To Tell The Truth (partially found first season of syndicated panel show; 1969-1970): Difference between revisions

From The Lost Media Wiki
Jump to: navigation, search
mNo edit summary
(28 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{InfoboxLost
{{InfoboxLost
|title=<center>To Tell The Truth (1969-1970)</center>
|title=<center>To Tell the Truth (1969-1970)</center>
|image=Tttt69.jpg
|image=Tttt69.jpg
|imagecaption=The show's logo from 1969 to 1973.
|imagecaption=The show's logo from 1969 to 1973.
|status=<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span>
|status=<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span>
}}
}}
To Tell The Truth is an American panel show that was created by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman first premiered on CBS on December 18, 1956 and was hosted by Superman voice actor Bud Collyer and would have multiple versions in the years since. The show has a panel of four celebrities guess which one of three contestants (who claim to be the same person) is the real person they claim to be. The show currently airs on ABC as of June 14, 2016 and is hosted by actor Anthony Anderson. The show's many versions have been reran since 1994 on various cable channels and a large number of episodes survive. The syndicated version that aired from September 8, 1969 to September 7, 1978 is the show's best known version and has had many famous guests on it like Jesus Christ Superstar lyricist Tim Rice, Marvel Comics artist Stan Lee and con man Frank Abagnale Jr. However, only episodes from 1970 to the end of the run have been heavily reran and no episodes from the version's first season have resurfaced.
To Tell the Truth is an American panel-style game show created by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman. The show's basic format features a panel of four celebrities, who must guess which one of three contestants is in fact the (often also famous, or fame-adjacent) person they are all claiming to be. The panel asks questions of all three claimants and gauges the authenticity of their answers.


Over the decades since its network debut in 1956, the show has been a fixture on the American game show scene; the current version debuted on ABC in June 2016 and is hosted by actor Anthony Anderson. Previous versions have been seen in reruns since 1994 on various cable channels, and a large number of episodes survive. The syndicated version that aired from 1969 to 1978 is perhaps the best known incarnation - but while many episodes from this version survive and can be viewed today, '''no episodes from its first season have resurfaced.'''
==Background==
==Background==
The show's run on CBS ended on September 6, 1968 after 12 years on the network in both primetime and daytime. By then the show had declined in the ratings since it's 1956 debut and the president of daytime programming Fred Silverman had cancelled every single game show that was airing on the network in daytime and wanted to extend soap operas to 45 minutes and the changes made to Truth's final season (music, set and the format) were a contributing factor in the show ending in 1968.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWVLM1pMUGg&ab_channel=GameShowGumbo</ref> Three days after Truth ended on CBS, another show Goodson and Todman created "What's My Line?" (which ended it's run on CBS a year earlier) premiered in Syndication and was a smash hit in the ratings. The success of What's My Line? convinced Goodson and Todman to revive To Tell The Truth for Syndication. The show was to be the same as it was before the changes made in 1967. Goodson and Todman wanted Bud Collyer to return to host the show. But he turned down the offer to return as his health had declined rapidly and Garry Moore (who hosted I've Got A Secret which was also created by Goodson and Todman) was untimely chosen to host the show. Collyer died on the same day the version premiered.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20111206011317/http://www.game-show-utopia.net/tttt/tttt.htm</ref> Just like What's My Line? a year earlier, the syndicated To Tell The Truth became a ratings success.
The show first premiered on CBS in 1956, and was hosted by erstwhile ''Superman'' voice actor Bud Collyer. This initial run ended on September 6, 1968 after 12 years on the network in both primetime and daytime. Ratings had been declining, and meanwhile CBS's president of daytime programming Fred Silverman was in the process of getting rid of game shows altogether in favor of extending soap operas to 45 minutes.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWVLM1pMUGg&ab_channel=GameShowGumbo</ref> Just three days later, another Goodson & Todman production, "What's My Line?" (which had ended its run on CBS a year earlier) premiered in syndication to high ratings. That success convinced the producers to also revive To Tell the Truth for syndication.  
 
