Brit Dads React to Paul Lynde's Funniest Hollywood Squares Moments

[@mitchrobinson3076]

Paul Lynde was a treasure!

[@hifijohn]

And now he's a buried treasure.

[@TallBlondeSassy]

​@hifijohn did you come up with that all by yourself or did your mom help you?

[@Frankincensedjb123]

Paul Lynde simply responded with pre written jokes

[@edelweisssmith5345]

@@Frankincensedjb123yes, he did, but I am wondering if it would have been so funny if it was someone else 😂

[@HRConsultant_Jeff]

Paul was always a favorite on game shows and on TV shows. He had a somewhat sad life, but he always delivered.

[@carlacook5181]

He was so terribly funny.

[@julzy3]

I remember Paul Lynde from Bewitched & Hollywood Squares. He also was the voice of Templeton🐀 in the animated version of Charlotte's Webb from 1973. He was very funny.

[@WilliamsDad1989]

Oh yes, and Debbie Reynolds was Charlotte. Now I have to watch that with my Granddaughter 🙂

[@b-six-twelve]

That was such a great childhood touchstone that I couldn’t help but love him when I started seeing him in other things, not that he made it difficult.

[@carokay1811]

Oh that's right! Good memories.

[@KristineMaitland]

​@@WilliamsDad1989 The music from the Sherman Brothers makes me brawl. They also did Mary Poppins and The Slipper and the Rose.

[@randymoore8336]

I loved him as Uncle Arthur!!

[@mariaschiminsky1008]

He's always been my favorite, and always will be 😂🎉❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤... I 💕 you forever, Paul Lynde... such a pleasure and a JOY to be in the same life as you ❤️❤️❤️❤❤❤❤❤❤❤😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂... Love you forever ♾️... You will always be as good as it gets!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (in everything you do 😊😊😊😊

[@mariaschiminsky1008]

May you have true love, peace and happiness in the Afterlife ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ 🙏🙏🙏♾️ forever!!!!!!)

[@MyMagic111]

I loved Rosemarie's reactions to Paul's responses. She had a definite cackle.

[@MrVvulf]

Buddy Hackett had the loudest laugh among the guests on the show, and it was wonderful when he was on.

[@stevensmith743]

They had a lot of great celebrity guests over the years, but Paul Lynde was why people tuned in every day.

[@doobiedave9686]

This was the era I grew up in. Paul Lynde was a favorite of my mom's and I remember sitting around with the family and watching Hollywood Squares, The Dating Game, and The Newlywed Game on 1 of the 3 (ABC, CBS, NBC) broadcast networks that were available at that time. 😅

[@pjg58x]

Watched all those shows too. I actually saw a taping of The Dating Game. Those game shows, along with the 70s version of The Match Game, could get pretty risqué, especially for the time. The questions themselves were sometimes perfect set ups for risque responses

[@swtp32]

Me, too - I had great 70’s and 80’s childhood.

[@GhostofMrsMuir1443]

Me, too.

[@im-gi2pg]

Bob Eubanks did a Beatlemania show at the theater I work in last week. He’s 86 and he was the host of the newlywed game. Still working hard and loves to tell stories. He told stories about borrowing $25,000 from a small bank to put on the Beatles first show in the USA at the Hollywood bowl. He produced all their big shows and he started out at a tiny radio station that no one listened to in Oxnard California a few years earlier. He really was a go-getter and showed up at the big Los Angeles radio station just to see how the big guys did things. They ended up using him to fill in for someone and his career took off. At crucial points he got promotions and huge raises only because he asked for them, and he brought the station tons of business as producer. He even got angry at the behavior of one band and fired them. It was The Who.😂

[@davinasampson6557]

That's when humor was at its best. Not so much today, sadly.

[@pghrpg4065]

The host, Peter Marshall, is still alive and kicking at 97. I always liked when there was an Uncle Arthur episode on "Bewitched."

[@xoxxobob61]

Uncle Arthur was a RIOT !

[@firebird7479]

Peter Marshall's son was Major League Baseball player, Pete La Cock (Marshall's real last name).

[@WhiteCamry]

@@firebird7479 Did PL know that?

[@labyfan1313]

Same here, always happy to see Uncle Arthur appear on Bewitched.

