Match Game

The Matching Game.

Match Game was a game show where contestants attempted to match fill-in-the-blank answers to questions posed to celebrities. The show became known for its bawdy humor from the six celebrity panelists, which often included regulars such as Richard Dawson, Charles Nelson Reilly, and Brett Somers. Many incarnations of Match Game have been on the air since 1962, with Gene Rayburn hosting the first five versions of the show. Other hosts include Ross Shafer (1990-1991), Michael Burger (1998-1999) and Alec Baldwin (2016-present).

References

• In The Sesame Street Dictionary, the show was spoofed as a Sesame Street game show hosted by Guy Smiley. In "The Matching Game," Cookie Monster, Grover, Prairie Dawn, Bert, Ernie, and Betty Lou take the same spots as the celebrity panelists on Match Game. Their blue answer cards replaced with shapes.

Mentions

• The August 14, 2016 episode featured the question, "Sesame Street is being rocked by a tabloid scandal. Instead of a Rubber Duckie, Bert and Ernie were photographed in the bathtub playing with ______."

• The January 24, 2018 episode featured the question, "Have you tried Kermit the Frog's new line of craft beers? Bartenders warn that the extra hoppy pale ale is so strong, it'll make you ______."

Connections

• Kirstie Alley appeared as a contestant on Match Game PM.
• Anthony Anderson has appeared as a celebrity panelist in the 2016 revival.
• Lance Bass played the game on Gameshow Marathon.
• Wayne Brady was a celebrity panelist on the 2016 revival.
• Kristin Chenoweth appeared as a panelist in the 2016 revival.
• Chris Colfer appeared as a celebrity panelist in the 2016 revival.
• Dick DeBartolo wrote many of the game's questions.
• Taye Diggs appeared as a celebrity panelist in the 2016 revival.
• David Alan Grier appeared as a panelist on the 2016 revival.
• Cheryl Hines was a celebrity panelist in the 2016 revival.
• Emma Hunter appeared as a panelist on the Canadian 2012 version.
• Ice-T was a celebrity panelist in the 2016 revival.
• Jane Krakowski was a celebrity panelist on the 2016 revival.
• Ricki Lake hosted Gameshow Marathon which featured Match Game in one of the episodes.
• Jack McBrayer was a panelist on the 2016 revival.
• Ethel Merman appeared as a panelist in the 1970s run.
• Kathy Najimy played the game on Gameshow Marathon.
• Caroline Rhea was a celebrity panelist on the Canadaian 2012 version and the US 2016 revival.
• Martha Stewart appeared as a celebrity panelist in the 2016 revival.
• Betty White