Match Game facts for kids

Match Game was a popular game show that aired on television for many years. It was known for its funny celebrities and clever word puzzles. The show first started in 1962 and had different versions until 1999. It was brought back again in 2016. The main goal of the game was for contestants to match answers with famous people.

How to Play Match Game

In Match Game, two contestants would compete. The host, Gene Rayburn, would read a fill-in-the-blank question. For example, "Mary is so ____ that she can't even tie her shoes."

• Both the contestant and six celebrities on the panel would secretly write down their answer to the question.
• First, one contestant would share their answer.
• Then, the celebrities would reveal their answers one by one.
• If a celebrity's answer matched the contestant's answer, the contestant would earn a point. A light would show up to mark the match.
• The second contestant would then play the next question, following the same steps.
• After two rounds, the contestant with the most points would win $100. They would then get to play in the "Big Money Super Match" round for a chance to win even more money.

The Big Money Super Match

This was the exciting final round where contestants could win a lot of money!

Audience Match

Before the show, the audience was asked to complete a fill-in-the-blank phrase. The most common answers were recorded.

• The most popular answer was worth $500.
• The second most popular was worth $250.
• The third most popular was worth $100.
• The contestant would choose three celebrities. They would try to guess which answer the audience picked as the most popular.
• The contestant would then pick one of the celebrity's answers or make up their own.
• If the contestant's answer matched one of the top three audience answers, they would win that amount of money.

Head-to-Head Match

If a contestant won the Audience Match, they got a chance to multiply their winnings by ten!

• The contestant would try to match one celebrity's answer exactly to a new fill-in-the-blank question.
• At first, the contestant chose which celebrity they wanted to play with.
• Later, a "Star Wheel" was added in 1978. The contestant would spin the wheel to randomly pick a celebrity.
• If the wheel landed on a gold star section, the money the contestant was playing for would be doubled! This meant they could win even more.

Other Versions of Match Game

Match Game has had many different versions over the years.

• The very first Match Game aired on the NBC network from 1962 to 1969. It had slightly different rules.
• A new version, the one described above, started on the CBS network in 1973 and ran until 1979.
• A special evening version called Match Game PM began in 1975. It had three rounds of gameplay and two Audience Matches in the final round. This version ended in 1981.
• In 1983, Match Game was combined with another game show, Hollywood Squares, to create Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour. This combined show lasted for one year.
• The show returned to the ABC network in 1990 with a new host, Ross Shafer. In this version, contestants played for cash prizes. It also had a new "Match Up" round where contestants had to match a celebrity's answers quickly. This version ended in 1991.
• Match Game came back again in 1998 with Michael Burger as the host. This version had five celebrities instead of six. It was not as popular and ended in 1999.
• The show was revived again in 2016 on ABC.

Images for kids

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  Gene Rayburn (center) hosting a prime-time Match Game special episode, 1964

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  Charles Nelson Reilly (pictured in 2000) was a regular panelist from 1973 to 1991.

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  Richard Dawson, a regular panelist from 1973 to 1978, was usually chosen to participate in the head-to-head match.

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  McLean Stevenson became a regular panelist during its final season in syndication.