History Trivia / TheMatchGameHollywoodSquaresHour

** Legendary producer Creator/MarkGoodson refused to do ''Squares'' the way it had always been done, prohibiting celebrities from being briefed on possible question topics, possible answers, and bluffs. Goodson point-blank saw this practice as cheating, and firmly believed the panelists shouldn't have needed that type of coaching in order to be funny with their responses, since that was exactly the case on ''Match Game''. The problem was, unlike that series, said briefing ultimately provided part of the formula that made ''Squares'' work. Add the aforementioned conflicts, plus competition from ''Series/GeneralHospital'', and its no wonder how the ''Hour'' only ran for 39 weeks.

* ThrowItIn: During the ''Squares'' portion of Episode #59, the board started to malfunction, so Jon threw to commercial. Unfortunately, the crew was unable to correct the malfunction during the break, so the rest of the game was played with the stars holding their arms in the positions of their respective symbols (X or Circle). Additionally, after the day's champion subsequently won $20,000 in the Super Match, all the celebrities then celebrated her win by making rapid "X/O" motions with their arms!

** A glorious subversion. For over 35 years, the show was unable to be rerun at all since its initial airing, since the rights to both ''Match Game'' and ''Series/TheHollywoodSquares'' are owned by two different companies (Creator/FremantleMedia and [[Creator/MetroGoldwynMayer MGM Television]], respectively... with [=ViacomCBS=] complicating things even further by owning ''Squares''[='=] format rights). Fans instead had to make do with the 20 or so episodes circulating from their original airings (including at least one full week), many of which were/are available on Website/YouTube. Then in February 2019, [[https://www.vulture.com/2019/02/match-game-hollywood-squares-hour-streaming-buzzr.html Buzzr announced it would be airing the series beginning later in the month]], suggesting the legal issues have finally been cleared up. Barring a few skipped episodes, MG/HS was the first (and as of December 2021, only) series that Buzzr got through the entire run of.

* OldShame:
** According to [[WordOfSaintPaul Gene Wood]] in [[http://illustriousgameshowpage.com/gene2.html a 1996 phone interview]], Rayburn was "dragged kicking and screaming" into the ''Hour''. From the circulating episodes, one can see he's having ''some'' fun doing ''Match'', while his mood hits rock-bottom when ''Squares'' rolls around, and his lamenting the flaw in execution out loud on an episode very late in the run (see the YMMV tab) indicates it was due to the format. Other sources have said that Peter Marshall not being considered for ''Squares'' was another factor, as Rayburn had wanted to work with him and openly disliked Jon Bauman. ''Hour'' was also this for longtime Goodson-Todman producer Ira Skutch, who called it "misbegotten". Skutch was so displeased that he quit working for Goodson after it was cancelled.
** Curiously averted for the other half of the hosting duo. When Buzzr announced it was bringing the ''Hour'' to its lineup, Jon Bauman took to Twitter to praise and defend the series, even going so far as to boast about how his half was "the only honest version of ''Squares''" (i.e. no celebrity briefings or bluffs, never mind how that honesty ended up affecting this version of ''Squares'' for many people).

** Legendary producer Creator/MarkGoodson refused to do ''Squares'' the way it had always been done, prohibiting celebrities from being briefed on possible question topics, possible answers, and bluffs. Goodson point-blank saw this practice as cheating, and firmly believed the panelists shouldn't have needed that type of coaching in order to be funny with their responses, since that was exactly the case on ''Match Game''. The problem was, unlike that series, said briefing ultimately provided part of the formula that made ''Squares'' work. Add the aforementioned conflicts, plus competition from ''Series/GeneralHospital'', and it's a grand wonder how the ''Hour'' managed to last 39 weeks.

** Legendary producer Creator/MarkGoodson refused to do ''Squares'' the way it had always been done, prohibiting celebrities from being briefed on possible question topics, possible answers, and bluffs. Goodson firmly believed the panelists shouldn't have needed that type of coaching in order to be funny with their responses, since that was exactly the case on ''Match Game''. The problem was, unlike that series, said briefing ultimately provided part of the formula that made ''Squares'' work. Add the aforementioned conflicts, plus competition from ''Series/GeneralHospital'', and it's a grand wonder how the ''Hour'' managed to last 39 weeks.

