? Ahahaha and yes, the wof nametags... #mervgriffinproductions

[@JFD62780]

HUGE question: WAS this show to be broadcast or distributed by (King World; soon to be) CBS? Because I DOUBT the Five-O cue would've survived unless those planets aligned! XD Otherwise, as of the first puzzle, so far, so good... :D

[@daviddavenport1485]

I would like to see this on GSN with Kevin Harlan or Mike Rowe hosting.

[@christybradfield7812]

I loved the idea, but the wrong host. He just didn't seem to have much zip to his talking.

[@Cris43130]

Randy Hamilton began his career in Cincinnati under the name Randy Weidner.

[@Raerlahar]

Sometimes a game show has a good backdrop, but when the set and the host don't fit in, the whole production suffers. The game itself could have worked.

[@thewhammy83]

So at least a third pilot with Gale...

[@ryanstrnad1852]

and they just take one of their "let's go shopping" prize cues from Wheel of Fortune as their theme.

[@henrymurphy3365]

Is this the same Randy Hamilton that succeeded Michael Young on Kids Are People Too?

[@jmjfanss]

the set is cool, that's it.

[@user-sg9rp4wz3w]

tell sandy hello

[@sheilashaw6972]

Just curious, how can you have a reigning champion, if it is the Pilot episode?

[@ShaqC]

Because pilot episodes are meant to show what a typical episode would look and feel like.

[@mhoran21]

That theme song sounds familiar, lol

[@stedco75]

Pretty fun game, shame it didn’t sell. Bonus game was a little too easy though.

[@jdbarker32]

It's a neat concept, but it just seems not destined for TV. There just isn't that much excitement. Sure, you can play along at home, but even then, the presentation and gameplay don't compare to previous Merv productions.

[@IvoryM1986]

It sounds like Jim Bradley in this pilot.

[@DBradshaw25]

Not a bad game overall. I did think some of the matches would have been tough for the average home player. Bonus round could have been a little more challenging but I think it could have worked.

[@kingporter67]

Very rare, however it is a super 1987 game show!!

[@marcomacias3960]

the Hawaii 5-0 theme for the trip to Hawaii

[@aaronmorris1513]

The only connect wall but easier.

[@collegeslammer]

This might work for Game Show Network. After the 2nd round, player gets eliminated and the 3rd round plays as is. Winner gets $1000 and plays the bonus for $10,000. No wonder why this pilot got too stale.

[@jnadle1]

Where was it taped at??

[@jadekitten5425]

if it wasn't made, why do they allude to mike winning the previous game? i don't understand.

[@fizzymilk_]

He could have done with varying "You took too much time!". I kind of like the set, but it does feel like an easier version of Wipeout.

[@DanielKing-dk5nr]

This game is so unfair, they dont give everyone the same length of time to answer.

[@nextbarker2702]

That announcer, isn't he from Ruckus?

[@yaywhewclips242]

the final bonus round was way too easy!!

[@mixon270]

they have the old wheel of fortune nametags

[@misstee101]

Hey Wink, I think this show could've been a great run.

[@BlackwoodCompany]

This could have sold with the right audience.

[@KXPriestess]

Good concept. The front game is well done and moves with pace. The end game is far too easy and really needs like a "15 matching 3 pairs in 60 seconds w/ no mistakes" . I would have a different host that didn't overact so much, but that is purely subjective.

[@Mark.Taylor.]

Inconsistent 'time' and too short even for the audience. 'too long' sound does not sound right.

[@LudoRex]

Hmmm. This word game looks vaguely familiar.

[@jprogman]

There's a little trick to this game. Because there's only one possible match everytime, the newest 2 or 3 answers can be used as hints to match the others. The first round makes this easier, but matching three adds more complexity. Thankfully the requirement to explain their match prevents this game from being a total cake walk. The game is just okay, but it's a tad stale.

[@paddydoublems]

Thankfully, Boxerjam made a better version of the game. I miss playing it.

[@usahorse721]

Even though this was an unsold Pilot, did she acually get the Hawaii trip?

[@andresbustamante4777]

Cool game but they use the wheel of fortune cue prize

[@lorddalek]

I guess nobody at MGE saw how insufferable Randy Hamilton was from his Nickelodeon days.

[@ChairmanChico]

6:35… who the heck is Pat? 😂

[@hiramjunior6049]

Randy who?

[@someguy23475]

Wooden host and very easy bonus round. At least it’s better than Buzzword.

[@wdashwor]

This is a hard game; it might have been a little more fun to watch if the audience had a little more time to think about how the words are related. Or maybe I'm just slow. 🙂

[@yaphettvazquez9796]

Double Crossers.

[@houseofproctor]

I think a different host would have made the difference

[@kenman923]

This show could have had a better host. I think Geoff Edwards would have been a better choice.

[@TheMr02drop]

Interesting game, but I can see why it failed.

[@ChrisEllisPA]

No surprise this didn't sell. It's just not engaging or well done.

[@wschmrdr]

Struttin' on the Sunset... Must be a Merv Griffin show.... Sorry Merv, but this one's a stinker. Not only are there no jeopardies (pun intended), but it would seem lopsided if the players are imbalanced. Plus, with the game play, it didn't really catch my attention. Might work as a way to pass the time online as Wink mentioned with AOL, but not a TV show.

[@kenhudspeth9481]

What awful game show music

[@bmhedgehog2]

I take it you never watched Wheel of Fortune?

[@peteach2002]

The theme song is annoying. Interesting game otherwise.