The show was to return to its original format, rolling back late changes that had contributed to its ratings decline. However Bud Collyer turned down the offer to return, citing declining health. Garry Moore (who hosted "I've Got a Secret" from the same producers) was ultimately chosen to host the show. Collyer died on the same day the new version premiered.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20111206011317/http://www.game-show-utopia.net/tttt/tttt.htm</ref> The new, syndicated To Tell the Truth became a ratings success - and an important part of television history, running for another decade and thus serving as a showcase for a wide variety of mid-century pop-culture figures, including "Jesus Christ, Superstar" lyricist Tim Rice, Marvel Comics artist Stan Lee and con man Frank Abagnale Jr.


==Availability==
==Availability==
The show first began be reran on Game Show Network in 1994, episodes from the show's many variations have aired on the network. Episodes of this version had became scarce to come by after Game Show Network ceased airing the show in 2009 with only home recordings surfacing until October 2018, when Buzzr added this version of the show to their schedule. As of July 2021, this version is still being reran on Buzzr. The first season of the show was not reran on Game Show Network or Buzzr however, which is strange considering that this version of the show exists in it's entirety. Little information is known about the first season outside of the premiere date. Only one detail is known of the premiered episode of the first season. According to To Tell the Truth on the web.com; <blockquote>"From its opening moments with the psychedelic set and rock music score, the 1969 premiere set itself apart from its staid CBS predecessor. But it was really only after the first game -- when Garry Moore demonstrated adding water to dehydrated food and accidentally used the wrong end of a water dispenser, then mugged his way out of the predicament -- that it was clear this "TTTT" was determined to be more fun than the original series in both form and content."<ref>http://www.ttttontheweb.com/ttttanecdotes.html#1</ref></blockquote>
All versions of the show were first rerun on the Game Show Network in 1994, and became a staple of its programming. Episodes of the syndicated version generally became hard to find once GSN stopped airing it after 2009, with only home recordings surfacing until October 2018, when Buzzr added it to their schedule. As of January 2022, this version is still being rerun on Buzzr.  


The status of season one is unknown and as of the writing of this article, no footage, screenshots or audio from season one has been located.
The first season of the syndicated show remains the only one never to be shown on Game Show Network or Buzzr - for unknown reasons, since the show is confirmed to exist in its entirety. Little is known of the first season outside of the premiere date and the panel & guests for each episode; a few further details of the premiere episode survive in reviews. According to TTTTontheweb.com: <blockquote>"From its opening moments with the psychedelic set and rock music score, the 1969 premiere set itself apart from its staid CBS predecessor. But it was really only after the first game -- when Garry Moore demonstrated adding water to dehydrated food and accidentally used the wrong end of a water dispenser, then mugged his way out of the predicament -- that it was clear this "TTTT" was determined to be more fun than the original series in both form and content."<ref>http://www.ttttontheweb.com/ttttanecdotes.html#1</ref></blockquote>


==Extended Link==
As of the writing of this article, no footage, screenshots or audio from season one have been found.
 
==External Link==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20041013094443/http://www.matchgame.org/episodeguides/tttt/tttt1.html Archive of Season One episode guide from Matchgame.org]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20041013094443/http://www.matchgame.org/episodeguides/tttt/tttt1.html Archive of Season One episode guide from Matchgame.org]
==See Also==
===Pilots===
*[[Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour (lost unaired pilot of NBC game show; 1983)]]
*[[Showoffs (partially lost unaired pilots of ABC game show; 1975)]]
*[[The Price Is Right (partially found unaired pilot for syndicated game show; 1993)]]
*[[The New Price Is Right (lost unaired pilot of Goodson-Todman game show; 1972)]]
===Television===
*[[The Price Is Right (partially lost Dennis James episodes of game show; 1972-1977)]]
*[[Tattletales (partially found syndicated version of CBS game show; 1977-1978)]]
*[[Match Game (partially lost Mark Goodson Bill Todman game show; 1973-1982)]]
*[[The Price Is Right (partially found Australian adaptation of Mark Goodson game show; 1973-1974)]]
*[[Snap Judgement (partially found NBC game show; 1967-1969)]]
*[[Call My Bluff (partially found NBC game show; 1965)]]
*[[Family Feud - Popular Vs Freaks & Geeks (found episodes of Pearson game show; 2000)]]
*[[Family Fortunes (partially lost British version of Goodson-Todman game show; 1980-2002)]]
*[[The Price Is Right (partially found Doug Davidson version of Goodson-Todman game show; 1994-1995)]]
*[[Match Game (found ABC revival of Goodson-Todman game show; 1990-1991)]]
===Miscellaneous===
*[[Super Password (lost builds of unreleased NES port of word game; 1980s)]]


