History Trivia / MatchGame

** Creator/{{TBS}} tried their hand in 2008, taping two pilots which included [[Series/TheSarahSilvermanProgram Sarah Silverman]] and [[Series/TheKidsInTheHall Scott Thompson]] on the panel. Basing its set and gameplay after the 1973-78 versions (albeit with an altered Super-Match- and not for the better), it was rejected in favor of ''Lopez Tonight''. Thompson would later be a panelist on the [[Creator/TheComedyNetwork Comedy Network]] version in Canada.

** Bert Convy, who had been a panelist on the 1970s version and the host of both ''Series/{{Tattletales}}'' and ''[[Series/{{Password}} 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).
** On the last episode of the 1990-91 series, Ross Shafer says they'll be back at "another time, another channel, very shortly", but this ultimately never came to pass.
* WrittenInInfirmity: Richard Dawson wore tinted glasses during his final two weeks. Contrary to popular belief, he did ''not'' wear them in protest (he also wore them on ''Series/FamilyFeud'' at the same time) - he was recovering from an eye injury at the time.

** NBC canned the original not because of ratings (which were still very good), but because it wanted to revitalize its lineup. The replacement, ''[[Series/RowanAndMartinsLaughIn 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 first ABC version was slotted at noon, forcing affiliates to choose between it and local news or other programming. Most chose the latter option; the previous entry in the slot, ''Series/RyansHope'', suffered the same fate. Match Game remains the last ABC program to air in the noon timeslot.

** 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.
* WrittenInInfirmity: Richard Dawson wore tinted glasses during his final two weeks. Contrary to popular belief, Dawson did ''not'' wear them in protest (he also wore them on ''Series/FamilyFeud'' at the same time); he was recovering from an eye injury at the time.

** Gene Rayburn was slated to host a revival planned for the 1985-86 season. When ''Series/EntertainmentTonight'' infamously wished Gene a happy birthday and revealed his age, all plans were dropped (he ended up hosting -- and then quitting -- the train-wreck that was ''[[Series/BreakTheBank1985 Break the Bank]]''). Another revival was planned for 1987, also with Rayburn as host, but, possibly also thanks to the above reason, the series never surfaced. (In fact, aside from ''Bank'' the only other show Rayburn ended up hosting after his age reveal was Creator/{{AMC}}'s ''The Movie Masters'', which ran for one unspectacular season from 1989-90.)

* DevelopmentHell: Counting ''Series/TheMatchGameHollywoodSquaresHour'', four American revivals have been produced since 1982, with the first three only lasting one season. From 1999 until the current ABC revival, any further attempts, for one reason or another, just did not get off the ground.
** Gene Rayburn was slated to host a revival planned for the 1985-86 season. When ''Series/EntertainmentTonight'' infamously wished Gene a happy birthday and revealed his age, all plans were dropped (he ended up hosting -- and then quitting -- the train-wreck that was ''[[Series/BreakTheBank1985 Break the Bank]]''). Another revival was planned for 1987, also with Rayburn as host, but, possibly also thanks to the above reason, the series never surfaced. (In fact, aside from ''Bank'' the only other show Rayburn ended up hosting after his age reveal was Creator/{{AMC}}'s ''The Movie Masters'', which ran for one unspectacular season from 1989-90.)
** An unsold pilot, ''[=MG2=]: [[AllLowercaseLetters the match game]]'', was taped in 1996 with Charlene Tilton (who appeared as a panelist late in the 1973-82 run) as host. Elements from this pilot were later incorporated into the 1998 revival.
** Fremantle shot a pilot for Creator/{{Fox}} in 2004, an "[[TheyChangedItNowItSucks updated]]" version called ''What the Blank?!'' Mixing elements of ''Series/StreetSmarts'' into the game (because it [[SarcasmMode obviously worked so well]] [[Series/CardSharks for another game show]] just three years earlier), it was [[ScrewedByTheNetwork canceled abruptly]] before it aired. Notably, Randy West- who wrote a biography on Johnny Olson, interacts with the fandom frequently, and was known for announcing ''Series/SupermarketSweep''- announced the pilot.
** Creator/{{TBS}} tried their hand in 2008, taping two pilots which included [[Series/TheSarahSilvermanProgram Sarah Silverman]] and [[Series/TheKidsInTheHall Scott Thompson]] on the panel. Basing its set and gameplay after the 1973-78 versions (albeit with an altered Super-Match- and not for the better), it was rejected in favor of ''Lopez Tonight''. Thompson would later be a panelist on the [[Creator/TheComedyNetwork Comedy Network]] version in Canada.

** 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.

** The first ABC version was slotted at noon, forcing affiliates to choose between it and local news or other programming. Most chose the latter option; the previous entry in the slot, ''Series/RyansHope'', suffered the same fate.

** An unsold pilot, ''MG2: [[AllLowercaseLetters the match game]]'', was taped in 1996 with Charlene Tilton (who appeared as a panelist late in the 1973-82 run) as host. Elements from this pilot were later incorporated into the 1998 revival.