[@MrKeychange]

You JINXed him 😉

[@Hawk-ODA212]

Thanks guys. Hope it brought a little levity into everyone's day. He was definitely an original with groundbreaking responses for that era. -Hawk

[@jeffgebarowski4808]

That Pounding meat question....OMG

[@Hawk-ODA212]

@@jeffgebarowski4808 All the lonely people. Where do they all come from? All the lonely people. Where do they all belong? 😊

[@firefighterchick]

@Hawk-ODA212 I know I know it's the way of your people.....😆🤣

[@Hawk-ODA212]

​@@firefighterchickYou know me so well. 🤣😂🤣😂

[@jamiem4941]

Paul Lynne is iconic! He was so funny and so sarcastic he just made you laugh out loud! This was a great request. Thank you!

[@splenderella9]

'Lynde'...

[@johnl5316]

he seemed more ironic and using double meanings. Since sarcasm always has mocking involved, I would say he was not sarcastic.

[@jamiem4941]

@@johnl5316 Fine, that’s your opinion.

[@Frankincensedjb123]

The show had writers. Lynde just read the jokes.

[@jamiem4941]

@@Frankincensedjb123 So what’s your point? Paul Lynde was still a very funny man.

[@SG-js2qn]

This was an example of day time TV that us kids could watch in the summer. Lots of game shows. On this one, like several, they had some celebrities giving straight answers, and a few comedians who were regulars to add cleverness and spice. Paul Lynde was always a favorite. He wasn't the only obvious gay on TV. Nobody I knew cared if he was straight or not.

[@cotybowman8825]

Paul Lynde is so much fun to watch.

[@ryderblu]

Was fortunate to get to see Paul Lynde back in the 70’s during taping of Hollywood Squares. Funny guy!

[@mr.huzzah3019]

I grew up watching him on HS. He was my favorite comedian as a kid. Huzzah!

[@patriciagerresheim2500]

My favorite memory of Paul Lynde's tenure on Hollywood Squares was when he was asked who wrote the opera 'Hansel und Gretel'. He answered, in his inimitable way, 'Engelbert Humperdinck!'. The audience cracked up, but the last laugh was Paul's. His answer was correct, while the audience was only familiar with the singer whose real name was Arnold George Dorsey. As was announced at the beginning of every episode of 'Hollywood Squares', the celebrities were given some idea of the categories of questions, but *not* the questions themselves. I'm glad you enjoyed this, I used to watch this when I was in high school, and always enjoyed Paul's snarkiness.

[@laurab68707]

I loved Paul Lynde. He was great on the TV show "Bewitched".

[@waltertomaszewski1083]

Paul was great! Glad you’ve discovered and enjoyed his jokes!

[@jerrishook7783]

He would always answer first with a hilarious response, but would then seriously think about the question and answer genuinely. He was the best!

[@jamesf.ryaniii7918]

He was not quick witted on this show. He was given the questions ahead of the taping so he could come up with his quips.

[@Snarkygirl]

The question about couples walking arm in arm and being out on Kissing Lane and Paul replies Leavenworth refers to the male, maximum security federal penitentiary in Kansas. I didn't know who he was when I first came to this country (former Brit). I used to watch re-runs of Hollywood Squares, and loved Paul Lynde quick wit. I also loved the fashions. He truly was a gem.

[@subwaygoddess1]

Paul Lynde was always my favorite Square. Those questions actually had answers, Paul was an extraordinary talent

[@firefighterchick]

Wow, this is an oldie but goodie!😮 Thanks Hawk! A bit of funny was the perfect way to wrap up my birthday!😂 He was a brilliant comedian and if anyone truly would have been surprised that he was gay they weren't very observant!😅 He was still holding his tongue in the 'risqué' answers for what he wanted to say. This older version of this game was funnier because they got away with more with the responses by the celebrities. The funniest game show answers you guys reacted to a while ago had some Hollywood Squares in it. Where Buddy Hackett responded to which country has the most doctors and the answer was Israel was one of them.

[@reidawilliams9375]

Paul Lynne was one of a kind quick witted comedian!

[@jamesf.ryaniii7918]

He was not quick witted on this show. He was given the questions ahead of the taping so he could come up with his quips.

[@sharonhoyt2133]

I met Paul Lynde in a bar in Atlanta in 1973. Sweet guy who didn't object to me making a fool of myself when I recognized him.

[@trudygreer2491]

My friend had seen PL at a bar in Dallas. Paul comes up to my friend's friend, who was wearing a gold chain and some kind of large, gaudy piece hanging from it, and asks if he got it at Kressge...

[@fredquinn3919]

There is no doubt that the man was brilliant and what I'm about to say does not detract from his genius a single jot but I've read from multiple sources that very often, in the later years, he was given the questions in advance and in some cases, possible answers as well. Even if that is true, half the fun in hearing his answers was the absolutely unique way he delivered them. He could read the phone directory and get a laugh!!

