What's My Line? - Sophie Tucker; Peter Cook [panel] (Dec 8, 1963)

MYSTERY GUEST: Sophie Tucker
PANEL: Dorothy Kilgallen, Peter Cook, Arlene Francis, Bennett Cerf
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[@OldiesAl]

One of the few times even Dorothy and Arlene stand to great the mystery guest, it just shows the esteem Sophie Tucker was held in

[@reno1uest]

They both did for her also when she appeared in 1957.

[@davidsanderson5918]

I'm not always convinced of that. They often stand to shake hands with anyone who may have an awkward time stretching due to old age or physical constraints. I think there's a case of both here. Otherwise they'd be up all the time with the highly esteemed guests they have every other week!

[@joeambrose3260]

Arlene didn't stand up

[@OldiesAl]

She raised herself off her chair, the respect was there, you don't need to fully stand just as a nod of the head is equivalent to a full bow when meeting royalty.

[@joeambrose3260]

@@OldiesAl Perhaps she raised in order to pass gas

[@chrisallen7911]

Look at how classy they all dress. Arlene's gown is amazing and those gloves!

[@soulierinvestments]

Peter Cook. Funny. Adorable. And busy -- what with that Broadway show, his nightclubs, and that off Broadway production. He appeared on WML a number of times in 1963, and never came back.

[@davidsanderson5918]

soulierinvestments That's because he came back to the UK and got busy becoming the grandfather of alternative comedy.

[@preppysocks209]

Just a few weeks earlier, and apparently continuing into 1964, when the Beatles performed "Till There Was You" live in concert, they noted that the song had been recorded by their "favorite group, Sophie Tucker."

[@perrybarton]

That’s what thought of when I saw this.

[@jgrothou]

One of my all time fav Beatles songs. 😊

[@jacquelinebell6201]

I love Sophie Tucker lol . Love her attitude, 😂😂😂

[@soulierinvestments]

Oh Soph -- one of the greatest hats on WML this side of Hedda Hopper.

[@jacquelinebell6201]

Would have loved to see it in colour! Sounds pretty.

[@rr7firefly]

16:24 Arlene looks dazzlingly elegant on this evening's show. A good part of that is because WML remade the masks to look elegant. You can't go wrong with black velour and pearls.

[@galileocan]

I realize that What's My Line was a fun show to cheer people up and not bring people down, but as I've been watching the shows closer to November 22nd, 1963 I kept thinking, the President was still alive, and now on this show - he is gone. But I still think its sad that not even a hint of any kind was made about his death, even something 5 seconds long in passing. It probably wouldn't have fit, so I understand, but it's just sad...

[@m.e.d.7997]

I suppose they would not want to get political. It was also 2 weeks later.

[@TempleGreen]

I was curious about that too. In another comment thread on the previous episode someone who had seen these as they aired wrote something like that by this time people were overwhelmed and media was trying very hard to get Christmas spirit up. It makes sense, can you imagine how hard, especially for John and Dorothy as newscasters. Gads.

[@charis128]

Galileocan g the shows were pre-recorded

[@m.e.d.7997]

@tinwoods I am thinking it may have been thought as not correct?? Why else would the Presidents death not be mentioned? Odd...of course many people did not like Kennedy or his agenda. I find it odd. Unless people were just too much in shock.

[@debbigray1752]

I remember that time of the Presidents death and how everything and everywhere was cast in deep grief. I am thinking they are trying to present a sense of normalcy and a place to escape that grief as entertainment is ultimately an escape. I do not think they were being disrespectful in not mentioning the President's death.

[@grecogrant2511]

she wrote a great biography and I found a signed copy at a book store!!

[@scotnick59]

Keep it!

[@dinahbrown902]

Cool

[@bigred997]

sophie tucker, a true legend in every sense of the word.

[@shirleyrombough8173]

bigred997 - Sophie Tucker was a delightful guest. Too bad Bennett guessed her so quickly.

[@soulierinvestments]

Soph has a delightfully expressive face. The look she gave Bennett after he pull her out of his hat is priceless, if not a tad frosty. Tucker went into the biz around the turn of the 20th century and continued singing professionally right up to a few months before her death in 1966 -- and she was in her early 80s. At one time in YouTubia, there was a color clip of her performing in late 1965 on Ed Sullivan's variety show -- and she brought the house down.