** An unsold pilot, ''Match Game 2'', was taped in 1996 with Charlene Tilton (who appeared as a panelist late in the 1973-82 run) as host. Elements from this pilot were later incorporated into the 1998 revival.

* ProductionPosse: A ''lot'' of the celebrities on the Baldwin version- Jack [=McBrayer=], Jane Krakowski, Titess Burgess- appeared at some point on ''Series/ThirtyRock'' (they never mention it, though, likely so NBC/Unviersal doesn't sue ABC/Disney).

** The first ABC version was slotted at noon, forcing affiliates to choose between it and local news or other programming. Most put on the news/other; the previous entry in the slot, ''Series/RyansHope'', suffered the same fate.

** And in turn, Gary was late for one episode in 75 because of the Daylight Savings Time switch at the time of taping, so announcer Johnny Olson subbed for him.

** Reilly also ended up being unavailable for a week during the 1990-91 revival, so, rather creatively, the show had its own semi-regular panelist Brad Garrett fill Reilly's spot... ''as'' Reilly, doing his incredibly-accurate imitation of Reilly for the week (complete with hat and makeshift pipe, which Reilly used on the '70s versions but had long since dropped).

* ProductionPosse: A ''lot'' of the celebrities on the Baldwin version- Jack [=McBrayer=], Jane Krakowski, Titess Burgess- appeared at some point on ''Series/ThirtyRock'' (they never mention it, though, likely so NBC doesn't sue ABC).

* TheShelfOfMovieLanguishment: There were two attempted revivals of the show.
** In 2004, Fox ordered What the Blank!, which was more faithful to the 1970s version but added a "interview on the street" segments, therefore making it Match Game meets Street Smarts. It was scrapped not long thereafter, and it's unknown how many episodes were actually made.
** Another revival was announced by TBS in 2008, but beyond being mentioning in subsequent press conferences, nothing has been heard of that series ever since.

* WrittenInInfirmity: Richard Dawson wore tinted glasses during his final two weeks. Contrary to popular belief, Dawson did ''not'' wear them in protest; he was recovering from an eye injury at the time.

* The 1990 revival was the last daytime game show to air on ABC.

** And a couple of times when Charles was late to the studio, producer Creator/MarkGoodson.

* MissingEpisode: A string of CBS episodes from 1979 didn't air until GSN finally showed them in 2001. The network (and Creator/{{Buzzr}}, when they starting episodes that aren't from 78) has also skipped over a few episodes due to misplaced/broken tapes, some more are skipped due to no-longer-PC content, and still more are skipped due to celebrities refusing to give clearance to their appearances.

* ZeroEpisodeWonder: It occurred with two attempted revivals of the show.
** In 2004, Fox ordered What the Blank!, which was more faithful to the 1970s version but added a "interview on the street" segments, therefore making it Match Game meets Street Smarts. It was scrapped not long thereafter, and it's unknown how many episodes were actually made.
** Another revival was announced by TBS in 2008, but beyond being mentioning in subsequent press conferences, nothing has been heard of that series ever since.

** The ABC version was slotted at noon, forcing affiliates to choose between it and local news or other programming. Most put on the news/other; the previous entry in the slot, ''Series/RyansHope'', suffered the same fate.

* * ZeroEpisodeWonder: It occurred with two attempted revivals of the show

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** Gene Rayburn was slated to host a revival planned for the 1985-86 season. When ''Series/EntertainmentTonight'' infamously wished Gene a happy birthday and revealed his age, all plans were dropped (he ended up hosting -- and then quitting -- the train wreck that was ''[[Series/BreakTheBank1985 Break the Bank]]''). Another revival was planned for 1987, also with Rayburn as host, but, possibly also thanks to the above reason, the series never surfaced. (In fact, aside from ''Bank'' the only other show Rayburn ended up hosting after his age reveal was Creator/{{AMC}}'s ''The Movie Masters'', which ran for one unspectacular season from 1989-90.)

** FOX shot a pilot for an "[[TheyChangedItNowItSucks updated]]" version called ''What the Blank?!'' in 2004. Mixing elements of ''Series/StreetSmarts'' into the game (because it [[SarcasmMode obviously worked so well]] [[Series/CardSharks for another game show]] just three years earlier), it was [[ScrewedByTheNetwork canceled abruptly]] before it aired. Notably, Randy West- who wrote a biography on Johnny Olson and was known for announcing ''Series/SupermarketSweep'', announced the pilot.
** TBS tried their hand in 2008, taping two pilots which included [[Series/TheSarahSilvermanProgram Sarah Silverman]] and [[Series/TheKidsInTheHall Scott Thompson]] on the panel. Basing its set and gameplay after the 1973-78 versions, it was scrapped in favor of ''Lopez Tonight''. Thompson would later be a panelist on the [[Creator/TheComedyNetwork Comedy Network]] version in Canada.