* AdoredByTheNetwork: Buzzr has been giving its reruns of the show this treatment. Months before its official premiere, a marathon was shown on President's Day and an episode featuring Howie Mandel played during their annual "Lost and Found" event, held a day before the regular premiere. Then, when the show premiered, they would play promos for it during every commercial break on the channel. After this effort, reruns replaced other shows on the network seemingly out of nowhere. For instance, in spring 2020, an hour of regular ''Match Game'' on weekday mornings was replaced by this show.

* VindicatedByReruns: Minor example. While the show still has its fair share of detractors, it's gained something of a cult following through the aformentioned Buzzr reruns, ostensibly enough for the network to continue to add it to the schedule (see AdoredByTheNetwork above).

** A glorious subversion. For over 35 years, the show was unable to be rerun at all since its initial airing, since the rights to both ''Match Game'' and ''Series/TheHollywoodSquares'' are owned by two different companies (Creator/FremantleMedia and [[Creator/MetroGoldwynMayer MGM Television]], respectively... with [=ViacomCBS=] complicating things even further by owning ''Squares''[='=] format rights). Fans instead had to make do with the 20 or so episodes circulating from their original airings (including at least one full week), many of which were/are available on Website/YouTube. Then in February 2019, [[https://www.vulture.com/2019/02/match-game-hollywood-squares-hour-streaming-buzzr.html Buzzr announced it would be airing the series beginning later in the month]], suggesting the legal issues have finally been cleared up.

* AdoredByTheNetwork: Buzzr has been giving its' reruns of the show this treatment. Months before its' official premiere, a marathon was shown on President's Day and an episode featuring Howie Mandel played during their annual "Lost and Found" event, held a day before the regular premiere. Then, when the show premiered, they would play promos for it during every commercial break on the channel. After this effort, reruns replaced other shows on the network seemingly out of nowhere. For instance, in spring 2020, an hour of regular ''Match Game'' on weekday mornings was replaced by this show.

** According to [[WordOfSaintPaul Gene Wood]] in [[http://illustriousgameshowpage.com/gene2.html a 1996 phone interview]], Rayburn was "dragged kicking and screaming" into the ''Hour''. From the circulating episodes, one can see he's having ''some'' fun doing ''Match'', while his mood hits rock-bottom when ''Squares'' rolls around, and his lamenting the flaw in execution out loud on an episode very late in the run (see the YMMV tab) indicates it was due to the format. Other sources have said that Peter Marshall not being considered for ''Squares'' was another factor. ''Hour'' was also this for longtime Goodson-Todman producer Ira Skutch, who called it "misbegotten". Skutch was so displeased that he quit working for Goodson after it was cancelled.

* VindicatedByReruns: Despite all the behind-the-scenes drama and how many people hated the show when it was first aired, it gained a following through the aformentioned Buzzr reruns. It's done so well that more reruns wound up being added to the schedule!

** Peter Marshall was interested in a revival of ''Squares'', and had a financial stake in it. However, he made some bad business decisions and lost that stake, as well as somehow upsetting NBC execs who never once considered him for the ''Hour'' (ironically, his show ''Series/{{Fantasy}}'' was replaced by this show).

** Legendary producer Creator/MarkGoodson refused to do ''Squares'' the way it had always been done, prohibiting celebrities from being briefed on possible question topics, possible answers, and bluffs. Goodson firmly believed the panelists shouldn't have needed that type of coaching in order to be funny with their responses, since that was exactly the case on ''Match Game''. The problem was, unlike that series, said briefing ultimately provided part of the formula that made ''Squares'' work. Add the aforementioned conflicts, competition from ''Series/GeneralHospital'', and it's a grand wonder how the ''Hour'' managed to last 39 weeks.

** According to [[WordOfSaintPaul Gene Wood]] in [[http://illustriousgameshowpage.com/gene2.html a 1996 phone interview]], Rayburn was "dragged kicking and screaming" into the ''Hour''. From the circulating episodes, one can see he's having ''some'' fun doing ''Match'', while his mood dropshits rock-bottom when ''Squares'' rolls around, and his lamenting the flaw in execution out loud on an episode very late in the run (see the YMMV tab) indicates it was due to the format. Other sources have said that Peter Marshall not being considered for ''Squares'' was another factor. ''Hour'' was also this for longtime Goodson-Todman producer Ira Skutch, who called it "misbegotten". Skutch was so displeased that he quit working for Goodson after it was cancelled.

* VindicatedByReruns: Despite all the behind-the-scenes drama and how many people hated the show when it was first run, it gained a following through the aformentioned Buzzr reruns. It's done so well that more reruns wound up being added to the schedule!

