Where To Watch
Looking back at the best 'Match Game' panelists
Brett Somers and Charles Nelson Reilly were the perfect pair.
Image: Everett Collection
The Match Game has gone through several iterations over the years, but none have been better than the one that aired on CBS in the 1970s.
It was hilarious without trying too hard. It was edgy without being raunchy. The Match Game pushed the game show genre into new territory by offering viewers a hearty dose of laughs and an escape from reality.
Of course, the show's success stemmed from its panelists.
The producers had it down to a science. Each chair had its own special purpose. You couldn't just stick Betty White in the top left chair —she had to deliver the final punch line at the end.
Everyone worked together to put on the best game show of the 1970s, possibly of all time. Here's a look at some of the best panelists.
1. Brett Somers - Top Center
Somers was the queen of Match Game, ruling over the panel in the top center seat. Married to Jack Klugman, Somers was brought on the show at his suggestion. Her raspy voice, outlandish wigs and oversized glasses never left. Her banter with the other panelists was just as great, if not better, than her answers. Of course, Somers wouldn't have been nearly as good if she wasn't placed next to Charles Nelson Reilly.
Image: FremantleMedia North America
2. Charles Nelson Reilly - Top Right
Where do we begin? Reilly's tongue-in-cheek answers made him a popular fixture on the game show, cracking up audiences by ending each response with a wink at the camera. His banter with Somers was legendary, constantly chastising her for having bad answers or copying his own. In one instance, Reilly demanded to be moved away from Somers. Was it all for show or was it real? We'll never know.
Image: FremantleMedia North America
3. Richard Dawson - Bottom Center
Dawson may be better known today as the host of Family Feud and kissing women on the mouth (!!!), but his legendary appearances on Match Game paved the way for that game show success. The former Hogan's Heroes star was an all-around an excellent player. He always had a witty answer prepared, if not the matching one. After Dawson left the show, perhaps because he was not in control, it was impossible to replace him in the bottom center seat.
Image: FremantleMedia North America
4. Betty White - Bottom Right
The bottom right seat was always reserved for a funny woman, and who better than to keep the seat warm than Betty White. By the 1970s, White already knew game shows like the back of her hand. After all, she was married to popular host Allen Ludden. White was the perfect panelist, never taking too long to deliver a joke and always having a smile on her face for the punch line. Going last and remaining fresh must have been a challenge, but White did it with ease.
Image: FremantleMedia North America
5. Fannie Flagg - Bottom Right
If White wasn't sitting at the bottom right, you would hope it would be Flagg. The character actress wasn't always "right" (okay, she was usually never right), but she was always funny. Flagg's sweater choices and the size of her breasts became running jokes on the show. But Flagg got the last laugh, becoming an Oscar nominee in 1992 for writing the screenplay for Fried Green Tomatoes.
Image: FremantleMedia North America
6. Nipsey Russell - Top Left
The top left seat was always a difficult one to fill. Being the first to respond, a celebrity could easily break the round by giving a dull response. However, Nipsey Russell was neither dull nor difficult. The Wiz actor was vibrant, hilarious and usually answered with a rhyme. Even though he appeared elsewhere as the Tin Man, he could easily declare his profession "professional game show panelist."
Image: FremantleMedia North America
7. Jo Ann Pflug - Bottom Left
It must have been a challenge for any celebrity to sit in the bottom left position. Being closest to Rayburn, the seat was reserved for an attractive woman to endure his constant and shameless flirting. The fearless Pflug not only endured Rayburn's playful advances, she tossed them back with ease. Pflug also held her own against Somers, White and Flagg — a seemingly impossible task for anyone else.
Image: FremantleMedia North America
Honorable Mentions
Patti Deutsch - You either loved her or hated her. Deutsch's answers proved to be divisive among viewers
Joyce Bulifant - Sure, Bulifant has some rotten answers. But after a while, you had to believe it was part of her strategy for making people laugh.
Marcia Wallace - The Bob Newhart Show star shined on this program. It's too bad she wasn't a regular like Somers or Reilly. Probably because she was censored too often.
Orson Bean - Another staple of the top left seat.
