JULIE HINDS

Reviving 'Match Game' for prime time is (BLANK) idea

Julie Hinds
Detroit Free Press Pop Culture Critic
iconic panel game show 'Match Game' is being revived by ABC and hosted by Alec Baldwin.

If you were a child of the 1970s, “Match Game” was your naughty weekday pal. Hosted by the elongated microphone-holding Gene Rayburn (was that mike 2 feet long or 3?), it featured second-tier celebrities like Brett Somers and Charles Nelson Reilly who'd fill in the blanks of sentences dripping with innuendo. It's hard to imagine the same wink-wink, nudge-nudge approach working in today's unfettered TV world, where double entendres have been replaced by the freedom to talk about almost anything. But it sure was fun back then to watch the stars being saucy.

Thus, we have high hopes for ABC’s revived “Match Game,” which premieres at 10 tonight as part of the network’s summer revival  of classic game shows ("To Tell the Truth" airs at 10 p.m. Tuesdays and "The $100,000 Pyramid debuts at 9 tonight). Alec Baldwin will be filling Rayburn's shoes as host and should have just the right combination of smirk and retro appreciation for the job. He's the same guy who once did an impression on“Saturday Night Live” of Reilly being interviewed by an adoring James Lipton for “Live at the Actor’s Studio” that was perfection.  If he brings his “30 Rock" all-in attitude to the job, the results could be delightful.

But the real joy will be seeing the new celebrities who inherit the seats of the “Match Game” greats: regulars Somers, Reilly, the ever-pouting Richard Dawson and recurring guests like Betty White, Fannie Flagg, Gary Burghoff, Dr. Joyce Brothers and more.  Some of the names announced so far? Emmy-winning actress Edie Falco, designer Isaac Mizrahi, comedian J.B. Smoove, “Saturday Night Live” alum Ana Gasteyer, metro Detroit’s own Sutton Foster of TV Land’s “Younger” and the inimitable Tituss Burgess of “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.” Bringing A-list talent levels to the new edition? Game, set, match.