Cool News
UPDATED With Eyewitness Report!! TV FUNHOUSE’s Robert Smigel Utilizing Norm Macdonald & Sarah Silverman To Revive MATCH GAME??
I am – Hercules!!
Robert Smigel, the fellow behind Triumph The Insult Comic Dog and SNL’s “TV Funhouse” cartoons (and co-screenwriter with Judd Apatow and Adam Sandler of “You Don’t Mess With The Zohan”), has just shot a pilot for a TBS revival of the old “Match Game.”
If that’s a strange match, note that Smigel’s pilot panel included some genuinely funny people, including fellow SNL vets Norm Macdonald and Sarah Silverman, and Bob Einstein (Albert Brooks’ brother, Steve Martin’s old writing partner and currently Marty Funkhauser on “Curb Your Enthusiasm”) in the guise of hapless daredevil Super Dave Osbourne. Rashida Jones, rumored to star in the coming “Office” spinoff, was also part of the mix.
Macdonald was insanely funny on "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" and won $500,000 to boot.
Read all of The Hollywood Reporter’s story on the matter here.
UPDATE!! "The Refugee," who reviewed "U2 3D" for AICN a few months back, attended the pilot taping. His report:
Hey, Herc--
Big TV fan here, so I love your column. You do great work. Thanks for the weekly coverage of Doctor Who... that's fun to read after I've seen the latest episode.
Okay, I had no idea you were going to do a story on the new Match Game, but since you have... let me tell you what it was like since I was there.
Let me say up front that everyone who knows me knows I'm a *huge* fan of the original Match Game... so much so, that my friends and I did our own, live version last year at my apartment. We had a makeshift set, six "celebrities," an audience of almost 30 people (yeah, my apartment is that large) and I played Gene Rayburn, wearing a seersucker suit I found at a thrift store on Fairfax. I even collected all the most politically incorrect commercials from the 1970s I could find on YouTube, and burned them to DVD so we could have commercial breaks. And of course, my "celebrities" were encouraged to drink, especially the two who played Brett and Charles. This event has become legendary among my friends to the point that all the people *they* know are begging me to do it again. But you can't catch lightning in a bottle twice, so we'll see.
That's the attitude the producers should have taken toward the new Match Game, which I attended last Thursday. They taped two episodes in the Bob Barker Studios at CBS Television City, the same studios in which they taped the original. They even used the early, orange-and-sparkly cream version of the set that was used on the original (complete with orange shag carpet!). And there was no dreadful "Star Wheel," which was added in the latter years of the show (which pissed off Richard Dawson and hastened his exit from the show). Even the original logo (which no longer has a year or "PM" attached to it) is being used.
So far, so good, right?
Um... not really. The new version can be described in one word: Awkward.
I know that the Match Game has tried to be revived several times, with less and less success, and I've discussed why with my friends. We all have come to the conclusion that Match Game was a product of its time, and worked because of tight network censorship. It's really hilarious when the celebrities are forced to find substitute words for what you *know* they would want to write on the card. Yes, the original Match Game was also a classic because Gene Rayburn was the best game show host ever, and because of the hilarious rapport between Brett and Charles, and because Fannie Flagg, Patti Deutsch and Joyce Bulifant were some of the best celebrities to sit in the sixth and last seat because of their ability to add a brilliant zinger answer to the end of each round. But the show was funny because it was *slightly naughty*, not because it was raunchy. (It also was politically incorrect, which we'll never see again.)
I don't envy the producers, as we live in a Jerry Springer culture where nothing is taboo anymore, shock humor is the standard, and celebrities like Britney Spears show off their _________ every time they step out of a limo. So, the "slightly naughty" approach just doesn't work in our culture anymore.
At the same time, when the celebrities on Match Game can mention words like "pussy", "ass," and "cock" and can discuss the particulars of a woman's vagina and the joys of anal rape... it just really isn't all that funny anymore. It's just filthy. And for the celebrities involved, it's a bit classless and embarrassing.
So... how were the celebrities and the game play?
Host Andy Daly was surprisingly good. He has a really quick wit and seems really comfortable as a game-show host. Unfortunately, he didn't have much rapport with the celebrities, and it appeared that it was the first time they had ever worked together, so that was part of the awkwardness. Gene Rayburn was fearless, and it also helped that he already knew many of the celebrities socially outside the context of the show. (If I were running the new show, I would have taken everybody out for a night of bowling and drinking a couple of days before taping, to help everyone develop that rapport which is so vital to the series' success.) But perhaps that will improve with time.