22 Comments
...and Match Game is on several times a day
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Weekday No. 1: 8/31-9/4/1964 NBC-TV in living color
MISS ANN SHERIDAN & ROBERT Q. LEWIS
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{Preempted on Thanksgiving Day 1964 for The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.}
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{Preempted New Year's Day 1965}
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MISS ANITA LOUISE & MR. ORSON BEAN
Weekday No. 30: 3/22-26/1965
FLORENCE HENDERSON & MR. WALLY COX
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MISS SELMA DIAMOND & MR. ART JAMES
Weekday No. 32: 4/5-9/1965
MISS JAYNE MANSFIELD & MR. MILT KAMEN
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MISS BESS MYERSON & MR. HENRY MORGAN
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MR. MARTY ALLEN & STEVE ROSSI
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MISS DOROTHY LAMOUR & MR. HENRY MORGAN
Weekday No. 38: 5/17-21/1965
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Weekday No. 40: 5/31-6/4/1965
MR. JOE GARAGIOLA, SR. & MR. WHITEY FORD
Weekday No. 41: 6/7-11/1965
VIVIAN VANCE & MR. SYDNEY CHAPLIN
Weekday No. 42: 6/14-18/1965
MISS JUNE LOCKHART & MR. LES CRANE
Weekday No. 43: 6/21-25/1965
MISS CAROL LAWRENCE & MR. JAN MURRAY
Weekday No. 44: 6/28-7/2/1965
ALAN & ROBERT ALDA
Weekday No. 45: 7/5-9/1965
MISS GISELE MacKENZIE & MR. BOBBY VINTON
Weekday No. 46: 7/12-16/1965
AUDREY MEADOWS & MR. PAT O'BRIEN
Weekday No. 47: 7/19-23/1965
MISS JAYNE MEADOWS & ALAN YOUNG
Weekday No. 48: 7/26-30/1965
MISS RITA MORENO & MR. CLIFF ROBERTSON
Weekday No. 49: 8/2-6/1965
BETTY WHITE & MR. HENRY MORGAN
Weekday No. 50: 8/9-13/1965
MR. ART JAMES & MR. BILL LEYDEN
Weekday No. 51: 8/16-20/1965
MISS SELMA DIAMOND & MR. SYDNEY CHAPLIN
Weekday No. 52: 8/23-27/1965
MISS ANNA MARIA ALBERGHETTI & MR. ELLIOT REID
{Season 3 Cancelled.}
NBC-TV in living Color Host: GENE RAYBURN & Announcer: JOHNNY OLSON
Weekday 1: 9/2-6/1963
BETTY WHITE "Password" & MR. ROD SERLING "THE TWILIGHT ZONE"
Weekday 2: 9/9-13/1963
BESS MYERSON "MISS AMERICA 1945 & I'VE GOT A SECRET Starring GARRY MOORE" & MR. JIM BACKUS "Mr. Quincy Magoo-The MISTER Magoo SHOW"
Weekday 3: 9/16-20/1963
MR. MICHAEL LANDON "Little Joe Cartwright-BONANZA" & DENNIS WEAVER "Deputy Chester Goode-GUNSMOKE"
Weekday 4: 9/23-27/1963
MISS CAROL LAWRENCE {MRS. ROBERT GOULET} & MR. VAUGHN MEADER "Pres. John F. Kennedy, Sr."
