Bob Barker 'Match Game' marathon airs Saturday

Aug. 29 (UPI) -- Game Show Network announced Tuesday that it has a Bob Barker "Match Game" marathon scheduled for Saturday. Eight hours of Match Game begin at 9 a.m. EDT.

Barker appeared as a celebrity guest in 40 episodes of the game show between 1973 and 1979 while serving as host of The Price Is Right. Celebrities and contestants were given a fill in the blank phrase, and tried to match their answers.

Earlier Tuesday, CBS announced that The Price Is Right: A Tribute to Bob Barker will air Thursday at 8 p.m. EDT. Barker died Saturday at age 99.

Current Price Is Right host Drew Carey hosts the special. The special includes highlights of Barker's 35-year hosting career and animal activism.

Those highlights include Barker's first and final episodes, the introduction of fan-favorite game Plinko, celebrity appearances, contestants getting emotional when called to "come on down" and bloopers that Barker smoothed over.

Barker also appeared as himself in the Adam Sandler comedy Happy Gilmore. The special will include their 2007 reunion as Sandler read his poem "Ode to Bob Barker" to celebrate Barker's retirement.

The special will air again in The Price Is Right's daytime slot Monday at 11 a.m.