"What's My Line?" (1950) TV series 1950-1967

User Rating:

9.0/10   

Directors:

Paul Alter
Frank Satenstein

Seasons:

4 | unknown

Release Date:

2 February 1950 (USA)

Genre:

Family | Game-Show

Plot:

Contestants with unusual occupations were interviewed by the panelists. Only questions that could be answered with a "yes" or "no" were allowed...

Plot Keywords:

Panel | Mask | Question In Title | Quiz Show | Punctuation In Title

Awards:

Won Golden Globe. Another 3 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

John Daly	...	Moderator / ... (810 episodes, 1950-1967)
Arlene Francis	...	Herself / ... (754 episodes, 1950-1967)
Bennett Cerf	...	Himself / ... (675 episodes, 1950-1967)
Dorothy Kilgallen	...	Herself / ... (656 episodes, 1950-1965)

Also Known As:

"Occupation Unknown" (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

30 min (876 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White (1950-1966) | Color (1966-1967)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

CBS Broadcast Center, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS)

Trivia:

The French Canadian version of this program was named "Chacun son métier" (1954), which translates from French to English as "To Each His Job." This French-speaking version was aired in Canada from 1954 to 1959.

Quotes:

Steve Allen: Is it bigger than a bread box?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Stuck on You (2003)

Soundtrack:

Sounds

An urbane, witty, and entertaining program

"What's My Line" is one of my favorite programs. The host, John Daly, was an excellent host. He was erudite, respectful, and professional, unlike succeeding game show hosts, who, for the most part, try to be comedians. The panel was also insightful, witty, and humorous without being crude and trying to be funny. They were truly classy people. Even more important to me is to see the civility that existed on that program compared to current programming. It certainly was a different time in terms of respect, manners, and sophistication. As an earlier reviewer, game show formats now appeal to the lowest denominator. Noteworthy is the conduct of the audience. No loud cheering, yelling, and other obnoxious behavior on " What's My line".

How I miss the golden age of television...It was certainly heads and shoulders above most of today's programs which try to pass for entertainment. As we have progressed in so many areas in the past forty years. we have certainly declined in the quality, civility, and humaneness of that earlier era.