I thought Richard Dawson was pretty rude in '78,but the All-Time Sourpuss is Alex Karras in '75. He sat there with his hand on his chin,puffing on a butt,looking totally bored out of his mind. He only came to life during a skit with a lady wrestler contestant. It's surprising because Alex was always a fun,engaging guy and a pretty good actor,for a jock. Maybe he was having a bad week during the tapings. Anyone else notice?

It's not deep entertainment, but it's fun.There isn't the overly social restraint of the 1950s and early 1960s. Nor do the social norms of 70s Match Game fray with the trashy 90s (which lasts up until today). Having said that the humor is racy, but not raunchy nor otherwise disgusting. It's suggestive rather than explicit, and leaves the jokes to the imagination. Bodily functions are not spelled out for the media-challenged.The game tested the mental mettle of the contestants in a very simple game of matching thoughts and answers to very funny (sometimes challenging) questions and unfinished phrases. The contestants didn't need post docs, nor did they need to be hot young minds attending university. Nor did they need commercial oriented knowledge, but good common sense about how people.But the game would not have worked without the personalities of the late great Gene Rayburn, the supreme master of ceremonies, and his gaggle of irregulars :-) I don't know what made me think of this show, and hence the writing of this comment, but just out of curiosity I surfed You-Tube for some clips. Found them. And based on what I saw (and the laughter it invoked within me) I went and bought the best of DVD set. All I can say is I'm glad I did it, because not only did I laugh, but I was reminded that I actually saw the first few episodes of this show. And then when it changed time slots I never missed an episode :-) Yes, there may have been some staged and scripted moments, bu7t most of it was true live television with no finagling. But, even with those few scripted moments, the show still works for me. And, with a more mature and sharper mind, I happen to think that the re-runs of an old 1970s' TV game show is far more entertaining, far more stimulating, far more filled with wit, far more suspenseful (inspite of the low cash prizes, not adjusted for Jimmy Carter inflation) than most everything I've seen produced since 1989. And, for all the hooting and hollering that went on, Gene had control of both show and audience, and did it with a fun attitude and authority.The DVD set contains a lot of extraordinary moments, and mostly shows the winners. Which would be misleading if you weren't around to see the show when it first aired, because rarely did anyone win the "Super Match" contest, much less the bonus multi-thousand bonus round that followed.The other bonus about the DVD set is that it's Crystal-clear video. For those too young to remember TV aerials, even if you lived near a broadcast antenna, airplanes, sun-spot activity, storms, even road traffic, would and could distort reception. No longer, thanks to the good folks at Fermantle Entertainment and BCI.Buy this DVD set, and show your MATURE kids and grand kids how a game-show ought to be run :-) Enjoy!

This will always be one of the classic game shows. The late Gene Rayburn will always be the perfect host of this show. Rayburn really enjoyed his image as a lecherous host and his playful banter with both the contestants and the celebrity panel were what made this show great. Also, Bret Somers and Charles Nelson Reilley's playful arguing helped make this show the perfect game show for the 1970's.

This was the best game show ever. I always enjoy the banter between Charles Nelson Reilly and Bret Somers, Richard Dawson giving away another $5000.00 and the host Gene Rayburn with his goofy smile trying to keep everybody in check. There will never be another show as good.