GSN, What Do I Think? What Do I Watch?

I have to say since I've been back, I've really enjoyed watching GSN. I enjoy each of the old shows airing. I've DVRing Match Game 78 in the mornings. These haven't been seen since the first part of 2004. Those have been nice to see. I also catch The New $25,000 Pyramid before I head off to school each morning. I really enjoy these early shows. It's also good to hear my favorite announcer Jack Clark on the show. Sometimes I even catch the Wheel of Fortune episodes too. Sure they're fairly recent, but they're still fun. I'm generally asleep during Card Sharks and Press Your Luck but I try to catch them if I can. I hope Jim Perry's version of Card Sharks finds its way back to the schedule.

I haven't caught any of the new shows yet. It's not that I'm not interested, I just don't have time. Maybe I'll watch some Divided this weekend. It looks interesting, and it's getting renewed for a second season this year. Cash Cab is now on the network too as of this week. There's still some good stuff on the network.

GSN Leases, My Speculation

I returned on December 1st. Prior to that, GSN renewed their leases on their older shows they've been airing. Last September, GSN began airing Match Game 77 picking up from a previous lease from a few years ago. They also leased episodes from 1987 for Bob Eubanks Card Sharks, 1979 episodes from Jim Perry's Card Sharks and 1984 episodes of Press Your Luck. And also last June, they leased the first few months of The $25,000 Pyramid from 1982. Of course when I returned, Jim Perry's Card Sharks had been pulled from the schedule.

I have a couple of observations. From what I've read on the internet, the previous lease of Match Game included the first syndicated season from 1979-1980, and CBS episodes ranging episodes #1216-#1455 (which is the finale). Accounting for the episodes skipped about 350 episodes aired. This current lease starts from episode #921. If they go until episode #1215, the episode before the previous lease, counting skips it's about 280. My guess, either they've leased just that. Or if it's close to what it's been in the past. My guess if they were to round off the number to say 400, they could've picked up Match Game 73 as well. With the episodes they've got for that (counting skips) you have 113 episodes (including the first Match Game 74 which was not part of any recent lease). That would put you close to 400 episodes. I guess we'll see.

Another interesting item to note is The $25,000 Pyramid. They're currently airing episodes from June 1983. I'm guessing with that leasing history, we're going to be rewinding back to the 1982 Premiere soon. However, on the GSN schedule, I noticed episodes for next week feature celebrity guests as Teresa Ganzel & Charlie Siebert. According to the episode guide, they played together in November 1987. So I don't know. I guess we'll see.

Predict That Future

Well, the month of March is upon us. And soon, April will be here. With GSN's track record over the past few years, they usually make changes, whether it be adding adding new shows, or switching episodes, they do stuff. So, why not make predictions just for fun?

Here are mine with each show. Keep note these are only my predictions.

• Match Game - Will keep the same 1975-1977 episodes. 

• Blockbusters - Will end up leaving. My guess it will be replaced with Jim Perry's Card Sharks with the last set of 1981 shows.
• Press Your Luck - Will get a different set of episodes. My guess, more 1984 shows.

• $ale of the Century - Will get a different set of Syndie shows, from where they left off

• Super Password - Will get a different set of episodes, from where they left off.
• Password Plus - Will get a different set, somewhere from the Ludden run.

Well, these are my predictions. What are yours?

Scheduling History

Most times they change some things up in April. In fact, because I can, here's what they've done in regards to the oldies in April.

2009: Shows such as Child's Play, Blockbusters, Press Your Luck, Card Sharks (Both Perry and Eubanks) To Tell The Truth (O'Hurley and Collyer), & What's My Line? are removed from the schedule. In addition to Sony shows such asPyramid with Dick Clark and Hollywood Squares, Match Game PM, Dawson Nighttime Feud, and original recipe Passwordare added to what other versions of those shows are already there. Oddly enough, Let's Make a Deal stayed but was removed in June 2009. 

2010: Match Game (PM and SYN), Family Feud (Dawson SYN and Combs) and Password are removed from the schedule. Match Game goes from 1978 to 1974, Dawson Feud goes from 1983 to 1980, and 200 episodes of Perry and Eubanks Card Sharks are added to the schedule.

2011: Nothing happens. In April they were focusing on the originals. 2 of which bombed. 1 of those still has a weekend slot?!?!

2012: Both Eubanks and Perry Card Sharks leave the schedule. Password Plus and Super Password are added. 

October 2012: Jim Perry's Card Sharks and Press Your Luck are added to the schedule. Both Password revivals remain on the schedule as well. Usually things like this hadn't happened in October.

