What will I be doing on Christmas Day while many of you are unwrapping gifts and getting tanked on eggnog? I'll be getting tanked on my present from GSN — an all-day marathon devoted to my favorite game show of all-time, Match Game.
What makes this marathon extra special is that it includes a few never-before-aired episodes (including the original pilot), as well as other installments featuring such late Hollywood greats as Jayne Mansfield, Michael Landon, Nancy Kulp, Nell Carter, McLean Stevenson and Eva Gabor.
The marathon, airing from 8 am/7c until 5/4c, is in honor of the long-running game show's 50th anniversary.
If you're going to be at grandma's house eating pie, make sure you clear plenty of space on your DVR. If you're like me, you won't want to miss any of Charles Nelson Reilly and Brett Somers' naughty shenanigans.
Here's the complete rundown of special episodes.
8:00 am The Match Game
Never before seen on television, it's the oldest Match Game episode there is — the pilot for the original NBC series. Featuring Peggy Cass, Peter Lind Hayes.
8:30 am The Match Game
One of the earliest surviving network episodes of the original series (taped July 1964). Featuring Jayne Mansfield, Orson Bean.
9:00 am Match Game
The pilot for the CBS daytime series, never before seen on television. Featuring Bert Convy, Arlene Francis, Jack Klugman, JoAnn Pflug, Richard Dawson, Betty White.
9:30 am Match Game
The premiere episode of the CBS daytime run. Featuring Anita Gillette, Jack Klugman, JoAnn Pflug, Michael Landon, Richard Dawson, Vicki Lawrence.
10:00 am Match Game
The first episode featuring Brett and Charles on the same panel. Featuring Bert Convy, Betty White, Brett Somers, Charles Nelson Reilly, Jaye P. Morgan, Richard Dawson.
10:30 am Match Game
One of the first episodes where "boobs" is the definitive answer. Featuring Brett Somers, Charles Nelson Reilly, Fannie Flagg, Kaye Ballard, Richard Dawson, Steve Allen.
11:00 am Match Game PM
One of the first Match Game PM episodes (taped in 1975) with several funny Joyce Bulifant moments. Featuring Brett Somers, Charles Nelson Reilly, Joyce Bulifant, Lee Meriwether, Richard Dawson, William Shatner.
11:30 am Match Game
Older contestant Mildred Allred demands equal kissing time from Gene. Featuring Avery Schreiber, Brett Somers, Charles Nelson Reilly, Joyce Bulifant, Nancy Kulp, Richard Dawson.
12:00 pm Match Game
New Year's Eve; a "bald eagle" helps ring in the title change to Match Game '77; Mark Goodson cameos at end. Featuring Brett Somers, Charles Nelson Reilly, Elizabeth Allen, Fannie Flagg, Joey Bishop, Richard Dawson.
12:30 pm Match Game
The answer "school" provokes a controversy among several panelists. Featuring Brett Somers, Charles Nelson Reilly, Debralee Scott, Edward Asner, Patti Deutsch, Richard Dawson.
1:00 pm Match Game
Charles and Brett have a "vicious fight;" Charles moves to the bottom tier. Featuring Betty White, Brett Somers, Charles Nelson Reilly, David Doyle, Elaine Joyce, Richard Dawson.
1:30 pm Match Game PM
The first non-human panelists in the show's history, and a $20,000 win to boot. Featuring Kukla and Ollie, Arte Johnson, Brett Somers, Charles Nelson Reilly, Eva Gabor, Fannie Flagg.
2:00 pm Match Game Strip
The stars march off the set in mock protest. Featuring Brett Somers, Charles Nelson Reilly, Fannie Flagg, Foster Brooks, Sarah Purcell, Scoey Mitchell.
2:30 pm Match Game Strip
A couple of exciting — and surprising — Super Match wins. Featuring Brett Somers, Charles Nelson Reilly, Charles Siebert, Marcia Wallace, Phyllis Davis, Robert Donner.
3:00 pm Match Game Strip
One of the final taped episodes from the Rayburn era. Featuring Betty White, Brett Somers, Charles Nelson Reilly, McLean Stevenson, Melinda Fee, Skip Stephenson.
3:30 pm Match Game '90s
Brett and Charles reunite on a Ross Shafer-hosted episode from the 1990-91 ABC run. Feauturing Bill Kirchenbauer, Brett Somers, Charles Nelson Reilly, Debroah Tranelli, Ronn Lucas, Vicki Lawrence.
4:00 pm Match Game
Never before seen on GSN, it's an episode from the 1998-99 series featuring host Michael Burger and regular panelists Nell Carter, Judy Tenuta, George Hamilton, Vicki Lawrence and Rondell Sheridan.
4:30 pm Match Game
Episode TBD