Back in the 1980s, two classic game shows, Match Game and Hollywood Squares, were combined into a one-hour show. The result was extremely underwhelming to audiences back then. Now, over 20 years later, they're trying this concept again... with seven game shows combined into one. Don't network executives ever learn?
Actually, this one looks to be a bit more interesting than The Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour (catchy, ain't it?). It's called Game Show Marathon and it's premiering on CBS tonight. Hosted by veteran talk show maven Rikki Lake, Marathon combines seven classic game shows into one program: The Price Is Right, Beat the Clock, Card Sharks, Let's Make a Deal, Press Your Luck, Family Feud, and Match Game. Other than Deal, all of the other game shows have aired or are currently airing on CBS at one time or another.
Starting with The Price is Right, the show will pit six celebrity players against each other, who will attempt to win cash and prizes for home viewers. Game Show Marathon will continue to run twice-weekly until July, when it will settle into its Thursday night slot. TVgameshows.net profiles the game show and interviews Rikki Lake about the challenges of hosting seven different game shows at one time in a three-week period.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-31-2006 @ 10:58AM
richard lawrence said...
Actually your assessment is incorrect. GAME SHOW MARATHON is one series with seven different game shows, is not seven games rolled into one. Instead each episode will be a recreation of the different game shows with sets identical to the ones the show was most famous for. And yes, all shows are being hosted by Rikki Lake exclusively.
The MATCH GAME-HOLLYWOOD SQUARES HOUR was awkward becasue it tried to combine two games shows that may have seemed similar in some respects, but with very different DNA into one. While both shows relied heavily on double entendre for laughs, MATCH GAME was much more organic. Though the questions were obviously scripted, the answers and reactions of the host, panelists, and contestants were not. Whereas HOLLYWOOD SQUARES was a much more controlled environment.
Also, don't forget, MGHSH was a bit awkward because it had two hosts. Gene Rayburn would host the MATCH GAME segment (naturally) and Jon "Bowser" Bauman hosted the HOLLYWOOD SQUARES portion. The rules were a bit quirky too because they were combining the series, however I don't recall them exactly. I am sure there is a wikipedia page that outlines the rules.
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5-31-2006 @ 1:46PM
Al said...
Great, just when I thought that I would never have to see
Rikki Lake and her holier than thou self again. Well I know where I won't be tuning into tonight.
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5-31-2006 @ 9:15PM
Daniel Solis said...
This sounds like an interesting idea. But of all people why is Rikki Lake the host? I will tune in though!
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6-01-2006 @ 12:49AM
Larry said...
The Price is Right without Bob Barker? Sacrilege. I'll pass on this!
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6-06-2006 @ 3:58AM
Preston said...
See, I thought that they were getting regular people to compete on these game shows, not celebrities. The nervousness and trembling from contestants on the stage when a prize or a car would come out from the doors.But they didn't want that college student, someone spinning too hard on the big wheel effect, so they avoided that altogether. I would have liked Bob Barker hosting The Price Is Right, but he's way up in his 80s now and couldn't handle the higher pressures of this TV production. If it was a decade ago, he might have done it. Ricki Lake's hosting of The Price is Right was good, but the Let's Make a Deal version was just plain LOUSY! Losing out on big prizes for nearly nothing! And the celebrity contestants don't seem all excited--they're trying to keep a straight face so as not to embarrass their publicists or managers. Sometimes too protective. Come on, loosen up and have fun for a minute or so!
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