Weekday 5: 9/30-10/4/1963
MISS JANE WITHERS "Josephine Plumber-COMET CLEANSER" & MR. JACK GING "Dr. Paul Graham-THE ELEVENTH (11th) HOUR"
Weekday 6: 10/7-11/1963
MISS JINX FALKENBERG & TOM POSTON "To Tell The TRUTH"
Weekday 7: 10/14-18/1963
MISS FRAN ALLISON "THE KUKLA, FRAN & OLLIE SHOW" & MR. DICK CLARK "THE NEW AMERICAN BANDSTAND"
Weekday 8: 10/21-25/1963
ARLENE FRANCIS "WHAT'S MY LINE?" & MR. JOEY BISHOP "Mr. Joey Barnes-"THE JOEY BISHOP (SITCOM) SHOW"
Weekday 9: 10/28-11/1/1963
MISS CAROL LAWRENCE {Mrs. ROBERT GOULET} & MR. JIM BACKUS "Mr. Quincy Magoo-The MISTER Magoo Show"
Weekday 10: 11/4-8/1963
PEGGY CASS "To Tell The TRUTH" & NIPSEY RUSSELL "MISSING LINKS"
Weekday 11: 11/11-15/1963
AUDREY MEADOWS "The Jackie Gleason Show & The American Scene Magazine" & VAN JOHNSON
Weekday 12: 11/18-21/1963
BETTY WHITE "Password" & MR. SHELLEY BERMAN
{On Friday November 22, 1963 "The MATCH GamE" is/was preempted for The Asassination of JOHN F. KENNEDY-The 35th President of The United States.}
Weekday 13: 11/25-29/1963
MISS PAT CARROLL "Mrs. Bunny Halper-Make Room for Daddy & THE DANNY THOMAS SHOW" & MR. HENRY MORGAN "I'VE GOT A SECRET Starring GARRY MOORE"
Weekday 14: 12/2-6/1963
DOROTHY KILGALLEN "WHAT'S MY LINE?" & MR. TOM POSTON "To Tell The TRUTH"
Weekday 15: 12/9-13/1963
KITTY CARLISLE "To Tell The TRUTH" & CHESTER MORRIS
Weekday 16: 12/16-20/1963
AUDREY MEADOWS "The Jackie Gleason Show & The American Scene Magazine" & MR. MITCH MILLER "SING ALONG WITH MITCH"
Weekday 17: 12/23-27/1963
PEGGY CASS "To Tell The TRUTH" & PAUL ANKA
Weekday 18: 12/30/1963-1/3/1964
SHARI LEWIS (& FRIENDS) & MILT KAMEN
Weekday 19: 1/6-10/1964
MISS SHIRL CONWAY "Nurse Elizabeth 'Liz' Thrope-THE DOCTORS & THE NURSES" & ABE BURROWS
Weekday 20: 1/13-17/1964
ARLENE FRANCIS "WHAT'S MY LINE?" & MR. ROD SERLING "THE TWILIGHT ZONE"
Weekday 21: 1/20-24/1964
The Women: PEGGY CASS "To Tell The TRUTH," BETTY WHITE "Password" & JOAN FONTAINE Vs. The Men: MR. BENNETT CERF "WHAT'S MY LINE?," MR. HENRY MORGAN "I'VE GOT A SECRET Starring GARRY MOORE" & ROBERT Q. LEWIS.
Weekday 22: 1/27-31/1964
MISS JANE WITHERS "Josephine Plumber-COMET CLEANSER" & MR. DON AMECHE
Weekday 23: 2/3-7/1964
KITTY CARLISLE "To Tell The TRUTH" & MR. HOWARD KEEL
Weekday 24: 2/10-14/1964
JOAN BENNETT & ORSON BEAN "To Tell The TRUTH"
Weekday 25: 2/17-21/1964
BETTY WHITE "Password" & MR. DON MURRAY
Weekday 26: 2/24-28/1964
DOROTHY KILGALLEN "WHAT'S MY LINE?" & MR. JACK E. LEONARD
Weekday 27: 3/2-6/1964
MISS CARMEL QUINN & MR. MOREY AMSTERDAM "Maurice 'Buddy' Sorrell-THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW"
Weekday 28: 3/9-13/1964
FLORENCE HENDERSON "NBC NEWS The TODAY Show" & MR. HENRY MORGAN "I'VE GOT A SECRET Starring GARRY MOORE"
Weekday 29: 3/16-20/1964
MISS PAT SUZUKI & MR. DON MURRAY
Weekday 30: 3/23-27/1964
PAULA PRENTISS & MR. DON DeFORE "Mr. George Baxter-HAZEL"
Weekday 31: 3/30-4/3/1964
ARLENE FRANCIS "WHAT'S MY LINE?" & MR. JOHN PAYNE & GUEST HOST: ART JAMES on Wednesday April Fools Day 1964
Weekday 32: 4/6-10/1964
PEGGY CASS "To Tell The TRUTH" & MR. HOWARD KEEL
Weekday 33: 4/13-17/1964
PHYLLIS DILLER & ROBERT MERRILL
Weekday 34: 4/20-24/1964
PHYLLIS NEWMAN "To Tell The TRUTH" & ROBERT Q. LEWIS
Weekday 35: 4/27-5/1/1964
BETTY WHITE "Password" & PERNELL ROBERTS "Adam Cartwright-BONANZA"
Weekday 36: 5/4-8/1964
FLORENCE HENDERSON "NBC NEWS The TODAY Show" & DOUGLAS FAIRBANKS, JR.