[@WhatsMyLine]

soulierinvestments Suppressed by the Sullivan folks, no doubt. :(

[@pearlsboyproudofit2834]

she died at 79

[@christopherharding3558]

Dorothy killgathen

[@esmeephillips5888]

Sophie was already doing nostalgia before World War Two, e.g. 'Your Broadway and My Broadway' in 'Broadway Melody of 1938'. She looked little older 25 years later.

[@icturner23]

I only watched the 'Beyond the Fringe' episode a few days ago, when the panel were in awe but didn't really know the comedians' individual names, so it feels strange (but nice) to see Peter Cook already joining them.

[@19gregske55]

I must comment on the diamond necklace that Miss Arlene Francis wears in so many of the WML shows. The diamond 💎 heart has been a jewellery staple for decades. I believe that it was a 🎁 from her husband; a generous single diamond was added later. She wore the necklace often. Sadly, I learned some years back, that it was ripped off of her neck while she exited a taxi in NYC.

[@RonGerstein]

She was 79 when she was robbed of her diamond heart necklace from her husband, Broardway star Martin Gabel, after he died in 1986.

[@cjmacq-vg8um]

peter cook later teamed with dudley moore to form a comedy duo who had their own tv show. they appeared in just one film "bedazzled" (1967) a parody of the faust story and one of the funniest movies ever made. i highly recommend it.

[@poppypalais3108]

And Hound of the Baskervilles. Which wasn't one of the funniest movies ever made😢😢

[@johnmh1000]

Saw them live at the Cambridge Theatre, London many years ago in 'Behind the Fridge' - a great evening.

[@cjmacq-vg8um]

@@johnmh1000 ... i've never been to a comedy "concert" before. seen a few (unfamous) stand ups in clubs though. i always found the connection between the beatles, dudley moore, peter cook, the bonzo dog doo-dah band and members of monry python interesting. for about 10 years, one way or another, the beatles influenced or had an impact on almost everything british. and that influence impacted the whole world.

[@prchristman]

Peter Cook mentioned Mineola in his introduction of Arlene Francis. He was referring to the old Mineola Theater in Nassau Country, Long Island, which no longer exists.

[@kbunky69]

My family lived across from the theater..

[@Traderjoe]

I live in Mineola. I wonder where the theater was.

[@freeguy77]

The two men who put laces on footballs (at 10:54) would have been perfect for the prior Nov. 17 episode with famed football quarterback for the NY Giants, Y.A, Tittle.

[@jillgordon1003]

9:01 Dorothy makes the funniest faces sometimes lol

[@jt414]

Such a jerk, he KNEW Sophie would be there, he should have excused himself and gave the rest of us time to enjoy her

[@maxjohnson8025]

he always wanted to act superior I thought

[@jt414]

@@maxjohnson8025 YES I agree! And everyone kissed his butt whether they liked him or not because he had that 'Random House' power (I mean for sure he may have been a wonderful person, behind the scenes, we don't know🤔🙂) Because having that power and everyone treating him as such, may have actually been why he acted that way - 🤨 Also I NEVER understand HOW on Earth all those comedians could possibly keep there mouths shut -- -- because it always AMAZED me that he was a walking, talking ELMER FUDD -- sound just like him, look just like him!! Couldn't believe it first time I saw him -- !!! 😄😁 Not wanting to sound mean it's just that thought makes me laugh every time

[@kennethlatham3133]

@@jt414 Let's face it: he is "literally HITLER"! LOL.

[@susanrutherford866]

Of course he knew before Sophie sat down !!! How awful to do that to her so early !!!

[@bocajrs7628]

​​@@susanrutherford866Do you think Bennett Cerf always knew the mystery guest before the show? I have been watching WML for about a week and it seems to me he knew the mystery guest before the show. His questions were too quckly and specifically asked for someone who did not already know the name of the mystery guest. I was born the year the show ended and never saw any of the original broadcasts.

[@MrJoeybabe25]

The "Sponge Look" was the in thing when Sophie Tucker bought her hat.

