QUEASE SHOW

QUIZ SHOW (1994)
dir: Robert Redford

QUEASE SHOW
MAD #334, March 1995
w: Stan Hart
a: Mort Drucker

In 1958, people are rushing home to watch the quiz show Twenty-One, specifically to see the reigning champion Herbert Stempel (John Turturro) being asked questions by host Jack Barry (Christopher McDonald).

Herb's a hero in his neighborhood of Queens, promising his wife Toby (Johann Carlo) this is their way to riches. Charles Van Doren (Ralph Fiennes), a Columbia scholar and professor, is trying out for another quiz show when he is discovered by Twenty-One's producers (David Paymer, Hank Azaria) and asked to replace Herb Stempel, who will be taking a dive. Charles is hesitant about getting the answers in advance and asks the advice of his father (Paul Scofield), but is assured what he does is standard. Meanwhile, Richard Goodwin (Rob Morrow) is a congressional aide just out of Harvard concerned his career is going nowhere.

Mrs. Stempel mentions J. Fred Muggs, primate co-star of The Today Show, who actually has a role in this. Rob Morrow's wife is played by Mira Sorvino in the movie, but here she's Janine Turner, his co-star in Northern Exposure, and his home is also the set of that show.

Herb is asked to throw the game by producer David Enright in exchange for being promised a part on a panel show. Now that Charles is the new star, he has become a new sensation and thus a hearthrob at his college. Richard Goodwin goes to New York to try and get information on whether the quiz shows are fixed, first by cozying up to the Van Doren family. Herb Stempel, upset about being thrown off the air, tells the courts and anyone who will listen about the rigging of game shows.

Richard does some investigating, while Charles finds his fame is getting too much to handle. Richard finally has proof the shows are fixed when one of the previous contestants complies by showing proof in the form of a certified letter he sent himself in advance. Charles has a guilty consience about being fed the answers while Herbert uses his testimony as an opportunity to perform in front of Congress, which only makes everyone think he's more insane.

In the next to last panel is Alan Dershowitz. In the last panel on the left is the original What's My Line? panel Dorothy Kilgallen, Arlene Francis, Bennett Cerf, and host John Daly. On the right is Alex Trebek, Pat Sajak, and Vanna White.

This is the show that was depicted in the movie.

TWENTY-ONE
NBC 1956-1958

TWENTY-WIN
Humbug #1, August 1957
w: Harvey Kurtzman
a: Bill Elder

The premise was that the returning champion and the challenger would be in isolation booths with headphones unable to hear any outside sounds. Each took turns getting questions ranging from 1-11 points depending on the level of difficulty, gaining points for each correct answer and losing points for each wrong answer. Whoever made it to 21 would be the reigning champion.

IF TV SHOWS WEREN'T RIGGED
Cracked #17, December 1960
w: Paul Laikin
a: John Severin

Beat the Clock, To Tell the Truth, Truth or Consequences

What's My Line? again, Walt Disney being interviwed by Edward Murrow on Person to Person, and Groucho Marx on You Bet Your Life.