Weekday 37: 5/11-15/1964
SALLY ANN HOWES & TOM POSTON "To Tell The TRUTH"
Weekday 38: 5/18-22/1964
ANN SOTHERN & ALLAN SHERMAN "The Head Huncho of I'VE GOT A SECRET Starring GARRY MOORE"
Weekday 39: 5/25-29/1964
MISS CARMEL QUINN & MR. ROD SERLING "THE TWILIGHT ZONE"
Weekday 40: 6/1-5/1964
DR. JOYCE BROTHERS & MR. MILT KAMEN
Weekday 41: 6/8-12/1964
MISS GRETCHEN WYLER & PAUL ANKA
Weekday 42: 6/15-19/1964
BETTY WHITE "Password" & MR. PAT O'BRIEN {Not The Sportscaster but The Movie Star}
Weekday 43: 6/22-26/1964
PEGGY CASS "To Tell The TRUTH" & MR. SAL MINEO
Weekday 44: 6/29-7/3/1964
BETTY FURNESS "WNBC-TV NBC 4's The (Gabe) Pressman-(Bob) Ryan Report" & ALLAN SHERMAN "The Head Huncho of I'VE GOT A SECRET Starring GARRY MOORE"
Weekday 45: 7/6-10/1964
MISS JAYNE MANSFIELD & ORSON BEAN "To Tell The TRUTH"
Weekday 46: 7/13-17/1964
FLORENCE HENDERSON "NBC NEWS The TODAY Show" & ART JAMES "SAY WHEN!!"
Weekday 47: 7/20-24/1964
MISS CAROL LAWRENCE {Mrs. ROBERT GOULET} & ABE BURROWS
Weekday 48: 7/27-31/1964
MISS JAYNE MANSFIELD & ORSON BEAN "To Tell The TRUTH"
Weekday 49: 8/3-7/1964
BETTY WHITE "Password" & MR. PAT O'BRIEN (Not The Sportscaster but The Movie Star)
Weekday 50: 8/10-14/1964
SHARI LEWIS (& FRIENDS) & MR. MORT SAHL
Weekday 51: 8/17-21/1964
MISS SELMA DIAMOND & MR. WALLY COX
Weekday 52: 8/24-28/1964
PHYLLIS DILLER & DALE ROBERTSON
{Season 2 Cancelled} GUEST ANNOUNCER: MR. DON PARDO
NBC-TV in living Color Host: GENE RAYBURN & Announcer: JOHNNY OLSON.
Weekday 1: New Year's Eve-Day-Week: 12/31/1962-1/4/1963
ARLENE FRANCIS "WHAT'S MY LINE?" & MR. SKITCH HENDERSON "THE TONIGHT SHOW Starring JOHNNY CARSON"
Weekday 2: 1/7-11/1963
SALLY ANN HOWES "To Tell The TRUTH" & MR. ABE BURROWS
Weekday 3: 1/14-18/1963
PEGGY CASS "To Tell The TRUTH" & PETER LIND HAYES
Weekday 4: 1/21-25/1963
MISS CAROL LAWRENCE {Mrs. ROBERT GOULET} & MR. SAM LEVENSON
Weekday 5: 1/28-2/1/1963
BETTY WHITE "Password" & MR. DARREN McGAVIN
Weekday 6: 2/4-8/1963
DOROTHY COLLINS "The New Garry Moore Show" & MR. BARRY NELSON "To Tell The TRUTH"
Weekday 7: 2/11-15/1963
ANN SOTHERN & MILT KAMEN
Weekday 8: 2/18-22/1963
AUDREY MEADOWS "The Jackie Gleason Show & The American Scene Magazine" & MR. ORSON BEAN "To Tell The TRUTH"
Weekday 9: 2/25-3/1/1963
GISELE MacKENZIE & MILT KAMEN
Weekday 10: 3/4-8/1963
PEGGY CASS "To Tell The TRUTH" & MR. BENNETT CERF "WHAT'S MY LINE?"