[@ursafan40]

They were all given the questions beforehand

[@swoesteban5570]

Paul was the warm guy up for Robin Williams. Paul was the revolver to Robin's Uzi.

[@capstan50g]

Paul Lynde was the star of Hollywood Squares. His quick wit was mostly right on the mark. I loved this! Happy New Year, Brit Pops!

[@jamesf.ryaniii7918]

He was not quick witted on this show. He was given the questions ahead of the taping so he could come up with his quips.

[@ChuckHackney]

Paul's intonation, delivery, and facial expressions could bring one to one's knees in laughter. He could read a phone book and make you laugh. A great line from Bewitched: " when I think of you as a blood relative, I looonnng for a transfusion".

[@passqualecaiazza7728]

Great game show. Like Paul Lynde. Another funny show is Match Game.

[@MetFan37]

His name is printed above, and you couldn't get it right? Really??

[@passqualecaiazza7728]

@@MetFan37 Get over yourself, typo.

[@WilliamsDad1989]

The guy on the right asked "Who's that laughing?" after the pounding the meat question. At that point, the laugh was from Rose Marie - If you are familiar with the American show The Dick Van Dyke Show ? Earlier in the vid there's some crazy laughing also, that was Buddy Hackett.

[@trudygreer2491]

It also could have been Phyllis Diller, thought I saw her in the bottom left square... by that time they both would 've cackled like ducks!

[@martinsorenson1055]

I think it was because of Buddy Hackett that it finally occurred to the producers to mute the other stars when they weren't the focus.

[@CindyNavarro]

I always loved Paul Lynde on Bewitched & Hollywood Squares. All of his jokes went right over my head in the 60s, but his laugh always made me laugh, too. He's still makes me laugh when I watch reruns now.

[@AP-gb3eh]

You could tell he resisted telling a real joke about what to do with leather 😊

[@sharoninglima1217]

Paul Lynde was such a comedic genius and quick mind. He was a regular on Bewitched (Uncle Arthur) and Hollywood Squares and other iconic shows! He’s so great! “Rosemarie” is the square you were asking about. ❤❤

[@binaway]

Lynde was so popular he eventually earned more than the host. After he became a regular he was fed the questions beforehand so he had his funny answers ready.

[@stevencasteel6799]

Paul Lynde was truly one of a kind.

[@jenniferworley7115]

He was so funny. I watched the show just to see what Paul would pop off with next. Great job guys.👍👍 Thanks for the great request Hawk. Peace ✌🙏🤗😁😁😁

[@bl3313]

The woman you were trying to identify was Rose Marie, probably best known for her role on the Dick Van Dyke Show.

[@ExpatBear-58]

Paul was a genius on HS. And on Bewitched! Loved Uncle Arthur.

[@lonbecker113]

Back then talk about homosexuality was pretty much banned from TV, or daring as with Soap, and some episodes of Barney Miller. But this kind of innuendo was accepted. Charles Nelson Riley played basically the same role on the game show Match Game, which was actually even more dependent on sexual innuendo. Paul Lynde also played the voice of the melodramatic villain on the cartoon Pennelope Pitstop. The questions were clearly chosen for the particular square, so any question with a gay connection would go to Lynde. But I think they gave them advance notice on the questions to prepare a joke (no internet back then so they couldn't research the answer) and had joke writers for the guests that weren't comedians.

[@crankyyankee7290]

Charlie Weaver was a bit like him in earlier days.

[@malcolmmceasy2252]

If you like Paul Lynde, wait until you discover Charles Nelson Reilly

[@jaycee330]

Oh, yes, You gotta do Match Game next!

[@pattijosloss6302]

You both were wondering who the funny laugh/cackle was and it came from a nearby square occupied by comedian/singer/actress Rose Marie. She had an unusually deep husky voice from years of chain smoking, so that deep cackle was pretty noticeable.

[@johnmonk66]

Very funny man, a gay man in Hollywood when you could not say you were gay, but boy he could hint at it like no one else.

[@dnalia64]

I watched this show a lot when I was a kid. I'm glad I didn't understand half the stuff he said, but he was always my favorite. I loved his voice.

[@FallenHellscape]

Growing up in the 1970s, I loved watching Paul Lynde.

[@Sonorandeeess]

I loved Paul Lynde. He had a voice that was very recognizable

[@ohcanada8084]

We might have been kids back then, but we thought he was a riot! 😂😂😂

[@trudygreer2491]

Even tho we didn't always understand the jokes!!

