Stempel’s complaints to federal investigators were not given credence until Van Doren admitted under oath to a House Committee that he had been given the answers in advance.
The triumph of handsome challenger Charles Van Doren over unpopular champion Herbert Stempel was loosely portrayed in the 1994 movie Quiz Show. After the first episodes demonstrated the questions were too difficult for contestants, producers placated angry sponsor Geritol by choreographing the entire program. Wildly popular in the late 1950s prior to the scandal, Twenty One’s answer-rigging nearly killed U.S. Nonetheless, within weeks of the change, 24-year-old floral designer Michelle Loewenstein hit pay dirt. Odds of getting that prize were extremely low: a player would have to land on the space in regular play, win that puzzle, be the overall winner of the game without hitting bankrupt, land on the one envelope out of 24 containing the million-dollar prize and correctly solve the Bonus Round puzzle. In an effort to compete with new primetime mega jackpots, executives at Wheel of Fortune threw a $1,000,000 wedge into play in September 2008. In 1976, ten-year veteran host Bob Eubanks did not anticipate the response he got to his query, “where specifically is the weirdest place that you personally, girls, have ever gotten the urge to make whoopie?” Even after being prompted for a physical location, the new bride maintained her highly-specific answer.
Social mores of the 1960s and 1970s required strict censorship, toeing the line between forbidden and funny. Relying heavily on sexual innuendo, The Newlywed Game’s bread-and- butter was provoking naïve couples to reveal embarrassing secrets. After unsuccessfully hounding the studio for full-time employment, a restraining order was issued banning him from the property. But his zeal did not end there: He moved to Los Angeles hoping to become a “permanent” member of the Wheel family. Chicagoan Raymond Taylor displayed an impressive (but strange) level of mania during his three day reign which resulted in more than $80,000 in cash and prizes. While many people pine for the old version of Wheel of Fortune in which eager contestants immediately shopped for prizes, the game show is still known for its overly-excited guests. The cocky IRS collection agent later parlayed his fame into making multiple television appearances and co-authoring a book on trivia. John Carpenter did not even need to use any of his Lifelines to answer the questions– his Phone-A-Friend was spent calling his parents to announce his impending victory. In his flashy monochromatic tie and shirt, Regis Philbin, host of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?, awarded the first million dollar prize in U.S. Barker would later quip, “she came on down, all right, and they came on out!” 9. He was particularly on top of his game when Yolanda Bowsley popped out of her tube top on her hurried dash to Contestant’s Row. A longtime defender against animal cruelty and sexual harassment suits, Barker was always warm and funny during his 30-year run on the program. While December 16, 2008’s awesomely-perfect showcase bid shocked Drew Carey and halted the show to assure fair play, nothing beats the hosting prowess of Bob Barker on the old TPIR. The following is a list of the Top Ten Game Show Moments, ranked in order of awesomeness. For over 60 fun-filled years, these programs have made us cheer as we share victories and mourn defeats. This staple endures because it is win-win: easily produced in Hollywood, and easily produces in viewers the desire for positive life change. Audiences have been tuning into game shows since the popularization of television because they are not only exciting, but educational.