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Post by matchgameproductions on May 21, 2018 16:29:52 GMT -5
Over at Match Game Productions, we have a really good question asking fans of Match Game their opinion on Richard Dawson. As many people remember and know, in the late summer of 1978, Richard Dawson left Match Game. He left on very ugly terms without ever missing a show from 1973-1978. OUR QUESTION: What would you have done in 1978 when Richard Dawson walked away from Match Game? Ira Skutch, Producer of Match Game, asked Richard why he was so unhappy. Ira said if he wanted out of his contract, he would sign off on it. Was that the right move? What would you have done in this situation? The Richard Dawson Dilemma! A.) Give him more $ and star power! $ made him happier in 1977 when he got a big raise! B.) Let him void his contract and walk away like he did. C.) Keep him miserable the rest of the time on Match Game and ride it out? D.) Something different? Let us know what you would have done! www.youtube.com/user/MatchGameProductions/community |
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Post by wildjackmonroe on May 22, 2018 7:18:58 GMT -5
As funny as the guy was on the show; honestly, if he really wasn't happy still being on it, then I would have just let him walk and maybe if he wanted to, have him come back every now and then. If they could let Charles Nelson Reilly and Brett Somers take leaves of absence, they could have done the same with him (and I know the circumstances were different in both of those instances, but it's a case where both folks were considered regulars and contributed as to why people watched). There's no point in keeping someone on a show on a regular basis if they're miserable. That just sounds like a bad situation for everybody.
The shade thrown by Gene on the first episode without him spoke volumes, and I'm not excusing ego trips as Dawson was apparently known for by this point. But it probably would have helped if they let him in the very least take some time off with the option of occasionally returning like Fannie Flagg and Joyce Bulifant as a semi-regular open.
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Post by johnnyo on May 22, 2018 10:06:19 GMT -5
The shade thrown by Gene on the first episode without him spoke volumes, and I'm not excusing ego trips as Dawson was apparently known for by this point. (I have no strong opinion on the thread topic, as I prefer to avoid "what if" discussions. ) However, regarding the topic of the first episode without Richard, Dawson's absence is indirectly noted in the opening when Bob Barker, who is occupying Dawson's seat, asks GR why "The sun never sets on the British Empire" is carved into the set at his seat. At that moment, there is an awkward and obvious edit, and then GR goes over to introduce and greet the contestants. Obviously comments were made, but what happened? I would love to see the raw footage! It may be nothing, but the obvious edit makes me wonder if something inappropriate was said... |
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Post by wildjackmonroe on May 22, 2018 15:39:53 GMT -5
The shade thrown by Gene on the first episode without him spoke volumes, and I'm not excusing ego trips as Dawson was apparently known for by this point. (I have no strong opinion on the thread topic, as I prefer to avoid "what if" discussions. ) However, regarding the topic of the first episode without Richard, Dawson's absence is indirectly noted in the opening when Bob Barker, who is occupying Dawson's seat, asks GR why "The sun never sets on the British Empire" is carved into the set at his seat. At that moment, there is an awkward and obvious edit, and then GR goes over to introduce and greet the contestants. Obviously comments were made, but what happened? I would love to see the raw footage! It may be nothing, but the obvious edit makes me wonder if something inappropriate was said... Buzzr has aired this moment in full. Gene replied to that with "he thought he'd be here forever." |
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Post by carpetcrawler on May 22, 2018 17:01:24 GMT -5
(I have no strong opinion on the thread topic, as I prefer to avoid "what if" discussions. ) However, regarding the topic of the first episode without Richard, Dawson's absence is indirectly noted in the opening when Bob Barker, who is occupying Dawson's seat, asks GR why "The sun never sets on the British Empire" is carved into the set at his seat. At that moment, there is an awkward and obvious edit, and then GR goes over to introduce and greet the contestants. Obviously comments were made, but what happened? I would love to see the raw footage! It may be nothing, but the obvious edit makes me wonder if something inappropriate was said... Buzzr has aired this moment in full. Gene replied to that with "he thought he'd be here forever." Having not seen the Buzzr version, do they also air more of the part before Bob makes that comment? I just remember Gene walking over to Bob and an extremely obvious, jarring edit that's Gene going "and we're glad to have Bob Barker in the seat!!" and then that's when Bob makes that British Empire comment. That's the part that I'm most curious about because it seems that's where Gene directly mentions Dawson not being in the seat. You can see what I mean at this specific timestamp: www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTnhGlwhXqE&t=49s |
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Post by wildjackmonroe on May 22, 2018 18:07:50 GMT -5
Buzzr has aired this moment in full. Gene replied to that with "he thought he'd be here forever." Having not seen the Buzzr version, do they also air more of the part before Bob makes that comment? I just remember Gene walking over to Bob and an extremely obvious, jarring edit that's Gene going "and we're glad to have Bob Barker in the seat!!" and then that's when Bob makes that British Empire comment. That's the part that I'm most curious about because it seems that's where Gene directly mentions Dawson not being in the seat. You can see what I mean at this specific timestamp: www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTnhGlwhXqE&t=49sOh, sorry, guys. I was under the impression people were asking what Gene said in response to the Bob Barker question. This I'm not sure of. |
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Post by Frank on May 22, 2018 19:42:52 GMT -5
pretty ironic that one big ego person was first replaced by another big ego
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Post by matchgameproductions on May 22, 2018 22:51:26 GMT -5
It is definitely a CBS Edit. I'm sure Gene said something regarding Richard not being there. Might have been a jab at him. I'm sure Richard was behind the edit on the program. He probably didn't want anybody to say anything badly about him.
