When ABC reacquired Match Game four years ago, it marked the first time the franchise had been back on the air in 18 years, after the disaster that was the Michael Berger-helmed syndicated version.
In 2008, you might recall, TBS was showing interest in picking up the franchise, even going so far as to have the familiar set from the 1973-82 run remade. Andy Daly was tapped as host.
Visually, it was about nostalgia. Execution, however, was lacking. Of the six panelists, only Niecy Nash (ex-Reno 911!) has since returned during the current run with Alec Baldwin. Daly was about as charismatic as a dead pine tree. They could've gotten current Price is Right announcer George Gray (ex-Weakest Link) instead, but it wouldn't have mattered.
Speaking of nostalgia, Wink Martindale serves up a rough cut of the pilot. As Niecy notes, the idea was to keep it PG.....
TBS ultimately turned down this Match in favor of giving George Lopez a talk show, which lasted two years.
Wink also has a pilot for 1998 with Charlene Tilton (ex-Dallas), and a 2014 pilot that deviated from the norm with Fred Willard fronting What The Blank. We'll look at those another time.
Rating: B--. Just wasn't feeling it.
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