** Peter Marshall was interested in a revival of ''Squares'', and had a financial stake in it. However, he made some bad business decisions and lost that stake, as well as somehos upsetting NBC execs who never once considered him for the ''Hour'' (ironically, his show ''Series/{{Fantasy}}'' was replaced by this show).

* ThrowItIn: During the ''Squares'' portion of Episode #59, the board started to malfunction, so Jon threw to commercial. Unfortunately, the crew was unable to correct the malfunction during the break, so the rest of the game was played with the stars holding their arms in the positions of their respective symbols (X or Circle).

** Several stories have existed through the years, including host Gene Rayburn's extreme dissatisfaction with the show leading to him insisting that this show never be rerun. As it turns out, he never put an embargo on the show. The most likely reason for the story is people confusing the ''Hour'' with Rayburn's next series ''[[Series/BreakTheBank1985 Break the Bank]]'', on which he ''did'' put an embargo.

** Legendary producer Creator/MarkGoodson refused to do ''Squares'' the way it had always been done, prohibiting celebrities from being briefed on possible question topics, possible answers, and bluffs. Goodson firmly believed the panelists shouldn't have needed that type of coaching in order to be funny with their responses, since that was exactly the case on ''Match Game'' -- the problem was, unlike that series, said briefing ultimately provided part of the formula that made ''Squares'' work. Add the aforementioned conflicts, Gene Wood's "kicking and screaming" statement and competition from ''Series/GeneralHospital'', and it's a grand wonder how the ''Hour'' managed to last 39 weeks.
** NBC was responsible for Bauman being picked to host ''Squares'', even turning down original host Peter Marshall, who reportedly was interested in the job, but somehow pissed off NBC executives who never considered him.
* KeepCirculatingTheTapes:
** A glorious subversion. For over 35 years, the show was unable to be rerun at all since its initial airing, since the rights to both ''Match Game'' and ''Series/TheHollywoodSquares'' are owned by two different companies (Creator/FremantleMedia and [[Creator/MetroGoldwynMayer MGM Television]], respectively... with [=ViacomCBS=] complicating things even further by owning ''Squares''' format rights). Fans instead had to make do with the 20 or so episodes circulating from their original airings (including at least one full week), many of which were/are available on Website/YouTube. Then in February 2019, [[https://www.vulture.com/2019/02/match-game-hollywood-squares-hour-streaming-buzzr.html Buzzr announced it would be airing the series beginning later in the month]], suggesting the legal issues have finally been cleared up.
** Several stories have existed through the years, including host Gene Rayburn's extreme dissatisfaction with the show leading to him insisting that this show never be rerun. As it turns out, although he definitely had reason to say no to repeat residuals, he never put an embargo on the show. The most likely reason for the story is people confusing the ''Hour'' with Rayburn's next series ''[[Series/BreakTheBank1985 Break the Bank]]'', on which he ''did'' put an embargo.

** According to [[WordOfSaintPaul Gene Wood]] in [[http://illustriousgameshowpage.com/gene2.html a 1996 phone interview]], Rayburn was "dragged kicking and screaming" into the ''Hour''. From the circulating episodes, one can see he's having... ''some'' fun doing ''Match'', while his mood hits rock-bottom when ''Squares'' rolls around, and his lamenting the flaw in execution out loud on an episode very late in the run (see the YMMV tab) indicates it was due to the format. Other sources have said that Peter Marshall not being considered for ''Squares'' was another factor, as Rayburn had wanted to work with him and openly disliked Jon Bauman. ''Hour'' was also this for longtime Goodson-Todman producer Ira Skutch, who called it "misbegotten". Skutch was so displeased that he quit working for Mark Goodson after it was cancelled.

* ThrowItIn: During the Hollywood Squares section of Episode #59, the board started to malfunction, so Jon Bauman threw to commercial. Unfortunately, the crew was unable to correct the malfunction during the break, so the rest of the game was played with the stars holding their arms in the positions of their respective symbols (X or Circle).
* TroubledProduction: Evidently, given how Rayburn and Wood felt about the series and Goodson's head-scratching tweaks to the ''Squares'' format.

** Peter Marshall was interested in a revival of HS, and had a financial stake in it. However, he made some bad business decisions and lost that stake, as well as someone upsetting NBC execs who never once considered him for MGHS (ironically, his show ''Series/{{Fantasy}}'' was replaced by this show). Marshall was also reportedly "blindsided" by Orion in favor of Bauman.