It was obvious that the producers are trying to turn Sarah Silverman and Scott Thompson into the new Brett and Charles. Forget it... they have no chemistry whatsoever. Actually, it was Sarah and Super Dave Osborne that riffed off of each other brilliantly, and it could be Super Dave that's the surprise breakout star from this show. He was consistently funny, and always had a great one-liner.
Besides Sarah Silverman who seems comfortable in this element and was clearly enjoying herself, the other consistent bright spot was Niecy Nash. One question ran along the lines of "Charlie Sheen's friends are going to bring him something he's never seen at a bachelor party before... a _________" Her answer was "a great script." That brought the house down. Plus, she's upbeat and dressed cute for the show. Give her the sixth seat now--she's earned it.
Scott Thompson was pretty tepid, which truly surprised me, but I do have to say that Norm MacDonald was absolutely dreadful. I mean, *really, really dreadful*. He seemed bored and listless the entire time, as if he was forced to be there, and his jokes were not only flat, but in one case, a 9/11 joke was so inappropriate (especially for a question about Tarzan and a gorilla), the audience booed loudly. Trust me, that one will be the first thing edited out. In fact, the more they can edit Norm out of the show, the better. He sucked the energy out of the room whenever it was his turn on camera.
So, overall, I'm fortunate that I had the experience of going to the taping, but I'm not sure this version of the show will work. Even with a solid host and everything else the producers are doing to remind the audience of the original... the world has changed. And I can sit around with my friends and talk dirty if we want. We don't need to stay up late to see celebrities do it. And certainly not on Match Game where it's way more entertaining to be naughty, not filthy.
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Readers Talkback
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It fucking must be for this to be true...
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Repressing any emotions there at all? Anything you need to tell us? You'll feel better for it, just be brave and come out.
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I don't consider it beyond the realms of possibility, I just consider it almost too good to be true in terms of comedy value, assuming they all deliver the goods they're capable of.
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I'll meet you behind the bus-shelter at 8. Bring the strap-on that sings 'Uncle Fucka' on a loop...
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I'm still not fully converted to the 'back side' yet. She might spice things up. And has this turned into the LordPorkington and CecilBenedict Show or something? Where in the wide, wide world of sport is everyone? I bet the dirty bastards are waiting for us behind that bus-shelter...
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And despite your opinion of TV's Funhouse, you have to admit that Triumph the Insult Comic Dog is funny. Go on. Admit it! That character is purely Smigel with a rubber dog on his hand ripping the shit out of people. Sheer brilliance.
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rob smigel is the best. so is norm macdonald.
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Nobody will ever come CLOSE to his crazy-uncle vibe. Greatest game-show host of all time. Period.
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With Lily Savage. Nobody can surpass the brilliance of Les Dawson on the UK version of Match Game though. And before anyone suggests Terry Wogan, you can fuck right off.
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can he keep up with the level of comedians, will we ACTUALLY see Sarah Silverman on MatchGame or was it just for the piolet<P>McDonald I can see doing Match Game, I'm not sure what else he is doing nowadays, but yeah<P>the other question is who will be the "Richard Dawson" of this new version of Match Game if they get it off the ground
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Order 100 episodes TBS, Sarah Silverman, Norm Macdonald and Super Dave are 3 of the funniest people alive.
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This could be REALLY FUNNY. This is also the first I learned that Super Dave was Al Brooks brother.
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I was between the ages of 5 and 8 I believe. However, I have caught a couple on the GSN and they were amusing. If Smigel can bring in some good comedy anchors (PLEASE NORM!!) then this could rock.
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I'm not a big Silverman fan, but the other names are very appealing to me. Plus, I used to watch Match Game religiously on GSN for years. The question is, who will be our token gay guy to replace the irreplacable Charles Nelson Riley? Bruce Villanch? Mario Cantone? Rip Taylor? This reintroduction of a classic will be made or broken on the quality of the regulars, and their chemistry. Nobody gives a "blank" about the game itself.
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June 20, 2008, 3:53 p.m. CST
I smell a Bruce Vilanch sighting in the near future.
by Kurutteru Yatsu
I don't know, without Gene, CNR and Brett Somers I just don't know if I can bring myself to watch. Unless Norm and Sarah will be around a lot, then yeah.
