Match Game

*Match Game*
Match Game
	Logo from the 2016 ABC revival
Also known as	The Match Game (1962–1969); Match Game 73–79 (1973–1979); Match Game PM (1975–1981)
Created by	Frank Wayne
Directed by	Jim Elson, Ira Skutch, Rodger Wolf, Mike Gargiulo (1962–1969); Marc Breslow (1973–1991); Randall Neece (1998–1999); Beth McCarthy-Miller (2016); Ron de Moraes (2017); Harbinder Singh (2025);
Presented by	Gene Rayburn; Ross Shafer; Michael Burger; Alec Baldwin; Martin Short;
Announcer	Johnny Olson; Gene Wood; Paul Boland; Steve French; Donovan Corneetz;
Theme music composer	Bert Kaempfert (1962–1967); Score Productions (1967–present)
Country of origin	United States
No. of episodes	The Match Game: 1,760; Match Game 7x: 1,455; Match Game PM: 230; Match Game (1979–1982): 525; Match Game (1990–1991): 242; Match Game (2016–2021): 65; Match Game (2025): 8;
Production
Producers	Jean Kopelman (1962–1969); Ira Skutch (1973–1982); Jonathan Goodson, Chester Feldman (1990–1991); Kevin Belinkoff (1998–1999); Scott St. John (2016–2021);
Running time	22–26 minutes (1962–1999); 42–46 minutes (2016–21, 25)
Production companies	Mark Goodson-Bill Todman; Productions (1962–1982); Sojourn Productions, Inc.; (1962–1969); Celebrity Productions, Inc.; (1973–1981); The Match Game Company; (1981–1982); Mark Goodson Productions; (1983–1999); Orion Television (1983–1984); The MG Company (1990–1991); MG Productions, Inc.; (1998–1999); Triple Threat Productions (2016–present); Entertain the Brutes (2016–2021); El Dorado Pictures (2016–2021); Fremantle USA (2016–present);
Original release
Network	NBC
Release	December 31, 1962 –; September 26, 1969
Network	CBS
Release	June 25, 1973 –; April 20, 1979
Network	Syndication
Release	September 8, 1975 –; September 10, 1982
Network	ABC
Release	July 16, 1990 –; July 12, 1991
Network	Syndication
Release	September 21, 1998 –; May 21, 1999
Network	ABC
Release	June 26, 2016 –; July 28, 2021
Release	July 23, 2025 –; present
Related
	Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour; Blankety Blank; Blankety Blanks
	Infobox instructions (only shown in preview)

Match Game is an American television panel game show that premiered on NBC in 1962 and has been revived several times over the course of the last six decades. The game features contestants trying to match answers given by celebrity panelists to fill-in-the-blank questions. Beginning with the CBS run of the 1970s, the questions are often formed as humorous double entendres.

The Match Game in its original version ran on NBC's daytime lineup from 1962 until 1969. The show returned with a significantly changed format in 1973 on CBS (also in daytime) and became a major success, with an expanded panel, larger cash payouts, and emphasis on humor. The CBS series, referred to on-air as Match Game 73 to start – with its title updated every new year, ran until 1979 on CBS, at which point it moved to first-run syndication (without the year attached to the title, as Match Game) and ran for three more seasons, ending in 1982. Concurrently with the weekday run, from 1975 to 1981, a once-a-week fringe time version, Match Game PM, was also offered in syndication for airing just before prime time hours.

The 1973 format would be used, with varying modifications, for all future revivals. Match Game returned to NBC in 1983 as part of Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour, then had a daytime run on ABC in 1990 and another for syndication in 1998; each of these series lasted one season. It returned to ABC in a weekly prime time edition on June 26, 2016, running as an off-season replacement series. Production ended in 2019 (with some episodes held to 2020 and 2021), but ABC again revived the show in 2025.

All versions of the series were hosted by Gene Rayburn from 1963 until 1984. The 2025 version is presented by Martin Short.

The series was a production of Mark Goodson/Bill Todman Productions, along with its successor companies, and has been franchised around the world, notably as Blankety Blank in the UK and Blankety Blanks in Australia.

In 2013, TV Guide ranked the 1973–79 CBS version of Match Game as No. 4 on its list of the 60 greatest game shows ever.^[2]^[3] It was twice nominated for the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Game Show, in 1976 and 1977.

^ ^a ^b Schwartz, David; Ryan, Steve; Wostbrock, Fred (1999). The Encyclopedia of TV Game Shows (3 ed.). Facts on File, Inc. pp. 137–139. ISBN 0-8160-3846-5.
^ Fretts, Bruce (June 17, 2013). "Eyes on the Prize". TV Guide. pp. 14–15.
^ "TV Guide 60 greatest game shows". June 12, 2013. Retrieved February 12, 2017.

[eotvgs-1] Schwartz, David; Ryan, Steve; Wostbrock, Fred (1999). The Encyclopedia of TV Game Shows (3 ed.). Facts on File, Inc. pp. 137–139. ISBN 0-8160-3846-5.

[TVGuide-2] Fretts, Bruce (June 17, 2013). "Eyes on the Prize". TV Guide. pp. 14–15.

[TV_Guide_60_greatest_game_shows-3] "TV Guide 60 greatest game shows". June 12, 2013. Retrieved February 12, 2017.

[1]

[2]

[3]