[@hcombs0104]

I once saw a picture of Joan Crawford from the same time period wearing a very similar hat. Sophie's looked good. On Joan it looked like a pink fright wig

[@saywhat8173]

I wonder if I ever played with a football that was laced by the two gentlemen ?

[@Baskerville22]

The "football lacing" brothers were a grim-faced duo. Would not have surprised me if their "line" was revealed as 'button men' for the Chicago outfit.

[@shirleyrombough8173]

So Bennett water skis. I've done that for years - it's not easy but I work at it. Hmm. Good for Bennett. (Though it's hard for me to imagine him on water skis!)

[@washoe4827]

he tried hard to not appear - um - effeminate... i think.

[@CuriousMutation]

Old Sophie had a bit of a feud going with Steve Allen. Would have been funny to see them together.

[@bannedheretic2971]

I was two years old when this first aired so, yes, I can say that I miss those times. Love ❤ this classy and fun show.

[@harriettedaisy2233]

I was 5 weeks old. I was certainly influenced by people like these and most certainly for the good.

[@jacquelinebell6201]

I was 3.

[@MrJoeybabe25]

Wait! Doesn't the filament wiggle inside a light bulb when its on? HA! I wrote too soon, Dorothy made my day when she said "The filaments wiggle! Oh, boy. What do I get?

[@loissimmons6558]

+Joe Postove Unlike Mick Jagger, you get satisfaction. Actually if one wants to pick nits, all molecules or atoms vibrate so by that definition everything has moving parts. if I think back to my HS science classes (just a few years after this episode aired) when molecules or atoms stop vibrating they have reached absolute zero temperature Kelvin scale (-459.67ºF or -273.15ºC).

[@pinedelgado4743]

OMG!!! I didn't know Peter Cook of BEYOND THE FRINGE was a WML? panelist!!! I'll be doggone!! :) :)

[@RonGerstein-tf5tp]

Where is Dudley Moore?

[@Bronzebk]

I think Dorothy is so adorable.

[@jillgordon1003]

I agree :)

[@m.e.d.7997]

She looks darling here.

[@poochillipickles8525]

Her chin tho

[@poochillipickles8525]

z lol oh ok thanks I never knew that

[@davidsanderson5918]

Poochilli Pickles ....and that thing in her neck. Also some people have suggested she may have had a hairlip as a child. Then there's her big flat pan of a head. But we love her anyway!!! None of it stopped her being, as Hemingway said, the most powerful female voice in America. She put Oprah in the shade.

[@gregh7400]

There's goes Arlene again asking for the mystery guest to perform.

[@davidsanderson5918]

I don't think I'd smile much if I'd been lacing up footballs for thirty-eight years either.

[@kennethlatham3133]

No doubt! They must have cut LOOSE on the weekends.

[@callmecrix9602]

Sophie's hat is so Hedda Hopper

[@MrJoeybabe25]

John admonishes the panel to review the general scope of Bennett's question before they're mislead. And the Miss Killgallen asks "what was his question". Sometimes I wonder if they have little tv sets underneath the panel and are watching "The Dupont Show Of The week" or something?

[@loissimmons6558]

+Joe Postove I'm guessing that they were watching "Bowling For Dollars".

[@kevinp2722]

9:00 Dorothy's face when she says 'customs' needs to be a gif

[@dinahbrown902]

I think she was a strange looking person myself

[@preppysocks209]

Dorothy thinks that a Puerto Rican would face the same kind of customs inspection in Miami as a Cuban used to, or someone from South America. Puerto Ricans are American citizens and were then as well.

[@igkoigko9950]

US citizens and foreign nationals do face the same kind of customs inspections. The difference would be concerning immigration inspection. Until creation of the Department of Homeland Security and CBP after 9/11, INS in Department of Justice did immigration, and Customs in Department of Treasury did customs inspections for citizen and foreigner alike.

[@drzarkov39]

@@igkoigko9950 I went to Puerto Rico two years ago. It's just like flying state to state. No customs involved whatsoever.

[@graperonto]

"Boxing Day" says Peter Cook. As a Canadian I know what that is... but the American audience would not. Good thing Arlene said something...

[@preppysocks209]

she wanted them to know when her play was opening -- it wasn't for general educational benefit

[@davidsanderson5918]

Americans don't have Boxing Day?!? Wow!!