2013: New leases on Match Game, Press Your Luck, Password Plus and Super Password and $ale of the Century added to the schedule.

December 2013: New $ale of the Century lease and Blockbusters with Bill Cullen added. 

So who knows what's going to happen. It could be another 2011 where nothing happens.

Remembering a Legend - Marcia Wallace

I hate coming across death notices, especially if it's a name I recognize. I went browsing at the Game Show Paradise boards, and saw a notice that Marcia Wallace had died at the age of 70.

I've been watching The Simpsons for several years. Krabapel was always one of my favorite characters. Her signature laugh, and her character, very enjoyable. Marcia was the perfect voice for that character. I'll miss that character.

I knew Marcia better on Game Shows. I first saw Marcia on Match Game with Ross Shaffer on a 2004 rerun. I later saw her on the Syndicated version with Gene Rayburn, then, yeah, the episodes got earlier. She was one good panelist, always giving the most interesting answers. Yeah she didn't match anyone until 1975. Needless to say, everyone made a huge deal of it. She was always fun to watch.

Marcia also did Password Plus, Super Password, The $100,000 Pyramid, and Card Sharks with Jim Perry. One of my favorite moments was on Card Sharks when Bill Daily made a dumb move in the game and still managed to win. Her reaction was priceless, and of course Bill was happy. Very funny moment.

R.I.P Marcia Wallace
1942-2013

She will be missed and her contributions to television will be remembered.

Spirit of 76

Well, with GSN's new lease of shows, we hit a huge turning point in Match Game. OK, not that big, but it's great to see it again. Tomorrow at 8:00am, Match Game 76 returns to the network, and we leave 75 behind... for now. Long awaited since, well... I don't know, but we're getting it. We expected to see it sometime in 2011, but we then found out GSN leased about 400 episodes, and we would not be seeing them.

Well, there are several things to look forward, like Gene Breaking Down the Door for the first time, or Mike Douglas. If there's anything I'm looking forward to it's Marvin Hamlisch's episodes, which air, this week. Also several other funny episodes, but then again, just about every episode is a funny episode.

Starts tomorrow at 8:00am EST.

GSN Daytime Changes Next Week

Well, I've been on a long vacation, that should've ended 2 days ago :) Well anyway, next week GSN is revamping its daytime schedule.

8:00am - Match Game 75 (1975-1977 Episodes)

8:30am - Match Game 75 (1975-1977 Episodes)

9:00am - Press Your Luck (1983-1984 Episodes)

9:30am - Sale of the Century (1988-1989 Episodes)

11:00am - Super Password (1986-1987 Episodes)

and for Weekends, we get the 1981-1982 episodes of Password Plus with Tom Kennedy.

Well, I for one am excited for these changes. Very excited to finally see some more Match Game 75 and more Press Your Luck. Not extremely excited for the final season of Password Plus but it does have Tom Kennedy which hasn't been seen forever. More Super Password episodes are always welcome.

As for Sale Of the Century all I can say is wow, I thought this show would never set foot on the schedule.  Well, good thing I didn't necessarily bet my life, otherwise I'd be in huge trouble. It's a decent show, and I will enjoy it. I mean Jim Perry is an excellent host, so it's gonna be good. Starts Monday April 1st.

Yeah, we give up Dawson Feud and Card Sharks but oh well. They'll probably be back. This is the first time Dawson Feud has not been on the GSN lineup.

The Convy Pilot

Well, ain't that a flattering picture :p. Well, I received a Christmas gift this year. And it was amazing. Of all the worldly things, it would be seeing the 1989 Match Game pilot hosted by Bert Convy. And I'm going to say WOW! Bert was a great panelist on Match Game throughout the Gene Rayburn tenure, always funny, and as the host of Tattletales he was splendid. Super Password and Win, Lose or Draw he handled well with class. This though after it was over made me think of what could've been. I didn't ever have a problem with Ross Shafer, but this is how the revival should've been. Really a huge shame that Bert got sick, and eventually passed. He was almost as good as Rayburn (not better though, just because Rayburn permanently holds the title). No Match-Up is OK. The celebs were amazing. This was a real treat to see for a marathon. Shame Bert wasn't available the show could've lasted longer than a year. Bert passed away 3 days after the 1990-1991 run ended.

Thank you GSN for giving us something we've been longing for.

A Happy Holiday

Well, with GSN's Holiday Marathon list, I thought I'd return to comment on my favorite one. The Christmas Day marathon filled with Match Game. However, it will only feature 1 episode of 74 :) I'll post the lineup, and my thoughts about each any every episode. The marathon will air from 8:00am ET-5:00pmET.

