Match Game Biography

            Get ready to match the stars cause it's time to play the star studded big money match game biography. The best BLANKIN biography.

            Match Game started in 1962. It started by this man...

            Gene Rayburn was the host of this show. He recently won the best game show of all time by game show fans on the Thanksgiving Day Feast of Favorites on the Game Show Network for 2002 and 2003. The 60's version lasted for 8 years.

            Then the syndicated 70's version, Gene Rayburn host that version too. That show lasted 7 years. Their regulars are Brett Somers (left) and Charles Nelson Reilly (right)

            Those 2 were shown on the show frequently. Family Feud's Richard Dawson went to Match Game 73-78. Charles and Brett went to more match games than anyone else.

            Match Game 70's had 2 players with 6 panelists. The 60's had 3 panelists. You have 2 rounds to match up to 6 celebrities. In Match Game PM, it's 3 rounds. Once a player matches a star, he/she cannot play again for the rest of the game.

            In the bonus round, you get to play the super match. A survey was used to earn money either $100, $250, or $500 bonuses. It was used 10 times the amount. The player gets to pick a star to win the game. In the later years, the player spins a wheel to play that star, if it hits a star symbol, the money they play for is doubled. In order to win is simply match the star.

            After Match Game 79 is done. Match Game moved on to the 80's version of Match Game. The rules are the same except the players play 2 games. It was a 3 year run of that version.

            After Match Game 80's cancelled. The new version of Match Game came up in 1990.

            Replacing Gene Rayburn was comedian Ross Shaffer. Charles Nelson Reilly was their only Match Game regular. Brett Somers went to some episodes of the 90's Match Game.

            Unlike the 70's Match Game, a player can match any of the 6 stars instead of playing with certain stars. After that, a player plays one star for a Match-Up. It has a word with a blank. You have 2 possibilities to make the star match the right word. The highest score goes to the super match.

            The bonus round is the same except the wheel is different. The double your money is a red circle.

            The show went only 2 years. The 98 version match game was bad. It only went a short-lived year. It hosted Michael Burger. It had 5 celebrities instead of 6. Now you can find Match game 70's 80's and 90's on the Game Show Network.

            Gene Rayburn was born in Christopher, Illinois on December 2, 1917. He hosted other game shows like Tic Tac Dough, Play your Hunch, Break the Bank, Dough Re Mi, Make the Connection and the Match Game/Hollywood Squares Hour. He was a panelist on What's My Line, To Tell The Truth, Tattletales and I've Got A Secret. He was a contestant on Bert Convy's Tattletales. He hosted his own radio show called "The Gene Rayburn Show".

            On November 29, 1999 Gene Rayburn passed away at the age of 81 due to Heart Failure. His wife Helen died 3 years ago before Gene. Many game show fans love him and may Gene R.I.P Rest In Peace.

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