I recently found the pilot episode to the old series "The Match Game" starring Gene Rayburn. Now I am NOT talking about the 1970s version that is often shown on the Game Show Channel but an entirely different product. It's so different that you might want to see it for yourself.
The show begins like most game shows back in the 1960s---with a plug for one of the show's sponsors. Then, Gene Rayburn enters and introduces two celebrities who will be on the two respective teams. One is very familiar to game shows--Peggy Cass. The other Peter Lind Hayes who I just didn't recognize. Each is paired with two folks and the game begins. A question is read and each of the six people write down their answer. If a person matches a person on their own team, they get 10 points for each match. The first team to 50 points wins the game.
Then, in the final round, it's a bit like "The Family Feud". Audience members were polled and each of the people on the winning team try to match the #1 answer. And, based on that, the two non-celebrities split the winning purse--which is incredibly small, actually! The 1950s has the "$64,000 Question", whereas here they split a measly $425! All in all, a modestly entertaining show which is probably better as a party game than as a TV show. Still, it lasted four seasons. It might have lasted longer had it featured Charles Nelson Reilly!!
The show begins like most game shows back in the 1960s---with a plug for one of the show's sponsors. Then, Gene Rayburn enters and introduces two celebrities who will be on the two respective teams. One is very familiar to game shows--Peggy Cass. The other Peter Lind Hayes who I just didn't recognize. Each is paired with two folks and the game begins. A question is read and each of the six people write down their answer. If a person matches a person on their own team, they get 10 points for each match. The first team to 50 points wins the game.
Then, in the final round, it's a bit like "The Family Feud". Audience members were polled and each of the people on the winning team try to match the #1 answer. And, based on that, the two non-celebrities split the winning purse--which is incredibly small, actually! The 1950s has the "$64,000 Question", whereas here they split a measly $425! All in all, a modestly entertaining show which is probably better as a party game than as a TV show. Still, it lasted four seasons. It might have lasted longer had it featured Charles Nelson Reilly!!
