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« Today's News: Our Take
New Match Game Panel Is So Funny (How Funny Is It?!)
Sarah Silverman by Kevin Parry/WireImage.com
You all know how obsessed I am with the Match Game remake, right? Way back in January I was already asking for your suggestions for the inaugural panelists. Well, they've been announced, and in a way, they're as good as — if not better than — the ones I/we came up with. The initial sextet will comprise edgy Saturday Night Live veterans Sarah Silverman and Norm MacDonald, former Kid in the Hall Scott Thompson, Reno 911's Niecy Nash, Super Dave Osborne (aka Bob Einstein) and the lovely Rashida Jones, formerly of NBC's The Office. MadTV alum Andrew Daly will serve as the new show's Gene Rayburn.
What do you think? Will this funny fraternity fill your blanks?— Mickey O'Connor
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Jun 20, 2008 2:21 PM
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I want to see Darrell Hammond impersonating Sean Connery on the panel.  That just cracks me up!
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Jun 20, 2008 2:26 PM
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Nope, not even close to the people we wanted. I can probably be happy with Norm, but I'm just not sure about the rest.
And right on Rachel!!
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Jun 20, 2008 2:32 PM
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I would LOVE to see this work, but what bothers me is that this show was best when it was juggling double-entendres, and we are living in such a single-entendre word these days. The funniest moments on the 70s/early-80s Match Game was that on those rare occasions when they crossed the line and said something that was clearly dirty, everyone kept a straight and innocent face (especially the masterful Gene Rayburn). I don't think anyone these days has that kind of subtlety. (Yes, it was subtlety, even though it was often delivered like a hammer).
I don't have any problems with the names included here, but I really hope they learn how to make us feel that wicked laugh they did in the old days, without making us feel unclean.
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Jun 20, 2008 2:38 PM
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They've already crossed the "dirty" line by hiring the sublimely unfunny Sarah Silverman. They might as well have hired Howard Stern. I think the people who said the cast of Who's Line is it Anyway were right on the money, along with Hugh Laurie as the next Richard Dawson.
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Jun 20, 2008 3:35 PM
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Well there is no replacing Brett Somers, Charles Nelson Reilly, Richard Dawson and Fannie Flagg but I like the people they hired. This has the potential to be pretty good!
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Jun 20, 2008 3:41 PM
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I Think Kathy Griffin is a good choice, maybe she didn't want to do It. Sarah Silverman is a similar type. It would be cool if they did it like the old, 3-4 regulars, & then some guests. I am sure there are enough out of work funny people who wouldn't mind doing it, hollywood squares got plenty of b,c-listers & a few a also
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Jun 20, 2008 4:24 PM
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Gord, I agree. The old Match Game was great because parents could let their kids watch it without worrying that they'd learn more than they should. I know that most, if not all, of the double entendres went right over my head. (OK, some of them still might!  )
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Jun 20, 2008 8:45 PM
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Well, I agree with Buffy Freak that there's no replacing the old gang, but I also agree with Gord -- I would love to see this work.
Of the initial group, I can see Sarah Silverman, Norm MacDonald, Scott Thompson and Niecy Nash getting into the old spirit of the show.
I'm a little less enthused about Super Dave Osborne (aka Bob Einstein, but also Albert Brooks' brother) and Rashida Jones. I certainly don't dislike them -- I'm just not sure this is the show for them.
As for Andrew Daly of Mad TV hosting -- that gives me some concern that this will come off looking like a game show parody rather than a game show.
I sure hope not.
One thing is for sure -- this couldn't possibly turn out worse than the new Password.
(By the way, have I missed something -- none of the stories have mentioned where this is going to air. Will it be cable, broadcast network or syndicated? Does anyone know?)
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Jun 20, 2008 10:18 PM
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I'm hoping it will be on GSN.
As usual, I agree with your thoughts and sentiments, Chapster. I have a thought that centers around Sarah Silverman, that I think could set the whole tone for the show.
We all know Sarah Silverman. She's "with" Jimmy Kimmel, but she's "fraking" Ben Affleck (the phrase "BLANK a duck" comes to mind!), but we all know she's REALLY with Kenneth the Page from 30 Rock! So she is the master of illusion for our time.
I could (pardon the valley-gord speak) TOTALLY see her as the Patti-Deutsch/Joyce-Bulifant/Fannie Flagg* role of the wide-eyed innocent, giving the off-the-wall answers. If she takes it on as a "role", I think this show could be HIGH-sterical!!!
...but maybe that's just me...
Since we all "know" Sarah, it's like we would ALL be in on the joke. I think that kind of fun could infuse the new version with the kind of FUN that has been missing from all the incarnations since the classic version.
Ler's face it, Judy Tenuta and her contemporaries were pretty much all one-entendre-wonders. I hope the new crew are sly enough to give us a show that we oldtimers AND we young whippersnappers (hee hee) can enjoy.
As I suggested earlier, there IS a way to do this right. It's a narrow path, but it's doable!
So go DO it!!!
Rooting for the new show!!!
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Jun 20, 2008 11:09 PM
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No, Gord, Jimmy's the one who's, um, "blanking" Ben Affleck. Sarah's been doing the same with Matt Damon. On a towel by the door, even.
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Jun 20, 2008 11:21 PM
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oooooooooooooooooo, busted, monkey65!!!
My hipness is broken! I've fallen and I can't get hip!
I'm SO sorry! It WAS Matt! I should've known better. I wish I could bring Matt out in this post and apologize to him directly, but ... Oh. sorry, we've run out of time...apologies to Matt Damon!!! (TV Gord loves them apples._
Wait...please read that APPLES line in the non-gayest way possible...not that being gay isn't totaly sanctioned by California and Canada and a whole lot of other places, alphabetically (Capistrano???), and...is anyone else feeling the oxygen being sucked out of the room....THUD!!!!
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Jun 20, 2008 11:54 PM
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Holy crap Monkey65!
Look what you did to TV Gord!!
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Jun 21, 2008 12:40 AM
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No, (grasping for the top of the minibar), no, I'm okay... it's all good (wringing out the polyester).
HOW BLANK IS HE???
No, no, really I'm fi-THUD!!!
(BOW-chow-cha-wigga-tow-wigga-tow-BOW-chow-cha-wigga-tow-wigga-tow-BOW-chow-cha-wigga-tow-wigga-tow-BOW-)
As The Human Bullet said/yodelled on The Tick cartoon series on Fox (which should tell you that I have no one to blame but myself), "Ah'm okay..."
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Jun 21, 2008 12:58 AM
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Gord, here's a little something for when you come to -- er, I mean, wake up! -- in the morning...
Your Sarah Silverman idea is interesting.
The only problem I have with it is, on the old Match Game, the stars weren't really playing characters -- they just were characters.
I'm not saying categorically that this wouldn't work -- I just don't ever want to feel like an element of the show is being contrived or forced. That would be damaging to the overall appeal.
And I hope it isn't on GSN -- I don't get that channel!
Wait...please read that APPLES line in the non-gayest way possible... - TV Gord
I did, Gord -- yet, even then, it was still kinda gay! 
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Jun 21, 2008 2:44 AM
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