TVSquad

It certainly won't be the only factor, but the choices made for just who makes up the celebrity panel will go a long way in deciding the fate of this latest incarnation of the classic show. With that in mind, here is the celebrity panel from the recently taped pilot: Sarah Silverman, Norm MacDonald, Bob Einstein (Super Dave!), Scott Thompson (Kids In The Hall), Rashida Jones (The Office), and Niecy Nash (Reno 911). Andrew Daly (Crossballs) is the host.

How does that lineup grab ya? To me, it's not bad. The Reuters article asks if Sarah Silverman is the new Brett Somers or Norm MacDonald is the new Richard Dawson. In a word, no. You just can't fight that kind of nostalgia. So many of us have seen the classic episodes so many times, and have such fond memories of them, that I don't think there is anything they could possibly do to begin to live up to the original.

Considering that, there really is no perfect cast. Silverman and MacDonald will grab the bulk of the headlines about the new show, but I'm more intrigued by the other four. The addition of Einstein and Thompson adds a quirky flair that I wasn't expecting, and I find both of them to be hilarious. I've been watching Einstein as Super Dave for so long I can almost convince myself he was on the original Match Game.

Jones is also a surprise, because it never would have occurred to me to cast her in this. Given her recent success on The Office, I would think panelist on a TBS game show wouldn't have made it past her agent. Perhaps I'm just not giving enough credit to Unhitched for this latest decision. Niecy Nash is the biggest wild card for me for the simple fact that I've only ever seen her on Reno 911.

And what of Andrew Daly as host? That's a tough gig. Gene Rayburn is the man, and those are shoes that will be mighty tough to fill. If you have to try it though, I'm glad they're going with someone new to the game-show hosting gig. He does lack experience, but he's a funny guy with a lot of potential. Before you dismiss him, just think, it could have been Mark Walberg. So, maybe it could be better, and it damn sure could be worse. I think there's enough there to make this latest incarnation worth a look. How about you?