Tell It to Groucho - Pilot (1961)

When the pilot for "What Do You Want" failed to sell, John Guedel retooled the format for this pilot called "Tell It To Groucho", dumping George Fenneman in favor of Joy Harmon and Jackson Wheeler. The retooled "Tell It To Groucho" sold to CBS and debuted in early 1962, but wasn't renewed for a second season.
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Episode identification and basic description based on "Tell 'em Groucho Sent You", © 1997 by Mark Petty. Used by permission.

[@keithnaylor1981]

Brilliant! A much needed breath of fresh air in a suffocating world! Trying to stop that woman from talking was hilarious!

[@MrMenefrego1]

Groucho's male assistant, Jackson Wheeler, was a former contestant on Groucho's very successful show, "You Bet Your Life". Known as, "The Over-Eager Jack Wheeler".

[@oldcop18]

Geezz, crazy cat ladies!

[@ignorecorporatenews]

1961 - when "West Side Story" was a big hit movie.....

[@7karlheinz]

I don't think those ladies got one of Groucho's jokes!

[@JSB1882]

That was amazing. There was no scripting just Groucho doing his thing. And - Man! I got Lowell Thomas on the 1/8th second!

[@Nikolapoleon]

Those two couldn't find a husband? I wonder why...

[@MrMenefrego1]

It'll forever be a mystery! 👀

[@karlakor]

God, these women are tiresome! They chattered constantly and stepped on Groucho's lines, and I was anxious for these women to leave.

[@geoffnepo]

couple of noisy spinsters - “could you keep your trap shut !!” 😂

[@catherinemelnyk]

What a horrible thing to say! I don't think you understand this type of comedy at all. Groucho used his guests as 'straightmen' to zing his jokes off of. That's how he showed off his great comedic talent. Your comment shows how far we as a human race has fallen. Grow up and gain some humility and respect for others.

[@SteveStalzle]

I think this would have been a better show if Groucho just did a chat show. I can see why this format didn't work. I love Groucho, but wow.

[@grouchomarx-youbetyourlife7476]

Steve Stalzle Terrible format, yes. Groucho hosted the Tonight Show many times. Unfortunately those are basically all lost. But not *entirely*. . . stay tuned. :)

[@moss8448]

Groucho Marx - You Bet Your Life You are doing a great job amigo. Totally forgot about these, our local affiliate didn't bother to show 'em and when visiting out of state caught just a few.

[@grouchomarx-youbetyourlife7476]

Sam Moss There were also only 13 episodes aired (mercifully. . . )

[@fromthesidelines]

I believe 17 episodes were produced, as the series lasted through May of '62.

[@vampira1409]

If you've ever wanted to see Groucho Marx as a cat show host, here's your chance.

[@GameShowFanMan]

Wow...what the hell did I just watch? I mean, I LOVE Groucho Marx and his humor but this show totally hindered it. I mean, I was laughing at his jokes but I was just floored by just how the "cat ladies" did not get a SINGLE joke. I was just amazed...how could they miss those gems?!

[@FlockOfHawks]

bc they already heard most of those puns in the WDYW pilot ? Groucho recycles them here

[@brianmitchell5906]

I wonder if those ladies ever found husbands. Kinda doubt it.

[@Reminisciences]

What happens when a vaudeville pro meets the reality of daytime television. Even if we got another like him, not convinced TV executives know any better today what they'd do with that talent

[@martinjones5965]

8m3s - "this is an experience I can't avoid" - his insult mastery lost on them :)

[@ADAMSIXTIES]

3:12 The funniest joke Groucho ever told!

[@MrMalibu30]

These two gals don't have a husband?...(what a surprise)....

[@joemack4444]

God awful! He and Fenneman had a great show. Too bad it wasn't picked up.

[@thomastimlin1724]

They should have never dumped Fennemen...Groucho had no anchor, no one nto bounce off of except these looney tune people. Fennemen used to help pick from audience WHO would go on the show as well. He must have had some good judgement .These cat ladies kept running their mouths over Groucho's comments., not good for a show.

[@MrMenefrego1]

They didn't dump anyone, this is a different program, one in which there was no real need for a sidekick.

[@fromthesidelines]

Unlike "YOU BET YOUR LIFE", this series was videotaped (at CBS Television City), then "kinnied" and edited for broadcast.

[@TruckTaxiMoveIt]

I didn't know I was allergic to cats until that second basket came out -- I'm out of here.

[@scottthrower7637]

Joy Harmon, the blonde co-hostess, went on to appear as the soapy, sexy, car-wash girl in ''Cool Hand Luke.'' Her measurements were 42-22-34.

[@vicmclaglen1631]

Those two nagging broad's voices going at it are enough to make me want to walk out of the room now, 55 years later.

[@MrMenefrego1]

👀

[@JohnnyBeane]

This show is awesome! Thank you for posting these!

[@annodomini7887]

Jackson Wheeler is the contestant from you bet your life who the young girl beside him said he "was a nice young man" it makes me question weather the contestants were pre picked and planned for each episode.

[@MrJoeybabe25]

Groucho should have (and could have) done just a straight talk show with his Hollywood pals, and other people he knew (the list would be legendary). But they felt they had to always have some gimmick. Groucho Marx didn't need a gimmick, he was an original. After the demise (after one show) of Jackie Gleason's "You're In The Picture" game show in 1961, he filled out the remaining 13 weeks with half hour chats with HIS friends and acquaintances. If Jackie could do it, Groucho could. I sure would like to see those Jackie Gleason talk shows. I don't know if they still exist.

