Major late September schedule changes

[aaron sica]

I think Syndicated Match Game (1979-1982) is better than the early 70's Match Game.

I personally like it better myself as that's the version I first remember seeing.

[PYLdude]

Because too many people were picking Richard Dawson before that time during the Super Match, more than any other.

So you like the syndicated series because people in the earlier years of MG were playing to win the game?

Does not approve.

[TLEberle]

For the first time in a long time, I was able to divine the content of an image prior to seeing it.

/"When playing a game, the goal is to win, but it is the goal that is important, not the winning."

[J.R.]

I always found the 79-82 Syndicated Match Game to be pretty droll and way over-edited. I think they were just burnt out by then.

I'd imagine, by 1982, the show looked really outdated compared to just about everything else on the air.

[PYLdude]

I think Gene was more burnt out than anybody else, truthfully. The last couple years, certainly, were just him wanting to get it over with to me and once it was all over, he didn't want to get back into hosting again. Hence why I felt his work on MGHS was subpar and Farago did a better job with Break the Bank (especially once the format changed).

It was depressing to watch, but that's how life is. No matter how we try, we can't always be where we were at our peak.

[cyclone45]

Of course now by the time I get back home, they revert back to the 2000 STYD...sigh

[gamed121683]

The PDF for October 13-19th is now posted over at Game Show Follies and it looks like the Let's Ask America hour will reclaim the Noon hour effective 10/16. This stuff is subject to change, of course, but this "time capsule" thingy is looking to be a one time deal.

[J.R.]

Hence why I felt his work on MGHS was subpar

Yeah, he was rather grumpy on MGHS. I thought he was straight-up rude to Bauman at times too.

[Matt Ottinger]

Because too many people were picking Richard Dawson before that time during the Super Match, more than any other.

So you like the syndicated series because people in the earlier years of MG were playing to win the game?

Nah, I get this.  It's the same as the people who complain about not enjoying Jeopardy as much when players bounce around the board.  Because we as a group love the "game" we often forget about the "show".  It's possible for a strategically sound move to be aesthetically displeasing to a viewer.  Obviously the Match Game powers-that-be thought the same thing, or else they wouldn't have bothered with the Star Wheel.

[clemon79]

Obviously the Match Game powers-that-be thought the same thing, or else they wouldn't have bothered with the Star Wheel.

Also, different strokes. I *loved* the Star Wheel from the get-go. Something bright and shiny and beepy that *also* fixed something that was making the show stale? Brilliant.

[aaron sica]

Also, different strokes. I *loved* the Star Wheel from the get-go. Something bright and shiny and beepy that *also* fixed something that was making the show stale? Brilliant.

Being 4/5 years old when I first saw the show, a shiny and beepy wheel that sounded like the "Big Wheel" on TPiR? Oh yeah. Instantly hooked and still my favorite part of the show, some 35 years later.

[Sodboy13]

I definitely prefer the Star Wheel to the couple solid years of "everyone in this room and at home knows you're going to pick Richard Dawson" that preceded it. So what if it bruised poor little Dickie's fragile ego? He had a foot-and-a-half out the door by this point anyway.

I actually liked MGHSH's 10-20-30 cards even better than the Star Wheel. Gives the contestant the option of avoiding a celebrity who's been a complete doof all game while still adding on the chrome.

[BrandonFG]

Although I'm partial to the 74-77 era (right around the time Feud became really big), I gotta say I do prefer the Star Wheel. Could be because my first exposure to the show was actually Ross Shafer's version, which used the wheel.

McLean Stevenson and Bill Daily were suitable replacements, but I don't think there was topping humble Richard in his prime.

In terms of syndie versions, I think I prefer Match Game PM to the daily version...wasn't as rushed and heavily edited.

[TLEberle]

I think Gene was more burnt out than anybody else, truthfully. The last couple years, certainly, were just him wanting to get it over with to me and once it was all over, he didn't want to get back into hosting again.

That's curious because watching the Behind the Blank documentary and particularly one of the interviews; I got the impression that he basically lived to do Match Game, and his burn out happened after 1982, because nothing was the same after that. I could be misremembering but it does match up with why he left Break the Bank so early (obviously he wanted to be capering around and goofing off, and BTB didn't really allow that.)

[clemon79]

I actually liked MGHSH's 10-20-30 cards even better than the Star Wheel. Gives the contestant the option of avoiding a celebrity who's been a complete doof all game while still adding on the chrome.

Except it just reintroduced the original problem, because the mass majority of contestants gravitated (correctly) to Bauman.