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I LLLLLLLLLLLLLLOOOOOOOVVVVVVEEEEEEE Match Game. How are they going to top Gene Rayburn in terms of sense of humor and kid-toucher-esque creepiness?
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if they have these people and the comedians that are the regulars on the Comedy Central roasts this could be fun. Put it on at 10pm and take advantage of being on cable to make it edgy.
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this is fantastic news. I've wanted this show to come back for awhile now. I was thinking someone like Andy Richter would be a good host, but Smigel is good too.
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CRACK WHORE!!!
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I thought Lorne exiled Norm McDonald to like the third realm of Hades, never to be seen again...I haven't heard his name in years... I know he has (or had) his fans, but I personally couldn't stand him...
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This was a great show in the 70's. I think McDonald would make a better host. I can hear him now: Johnny always put butter on his _____. Baba ba ba ba ba ba ba.
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and air this at 1am like Secret Stash, and air it uncensored?? Then add in comics like Louis CK and Robert Schimmel and I'll be there.
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...teehee..they said "boobies"..teehee
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I would love to see him and his brother together in something again, love his bit in Modern Romance.
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Just think about it. He could do the Buddy Cole act and be the perfect gay stereotype replacement for Charles Nelson Reilly.
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for Comedy Central.
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But who's going to watch it? I guess it won't matter if it costs nothing to produce, which it won't.
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...on every single bullet point on this bitch.
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should be the host of this show, he does a great job hosting every month at the UCB in LA.
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Sucks the worst. One of the worst comics on SNL. His voice worked for Death, but otherwise--HE SUCKS!!! Sarah Silverman isn't much better...
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Did you read the article? It states quite clearly that Bob Einstein is Super Dave Osbourne, but thanks for reconfirming that for us ya mook!
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and Fannie Flagg while you are at it.
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also played George Bluth Sr.'s "eyes and ears" on Arrested Development. Gotta sneak in an Arrested plug.
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Also the surrogate on Arrested Development.
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Sorry, wrong show.
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Was how the whole panel of celebs were all smoking and drinking up a storm. If they keep that aspect of it, I'd watch.
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as I had forgotten that very amusing gay stereotype. However, as filthy as Scott can get with his Buddy character, they might just black out that whole part of the screen each episode!
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I've been hooking my 11 year old step-daughter on the reruns on Game Show Network. This is so great!
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I wrote it kind of sloppy gene, so I have a sloppy Pussy.
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and sorry, no gene...no matchgame...no charles nelson reilly...no match game....this will be like the hollywood squares redux
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fiester is right, they were all loaded and that's what made it great! Here's a classic segment: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kRs7F2bJgo I remember watching that after school in the afternoon! No WAY they'd allow that today.
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Hope they don't script it and let them wing it like the original!!! Charles Nelson Riley was such a funny motherfer. I also hope they sit around drinking scotch on the rocks and chain smoking like the original. THis better be completely non PC with plenty of offcolor unappropriate jokes.
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first, the game show itself (like groucho's you bet your life) was secondary to the comedy...but the reason the comedy worked was because the people on stage usually played straight....never dirty....so what if sarah silverman uses double entendres...shes a dirty jewish whore who likes sucking italian cock...so what if norm is funny...thats his fucking job....now get sean connery and maybe we have a deal...
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...Dave Foley.
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It was the one thing that made me laugh on the episode when Shia Lebouf hosted this spring! Shia's Doug Henning-type magician was hilarious. The cast was being questioned about the murdered host. Did anyone else see that and laugh like I did? <p> Oh, and this sounds great. I couldn't tell in the article who was hosting, however.
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rising... falling... falling... rising... falling... falling... gone... blissful neutrality
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He sounds just like him!
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I really believe norm macdonald is one of the funniest people on the planet. His bits on Conan might be the funniest late night moments in history especially his quip about courtney thorn smith's movie with carrot top and his larry flint impression. Check them out on youtube. Even his recent appearence on the daily show riffing on the crocodile hunter was pure gold. Its really too bad he isn;t more popular
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my friend does it, and he works damn hard...and i like his stuff...dont make me show you the back of my pimp hand...smigel writes the scripts
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That sketch was seriously one of the only funny ones all year. Armisen's character had me laughing just by looking at his face. Adding the Paul Lynde voice and shaking we he laughed had me howling.
