To Tell the Truth 

Classic game show in which a person of some notoriety and two impostors try to match wits with a panel of four celebrities. The object of the game is to try to fool the celebrities into ... See full summary »

Stars:

Bud Collyer, Kitty Carlisle, Tom Poston

Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Bud Collyer	...	Self - Host / ... 464 episodes, 1956-1968
Kitty Carlisle	...	Self - Panelist / ... 389 episodes, 1957-1968
Tom Poston	...	Self - Panelist / ... 322 episodes, 1959-1967

Storyline

Classic game show in which a person of some notoriety and two impostors try to match wits with a panel of four celebrities. The object of the game is to try to fool the celebrities into voting for the two impostors. Each wrong vote would be worth $250 ($100 in the daytime version).

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Plot Keywords:

celebrity | panel | deception | guessing game | quiz | 

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Genres:

Family | Game-Show

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Certificate:

TV-G

Did You Know?

Trivia

Henry Morgan and the show's producer, Mark Goodson, both appeared as decoys claiming to be Otto Preminger. They did this by wearing towels over their faces and hats on top of their heads.

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Quotes

[last lines spoken each episode]
Host Bud Collyer: [says goodnight to the panel, then faces the camera] Bud Collyer saying goodnight from >>name of sponsor<< and
[points right index finger at camera]
Host Bud Collyer: reminding you to tell the truth.
[waves at camera]
Host Bud Collyer: Good night, everybody.

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Alternate Versions

Also available in a computer colorized version.

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Connections

Spoofed in Promise Her Anything (1966)

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Soundtracks

To Tell The Truth 1967
(1967-1968)
(Theme 3)
Performed by The Score Production Band (In Vocals)

User Reviews

Lots Of Fun

TTTT is certainly one of TV's most durable series, even for a game show. (Check out IMDB for the many incarnations and celebrities). One reason, I think, for the show's success is it's high level of audience participation. Folks at home could guess right along with the panelists as to which of the three challengers was telling the truth. Usually the real challenger had a distinction of some sort, dubious or commendable, like an Olympic swimming champ or a guy who walked 20-miles after losing his car keys. Then too, questioning of the challengers was always light-hearted from a range of four show biz personalities skilled at playful talk. And mustn't overlook the show's perennial host, the affable Bud Collyer, who kept things on track in easygoing style. Also, there should be a salute to the many pretenders, who, after all, had to do a lot of prepping in order to fool the panelists and the rest of us.

Anyhow, for a number of years I hardly missed an episode. To my limited knowledge, only a few episodes now appear available and are on Amazon's Prime Video. Too bad, since the premise itself is trans-generational, and the celebrity appearances include many famous names of yesteryear. I'm hoping some media visionary will spot the show's enduring appeal and deliver as many half-hours as possible to today's viewing audiences. If so, I'll be sure to tune in.

Details

Official Sites:

-With the UFO expert J. Allen Hynek (1964)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1956 (USA)

Also Known As:

To Tell the Truth

Filming Locations:

CBS Television City - 7800 Beverly Boulevard, Fairfax, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Mark Goodson-Bill Todman Productions, CBS Television Network

Technical Specs

Runtime:

25 min (1962-1968) 30 min (1956-1967)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White (1956-1966) Color (1967-1968)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1