Match Game/Hollywood Squares Hour

It was an interesting idea to pair up Match Game with Hollywood Squares. While most of the ideas worked, some didn't. Match Game was played first. There were no regulars in this version, except Jon Bauman. Many Match Game regulars from the 70s occasionally played the game, but most of the stars were from current NBC shows. Gene was still in good form and in terms of the format, very little changed. However, without a regular panel, the show was very uneven in terms of gameplay. After Match Game, Hollywood Squares was played, with a clever transition from one show to another. 3 additional celebs were brought onstage, and the Match Game panel remained. Jon Bauman, of Sha Na Na, was an odd choice for host. Jon struggled to keep the game moving, as the stars sometimes got out of control, and he was like a substitute teacher desperately trying to get attention. Unlike Match Game, there were no regulars from the original Hollywood Squares. Overall, a good effort, but it could've been better.

i remember The Match Game/Hollywood Squares Hour and to me it was a very funny game show that combined to classic comedy games into one format.

Fortunately, Gene Rayburn was brought back to host the Match Game segment. Even though he didn't have the trio of regulars in Brett Somers, Richard Dawson and Charles Nelson Reilly, he still handled the show he hosted in two previous incarnations very adeptly.

But wait, There's more. After Match Game ended, three more celebrities came on for Hollywood Squares, hosted by Jon Bauman. Even though I really enjoyed the original Peter Marshall version, this version was weaker than Rayburn's Match Game because Bauman, aka "Bowzer" in Sha Na Na, was not much of a straight man than Marshall and lacked experience hosting a game show. Also, Mark Goodson, who was never a fan of the show, didn't allow the stars to bluff, so all the questions were multiple choice.

After time expired in Hollywood Squares, the winning contestant played the Super Match for a chance to win up to $30,000. The Head to Head Match to me, was done the right way, minus the Star Wheel and each panelist had a card ranging from 10 times their winnings to 30.

Unfortunately, the show suffered from low affiliate clearances due to local or syndicated programming and competition from long-running soaps General Hospital and Guiding Light. After nine months the show was canceled. It just didn't click with viewers.

In theory, this should have been a powerhouse game show that lasted more than one year. Two of the most popular game shows on television combine in an hour-long format with a big, $30,000 end game. Unfortunately, it lacked in many areas. Jon Bauman was a lackluster host, Gene Rayburn didn't really seem as enthused about hosting anymore (auto-pilot) but was even less enthusiastic when he served as one of the panelists on Squares. The Hollywood Squares questions (all multiple choice) did not allow for much comedy from the celebrities. Many of the celebrities were from ABC soaps and lesser-known shows.

I was always a fan of Match Game,and Gene Rayburn and his laughing/interactions with his regulars (Particularly Charles Nelson Reilly and Bret Somers).This show furthered that along.However,John Bauman was not my cup of tea.I never liked his large mouthed Sha Na Na bit,and his addition to this show didnt change my mind.Shame they couldnt get Peter Marshall for the job).Otherwise it was a worthy show that would be fun to watch.I even remember Gene and John commenting on the new year (1984) and they wished "many more" for the show.Alas,it wasnt to be.

I'm watching this on the Buzzr Network now and I think its pretty good I dont really find Bauman as bad as everyone says my only criticism is the classic 1970s Match Game and Hollywood Squares sets were better (I like the 1970s game show sets a lot more than any of the sets they have had since then) and the Celebrities on the 1970s shows were better, I do miss the regulars on the 1970s Match Game (Brett, Charles and Richard, and others like Fannie Flagg, Betty White,Patti, Deutsch, Jo ann Pflug, etc, etc) and Hollywood Squares (Paul Lynde, and the others), and the Sets were better in the 70s too, but I dont really find Bauman to be that bad (Peter Marshall was better but Bauman isnt that bad) and of course Gene Rayburn is the best.