[@anjoleeeickhoff6800]

Paul also had his own television family comedy that was hilarious!❤

[@noahsampson8830]

Yeah..how the producers of the Paul Lynde show ever thought American viewers would suspend all belief and assume he could ever be a straight white man who fathered children, is beyond me

[@todddepue681]

I was a kid at this time and the only time you saw gay men on tv was when they were the butt of someone else's joke. EXCEPT for Paul Lynde and also Charles Nelson Reilly on MatchGame. I didn't get all the jokes (didn't even really know they or I were gay) but I saw they were special...smart, sharp witted, and everybody loved them. In retrospect, I see how important that really was.

[@Whateva67]

The butt of someone’s joke?😅

[@melissagerber7231]

​@@Whateva67oh,gawd!😂

[@minitea4315]

A Positive role model, funny, quick and clever. I loved those times

[@ronburgardt6495]

These bites are his first answers, which were always comedic. Then he would think for a moment and give his actual answer, to which the contestant would agree or disagree.

[@bramptonite-sn3nl]

Loved the joke answer "Levenworth" about couples strolling arm in arm at Flirtation Walk and smooching at Kissing Rock. Levenworth is a prison for male convicts. Many of Paul's jokes were written for him over the later years of the show.

[@jovetj]

More specifically, Lynde could have been referring to Leavenworth Penitentiary, which is a federal prison, and at the time this aired, a maximum-security prison. Or-and I believe it more likely-he could have been referring to the nearby high-security military prison at Fort Leavenworth. This is where most people convicted of medium or serious crimes in the military go for incarceration.

[@timcarr6401]

Peter Marshall, the host, will be 98 in March.

[@oldladylovesBruno]

Paul Lynde was so great! I met him when I was 13 at the veterinarians office. We didn't talk, but I was thrilled to see him.

[@MrDavecdva]

He was great on Hollywood Squares, and awesome as Roger on American Dad. Sure, it's just an impression of him, but it's fantastic.

[@leisastalnaker3790]

He was stupendous. His snark was legendary.❤

[@wendywallis2956]

Those were the good old days.....back when there was real entertainment on T.V.

[@yourebusted5786]

As a kid I figured out that those witty answers were given to the stars ahead of time. I liked him on "Bewitched"

[@donmehl556]

They are all told of the questions ahead of the show so they can formulate possible humorous answers. No matter, Paul came up with the best ones.

[@MetFan37]

They were never told the actual questions, but were given possible "bluff" answers, which could help them discern the questions, and therefore, think of funny quips to use.

[@Marc010]

@@MetFan37 Actually, no. Paul didn't come up with all the quips. They were supplied.

[@gvcarpenter60]

I saw almost all of these the first time around he always slayed us. And hearing Rosemarie's smoker's cackle again was a treat! She was most well know from her role on the Dick Van Dyke Show, 1961-1966.

[@loftus4453]

I grew up with this show. I was a kid in the 70’s. All those references soared right over my head. They knew that and bent the rules mercilessly. 😂

[@stevedietrich8936]

You guys didn't appear to get the "Leavenworth" answer. Leavenworth is a federal prison.

[@mariaschiminsky1008]

Great answer- Paul Lynde= THE GOAT 😂🎉❤

[@Tolkienlady]

Rose Marie (who they showed with Big Bird) was also very funny

[@juliusseizure2673]

BP2 didn't look like he thought the macaroni and cheese looked very appetizing. 😂

[@mikes9959]

The host, Peter Marshall, was indeed polished. He brought sophistication to the show, and would often be required to keep a few celebrities on track when they were a bit naughty. He passed away just recently well into his 90s.

[@MS-wb5mf]

I'm American and grew up in the 70s , I loved Paul and he was a huge influence on me. You guys had Leonard Rossiter and John Inman whom I also liked very much

[@rickmts]

The quickest wit in comedy!!

[@Ira88881]

They all had the questions days before and wrote their own jokes.

[@ChuckHackney]

I am still laughing to this day, here at the end of 2024. Paul, you'll never know the gift of joy and laughter you brought the world. Rest in peace and love from Durham, NC, from a fellow traveler.

[@maxpowers5435]

"I'll go with the fairy" speaks volumes about who he was... Very funny guy!! 🤣🤣🤣

[@clemdane]

I loved Paul Lynde when I was growing up in the 1970s

[@danielsims6483]

I actually remember the roast venison answer when it first aired -- cracked me up -- just classic Lynde.