[@sandrageorge3488]

It has been written on U.S calendars for as long as I can remember.

[@rtflone]

@@preppysocks209 Oh no, I'm crushed

[@RonGerstein-tf5tp]

​@@davidsanderson5918ISRAEL does not have Boxing Day.

[@galileocan]

Wow...Bennett Looks so dejected after the camera pans by him when the Customs Inspector's job is announced by John

[@scottpardee6303]

Yes. This is unusual.

[@stuballs42]

Believe it or not that old delightful gal at one time made up to 7 thousand $ a WEEK !

[@esmeephillips5888]

As a worker of the room, Sophie Tucker was in the same league as Jolson and Garland. They all grew up in vaudeville.

[@nickditoro]

How quaint these days to hear gender-specific language like "Customs Inspectress."

[@neilmcdonald9164]

Still use them...on purpose 🎩

[@joeambrose3260]

Sophies' afro rocks !

[@MrJoeybabe25]

Bennett on water skies? No! Thy were kidding, right? I want a photo!

[@loissimmons6558]

+Joe Postove He was practicing for the possibility that WML would decide to jump the shark in the future.

[@stephenvincent4989]

BC once again with the see thru mask, me thinks he was given the privilege too many times. Probably to placate him as a sore loser.

[@MrJoeybabe25]

@@loissimmons6558 😂😂😂

[@loissimmons6558]

@@MrJoeybabe25 You're alive! I thought you fell off the face of the earth!

[@MrJoeybabe25]

@@loissimmons6558 Hi Lois! I did fall but I was raised up by the power of Christ. Oh, sorry, that's not right. I was hoisted up by some big fat lady who runs the Covid Spreading Center in Jerusalem. I hope you're well. I'm still working for the old man (101 in September) and Still hoping the Dodgers come back to Brooklyn. I stopped writing because I was becoming uninteresting. You're still the top!

[@cathymullican2387]

I want to be Sophie Tucker when I grow up. Suck a fabulous, confident woman!

[@RonGerstein-tf5tp]

Are you JEWISH?

[@k5laman]

You gotta love Dorothy at 24:44 !

[@MWood-ry8uu]

Boxing Day... How British. Arlene elaborated to be sure to properly "plug" her Play. Say THAT three times fast.

[@RonGerstein]

Boxing Day does not refer to boxing matches. There is an English tradition of collecting food and/or clothes and giving them to the poor the day after Christmas, and place the food and clothing in boxes.

[@geniusmchaggis]

so great to see peter cook here.....an english giraffe amongst his american intellectual equals...

[@VahanNisanian]

Gary, a serious question: Is it alright if we talk about the unexpected death of Dorothy Kilgallen, and the theories that some people have about how she died? Actress Shelley Winters believed that Dorothy could have been murdered for her investigative reporting. According to Shelley in her second autobiography, she was with Dorothy in a cab a week after President Kennedy was killed, and she heard Dorothy say "I'm going to find out who killed our President". Shelley said that at no point did Dorothy exhibit any signs whatsoever that she was depressed, suicidal or even near it. Wonder if Shelley knew about Dorothy's well-known drinking habits, though?

[@WhatsMyLine]

I'd really prefer not-- when we get to the shows around the time of her death, the topic is going to be unavoidable. If you want to talk about that subject, I can suggest talking about it in the FB group (which you're already in). Commenting about it here on YT is much more prone to lead to a flame war, or insane or ignorant theories being posted. It's a real blast reading positive and/or intelligent comments. It's no fun at all policing-- and this is easily *the* touchiest legitimate subject related to WML that there is. I expected this to have come up due to the fact that the shows being posted now are around the time of the JFK assassination, and have been quite relieved to find that it's not become an issue. It would be good for view counts to allow lots of controversial threads and arguments back and forth, but I'd rather keep things as civil as possible. Posts about Dorothy's death are almost guaranteed to bring the crazies out of the woodwork and get people upset on all sides of the "issue". That said, I'm not censoring these comments when they come up. I only delete comments that are outright offensive, such as attacks on other users, hate speech, that sort of thing. I've mentioned the subject of Dorothy's death in passing myself. But since you asked, this is my general position on it. Facebook is a better place for this sort of discussion because people aren't anonymous and less prone to act like imbeciles. Thanks for asking. I really appreciate that!

