To Tell the Truth

Packager Mark Goodson rightly called it the most golden game show idea of all. It's also one of Bob Stewart's masterworks, for Stewart created the Goodson-(Bill) Todman classic -- as he also did 'The Price Is Right' and 'Password'.

While the idea had roots in 'People Are Funny's Detecto segment, the Goodson-Todman crew developed a format in which not only the studio participants and the viewers could play along, but which still offers insights into human nature -- what better question to make people really think than 'which of these folks is lying?'

Stewart's ideas, Goodson's packaging, and the great supervision of executive producer Gil Fates meshed into a classic which lasts to this day, with the bright, polished John O'Hurley manning the moderator position first held by Bud Collyer (Mike Wallace did the pilot).

'Truth' is a timeless show that deserves to be one of two ('Price' is the other) to span six decades of national television.

First let me say that Bud Collyer is one of the worst game show hosts ever. He's an okay guy, but he lacks charisma and has little sense of humor.

As for the usual panelists, Kitty Carlisle is cut from the same cloth as Bud, but she does bring sophistication to the show. Tom Poston is likable, but not very funny. Peggy Cass, on the other hand, is a hoot. Orson Bean is a favorite of mine--clever, quick-witted and somewhat irreverent.

Overall, the show entertains, but it falls far short of some other game shows of its era. For example, "What's My Line?" always features an intelligent, funny panel and is hosted by John Daley, who has a corny but cute sense of humor combined with a cosmopolitan body of knowledge and real style.

TTTT is certainly one of TV's most durable series, even for a game show. (Check out IMDB for the many incarnations and celebrities). One reason, I think, for the show's success is it's high level of audience participation. Folks at home could guess right along with the panelists as to which of the three challengers was telling the truth. Usually the real challenger had a distinction of some sort, dubious or commendable, like an Olympic swimming champ or a guy who walked 20-miles after losing his car keys. Then too, questioning of the challengers was always light-hearted from a range of four show biz personalities skilled at playful talk. And mustn't overlook the show's perennial host, the affable Bud Collyer, who kept things on track in easygoing style. Also, there should be a salute to the many pretenders, who, after all, had to do a lot of prepping in order to fool the panelists and the rest of us.

Anyhow, for a number of years I hardly missed an episode. To my limited knowledge, only a few episodes now appear available and are on Amazon's Prime Video. Too bad, since the premise itself is trans-generational, and the celebrity appearances include many famous names of yesteryear. I'm hoping some media visionary will spot the show's enduring appeal and deliver as many half-hours as possible to today's viewing audiences. If so, I'll be sure to tune in.

Goodson-Todman were the innovators in terms of game shows. This show, as well as What's My Line and I've Got a Secret, made up that company's great triumvirate of classic panel game shows. I grew up mainly looking at the syndicated version that was on during the 1970's with Gary Moore as host, but I've recently started looking at the original black and white version. Although I preferred the Gary Moore hosted version, the black and white version is still a treat to look at. Also, you get to see the two mainstays of the show, Peggy Cass and Kitty Carlisle when they were a little younger. Also, Tom Poston and Orson Bean were great on this show as well. Poston had pretty much a great deadpan style and Bean was pretty much the clown prince of the show. This show will always remain one of the classic games to ever appear on television.

I enjoyed these shows as a very young child. But looking at them again after 60 years, there's something fundamentally wrong with the show. The real Mr. or Mrs. X often tries to say or give as little information as possible, to the point of being disingenuous in their answers. Also, sometimes the subject is fairly obscure, yet the panelists -- especially Tom Poston -- seem to be able to ask highly specific questions. Maybe my suspicions are unfounded, but the whole exercise now seems somewhat unbelievable.