I wouldn't be at all surprised if Fremantle Media, which acquired the Goodson-Todman library of shows a few years back, took another chance on To Tell The Truth before it reaches its 60th anniversary in 2016.
There has been an incarnation of Truth in each of the last six decades, so why mess with a good thing, especially when it's one of the easiest games to play. It's also the last of Goodson-Todman's original "big 4" games, along with I've Got a Secret, What's My Line, & Password (which replaced Beat The Clock), and thus has achieved iconic status all by itself.
Radio personality Clayton "Bud" Collyer, fresh from Clock, was tapped to serve as host when the series launched in 1956. Newsman Mike Wallace had hosted a pilot, but it's clear CBS made the right choice in going with Collyer. Announcer Bern Bennett came over with Collyer from Clock for the first four seasons, and then was reassigned to Los Angeles, enabling Johnny Olsen to take his place for the rest of the run. As with Password, Truth aired on weekday afternoons as well as a weekly primetime entry, but after it ended its CBS run, it would be a syndicated entity for three of the revivals to follow.
A year after leaving CBS, Truth was revived, but opening night was bittersweet. Collyer had been in ill health, and turned down an offer to return. Garry Moore (ex-I've Got a Secret) was lured out of retirement to take over. Ironically, Collyer passed away the same night that Truth returned. Moore himself would be forced to leave after a few years due to ill health, with first Bill Cullen, then NBC baseball commentator (and former ballplayer) Joe Garagiola filling in, until Garagiola landed the gig for good at the start of the final season (1977). There was even one instance where panelist Peggy Cass swapped places with Cullen in order to recuse herself from questioning a subject, who was a personal friend.
During this period, cartoon icons Chuck Jones and William Hanna appeared on the show, as did Doonesbury creator Garry Trudeau and Mad Magazine founder William Gaines. Writer Dick DeBartolo was on the staff of both Mad & Goodson-Todman, and presumably arranged for Gaines & Hanna to appear, even dressing up as Yogi Bear for Hanna's appearance (with Daws Butler doing the voiceover as Yogi). Marvel Comics legend Stan Lee was also on the show, and would later return during the last revival.
In 1980, two years after the last series ended, Truth returned again, this time with Robin Ward as host. Apparently, it didn't register with viewers all that much. Announcer Alan Kalter, who had taken over at the end of the last series, returned for this run. He's currently working with David Letterman on his CBS show. Ward's run lasted just 2 seasons due to low ratings and, in all probability, a lack of viewer acceptance of the relatively unknown Ward. In 1990, NBC decided to take a chance, but this incarnation of Truth was troubled from the get-go. Actor Richard Kline (ex-Three's Company) hosted two pilots, one of which accidentally made it to air. Australian Gordon Elliott (A Current Affair) was tapped to host, but didn't last long. Former Pittsburgh Steelers star receiver Lynn Swann replaced Elliott, but due to a conflict with his employers at ABC, he was gone after three weeks, and Alex Trebek (Jeopardy!), who was already doing a revival of Concentration for NBC & Goodson, took over for the remainder of the run, which, all told, lasted 1 season again.
The last series lasted from September 2000-December 2001, hosted by actor John O'Hurley (ex-Seinfeld), who would later take over Family Feud for 3 seasons after Richard Karn's run there ended. Meshach Taylor (ex-Designing Women, Dave's World) was the lone regular panelist during this run. Again, I would not be at all surprised if Truth does return at some point, to keep the tradition going, no sooner than 2016. After all, there is a lot of history and legacy with this franchise.
Matchgameproductions uploaded a daytime episode from 1967. Panelists Tom Poston, Peggy Cass, Orson Bean, & Kitty Carlisle were the regulars on both the daytime and nighttime versions by this point.
I have William Hanna's appearance up over at Saturday Morning Archives. Just look for it under "Game Time". There will be more episodes with specific subjects up soon.
Rating: A.
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