Soap Stars in Other Places: Match Game 1990

Match Game 1990 was an attempt by ABC daytime to have a successful game show. The program only lasted a year from 1990-1991, and would typically air prior to Loving, unless the ABC station had a local news program.

Like earlier versions of "Match Game", the show had six celebrities and the contestants would "try to match the stars." In the fall of 1990, they did three weeks featuring soap stars, which is why I'm blogging about it. Throughout the run of the show, other soap performers and alumni (like Gloria Loring from Days) did appear on the panel. Ross Shafer was the host instead of Gene Rayburn, who had hosted all other versions of the program since the 60s.

Four episodes are available online, two from All My Children week and two from One Life to Live week, which also featured players from the Marine Corps and one from Loving week. Unfortunately there are no episodes from the General Hospital week that I could locate. From All My Children, Walt Willey (Jack) and Jill Larson (Opal) appeared, and the Halloween episode has them and the others in silly costumes. Walt is dressed as a wizard and Jill as "The Statute of Liberty." From Loving, Perry Stephens (Jack) and Lauren-Marie Taylor (Stacey) appeared, and he did a Tarzan yell for the crowd.  Days alumni and later part of Pure Soap, Shelley Taylor Morgan was another panelist during Loving week as was game show regular and soap alum Betty White. From One Life to Live, Karen Witter (Tina) and Fiona Hutchison (Gabrielle) were on the panel, and regardless of their answers they would get tons of support. Joanne Worley, one of the other panelists, admitted to being a OLTL fan who watched the show on the road. The General Hospital cast members were Lynn Herring (Lucy) and Stuart Damon (Alan), though you can see them in a promo.

Below are the links:

All My Children week: (Monday's episode) http://youtu.be/4Ite705aGUQ

(Halloween episode in many parts - link to part one) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weq2V_Qg95E&list=PLDBD63F6A347CC79F&index=9

Loving week: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aSfKhW-98s&list=PL494EA7B1F6A35BA8&index=27

One Life to Live week: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kuw2UTtLuA&list=PL494EA7B1F6A35BA8&index=28

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlvMg-etnME&list=PL494EA7B1F6A35BA8&index=30

These episodes are all in good fun and take about 20 minutes each to watch. If you feel the need to travel back in time, check out these shows.