[@grouchomarx-youbetyourlife7476]

I'm not so convinced of this, personally. The game was never the focus on YBYL, but it was still a very important part of the format in giving the show a sense of purpose and structure. What little I've heard of Groucho as substitute host on the Tonight Show wasn't all that impressive to me, and in a late night style talk show, he'd have been talking only to celebrities. The best segments on YBYL were usually with the ordinary contestants. If anything, TITG would have benefited from having a REAL game as part of the format, rather than the feeble excuse for a game they offered. But the big mistake with TITG, really, was dumping Fenneman in favor of bimbette Joy Harmon, who was absolutely cringeworthily horrible. It was a change CBS insisted on-- clearly Groucho and Guedel originally wanted to continue with Fenneman, considering that the earlier pilot for "What Do You Want" that didn't sell featured him.

[@MrJoeybabe25]

Groucho Marx - You Bet Your Life But Groucho knew everyone, and his appearances on talk shows show that he can handle a serious conversation. Personally I would have liked to have seen a celebrity sit down show tried out.

[@grouchomarx-youbetyourlife7476]

Joe Postove He was entirely capable of holding down a serious conversation, yes, but I don't think viewers were the slightest bit interested in seeing Groucho maintain a serious conversation. He also wasn't a very social guy in Hollywood, and lots and lots of people in show business didn't like him. Could he fill in for a few weeks? Sure, and he did, before Carson took over. But as a regular host of a late night show? I don't see it working, personally. Fred Allen would have been perfect for a late night talk show.

[@mrpuniverse2]

The girl who is his side kick appeared on You Bet Your Life and got this gig and a few movie roles this was not a great vehicle for Groucho and should have been a tonight show type of format where he could use his adlib skills and contacts he had with the entertainment industry at the time

[@bruceflashback3877]

Joy Harmon did some sexy dance moves in Village Of The Giants

[@ignorecorporatenews]

Skip the cat ladies and go to The Happy Singing guy - 20:07 - He was GREAT

[@martinjones5965]

9m21s how many cats were in the bottom basket when he put a basket full of cats on it?

[@FlockOfHawks]

two cats managed to escape the witches since the WDYW pilot

[@elspethcoogan1499]

Women: Alley cats.. Groucho: Ali Katz, wasn’t he head of the Arabian government? Fast and clever.

[@martinjones5965]

19m58s Groucho showing audience same respect as cat did.

[@butchdugan]

Groucho is absolutely hilarious!!

[@sixofone1307]

Yow, what a strange game idea having a split second shot on a screen. Does anyone else get tired of Groucho's wit? His old show seemed fresher plus the game was something the audience could play along with..

[@grouchomarx-youbetyourlife7476]

six of one I don't get tired of Groucho's wit, but that doesn't mean he can't get tiresome. Tell It To Groucho just goes to show that there was a lot more involved in making YBYL the classic it was than just sticking Groucho in front of a camera with a couple of contestants.

[@marmaly]

Two words. Joy Harmon.

[@ignorecorporatenews]

Who's that? Patti Harmon is the young lady here

[@janineboitard6492]

Lucille...!!!

[@martinjones5965]

I wonder how many cats they took home.

[@timothyhughes1904]

I thought Groucho was funny and appealing as usual. Wasn't he around 72 years old at the time?

[@chinaexpertdennis6371]

Groucho was 71 at the time. He was born in 1890. SO sharp & in good shape

[@chuckschillingvideos]

The poor daughter of the crazy cat lady never had a chance in life, did she?

[@martinjones5965]

I wonder if the cat lady on Simpsons was inspired by this.

[@keithnaylor1981]

Can’t understand some people saying the first section was a CATastrophe. I thought it was very funny.

[@jacksmith5692]

13 cats, jesus christ!

[@unzarjones]

Bet it stunk in their house.

[@DwightMS1]

I'd much rather watch old You Bet Your Life shows.

[@ignorecorporatenews]

It's little wonder why these women don't have husbands, God they were awful. Skip them and start this at 20:07 - THAT part of this show is BEAUTIFUL !

[@bobgarner44]

she'd have to pay Me $5000

[@jimlaguardia8185]

No mystery why these two were looking for husbands. Certainly explains why Newton, Einstein, Shakespeare, Cicero, Mozart, Jefferson and Yeats were all women.

[@michaelkottler]

You posted " Certainly explains why Newton, Einstein, Shakespeare, Cicero, Mozart, Jefferson and Yeats were all women", which they were not, obviously. Perhaps you meant they were single men? They weren't. It was recently discovered, as just one example, that Albert Einstein had a long romance with a bright German woman whom greatly assisted him in developing relativity, the equivalency of energy & matter, quantum entanglement, et al. Perhaps you meant these men all disliked felines or women with felines?

[@bullit-edd]

I like groucho he was funny

[@henningandersen9027]

Wonder if the cat-women found husbands through the show.

[@JakeMabe1]

I watched a few minutes, then stopped. Missed Fenneman. Agree with some others that, had this been a pure talk format (a la "Tonight"), it might've been good. Or even great.

[@ignorecorporatenews]

Start it at 20:07

[@henningandersen9027]

The food their beloved cats get, comes from animals having suffered their entire lives in small cages are otherwise - so they are not ANIMAL-lovers.

[@CMRinehart]

Any woman who has cats, men should steer clear of. I have experience in this area. He-He.

[@musicom67]

Which area? You have much experience with women with multiple pussies? - what 'area' specifically? Don't feed 'em salmon, 'cuz there's nothing worse than a fish-smelling pussy. Should I steer clear, Obi Wan?

[@josephpalermo4538]

Lousy format....Groucho would've been better off having a talk show with George Fenneman as his sidekick.....

[@gkolpan1]

The worst.

[@freddyfurrah3789]

This is one LOUSY show.😅