Classic TV: You Don't Say! (1962)

NBC thought they were being clever.

The network acquired Ralph Andrews' You Don't Say! in 1963 after the series had started as a local game show in Los Angeles a year earlier. Jack Barry, then blackballed by the networks because of the quiz scandals of the 50's, was the first host, but since he was still persona non gratia, especially at NBC, he was replaced by Tom Kennedy (ex-Date With The Angels) when the show made its national debut.

Basically, the concept of the game was a verbal rebus puzzle, as clues were often plays-on-words, like what was used on another NBC series, Concentration. The game structure otherwise, and for a while, the set as well, resembled Password, such that after CBS and/or Goodson-Todman raised a fuss, Kennedy's podium was moved to the end of the table, instead of the center. The series lasted six years, swept off the table in a game show purge in September 1969, along with Eye Guess, Match Game, & Personality, but that would not be the end of You Don't Say!.

Six more years passed. In 1975, a revival was tested again at KTLA in Los Angeles, with Clark Race (ex-The Parent Game) as host. This time, ABC picked up You Don't Say!, and brought Kennedy back, less than 2 weeks after his last series, Split Second, had been cancelled. This time, the set was changed, and there were now four celebrities instead of 2, with the set closely resembling Match Game, which was now at CBS. However, this version lasted a year before ABC picked up Edge of Night from CBS, thus ending You Don't Say!'s second run after a few months. In 1978, the series returned as a syndicated nighttime entry, retaining the same set as before, but with Jim Peck as the new host, since Kennedy was busy with Name That Tune.

Ironically, Kennedy would find his way over to Password, as he was tapped to succeed Allen Ludden on Password Plus, bringing him back to NBC, but You Don't Say! hasn't been seen since the late 70's. Hmmmm.

Following is a 1967 episode with Pat Carroll (ex-Make Room For Daddy) & Mel Torme.



Clearly, the later version was ill-advised in adding additional celebrities to counter the more popular Match Game, and we'll see why down the road.

Rating: B.