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June 21, 2008, 9:20 a.m. CST
The fact that Bob Einstein is doing this in character as Super-D
by smackfu
elevates it a bit. That's a great concept, *celebrity characters* rather than the actors who play them appearing as guest hosts. What I wouldn't give to see "and also, from San Diego's Channel 4 News team, weatherman Brick Tamland"
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The pussified version of the Friar's Club roasts, made for the early days of network TV?
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The fact that the audience booed just makes me want to see it even more.
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When? Somebody link me to a youtube clip, because I've seen his sour, grumpy, puss on TV hundreds of times and I've only ever felt like pushing him down a flight of stairs. If you can't find a clip, let me kn ow the name of a movie, skit, or even a funny line he ever had. I can TOTALLY see the reviewer's claim that he sucked the energy from the room. He is like a fun leech.
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I've always thought Match Game would be the prime game show to update. You can say soooooooooo much more on tv than you could in the 70's. Plus, you also have the entire "tech" vocabulary that wasn't even in existence.
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Amazing movie if you missed it you suck. Not amazing because of U2 but because of the 3D part.
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Well, now that I read your post in this TB, Fireproof, it's evident to me that you're a Disney corporate shill. You've been arguing with me about the Muppets because I badmouthed Disney, so you decided that I was the enemy. So what, did YOU do the Disney internship and make a wot of weawwy cwose fwiends and you don't wike it when peowe awe mean to ol' Walty and his company? Tell you what, instead of getting uptight about anti-Disney sentiment, go rub up against your stuffed Mickey doll.
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Did you lose your sense of humor?
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Glad someone else enjoyed that sketch too! <p> I agree with the reviewer - keep it naughty, not filthy. That was part of the charm!
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I'm wondering if this isn't some bizarre hipster meta-joke on Smigel's part. Mocking the "ooh, aren't we naughty?" aspect of the original Match Game by having genuinely dirty comedians...
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June 22, 2008, 12:27 p.m. CST
I'd like to see it given a shot, so we could see for ourselves
by 2for2true
Loved the show growing up - always thought is was a shame that it didn't keep going a la the Price is Right. The cast sounds great, but evidently Norm MacDonald is someone you either love or hate. I thought he was great on My Name is Earl, doing his great Burt Reynolds imitation.
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Starting June 24th, Rescue Me returns, kind of....with 6-7 minute original episodes at 10:00pm EDT. You're welcome.
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You didn't start giving me shit on my Muppet posts until I blamed Disney for what I saw as a lack of understanding of the characters. Then suddenly you decided to take shots at me and the Muppets. You're still calling it an "unwise" investment. If you aren't a Disney shill, why do you care how "wise" or "unwise" their investments are? And who but a Disney shill calls Walt Disney "Uncle W"? And what in the blue hell are you talking about re: earning street cred by bashing Disney??? I actually agree with you that bashing Walt is a yawn, but because it's too easy, not "old". Seriously, name me one "wanna-be-in-yo-face artiste" that earned "street cred" bashing Walt Disney? Yeah, I didn't like the Venture Brothers until the Brisbee episode. They weren't "hip" until they made fun of Disney...
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although I wouldn't doubt he owns a denim jacket covered with disney character patches that he wears everywhere.
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"Nothing to do with"? And since you love to not clarify what exactly you mean by "pitiful failures", how about this time you do? Or is it easier to make your point with groundless hyperbole? And as long as we're talking shelf-life of a mocking point, let's discuss this "threadbare" word you seem to love. Since the puppets themselves get rebuilt, refurbished, or recreated every couple of years. Or do you mean threadbare as in nobody cares? Because I believe we've been over that territory and the fact that Muppet projects keep coming up and the fact that Disney bought them for multi-millions should really prove you wrong by this point. Honestly, how "threadbare" is Mickey freaking Mouse? In any case, I'm sure you'll have some snarky, stupid reply to this. As much as you give me a headache, I think I'll let it go now.
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What's happened to originality in Hollywood? The original "Match Game" worked because of the unique chemistry between host Gene Rayburn and a few of the regulars like Charles Nelson Reilly, Bret Sommers and Richard Dawson. You can't duplicate that. The game itself is kind of lame. Several versions of the game came back over the years and failed for that reason. Hey movie fans check out this great new blog... it's called: thebitterproducer.blogspot.com
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