[@VahanNisanian]

What's My Line? The truth is, I didn't really have much to say about this episode. Hence why I asked you to give us your thoughts. But, I'll post it on Facebook anyways.

[@WhatsMyLine]

***** You have nothing to say about that hat Sophie's wearing? ;)

[@VahanNisanian]

What's My Line? I heard Grouch wore a hat like that on the 11/15/64 episode.

[@WhatsMyLine]

***** Indeed he did-- not quite so fluffy, but certainly not a hat you'd ever see any American male performer wearing on TV at the time, let alone on a show as staid as WML! And this wasn't a brief appearance as the mystery guest, he was on the panel-- and wore it through the whole show. He preferred hats at that point in his life to wearing his toupee.

[@MrJimmorgan100]

No mention of Kennedy

[@user-iv9xw3vs6c]

James Morgan what for? it's an entertaining program

[@charis128]

James Morgan pre-recorded

[@65hooptee]

WML was aired live Sunday nights 10:30 pm eastern not pre-recorded

[@ChrisHansonCanada]

@@charis128 This one was live, as announced at the beginning.

[@yeahnoonecaresifyouarefirst]

Today in no one cares: this was 26 years to the day before i was born ❤ Also that's my turf where benett and that first lady came from 🤭

[@johnmh1000]

Well - I care...

[@yeahnoonecaresifyouarefirst]

@@johnmh1000 awww thanks ❤️

[@beckweth]

Bennet Cerf once admitted his wife often knows who the mystery guest. It looks to me he takes advantage of that. Some of his questions are from outer space.

[@neilmidkiff]

So is your assumption. Bennett said "several times", not "often". This was probably when her cousin Ginger Rogers was the MG. If you want us to take you seriously, sign your real name and stop misquoting.

[@1jamyc]

at 9:10 - -Bennett checking his notes to see if he can argue any misleading responses for the customs "inspectress".. Chill out, dude.

[@M-David-Hakoh]

Is that a hat or did her head explode?

[@RonGerstein-tf5tp]

No cursing or insults in the comments section

[@bluecamus5162]

The two brothers are about as dour-faced as any guests that have ever appeared on the program, but I wouldn;t expect much else from any pair who have been lacing footballs for a collective 75 years.

[@blueduck5589]

Cook can't decide what to go with his pencil; mustard or mayonnaise.

[@scotnick59]

Hairstyle is very youthful on Arlene.

[@contraryMV]

They put laces in pigskins ... Kinda remotely related to livestock.

[@loissimmons6558]

By this time actual pig skins were no longer used.

[@DebbieFaubion]

Did the panel seem slightly ill tempered in this episode to anyone else? I'm assuming the eye rolling after the line reveal and the quibbling over details was because of current events. Or maybe I'm just seeing things.... =)

[@savethetpc6406]

DebbieFaubion I'm not sure about ill-tempered, but they quite literally did not seem to be on their best game, and that could easily be a result of the stress of recent events.

[@amberola1b]

DebbieFaubion at the end of the show Bennett gave John Daly that evil stare...if looks could kill. And John kind of gave it back to him.

[@amberola1b]

DebbieFaubion in fact, after looking at the end of the episode again, it looked like John was a little rattled at Bennett's stare and his tone to his voice when he said good night

[@jamesgivens6127]

Bennett Cerf and John Daly were dear friends, and Cerf was a consummate gentleman. I would only assume there was still some lingering stress from Kennedy's death, and Cerf did say he just arrived from Florida a few hours prior.

[@marinea1302]

Southcentered Bennett Cerf got it again

[@valerierose817]

I wonder if my grandparents watched this

[@jgrothou]

Wouldn’t it be amazing to go back and watch it with them?

[@valerierose817]

@@jgrothou yes

[@jeffscheiner1553]

Sophie was the original Carrot Top

[@mikemorgan7893]

peter cook very civilised derek and clive was still some way off

[@davidsanderson5918]

mike morgan Indeed. ;)

[@TyrSkyFatherOfTheGods]

That whole thing about wearing light bulbs was a bit baffling. Was John high?