** A glorious subversion. For over 35 years, the show was unable to be rerun at all since its initial airing, since the rights to both ''Match Game'' and ''Series/TheHollywoodSquares'' are owned by two different companies (Creator/FremantleMedia and [[Creator/MetroGoldwynMayer MGM Television]], respectively... with ViacomCBS complicating things even further by owning ''Squares''' format rights). Fans instead had to make do with the 20 or so episodes circulating from their original airings (including at least one full week), many of which were/are available on Website/YouTube. Then in February 2019, [[https://www.vulture.com/2019/02/match-game-hollywood-squares-hour-streaming-buzzr.html Buzzr announced it would be airing the series beginning later in the month]], suggesting the legal issues have finally been cleared up.

** A glorious subversion. For over 35 years, the show was unable to be rerun at all since its initial airing, since the rights to both ''Match Game'' and ''Series/TheHollywoodSquares'' are owned by two different companies (Creator/FremantleMedia and [[Creator/MetroGoldwynMayer MGM Television]], respectively... with CBS Television Distribution complicating things even further by owning ''Squares''' format rights). Fans instead had to make do with the 20 or so episodes circulating from their original airings (including at least one full week), many of which were/are available on Website/YouTube. Then in February 2019, [[https://www.vulture.com/2019/02/match-game-hollywood-squares-hour-streaming-buzzr.html Buzzr announced it would be airing the series beginning later in the month]], suggesting the legal issues have finally been cleared up.

** Legendary producer Creator/MarkGoodson somehow didn't grasp what made ''Squares'' work and. Add the aforementioned conflicts, Wood's statement and competition from ''Series/GeneralHospital'', and it's a grand wonder how the ''Hour'' managed to last 39 weeks.
** NBC was responsible for Bauman being picked to host ''Squares'', even turning down original host Peter Marshall, who reportedly was interested in the job, but somehow pissed off NBC execs, who never considered him.
* KeepCirculatingTheTapes: A glorious subversion. For over 35 years, the show was unable to be rerun at all since its initial airing, since the rights to both ''Match Game'' and ''Series/TheHollywoodSquares'' are owned by two different companies (Creator/FremantleMedia and [[Creator/MetroGoldwynMayer MGM Television]], respectively... with CBS Television Distribution complicating things even further by owning ''Squares''' format rights). Fans instead had to make do with the 20 or so episodes circulating from their original airings (including at least one full week), many of which were/are available on Website/YouTube. Then in February 2019, [[https://www.vulture.com/2019/02/match-game-hollywood-squares-hour-streaming-buzzr.html Buzzr announced it would be airing the series beginning later in the month]], suggesting the legal issues have finally been cleared up.

* OldShame: According to [[WordOfSaintPaul Gene Wood]] in [[http://illustriousgameshowpage.com/gene2.html a 1996 phone interview]], Rayburn was "dragged kicking and screaming" into the ''Hour''. From the circulating episodes, one can see he's having... ''some'' fun doing ''Match'', while his mood hits rock-bottom when ''Squares'' rolls around, and his lamenting the flaw in execution out loud on an episode very late in the run (see the YMMV tab) indicates it was due to the format. Other sources have said that Peter Marshall not being considered for ''Squares'' was another factor, as Rayburn had wanted to work with him and openly disliked Jon Bauman. ''Hour'' was also this for longtime Goodson-Todman producer Ira Skutch who called it "misbegotten". Skutch was so displeased that he quit working for Mark Goodson after it was cancelled.

** Peter Marshall was interested in a revival of HS, and had a financial stake in it, but made some bad business decisions and lost that stake, as well as someone upsetting NBC execs who never once considered him for MGHS (ironically, his show ''Series/{{Fantasy}}'' was replaced by this show.

** Legendary producer Creator/MarkGoodson somehow didn't grasp what made ''Squares'' work and hired a first-time host [Bauman] over Marshall. Add the aforementioned conflicts, Wood's statement and competition from ''Series/GeneralHospital'', and it's a grand wonder how the ''Hour'' managed to last 39 weeks.
** Orion Television was responsible for Bauman being picked to host ''Squares'', even turning down original host Peter Marshall, who reportedly was interested in the job.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Apparently, Peter Marshall ''was'' interested in hosting (ironically, his show ''Series/{{Fantasy}}'' was replaced by this show), but Orion "blindsided" him and picked Bauman instead.