Fred Silverman was running the network back then, widely regarded as a genius, and I agree. If you get a chance, watch the long interviews he did for the Emmy people. They're on You Tube. The man had a passion for the medium.
Long story short, CBS started putting game shows back on the daytime schedule in 1972. It worked. Silverman ordered more and here comes "Match Game." It was on NBC for seven years in the 60's. The CBS version was much, much different. It was CBS's answer to the nine celebrities NBC used for "Hollywood Squares."
"Match Game" became the top rated show on the CBS daytime schedule, until it started getting a little tired, and a short lived move to mornings didn't help. Still, the show broke new ground, mixing comedy and game, a little naughty at times, and always fun.
GSN still runs it in the afternoon, and it never fails to brighten a miserable day.
