History Trivia / MatchGame

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Bert Convy, who had been a panelist on the 1970s version and the host of both ''{{Tattletales}}'' and ''Series/SuperPassword'', was tapped to host the pilot week for what became the ABC revival. Convy ''did'' host said pilots, but had to turn it down once he was diagnosed with a brain tumor (which eventually took his life).
** After ABC canceled the 1990 version, [[ChannelHop CBS initially offered to pick it up for a second season]], and would have replaced Ray Combs' ''Series/FamilyFeud'' with it. Though this was even indicated by Ross Shafer on the series' final episode, it ultimately never came to pass.

* FanNickname: The latter two revivals are usually referred to as ''Match Game '90'' and ''Match Game '98'' after the 1970s version's habit of adding whatever year it was to the show title.

* HeyItsThatVoice: ''Series/ThePriceIsRight'' announcer Johnny Olson was the announcer for the first four versions (1962-82), and Goodson-Todman standby Gene Wood announced the ABC version.

* KeepCirculatingTheTapes: The 1960s version was destroyed by NBC, and only 11 episodes exist.
* MissingEpisode: A string of CBS episodes from 1979 didn't air until GSN finally showed them in 2001. The network also skips over a few episodes due to misplaced/broken tapes, although a few are skipped due to no-longer-PC content.

* The 1990 version was supposed to do a ChannelHop after ABC canned it; Ross even promoted this in the finale. CBS originally planned to replace FamilyFeud with Match Game, but eventually decided against it.

----

** TBS tried their hand in 2008, taping two pilots which included [[TheSarahSilvermanProgram Sarah Silverman]] and [[TheKidsInTheHall Scott Thompson]] on the panel. Shot on the same set as the ''Gameshow Marathon'' version but at Studio 33 (although clearly without an audience), it was scrapped in favor of ''Lopez Tonight''.
* HeyItsThatVoice: ''ThePriceIsRight'' announcer Johnny Olson was the announcer for the first four versions (1962-82), and Goodson-Todman standby Gene Wood announced the ABC version.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Bert Convy, who had been a panelist on the 1970s version and the host of both ''{{Tattletales}}'' and ''Super {{Password}}'', was tapped to host the pilot week for what became the ABC revival. Convy ''did'' host said pilots, but had to turn it down once he was diagnosed with a brain tumor (which eventually took his life).

* DevelopmentHell: Where any chances for a revival seem to have been residing since 1999.

** But after all was said and done, ''Match Game'' finally returned in 2012...in Canada.

** The 1998-99 version was laden with so many problems, Michael Burger and the second set were the only things that didn't screw it over.

** FOX shot a pilot for an "[[TheyChangedItNowItSucks updated]]" version of ''Match Game'' entitled ''What the Blank?!'' in 2004. Mixing elements of ''Series/StreetSmarts'' into the game (because it [[SarcasmMode obviously worked so well]] [[CardSharks for another game show]] just three years earlier), it was [[ScrewedByTheNetwork canceled abruptly]] before it aired.
** TBS tried their hand at reviving the show in 2008, taping a pilot featuring, among others, [[TheSarahSilvermanProgram Sarah Silverman]] and [[TheKidsInTheHall Scott Thompson]] on the panel. Shot on the same set as the ''Gameshow Marathon'' version, it was scrapped in favor of ''Lopez Tonight''.
* It finally did happen, but only in Canada

* ThePeteBest: Jack Klugman. Jack agreed to appear during the first week of ''Match Game 73'' on the condition that they bring his then wife on a later week as a celebrity. Her name - Brett Sommers (Klugman).

* UnCancelled: The original NBC version, ''and how.'' NBC thought the show was getting low ratings, so they didn't renew it for another season. However, they still had 6 weeks left of episodes to film. So, Mark Goodson decided to okay a suggestion from one of its writers ([[http://gizwizbiz.squarespace.com/match-game-memories/ Dick DeBartolo]], then and now a Magazine/{{MAD}} writer) to start using more racy questions, under the logic that they could easily get away with it because they were already cancelled to begin with. It turned out that the HotterAndSexier ''Match Game'' was getting ''way'' more viewers.
* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Bert Convy, who had been a panelist on the 1970s version and the host of both ''{{Tattletales}}'' and ''Super {{Password}}'', was tapped to host the five (!) pilots for what became the 1990 revival. Convy ''did'' host its pilots, but had to turn it down once he was diagnosed with a brain tumor (which eventually took his life).