The lineup is as follows. My Commentary is underlined

8:00am - The Match Game, 1962 Pilot episode with Peggy Cass & Peter Lind Hayes. Well, that's awesome, I've only seen a few parts on Youtube. I understand it will probably be not as exciting as other episodes, but it beats Algebra 2 any day.
8:30am - The Match Game, July 28, 1964 episode with Jayne Mansfield & Orson Bean. I've only seen 1 other episode of the 1960's version. And that was an All*Star episode. So I'm looking forward to this.
9:00am - Match Game, 1973 Pilot with Bert Convy, Arlene Francis, Jack Klugman, Jo Ann Pflug, RD, BW. Yeah, this is really awesome. I truly mean it. I'm very excited to see the beginnings of one of my favorite TV shows.
9:30am - Match Game 73. Premiere episode with Michael Landon, VL, Jack Klugman, Jo Ann Pflug, RD, Anita Gillette. Been awhile since this has been on the network, so this will be nice to see again. Especially for those who just recently started watching
10:00am - Match Game 73, First episode with Brett & Charles, #11, with Bert Convy, Jaye P. Morgan, CNR, BS, RD, BW So cool, this is a classic episode, something that would start something great :)
10:30am - Match Game 74, #158 with Steve Allen, BS, CNR, FF, RD, Kaye Ballard. This was the first time boobs was used for an answer, so, yeah it's a classic, even though GSN has aired it a lot lately.
11:00am - Match Game PM, #3, with William Shatner, BS, CNR, Lee Merewether, RD, JB. This is a good episode. Should be fun to watch again
11:30am - Match Game 76, #827 with Avery Schrieber, BS, CNR, Nancy Kulp, RD, JB. Another classic, hasn't been seen for years.
12:00pm - Match Game 77, #972, with Dick Smothers, BS, CNR, Meg Bennett, RD, FF Other reports are reporting New Years Eve 1976. We'll see, either way, I've probably never seen them
12:30pm - Maych Game 77 #1005, with Edward Asner, BS, CNR, DS, RD, PD You know, this episode kind of pissed me off. I mean the riot was funny, but the judge's decision was completely Back Asswards (Yeah I said that right). Hey better than nothing :)
1:00pm - Match Game 78, #1228, with David Doyle, BS, CNR, EJ, RD, BW. Classic episode with classic moment, nuff said
1:30pm - Match Game PM, #151, with Kukla & Ollie, BS, CNR, Eva Gabor, Arte Johnson, Another classic, one of my favorites.
2:00pm - Match Game SYN, 1979, with Foster Brooks, BS, CNR, Sarah Purcll, Scoey Mitchlll, FF Should be interesting to see again
2:30pm - Match Game SYN, 1980, with Charles Siebert, BS, CNR, Phyllis Davis, Robert Donner, MW I Think I know this one, or maybe I don't :)
3:00pm - Match Game SYN, Finale of the 1973-1982 version featuring Skip Stephenson, BS, CNR, Melinda O. Fee, MS, BW Unnanounced, but Dawson is mentioned :)
3:30pm - Match Game 90, #41 with Bill Kirchenbauer, BS, CNR, VL, Ronn Lucas, Deborah Tranelli Awesome, an MG90 episode with Brett. I do love Ronn Lucas
4:00pm - Match Game 98, with Nell Carter, George Hamilton, Judy Tenuta, Rondell Sherdian, VL This is the black licorice flavor in the marathon. Oh well, beats Dog Eat Dog.
4:30pm - Match Game 90 Pilot with Bert Convy Hosting. Um, wow, DVR set.

This looks to be a good marathon.

Memories

I think Thanksgiving is my favorite Holiday. Nah, that's Christmas. So it's Number 2. I think back to 5 Years ago tomorrow, as I will be on the coast hiking. I think back to the Viewer's Choice Marathon GSN did back in 2007. Happened around Thanksgiving. This was a few months before I joined the boards. Users voted for their favorite shows. Being that most of them were old fans, all old shows made the lineup. Smelling the turkey gives me memories of rare shows that never get time on the network. One of these shows is Bullseye.  A show that was a combination of Tic Tac Dough and The Joker's Wild that was hosted by Jim Lange. Very good I might add, good music, actually good premise. Jim was always confident, and, well.. I enjoyed it. Not because it's old, but because it's good. Plus the Celebrity format wasn't too bad.

