https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppR-UHONKKw

BUZZR announced earlier today that it's acquired rerun rights to "The Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour," returning to TV airwaves for the 1st-time ever after a 35-year Absence.

A co-production between Mark Goodson Productions & Orion Television, the show was a combination of the classics "Match Game" & "Hollywood Squares" into a single TV game show; both shows were later revived in 1990 & 1986 as stand-alone shows, with the '80s "Hollywood Squares" hosted by John Davidson the most successful, running 3 years until June 16, 1989, after which reruns aired on USA Network from 1989-1994. A '90s revival hosted by Tom Bergeron (who would later do double Game Show-duty as host of "America's Funniest Home Videos," which he hosted from 2001-2015) lasted from 1998-2004.

That news will probably be met with a simultaneous "Groan, more Match Game", and "Yay, finally Hollywood Squares"

Is the Match Game/Hollywood Squares hour Match Game the 1st half hour and Hollywood Squares the 2nd half hour or are they blended together?

^The 1983-84 MG/HS Hour format worked like this: Two new contestants competed in the Match Game half, which played just like the PM version (with the 3-round format). Then, the winner would play against the returning champion in the Hollywood Squares half, where getting a square would win a contestant $25, and winning a round was worth $100 in round 1, $200 in round 2, and so on (note that this was the only version of HS where you could actually win a round by default, and there was no Secret Square on this version). When time ran out, the winner would play the bonus round, which was the Match Game Audience Match/Super Match bonus round.

Now this will be exciting to watch!

This is a strange move. I would have thought they'd try expanding their existing collection to include the 1979-82 episodes of the original series.

I've seen clips of the MGHS Hour and the Match Game portion is watchable albeit low energy compared to the original. Interested to see how this turns out.

Some MGHS eps are on YouTube if anyone wants to “preview” them before Buzzr starts up.

This is a strange move. I would have thought they'd try expanding their existing collection to include the 1979-82 episodes of the original series.

I've seen clips of the MGHS Hour and the Match Game portion is watchable albeit low energy compared to the original. Interested to see how this turns out.This pickup must have been to get some Hollywood Squares on the schedule more than a certain part of Match Game. The Vulture article said the Peter Marshall version of Squares was not available to Buzzr, so they went with Bowzr instead. I don't know if the Tom Bergeron version is available, it would be nice to see again.

This pickup must have been to get some Hollywood Squares on the schedule more than a certain part of Match Game. The Vulture article said the Peter Marshall version of Squares was not available to Buzzr, so they went with Bowzr instead. I don't know if the Tom Bergeron version is available, it would be nice to see again.

I agree.

Buzzr Bowzr, no wonder they went with him. The names are largely similar, had not noticed that until now. :lol:
Buzzr Bowzr, Buzzr Bowzr, Buzzr Bowzr, Buzzr Bowzr, try saying that several times. And yes I know Bowzr has an e but then so does Buzzr. :D

It’s worth watching, but they should have gotten Peter Marshall to host the Hollywood Squares portion.

I'm mostly surprised(& seemly shocked) that The Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour is heading to Buzzr but Jon "Bowzer" Bauman was the worst part of the MG-HS Hour in my point of view.

This pickup must have been to get some Hollywood Squares on the schedule more than a certain part of Match Game. The Vulture article said the Peter Marshall version of Squares was not available to Buzzr, so they went with Bowzr instead. I don't know if the Tom Bergeron version is available, it would be nice to see again.

Yeah I would have preferred they put on the original Hollywood Squares with Marshall but I guess this is a first step.

It’s worth watching, but they should have gotten Peter Marshall to host the Hollywood Squares portion.

Agreed. Apparently there was some bad blood between Mark Goodson and Peter Marshall and he wasn't considered.

I would like to see Hollywood Squares being added next.

I like both of these shows, but something seemed to be missing in the combo version. I just didn't enjoy it for some reason. I agree that Bowzer was not the right guy to host the HS as well.

Just a matter of time til Buzzr starts the repeats, as they do with all their shows!!!!

Several ads have aired for this Match Game Hollywood Squares Hour marathon on February 17, but oddly BUZZR is not saying a time.

Several ads have aired for this Match Game Hollywood Squares Hour marathon on February 17, but oddly BUZZR is not saying a time.

My onscreen guide shows it from 4-8pm ET. And the eps are dated 11/1/83-11/4/83 *

*writer of this post (i.e. me) not to be blamed if info turns out to be incorrect

I will check it out. I have seen episodes of all versions of Hollywood Squares including Hip Hop Squares And The John Davidson ones with Shadoe Stevens were my favorite.

Will this be replacing anything?

4 PM the 17th!!!

I remember watching this originally for its only 9 month run, I thoroughly enjoyed for nostalgia sake seeing this rarity again, recorded entire marathon minus the massive commercials directly to DVD. Each buzzr version ran 45 minutes but did include some sponsor plugs.

Especially enjoyed seeing Barbi Benton as a first week celebrity.

Odd that they didn't air episode #1 10/31/83 choosing instead episodes 2 thru 5 11/1-11/4/83.

Minus very few glitches, the quality was remarkably clear!

Series has been reviewed before, so this was just a post regarding the buzzr marathon.

I remember watching this originally for its only 9 month run, I thoroughly enjoyed for nostalgia sake seeing this rarity again, recorded entire marathon minus the massive commercials directly to DVD. Each buzzr version ran 45 minutes but did include some sponsor plugs.


Which is what I might do sometime in the future-- it's on my DVR, and I may get a permanent disc and move all these shows to it the same way!

Somehow I'd never seen or heard of this show until reading about it on here (and I just turned 50 a couple days ago). But I thought I'd check it out because I really liked watching both game shows growing up as a kid in the 70s. But I missed most of it yesterday because I had to go to a birthday party for a grandniece of mine. So I got home in time to see about the last hour and a half of the "marathon". I'm sorry to say I didn't care for it, I thought it was pretty bad. I hated the set and I don't know there just wasn't the same fun or energy to it compared to the original Match Game and Hollywood Squares (I never hated John "Bowser" Bauman but he wasn't somebody who should've been hosting a game show, while trying to be outgoing and congenial he came off kind of awkward I think). And I didn't even know who some of the "celebrity" panelists were. I don't think I'll be watching it again. Bring on the original Hollywood Squares I say.

Ed.

I'm just watching the marathon now on my dvr and I agree it's rather bland compared to the originals. Poor Gene Rayburn looks like he was serving a prison sentence during the HS portion. I can't help but see the similarities to Richard Dawson during his final months as a panelist on Match Game.

The only real bright spot so far is seeing Alison Arngrim in something other than Little House on the Prairie.

I don't think i'll be watching if they bring more episodes onto the schedule.

I'm just watching the marathon now on my dvr and I agree it's rather bland compared to the originals. Poor Gene Rayburn looks like he was serving a prison sentence during the HS portion. I can't help but see the similarities to Richard Dawson during his final months as a panelist on Match Game.

The only real bright spot so far is seeing Alison Arngrim in something other than Little House on the Prairie.

I don't think i'll be watching if they bring more episodes onto the schedule.

Yeah it was really boring.

Ed.