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Post by pyramidfan on May 23, 2018 9:56:54 GMT -5
Over at Match Game Productions, we have a really good question asking fans of Match Game their opinion on Richard Dawson. As many people remember and know, in the late summer of 1978, Richard Dawson left Match Game. He left on very ugly terms without ever missing a show from 1973-1978. OUR QUESTION: What would you have done in 1978 when Richard Dawson walked away from Match Game? Ira Skutch, Producer of Match Game, asked Richard why he was so unhappy. Ira said if he wanted out of his contract, he would sign off on it. Was that the right move? What would you have done in this situation? The Richard Dawson Dilemma! A.) Give him more $ and star power! $ made him happier in 1977 when he got a big raise! B.) Let him void his contract and walk away like he did. C.) Keep him miserable the rest of the time on Match Game and ride it out? D.) Something different? Let us know what you would have done! www.youtube.com/user/MatchGameProductions/communityD. I would have let him out of his contract the first time he asked, which was when "Family Feud" started to become so successful. As Adam Nedeff mentions in his Gene Rayburn biography, I think the home audience would have understood, and the show could have either found another regular panelist or done what they ended up doing, which was having semi-regulars in his seat. |
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Post by mom2twogirls on Sept 25, 2019 8:36:33 GMT -5
i am new here and struggling a bit to figure out the reply function. Also, I realize this is an old thread so I hope it’s ok to revisit it.
They should have have let Richard Dawson out of his contract when he asked for it and brought him back from time to time as a guest. That could have been a happy compromise. He was such a superb player so I understand the reluctance to release him. But they made him miserable and it had to have been exhausting doing both MG and FF. The bad mouthing of him that occurred after his departure really bothers me. He WAS the star of Match Game from 73-77 whether or not anyone wanted to acknowledge it.
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Post by mom2twogirls on Sept 25, 2019 8:40:49 GMT -5
The shade thrown by Gene on the first episode without him spoke volumes, and I'm not excusing ego trips as Dawson was apparently known for by this point. Absolutely. And frankly the ego was earned. He was a major reason for the roaring success of Match Game. |
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Post by Mandoli on Sept 25, 2019 10:22:50 GMT -5
It's perfectly okay, mom2twogirls. Also, I'm going to remove the quote tags (and those only). |
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Post by vahan on Sept 25, 2019 11:59:12 GMT -5
Here's an interesting question I have: I've been wondering recently how exactly did Family Feud end up on ABC instead of CBS?
It could have been a third addition to the afternoon of Goodson-Todman shows on CBS, along with Match Game '7X and Tattletales. I think it's a wonder it even ended up on ABC in the first place. Because beginning in 1976, the network was slowly getting rid of game shows to make way for extra airtime for most of their Soaps; only Ryan's Hope and The Edge of Night stayed at 30 minutes each.
Perhaps, daytime reruns of All in the Family were making too much money for CBS?
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Post by aaaa on Sept 25, 2019 14:09:00 GMT -5
The shade thrown by Gene on the first episode without him spoke volumes, and I'm not excusing ego trips as Dawson was apparently known for by this point. Absolutely. And frankly the ego was earned. He was a major reason for the roaring success of Match Game. Match Game's ratings took a hit in late 1977 when CBS moved it from its afternoon time slot to 11AM EST, right after TPIR, then a few months later it moved back to 4PM. Dawson was still on the show at that point. But by that time, the damage to the ratings was done and fewer CBS stations were carrying the 4PM EST show. |
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Post by DestinationGetaway on Aug 9, 2020 20:13:02 GMT -5
Perhaps, daytime reruns of All in the Family were making too much money for CBS? The reruns of All in the Family were doing very well for CBS at 3:00pm. |
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