[@shahrulamar5358]

About 2 weeks after the end of Kennedy era . 😟😟

[@rubybenge9301]

It’s sad but Peter Cook died from esophageal varices due to alcoholism

[@dejpsyd0421]

At the 17:40 mark Arlene says (something) about a “selfie?” to Sophie Tucker. I’ve played it over and over and over and still can’t figure out what exactly she’s saying. CAN ANYONE MAKE IT OUT?

[@denisep.2037]

She said “Sing to us, Sophie.”

[@dejpsyd0421]

Ahhh...got it, thanks!

[@ChrisHansonCanada]

*_U.S. CUSTOMS INSPECTOR_* *_PUT LACES IN FOOTBALLS_* *_SELLS LIGHTBULBS_*

[@savethetpc6406]

What's My Line? I've been trying to rewatch the Sophie Tucker segment of this episode, but for some reason, I can't get the video to play. I can see the comments and the commercial before the show, but whether I click "skip ad" or let the whole ad play out, I then get the message: "An error occurred, please try again later." I've tried several times. Is there any particular reason for this that you can think of?

[@WhatsMyLine]

No, sorry. All I can tell you is that it plays fine on my end, and that I've certainly experienced these errors and had them reported to me by viewers before. They seem to only affect a random video here or there in specific geographical areas, they're always temporary errors, and they always resolve themselves with no intervention on my part-- there's nothing I can do about it. Sorry!

[@savethetpc6406]

What's My Line? Well, I'm very relieved that it's all still working on your end and that you've heard of this before. I just posted another SOS to you on the Dec. 29, 1963 video, because I can't watch that one either, nor any of the others from any of the playlists on your WML channel that I've tried (and I've tried several, from a few different playlists). I sure hope you're right and that this is just a temporary and nonpervasive problem.

[@WhatsMyLine]

SaveThe TPC Try playing videos on other channels, preferably ones you know were posted from the U.S. It would at least tell you whether the problem is KZbin/internet related rather than specifically my videos. I still can't do anything about it if it's just the videos on my channel that are not playing, but it will give you something to do while you're bored. .

[@savethetpc6406]

What's My Line? I wasn't exactly bored, but I like to relax and unwind with these videos at the end of the day. I did find a few videos on other channels that I was able to watch, though there were several that I tried to watch which gave me the same error message last night. I still haven't had a chance to watch the "Harvey" movie and tried to play that on my computer instead of dealing with the KZbin frustrations, but I had an aggravating problem with that too, for reasons I do not understand. I ended up watching one of my Jack Benny DVDs instead. :) The KZbin problem seemed to have resolved itself by this morning, just as you predicted.

[@oldmisterhoward1913]

Was this the first "What's My Line" episode that was recorded after November 22nd 1963?

[@richardcallaway4093]

Yes -- I just looked that up tonight.

[@MWood-ry8uu]

Someone PLEEEASE do a video showing Bennett Cerf messing up the pronunciation of guests' names.

[@slaytonp]

I admire Bennett and have read all of his own books and autobiography, but even with his association with the Random House Dictionary, his pronunciation of many words often makes the list in Charles Harrington Elster's "Big Book of Beastly Mispronunciations." I haven't even noticed what he did to the guest's names.

[@MWood-ry8uu]

@@slaytonp he did it with so many guests. Sometimes i wonder if it was on purpose, like how he kept saying the name KneeCOCK instead of Kneekirk... He did it so obviously on purpose to me.

[@slaytonp]

@@MWood-ry8uu That's interesting. I've not really noticed this with guests' names myself, but I'll pay more attention as I watch on--and then probably start the episodes over for a third time, if I'm still around. It seems pointless that he was being deliberately derisive for some reason. but who knows?

[@MWood-ry8uu]

@@slaytonp i think he did it because he felt like he needed his own schtick. He believed panel shows ought to be meticulously cast like plays. I can go on and on about Bennett .... and I'm sure he's somewhere loving it.

[@rharvey2124]

Wonder if he was hard of hearing. And we have been told that the sound stage was a terrible jerry-rigged affair.

[@Sylvander1911]

Re final guest: John, John don't you know it's pronounced "boo kay". (Sorry couldn't resist) [You have to be a fan of PBS Britcoms to get it]

[@shirleyrombough8173]

Me! Me! I love the British comedies. But they were years away from the 1960s.