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 19:30, 23 April 2022

Tttt69.jpg

The show's logo from 1969 to 1973.

Status: Lost

To Tell the Truth is an American panel-style game show created by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman. The show's basic format features a panel of four celebrities, who must guess which one of three contestants is in fact the (often also famous, or fame-adjacent) person they are all claiming to be. The panel asks questions of all three claimants and gauges the authenticity of their answers.

Over the decades since its network debut in 1956, the show has been a fixture on the American game show scene; the current version debuted on ABC in June 2016 and is hosted by actor Anthony Anderson. Previous versions have been seen in reruns since 1994 on various cable channels, and a large number of episodes survive. The syndicated version that aired from 1969 to 1978 is perhaps the best known incarnation - but while many episodes from this version survive and can be viewed today, no episodes from its first season have resurfaced.

Background

The show first premiered on CBS in 1956, and was hosted by erstwhile Superman voice actor Bud Collyer. This initial run ended on September 6, 1968 after 12 years on the network in both primetime and daytime. Ratings had been declining, and meanwhile CBS's president of daytime programming Fred Silverman was in the process of getting rid of game shows altogether in favor of extending soap operas to 45 minutes.[1] Just three days later, another Goodson & Todman production, "What's My Line?" (which had ended its run on CBS a year earlier) premiered in syndication to high ratings. That success convinced the producers to also revive To Tell the Truth for syndication.

The show was to return to its original format, rolling back late changes that had contributed to its ratings decline. However Bud Collyer turned down the offer to return, citing declining health. Garry Moore (who hosted "I've Got a Secret" from the same producers) was ultimately chosen to host the show. Collyer died on the same day the new version premiered.[2] The new, syndicated To Tell the Truth became a ratings success - and an important part of television history, running for another decade and thus serving as a showcase for a wide variety of mid-century pop-culture figures, including "Jesus Christ, Superstar" lyricist Tim Rice, Marvel Comics artist Stan Lee and con man Frank Abagnale Jr.

Availability

All versions of the show were first rerun on the Game Show Network in 1994, and became a staple of its programming. Episodes of the syndicated version generally became hard to find once GSN stopped airing it after 2009, with only home recordings surfacing until October 2018, when Buzzr added it to their schedule. As of January 2022, this version is still being rerun on Buzzr.

The first season of the syndicated show remains the only one never to be shown on Game Show Network or Buzzr - for unknown reasons, since the show is confirmed to exist in its entirety. Little is known of the first season outside of the premiere date and the panel & guests for each episode; a few further details of the premiere episode survive in reviews. According to TTTTontheweb.com:

"From its opening moments with the psychedelic set and rock music score, the 1969 premiere set itself apart from its staid CBS predecessor. But it was really only after the first game -- when Garry Moore demonstrated adding water to dehydrated food and accidentally used the wrong end of a water dispenser, then mugged his way out of the predicament -- that it was clear this "TTTT" was determined to be more fun than the original series in both form and content."[3]

As of the writing of this article, no footage, screenshots or audio from season one have been found.

External Link

See Also

Pilots

Television

Miscellaneous

References