** FOX shot a pilot for an "[[TheyChangedItNowItSucks updated]]" version of ''Match Game'' entitled ''What the Blank?!'' in 2004. Mixing elements of ''StreetSmarts'' into the game (because it [[SarcasmMode obviously worked so well]] [[CardSharks for another game show]] just three years earlier), it was [[ScrewedByTheNetwork canceled abruptly]] before it aired.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Bert Convy, who had been a panelist on the 1970s version and the host of both ''{{Tattletales}}'' and ''Super {{Password}}'', was tapped to host the 1990 revival. Convy ''did'' host its pilot, but had to turn it down once he developed a brain tumor (from which he soon died).

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Bert Convy, who had both been a panelist on the 1970s version and the host of ''Super {{Password}}'', was tapped to host the 1990 revival. Convy ''did'' host its pilot, but had to turn it down once he developed a brain tumor (from which he soon died).

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Bert Convy, who had been a panelist on the 1970s version several times, was tapped to host the 1990 revival. Convy ''did'' host its pilot, but had to turn it down once he developed a brain tumor (from which he soon died).

* DevelopmentHell: Where any chances for a revival seem to have been residing since 1999.

* HeyItsThatVoice: ''ThePriceIsRight'' announcer Johnny Olson was the announcer for the first four versions (1962-82), and Goodson-Todman standby Gene Wood announced the ABC version.
* KeepCirculatingTheTapes: The 1960s version was destroyed by NBC, and only 11 episodes exist.

* ScrewedByTheNetwork: More often than you may think.
** NBC canned the original not because of ratings (which were still very good), but because it wanted to revitalize its lineup. The replacement, ''Letters to Laugh-In'', bombed in three months.
** CBS moved the show from 3:30 PM to 11:00 AM on November 7, 1977 — then to 4:00 PM on December 19. The first change was bad enough, but the second ''really'' killed it and Dawson's departure in August 1978 only sped it up. To the show's credit, it managed to last 16 months following the move to 4:00 PM.
** The ABC version was slotted at Noon, forcing affiliates to choose between it and local news. Most took the news.
** The 1998-99 version was laden with so many problems, Michael Burger and the second set were the only things that didn't screw it over.
* UnCancelled: The original NBC version, ''and how.'' NBC thought the show was getting low ratings, so they didn't renew it for another season. However, they still had 6 weeks left of episodes to film. So, Mark Goodson decided to okay a suggestion from one of its writers ([[http://gizwizbiz.squarespace.com/match-game-memories/ Dick DeBartolo]], then and now a MadMagazine writer) to start using more racy questions, under the logic that they could easily get away with it because they were already cancelled to begin with. It turned out that the HotterAndSexier ''Match Game'' was getting ''way'' more viewers.

** The 1998-99 version was laden with so many problems, Michael Burger and the second set were the only things that didn't screw it over.

* [=~Hey, It's That Voice!~=]: ''ThePriceIsRight'' announcer Johnny Olson was the announcer for the first four versions (1962-82), and Goodson-Todman standby Gene Wood announced the ABC version.

* KeepCirculatingTheTapes: The 1960s version was destroyed by NBC, and only 11 episodes exist.

* [=~Hey, It's That Voice!~=]: ''ThePriceIsRight'' announcer Johnny Olson was the announcer for the first four versions (1962-82), and Goodson-Todman standby Gene Wood announced the ABC version.

* [=~Hey, It's That Voice!~=]: ''ThePriceIsRight'' announcer Johnny Olson was the announcer for the first four versions (1962-82), and Goodson-Todman standby Gene Wood announced the ABC version.
* RetroactiveRecognition: Kirstie Alley was a contestant at one point.

* HeyItsThatGuy: Kirstie Alley was a contestant at one point.