[@janaharris5174]

"Keeping UP Appearances" is a great show!

[@shirleyrombough8173]

Sorry, Mrs. Bucket...er I mean boo kay. I love the British comedies.

[@juanettebutts9782]

Hyacinth! LOVE those British comedies!

[@MrJoeybabe25]

C'mon, c'mon! A customs inspector whose primary job IS NOT dealing with tourists. Sheesh!

[@savethetpc6406]

Joe Postove John admits that she deals with tourists (4:37). Clearly she also deals with people coming to Miami for other reasons(including those returning home from elsewhere). But nobody said anything about "primary" one way or another.

[@MrJoeybabe25]

SaveThe TPC You're right TPC, I missed that. But looking at it again, I guess I came to my original conclusion because John was being his regular obfuscating self.

[@igkoigko9950]

Her primary job is not inspecting people. That was the task of INS. Her primary job was inspecting cargo and baggage.

[@janmichaeljablonsky9847]

I wonder if Peter Cook knew who Sophie Tucker was, and I wonder if he knew that American footballs have laces.

[@divisiondayproductions3710]

Unless you were being sarcastic, I have no doubt he would have. Peter was very intelligent, Sophie Tucker was quite well known by those in the UK too, Paul McCartney even made a joke about her at that year's Royal Variety Performance for The Queen.

[@ronaldcammarata3422]

I guess this was before Sophie Tucker recorded Drinkee.

[@megancrager4397]

Dang, the panel was mad at the end

[@PaulEcosse]

Inspectoresses, I'm sure John meant Inspectorates ;)

[@shirleyrombough8173]

Or expectorate?

[@wcwindom56]

how did mrs tarr get so many whistles?

[@sandrageorge3488]

All you have to have is blond hair 🤷

[@bannedheretic2971]

@@sandrageorge3488 upon closer examination, she was quite matronly, but from a distance, it looked like she had a nice figure. And the blonde hair.

[@RonGerstein]

​@sandrageorge3488 "blonde", NOT "blond."

[@MrJoeybabe25]

Who wore light bulbs? Strippers?

[@savethetpc6406]

Joe Postove John says at the end of the segment that he was thinking of someone wearing a flashlight on a strap or something like that, but yeah, he should have just given a direct "no" to that one. The misleading nature of his reply led to a lot of time-wasting, off-track questions. I really think that everyone was literally off their game in this episode. Despite the fact that they did not mention the Kennedy assassination on the program, it could not have been far from any of their minds. --And it probably felt strange to them to be playing this escapist game and pretending everything was normal when everyone was, in fact, so deeply affected by this traumatic event and its aftermath. I would not be at all surprised if there were deep psychological reasons relating to those events that affected both John's and the panel's ability to play the game well that evening.

[@MrJoeybabe25]

SaveThe TPC I agree. And the fact that it was not mentioned bothers me some.

[@neilmidkiff]

Given this topic, I can't help bragging a bit by sharing a video. I created a theatrical effect in which the performers were wearing light bulbs, for a performance of Gilbert and Sullivan's "Iolanthe" almost three decades ago. You can see it at kzbin.info/www/bejne/bajYgaSiacx7htU.

[@loissimmons6558]

+Neil Midkiff aka "Iolanthe unplugged"! As long as it wasn't Debbie Boone singing "You Light Up My Life".

[@neilmidkiff]

@@loissimmons6558 The performance was "unplugged" in the sense of being unamplified -- no microphones for the singers. But I had to "plug in" those fairy headdresses after every show to recharge the batteries. That was before white LEDs were available, so tiny incandescent bulbs were the only choice, and they used a good deal of power.

[@gailsirois7175]

Cheating baldy Cerf

[@RonGerstein-tf5tp]

Bennett Cerf must cheat by law

[@MrJoeybabe25]

Sometimes I think John catches a few winks during the show. At the end of the first contestant's segment he says the panel didn't ask about what level of government she worked for, well Dorothy at about 5:35 asked does it have anything with do with the state of Florida government rather than the federal government. She gets a no. Doesn't that answer the question?