Also, I'd like to think about Hot Potato hosted by Bill Cullen. Good show, music, host, and more. Also aired on that marathon. Kind of a Family Feud style show. I enjoyed it. Bill did good, and the contestants were good. The celebrity format killed it though. Oh well.

Well, happy Thanksgiving.

Out With the Old, and In with the New, Another GSN Experiment

GSN has done a whole bunch of schedule shakeups. For example, this week Harvey Feud gains 2 hours in latenights, replacing Karn, Engvall, Jeopardy!, and Password Plus. And Baggage replaces The $25,000 Pyramid and Super Password in latenights. And now, on September 21, Baggage also will replace Match Game and the Richard Dawson Family Feud.

I am going to support this change. Time is moving on. Older shows (especially game shows) are no longer appealing to people, except a select few. I mean, on GSN, there getting awful numbers, and they are putrid compared to big stuff such as American Bible Challenge which pulls almost 1 million viewers each week, or The Pyramid. Looks like GSN has had it. Seeing how Match Game pulls around 100,000 viewers each week, and Dawson has just about 75,000 each week. Looks very wimpy compared to those stuff. Hey I enjoy both Match Game and Dawson's Feud, but no one else, except the die-hard fans do (not that there's 100,000 of them). GSN figures Baggage could do better numbers. If all else fails, there's always Harvey.

I truly enjoy older shows, as well as modern. But as time progresses, those shows only get older. Match Game is turning 40 in July. Sorry, they just don't work.

Online Pick of the Week (8/26) - Match Game 73

For this pick for the week, I chose an early episode of Match Game 73. This episode is from the 4th week, and an episode I've been looking for since 2006.

This is from the early stages of the 70's CBS run. Not as exciting as it later got, but still enjoyable.

Match Game 73, My Online Pick of the Week

Remembering Phyllis Diller

Well, another one has died. Phyllis Diller has passed away at the age of 95. Of course, I don't know much about her, except she appeared on several game shows. Her works include, Match Game, Tattetales, Password Plus, Super Password, Family Feud, Body Language, The Gong Show, What's My Line? and more.

I've seen her on Match Game and Password Plus, and she did OK on there. She was always good at the games. One funny moment when she was on Tattletales belching while trying to give an answer. Classic moment.

R.I.P.

Online Pick of the Week (8/19) - Ron Pallilo's First Match Game

With Ron Palillo's passing this last week, my pick is his first appearance on Match Game 76. This was a good episode, and we get to hear his laugh. R.I.P. Ron Match Game 76, My Online Pick of the Week

A Sucky Revival

Well, I was reading the Game Show Forums and a post from March 2008. And I saw a post I'll share later in this blog post. It had something to do with The Match Game Hollywood Squares Hour. I saw a couple episodes of this, and I puked. Yeah, Gene didn't seem to enjoy it that much, and it was just stupid. I'm sorry but it was putrid, and very unwatchable. Jon Bauman, I'm sorry, I liked the Gangsta Bowzer that I've seen on the Late 70's Match Game and Password Plus in which he was cooler and enjoyable (OK, I liked his Super Password appearance). However, yeah, the stars weren't that great, both shows were weary and tired, and needed longer rests.

Now what brought me to this horrid review, it was this post. What was a normal tape schedule for The Match Game Hollywood Squares Hour


8:45 - Drag Gene kicking and screaming into the studio
9:00 - Tape first show
10:00 - Chase Gene back to dressing room. Call locksmith.
10:15 - Locksmith arrives
10:30 - Lock picked on dressing room door, drag Gene back into studio...

Yeah, I got a kick out of that. Well, this revival beat the 98 version of Match Game and Davidson's Squares, although the 1960's Match Game was much better.

One Last Dawson Post for Today

Well, Richard was always brilliant on Match Game, but he could give some funny answers sometimes. This was one of them. A friend of mine uploaded it as part of a YouTube Richard Dawson tribute. Enjoy.

And, We Change....AGAIN

Well, GSN is changing the schedule yet again, and daytime looks to be getting some changes.Let's look at them, shall we.

At 8:00am, Match Game departs and Richard Dawson's Family Feud moves in. There's your first error. His version of Feud has proven it cannot start of the day. Remember 2 years ago when Dawson's version couldn't crack 100K on a regular basis. It does currently at 9:00am, but that's because he's got Gene as a lead-in. This will hurt whatever is at 8:30am, which is still Match Game 74. 


At 9:00am is Password Plus. Looks to me like the show is failing at 10:00am, and they're giving it a throwaway slot. And with a potential week 9:00am hour, yep, this show's gonna fail :( I also wonder if they will run the episodes they have now 7 days a week considering the fact the show got added to Weekends. Meaning if they air an episode Friday, meaning the next episode will air Saturday. Hm.