[@2loverkids144]

He was the master of the double entendres!

[@katzablot599]

This was so great. Hollywood Squares was on during the day, and I remember watching it when I I stayed home sick from school. So many belly laughs watching Paul Lynde for the first time in decades. Thank you for this.

[@danlrusso]

Good memories. When I was a kid in the 70s my mother and I watched the show just to hear his answers. We only dreamed of a 15 minute straight run of his parts of the show.

[@debraleesparks]

The lady with the bow is Rose Marie. She was a comedian on the Dick Van Dyke show.. and ALSO she was the very first act for Bugsy Segal’s casino, The Flamingo! Love Grandma Debbie

[@maryellencook9528]

Paul Lynde was an absolute jewel.

[@colleenmonell1601]

Lol and OMG, you just totally brought me back to growing up and watching this game show and YES they totally had Big Bird on the show. I enjoyed Paul Lynn on both Hollywood Squares and Bewiitched. Never once have I ever thought about his sexuality until now and I am sad to say that it was even a topic.

[@timbaker6540]

Love Paul

[@singluna888]

I remember watching the show. Paul Lynde was a favorite.

[@meccanorama]

Paul Lynne became a star on Broadway before going to Hollywood (Squares). His signature song was "Kids" ('I don't know what's wrong with these kids today') sung by the tormented father in Bye Bye Birdie. Someone mentioned Charles Nelson Reilly. Check out Charles and Brett on Match Game.

[@JohnRedshaw]

Paul was in the movies, he played the father who sang "What's the matter with kids!" And "ode to Ed Sullivan. "

[@melissagerber7231]

In Bye Bye Birdie.

[@FinarfinNoldorin]

I absolutely LOVED Paul Lynde. He made me laugh SO hard, and still does. What a legend.

[@cameronwhalley2161]

He was also Sylvester Sneekly/Hooded Claw from the Penelope Pitstop cartoons.

[@ZONEPRESSLLC]

They were given the questions before hand

[@martinsorenson1055]

Only in the later years. They wanted him to be able to keep the laughs coming in all episodes.

[@EricNorthman-h2f]

Always loved Paul Lynde. So fun to see him again.

[@annabogart6689]

the celebries changed alot, but paul lynde was in the center square most of the time

[@xxmarsr]

Paul Lynne had access to all the possible questions before they taped each show. He was still great at his responses

[@tammyknoll1496]

And it was on in the A.M.

[@jahudgens5344]

WHEN KIDS WERE AT SCHOOL

[@billenright2788]

HS was funny as hell. Paul was a classic one-liner artist. Funny guy.

[@nancy9891]

He also played in Bye Bye Birdie. Hilarious, lovable man.

[@unclebob53703]

The square down on the right hand side was, I believe, Big Bird .

[@jamesmarshall2817]

The one zinger that is apparently not on film but which people say actually happened: Peter: Why do Hells Angels wear leather? Paul Lynde: Because chiffon wrinkles too easily.

[@martinsorenson1055]

It's recorded somewhere because I remember that one recently. It's brilliant.

[@richardwiese9054]

14:44 bottom right is Big Bird from Sesame Street

[@joemc1960]

He’s as quick as it takes to read a cue card

[@PollyAlice2000]

Gosh, it was fun to see Paul again! He was so funny! We looked forward to seeing that show! Thank you for the fun again!

[@GB-dw3fo]

I adore Paul Lynde, such a great entertainer!

[@southernborn1358]

Paul Lynde was an American Treasure. Oh my, he was so funny! He was also on 10 episodes of the 70’s sitcom “Bewitched” as Uncle Arthur, and too many things to mention. 🙏😇

[@M00159]

Yes!!! GREAT recommendation!!

[@rickyyeley9470]

I just loved watching Hollywood Squares. Paul Lynde was hilarious.

[@jasonmorgan4818]

There was an entire staff of writers creating those one-liners for Paul.

[@mbh2743]

That cackle you're coming is coming from rosemary clooney

[@MetFan37]

The cackle is Rose Marie.

[@aaabbb8812]

No-RoseMARY Clooney was originally married to Jose Ferrer and was a singer. Rose MARIE was a comedic actress- a totally different person.

[@jokerswild01]

So funny !! Paul Lynde knew the question before hand. So he had time to prepare a comeback. It's states this in the credits at the end of the show.

[@kokomo9764]

You have to remember that the joke responses, most of them, were written for the stars by comedy writers.

[@reindeer7752]

That was the most fun I've had this year.