bpatrick-8

During the last season of the original CBS version of "To Tell the Truth," the panel had to determine which of three challengers was married to, or related to, a celebrity guest. They first got a chance to question the celebrity, then the three challengers were brought out and questioned.

This should have been the format for "Who's Whose." The format as described seems too cluttered. Also, if the producers could have found a panel similar to Dorothy Kilgallen, Arlene Francis, Bennett Cerf, and Steve Allen, and a host like Garry Moore or Bud Collyer, this show might have worked. Too bad Mark Goodson and Bill Todman were not involved in the production of this show; they could have made it workable.

Granted, Anne Robinson was a breath of fresh air, just as Richard Dawson was when "Family Feud" was new--a host willing to call contestants on it when they give an obviously stupid answer. That seems to be a trait of British hosts and I'm not sure American audiences are quite as receptive to it, even if they do like Judge Judy making the people who come before her look stupid. That's why I liked George's version of the show--he needled contestants without angering them (sort of like Groucho), and it was clear he was having fun with them. Even comparing him to new host Jane Lynch, I still think he's better; she sounds like she's insulting the contestants because that is what she gets paid to do, but the insults seem to fall flat.

As for the smaller potential payouts on the daytime show, remember that the show's budget had to cover five shows a week instead of one (which is why some of the classic shows with both daytime and primetime versions had higher stakes at night).