As for the next change, The $100,000 Pyramid will air at 10:00am. Well, here's the first good part I see. Good addition, whether it be 1985-1986, or even 1987-1988 (Which they're airing), good move.

And Chain Reaction will air at 11:30am. Yeah, GSN's version. I think Match Game should've been left there.

And for Noon, we've got Jeopardy!. Hm, that's interesting, Alex always seems to show up in that spot.

Online Pick of the Week (3/11) - Match Game 78

Have I ever told you Match Game is my favorite game show? Well, the pick this week is a 1978 episode. In the first part, Gene dances to stayling alive. Okay, maybe not the most exciting thing, but hey Match Game is just pure awesomeness. Panel is Bill Daily, Brett Somers, Charles Nelson Reilly, Sarah Purcell, Richard Dawson, Betty White. THis is a good episode, even though Richard is pretty much pissed at this point. As always, Gene Rayburn is totally boss.

Match Game 78 My Online Pick of the week.

More GSN Ratings, and Some More Notes

All rights, let's look at some more GSN ratings folks. The February 6-12 ratings are in. Well, I saw some interesting numbers all around. There were a few 500K's, and 400K's. That was actually a pretty darn good week if you ask me. Here are some observations I'd like to point out:

• Maybe block scheduling is good. Family Feud pulls big numbers on Monday Night.
• 5th Grader did decent in pretty much all slots. Hey, this show works.
• DWTS pulls OK numbers on Saturday nights. Let's forget about the other slots.
• Perry's Card Sharks and The $100,000 Pyramid are the greatest combination in mornings. 252K in the 10:00am hour. Match Game 74 at 11:30am did OK, but Eubanks in daytime just doesn't work. Try Pyramid or something else.
Wondering how the block scheduling stuff did? Here is the averages:

Feud Mondays - 442K
Newlywed Game - 332K
Baggage Wednesdays - 254K
Deal Thursdays - 346K
Dancing Fridays - 217K (second set 128K)
Dancing Saturdays - 241K
5th Grader Sundays - 462K     

Feud, Newlywed Game, and Deal or No Deal rock latenights. While Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader reigns majestic over Sunday nights. Baggage has lost some steam apparently, not good IMO. I like this show. There are rumors it's going into syndication.

Dancing averaged 241K on Saturday nights. Not totally bad, but not good like on Monday night. But GSN can live with those numbers. Fridays (which I will speak about later) averaged 217K for the first set, and 128K for the second set (11:00am-4:00am). Not great, but it will probably do for now.


Also, you may have noticed that I deleted the post about The $100,000 Pyramid on Friday nights. It turns out that is not happening. They're going back with what the originally planned on showing, so that post does not need to be there. That's why the post is gone.

My Personal Top 10 Favorite Game Shows

1. Match Game 1973-1982 versions. Loved it, very funny, amazing host, announcer, gameplay and it was just funny.

2. Card Sharks (Perry/Rafferty) 2 best versions, the 1978 version was the best, Perry was a great host. Rafferty did good too. Loved the gameplay, it was fun.

3. The Price is Right with the exception of Davidson's version, this is a very good show. Each one is great, and each host contributed something great to put on the table

4. Family Feud (Dawson/O'Hurley/Karn/Harvey) Great hosts (listed in order of favortism) fun show, surveys, been around a long time. Sorry, Combs and Anderson sucked at hosting this show.

5. Password (All Versions). Fun word game to play. Allen Ludden was an awesome host. All other hosts did good too, especially Regis.

6. Let's Make a Deal - Monty Hall did great on the original 1963 version, that was a great team. The current version also is good too.

7. Pyramid -  With the exception of the John Davidson sorry revival, this show was amazing, an extension of password. Very fun. The 1980's versions were the best. Donny Osmond did OK, and the 70's versions vere fun too, not as exciting, but it was just getting started. Cullen did good too.

8. Press Your Luck - I have always found the whammies fascinating. This was a fun show for me, and Peter handled it well.

9. Blockbusters - This was also a fun quiz show IMO. Both Bill's did well. Bob Holness was amazing, and the UK version is great

10. Who Wants To Be a Millionaire (The Regis Years) - Regis was the best. I love the show, and I thought he handled it well. I never really got into Meredith. Yeah she's lasted longer, but my heart belongs to Regis (when it comes to Millionaire)


Other shows that I enjoy. Deal or No Deal, Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy!, 1 vs. 100, Russian Roulette