The AFU and Urban Legend Archive
TV
 50s quiz shows




From: bml@netcom.com (Brian Leibowitz)
Subject: 50's game show scandal
Date: Mon, 3 May 1993 18:03:10 GMT

For the AFUers in the San Fransisco Bay area, KTEH tv (channel 54) is showing the documentary The American Experiance: the Quiz Show Scandal tonight at 8PM. Lots of Urban Legend material actually confirmed or the real basis shown. The Doctor Joyce Brothers stuff is great - too strange to be an urban legend - no one would believe it.

For those not familiar with the topic: the quiz show on American TV in the 50s were considered entertainment by the producers and the shows were rigged to make them more exciting. Popular contestants were made to win (either by feeding them answers in advance or picking questions that the producers knew they could answer). Unpopular ones (or ones the sponsors didn't like) were made to lose. There was a big scandal when a contestant went public with the fact that he was given answers - this actualy resulted in Congressional hearings and laws about honesty in the games. The producers of the shows though their job was to make an exciting show - honesty was not an issue.

Doctor Joyce Brothers is a popular psycologist who is always the guest expert on talk shows whenever one is needed. Her becoming a celebrity started on one of the 50s game shows.

For the rest of you in the US - keep an eye out for this show on public TV.

Brian "I'll take scandals for two-fifty, Alex" Leibowitz


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