Weekday 11: 3/11-15/1963
FLORENCE HENDERSON "NBC NEWS The TODAY Show" & PAUL FORD
Weekday 12: 3/18-22/1963
MARY HEALY & ROBERT Q. LEWIS "PLAY YOUR HUNCH"
Weekday 13: 3/25-29/1963
RISE STEVENS & HENRY MORGAN "I'VE GOT A SECRET Starring GARRY MOORE"
Weekday 14: 4/1-5/1963
PEGGY CASS "To Tell The TRUTH" & DOUGLAS FAIRBANKS, JR. & GUEST HOST: ART JAMES on Monday April Fools Day 1963
Weekday 15: 4/8-12/1963
MISS CAROL LAWRENCE {Mrs. ROBERT GOULET} & CHESTER MORRIS
Weekday 16: 4/15-19/1963
FLORENCE HENDERSON "NBC NEWS The TODAY Show" & MR. TOM POSTON "To Tell The TRUTH"
Weekday 17: 4/22-26/1963
MISS JANE WYATT "Father Knows Best" & MR. HENRY MORGAN "I'VE GOT A SECRET Starring GARRY MOORE"
Weekday 18: 4/29-5/3/1963
KITTY CARLISLE "To Tell The TRUTH" & MR. MILT KAMEN
Weekday 19: 5/6-10/1963
GISELE MacKENZIE & ART JAMES "SAY WHEN!!"
Weekday 20: 5/13-17/1963
ABBE LANE & ART JAMES "SAY WHEN!!"
Weekday 21: 5/20-24/1963
BARBARA COOK & MR. SAM LEVENSON
Weekday 22: 5/27-31/1963
MISS FAYE EMERSON & MR. JACK E. LEONARD
Weekday 23: 6/3-7/1963
KITTY CARLISLE "To Tell The TRUTH" & MR. VAUGHN MEADER "Pres. John F. Kennedy"
Weekday 24: 6/10-14/1963
JOAN FONTAINE & MR. ROD SERLING "THE TWILIGHT ZONE"
Weekday 25: 6/17-21/1963
FAYE EMERSON & MILT KAMEN
Weekday 26: 6/24-28/1963
FLORENCE HENDERSON "NBC NEWS The TODAY Show" & MR. HENRY MORGAN "I'VE GOT A SECRET Starring GARRY MOORE"
Weekday 27: 7/1-5/1963
DIANA LYNN & TOM POSTON "To Tell The TRUTH"
Weekday 28: 7/8-12/1963
PEGGY CASS "To Tell The TRUTH" & MR. SKITCH HENDERSON "THE TONIGHT SHOW Starring JOHNNY CARSON"
Weekday 29: 7/15-19/1963
JOAN CAULFIELD & MR. JACK E. LEONARD
Weekday 30: 7/22-26/1963
FLORENCE HENDERSON "NBC NEW The TODAY Show" & MR. MOREY AMSTERDAM "Maurice 'Buddy' Sorrell-THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW"
Weekday 31: 7/29-8/2/1963
GISELE MacKENZIE & CHESTER MORRIS
Weekday 32: 8/5-9/1963
BETTY WHITE "Password" & MR. SAM LEVENSON
Weekday 33: 8/12-16/1963
JOAN FONTAINE & ALAN YOUNG "Mr. Wilbur Post-The Owner of MISTER ED"
Weekday 34: 8/19-23/1963
FAYE EMERSON & MR. HENRY MORGAN "I'VE GOT A SECRET Starring GARRY MOORE"
Weekday 35: 8/26-30/1963
BARBARA COOK & MILT KAMEN
{Season 1 Cancelled} GUEST ANNOUNCER: MR. WAYNE HOWELL.
The 1st Theme is "A Swingin' Safari (The MATCH GamE)" by Bert Kaempfert from 1962 to 1967 and also performed by Billy Vaughn at No. 13 on August 11, 1962 on Dot Records (THE CBS CORPORATION.)
The 2nd Theme is "The MATCH GamE" by Charles "Charlie" Foxx & The Score Production Band from 1967 to 1969.