7 days ago
Martin Short Revives ‘Match Game' on ABC — and Sling TV Is the Best Way to Watch Live
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Martin Short is returning to primetime as the host of ABC's newly revived 'Match Game,' premiering Wednesday, July 23 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. The reboot of the classic game show, which has been a staple of television since the 1960s, now features Martin Short as host in a version that blends the original format's campy fun with his own quick wit and signature energy.
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Martin Short to Host 'Match Game' Revival on ABC
Each episode will feature four contestants trying to match fill-in-the-blank answers with a rotating panel of six celebrity guests. Two full games are played per hour, culminating in a Super Match round where contestants can win up to $25,000. Like its previous iteration, 'Match Game' leans heavily on celebrity banter and innuendo-laced punchlines, a format tailor-made for Short, who also serves as an executive producer. The series will air weekly on ABC, but the best way for cable-cutters to tune in live is on Sling TV.
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STREAM 'MATCH GAME' ON SLING TV
Sling's Blue package, which includes local ABC affiliates in select major markets, allows subscribers to watch 'Match Game' as it airs live on the network. Starting at $40 per month, or $55 for the combined Orange + Blue plan, Sling remains one of the most competitively priced live-TV streaming platforms on the market. Plus, their plans are currently half off for the first month, bringing down their Blue plan to only $25.50.
In addition to live access, Sling TV includes up to 50 hours of cloud DVR storage, giving subscribers the ability to record and rewatch episodes at their convenience. The service is compatible with nearly every major device — including Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, mobile apps, and web browsers — offering maximum flexibility. For fans who like to watch with friends, Sling's Watch Party feature adds another layer of interactivity, letting users co-view in real time with built-in video chat and messaging.
ABC also ran the previous version of 'Match Game,' which was hosted by Alec Baldwin. That edition debuted in 2016, and ran for five seasons (and approximately 69 episodes) before being canceled in 2022. The most recent season was shot before the pandemic began, with nine episodes spread out between May 31, 2020, and Oct. 29, 2020, and then the final two on July 21 and July 28, 2021.
Stream the reboot of 'Match Game' on Sling TV here. Best of Variety
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