[@smithsmith9379]

+Joe Postove It seems like they focused on local government, for example a job in the police force or jail. Someone should have asked a follow up question to clarify. (I know this comment is from a year ago so forgive me, but I'm just now watching all these shows and enjoying the discussion.)

[@shahrulamar5358]

Dorothy was found breathless in her bedroom 2 years later. 😟😟😟

[@RonGerstein-tf5tp]

In a reading room on an auxiliary couch.

[@shahrulamar5358]

@@RonGerstein-tf5tp 59 years after her death the mystery still not fully solved.

[@MrJoeybabe25]

Wow, putting laces in footballs! What's next, peanut shellers? Don't tell me, they've been on, right? I can think of a couple of more interesting jobs than putting laces through the holes in footballs. Can you imagine doing that all day, seven days a week, 365 days a year for 80 years. Goodness.However, I guess it could get exciting at the plant when one of the laces won't fit through the hole. Call the foreman!

[@janeiwasduncan8463]

Somebody has to do it!!!

[@loissimmons6558]

+Joe Postove And one of the brothers was doing it for 37 years and the other for 38! Talk about a job with no upward mobility! I guess the guy who inflated the balls had seniority and refused to retire, Actually, this is not the most boring job in the world. The second most boring job in the world is doing the weather forecast for San Diego, California. The most boring job in the world is proofreading M&M's. The had to fire one guy, however. He was rejecting the W's.

[@drumbum3.142]

Its George Burns ,!.!!! 😂😄😂😂😂🙃😂😂😂😂😂

[@geniusmchaggis]

such a delightfully intelligent man peter cook was...too bad he was SUCH a dipsomaniac.

[@esmeephillips5888]

He got really p.o.'ed when Dudley Moore became (briefly) a big Hollywood name and he didn't.

[@geniusmchaggis]

@gcjerryusc very good jerry!

[@geniusmchaggis]

@@esmeephillips5888 he did and he didnt....well he did... they were close....it was complicated. they loved each other.

[@mr.antique5407]

I love Dorothy! I can't believe she was Murdered in '65!

[@preppysocks209]

You shouldn't believe that because she wasn't. The Manhattan DA recently reviewed newly published "evidence" that purported to support a claim that she had been murdered and refused to bring a prosecution because Dorothy died of an accidental overdose. Case closed.

[@charis128]

preppy socks No, she was murdered among many others.

[@shirleyrombough8173]

I refuse to watch any episodes after her death. I love her and think she presented a unique approach to the game and a unique persona.

[@shirleyrombough8173]

@@preppysocks209 I am sorry I don't remember the author's name who wrote "The Reporter Who knew

[@stewedfishproductions9554]

@@preppysocks209 Totally agree. Dorothy was NOT murdered and I find it so distasteful that several people have made money from writung books, to substantiate baseless theories around her death.

[@kassidymiller3223]

That is the ugliest hat ever worn on this show

[@sandrageorge3488]

I've seen worse. Hedda Hopper's and Rhonda Flemming.

[@washoe4827]

a pretty mean thing to say, no ?

[@shirleyrombough8173]

Didn't you see the hat worn by the lady who makes horses' hats? Now that was one ugly hat.

[@jcripp1083]

The word inspector is not a masculine word. It just describes a function. Inspectress is stupid. Trying to sound smart or something. God I'm glad thins loosened up over the years. These guys are boorish snobs

[@charis128]

Jc Ripp They are speaking proper English. Words like “actor” depicted males and “actress” depicted females. Sometimes it’s Executor and Executrix. It was the Feminist movement in the 1970s that changed it. This pre-dates that. They are speaking how everyone typically spoke for the times.

[@shirleyrombough8173]

I don't think they are boorish snobs but you're right about inspector being gender neutral. I've come to hate actress, stewardess, comedienne, songstress, and the rest of them. A job is a job regardless of the performer's gender.

[@esmeephillips5888]

Sexist animated opening titles. All the characters are MALE! Grrr!!! (Moderator: Enough wokeness, already.)

[@susanfenton4647]

Good grief.

[@mhk3360]

Isn't Sophie Tucker wearing a lovely hat? (In my opinion) NOT!

[@scotnick59]

Ridiculous hat!

[@washoe4827]

@@scotnick59 and mhk - small things concern small minds...