Stream It Or Skip It: 'Match Game' With Martin Short's Bawdy Twist on ABC

A New Era for Match Game

The Alec Baldwin-hosted version of Match Game officially ended its run four years ago, with a series of episodes that were recorded before the pandemic and delayed by ABC. As Baldwin faced legal challenges following the tragic Rust shooting, ABC and Fremantle decided it was time to find a new host and relocate the show to a more cost-effective location. The new home for Match Game is now Montreal, and the new host is none other than Martin Short.

Stream It or Skip It?

Opening Shot:
"Get ready to match the stars! Selena Gomez! Cara Delevingne! Kevin Nealon! Anthony Anderson! Ziwe! And BD Wong! As we play the star-studded Match Game! And here’s the host of Match Game… Martin Short!"

The Gist

Martin Short has taken over as the host of Match Game, succeeding Alec Baldwin, who hosted the revival of the 1970s game show classic from 2016 to 2021. Unlike Baldwin, who used a long, skinny microphone as a tribute to the original host, Gene Rayburn, Short uses a clip mic on his lapel. Another notable change is the show's move from New York to Montreal. Despite this shift, Short has managed to attract impressive panels, including Caroline Rhea, Jay Pharoah, Ana Gasteyer, Phoebe Robinson, Randall Park, and Constance Zimmer in the second episode, and Ego Nwodim, Jackie Tohn, Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, Andrea Martin, Thomas Lennon, and Pete Holmes in the third.

How the Game Works

The rules of Match Game remain largely unchanged. Two contestants attempt to match as many celebrities as possible by filling in the "Blank" in joke-filled questions. The winner of two rounds proceeds to the Super Match, where they can receive three celebrity suggestions from the audience. If they get one of the top three answers from the home audience survey, they select a celebrity for a Head-to-Head Match, with the top prize being $25,000.

Comparisons to Other Shows

Match Game and Hollywood Squares have often been compared, and this will likely continue now that Hollywood Squares has also been revived. Both shows share several panelists, making them a natural fit for similar audiences.

Our Take

When news broke that Martin Short would be the new host of Match Game, it seemed like a perfect fit. Decades ago, Gene Rayburn set the standard for what a Match Game host should do: banter with the celebrities, trade joking insults, and comment on the quality of contestants’ and panelists’ answers. Short fits this role perfectly, as he excels at quick wit, banter, and engaging with the cameras.

In the first episode, Short displayed most of these traits, though we were surprised that he didn’t mock any of the contestants’ less-than-stellar answers. With two complete games played in the 42-minute episode, there were four contestants, and at least one moment where a contestant failed to match with anyone. Still, Short’s banter felt more natural and less scripted than Baldwin’s, who sometimes came across as stilted.

Short seems to target specific panelists, such as Kevin Nealon and Anthony Anderson, and plays off their reactions, knowing they’ll roll with him. However, the questions in the current version feel less sharp than during Baldwin’s time. In the original 1970s version, Dick DeBartolo crafted questions that leaned toward either an obvious answer or a risqué one that could be safely implied. This time, the jokes seem to be stuffed into the part of the question that Short reads, rather than the blank, which somewhat undermines the show’s charm.

Despite this, the game remains fun, and some contestants seem eager to trade zingers with Short and the panelists. For example, one contestant in the first game kept saying how much she fantasized about being with Short. This dynamic is a key difference between the current version and the 1970s iteration, where contestants often felt like they were performing as much as the panelists.

Risqué Elements

Many of the questions have a slightly risqué tone, but in the first episode, most answers were PG. The show maintains a family-friendly vibe while still keeping things entertaining.

Final Thoughts

At the end of each episode, the panelists come down from their seats to interact with the contestant, whether they won the Super Match or not. The microphones remain on throughout, creating a sense of continuity and engagement.

Sleeper Star

If the producers wanted to place Kevin Nealon in the upper-right seat — the Charles Nelson Reilly Memorial Seat — and make him a regular, it wouldn’t be a bad move. His chemistry with Short and the rest of the panel is evident.

Most Pilot-y Line

Selena Gomez mentioned that she used to watch the 1960s version of Match Game in reruns. While our game-show-nerd hearts jumped at the mention, it’s likely she was referring to the 1970s version, as very few episodes of the 1960s version still exist. For her, the 1960s and 1970s might as well be the same decade.

Our Verdict

We recommend streaming Match Game. Martin Short brings a fresh energy to the classic format, and the first episode showed promise, even if it wasn’t as polished as it could have been.