Woody Allen on "What's My Line?"

From around the time "Casino Royale" was coming out. Tony Randall and Pamela Mason join the panel.

[@torresj52]

I remember this very well, I was part of the studio audience, I was 14 years old and hanging around the Ed Sullivan Theater on Broadway, hoping to get in to see the Ed Sullivan Show. Meanwhile there was this Bus that arrived in front of the theater and a man came off the bus looking for people to be part of the studio audience for the what’s my line show, so I got into the bus, got a ticket and I got to see the show with woody Allen as the mystery guess.

[@javelinman7]

What year was this may I ask?

[@donlitos]

@@javelinman7 Unfortunately Joe passed away

[@ackerbcn1873]

@@donlitos I was just imagining the scene Joe was describing... I'm so sorry to hear that Joe died.

[@thomasnorton-crossman2160]

@@donlitos wait how do you know that?

[@dinahbrown902]

How cool is that 😊

[@izzadalawatatlo5362]

"Cary Grant" LMAO

[@codyjackschwartz3044]

"are you smoking a cigar?" "yeah, lady."

[@casperowens2482]

the thing i noticed about Woody Allen is that he seems almost timeless. like the way he talks and everything, it feels like you took someone from present day and transported them back to the 60's.

[@ricarleite]

That is because people such as him have created our pop culture and vocabulary of today. Same as the Beatles, people say it sounds modern compared to what was available in the early 60s, that is because they literally invented pop music.

[@laurahoward5426]

He has never changed

[@casperowens2482]

@@ricarleite i dont know if his influence was that far-reaching. he appeals to a more refined crowd - like people in academia, for example. i dont think youre really going to feel the influence of Woody Allen on the streets as much as, say, 2pac (lol)

[@alicemcknight6335]

To each his own. I find him disgusting.

[@JOJO22858]

This was one of the only episodes of this show I have seen where the "Mystery Guest" stumped the panel. Little did they all know they were in the presence of the genius that would one day personify New York City. So glad Woody won the Best Original Screenplay Oscar again this year for "Midnight in Paris" which was one of his best movies in years.

[@jazzboots8893]

I love how often they get these by just knowing where everyone is, and who's in town! you couldn't do that now! I love Tony Randall!

[@leftyspade]

NY audience knows brilliance- George Carlin and Woody, two of my all-time favorites.

[@DexterHaven]

This guy has been a giant for so long. Just won the Oscar for best screenplay in 2012. That's work ethic AND talent for ya.

[@JackiePhillipsTheSocialPet]

I think this is one of the top 10 funniest single segments on WML. He is so funny as a stand alone comedian, with a lot of guts. I have seen others of his stand up routines and they are very, very funny.

[@CarloQuinto]

Jackie Phillips I AGREE 1000%!!!!

[@littlemissmello]

I bet he loved being called Groucho Marx. He loved the Marx Brothers!

[@seibrav]

Tony Randall is awesome.

[@cessnaace]

This is enteresting on a number of levels. One, Woody Allen disliked Casino Royale (although Val Guest, who directed him in that film, had nothing but praise for Allen's talent and professionalism. Secondly, Tony Randall would go on to appear in Woody Allen's Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Sex (But Were Afraid to Ask). Thirdly, in that film Allen did a spoof called What's My Perversion? STAY AWESOME! :)

[@mrc6182]

That was delightful! I was in stitches! Thanks for posting!

[@SuspenduAuGaffa]

Damn, Woody was loving this! Never seen him laugh so much.

[@tonydalcon]

Tony Randall is a hoot in this one (just like Felix)!

[@Gnillob802]

Tony Randall really knew how to turn a wrong guess (quite a good guess by the way) into a running gag and milk it for all its worth. I couldn't wait for the questioning to come back to him just to hear what he had to say.

[@kennethlatham3133]

Woody Allen used the "What's My Line?" set for a bit in his move, "Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Sex" later on. Tony Randall and John Daly also appeared in it.

[@ralphturner3798]

I'm glad I missed the original airing of this.

[@slw59]

Tony, you were so close with "Kirk Douglas".....LOL

[@kyolym]

Woody Allen family was very very Good friends with my moms she was good friends with Woody as was my grandmother and father were with his parents. They all grew up on Ave K in Brooklyn. Woody and my mom both when to Midwood High School. I still have her year book with the poem he wrote her in her Graduation book which went [roses are red, violets are blue, sugar is sweet and I like garlic] his humor was very evident even then. He wrote jokes and sold them to the papers in those days-

[@edbrown8254]

I had no idea Woody Allen was so well known in the mid-60s. The audience reaction was fascinating. He would have been in his early 30s here.

[@gerard1657]

He started as a stand up comic in the 50's. He was known for that. He also wrote essays/articles, books, plays. He was one of many comedy writers on 'the sid caesar show/your show of shows'. One of the first sketch comedy variety shows. Other writers on that show were mel brooks, neil simon,larry gelbart. I think he made only two movies before casino royale

[@patty-cf7jj]

He was actually late only 20s here. He was selling jokes to comedians in his teens. He was pretty well known in the 60s. Already wrote screenplays and did stand up comedy.

[@Bertnahhaha]

4:33 ... I loled so hard at that. Amazing hahaha

[@Research0digo]

a genius, thank you so much for this upload :)

[@lanimeyl]

the first minute is already hillarious xD

[@DaveMcIroy]

Tony Randall is just great. Loved him at The odd couple.

[@bored1ca]

I recognized the voice he used - it's one of several character voices from his film "What's Up Tiger Lily?"

[@AD-kv9kj]

Milhouse.

[@TellyWatcher1997]

Oh yes! I never put two and two together! The Simpsons will never be the same now. Ha, Ha!

[@asteverino8569]

Love your humor Mr Allen. Thanks bubala.

[@stevenfielden8955]

A million fantastic films!

[@eheaven3]

Woody has yet to peak. Great writer and director. Always dares to try something new. Always low budget. Doesn't dumb it down for a broader target audience. Every year a new film, and it's always anticipated by his fans. They may be dwindling in number but his work, like Chaplin, will survive the ages. His filmography alone is an achievement few writer-directors will ever come close to maching. Viva Allen!

[@FlaMan991]

you forgot PEDOFILE

[@hemming57]

He wouldn't be caught dead doing a game show now!

[@roots66]

April 3, 1966, according to the WML episode guide on tv dot com.

[@joserobertomm7871]

Thank you for the info I was wondering the date

[@SamiShah2004]

@@joserobertomm7871 k

[@MrROTD]

wow this show was awesome

[@wmlfan9]

I like how at 6:03 Arlene mouths "Woody Allen" in disbelief.

[@news4usunshine]

This is an order of magnitude superior to any of the tripe that passes for entertainment today.

[@DanielBakerBiophysics]

Salvador Dali is certainly my favorite.

[@news4usunshine]

Daniel Baker I'll take the Woodman over Dali any day.

[@elflaco6654]

Daniel Baker Midnight in Paris w/ Adrien Brody playing "DALI" is beyond great!!!

[@rsr789]

@SavageArfad An intellectual panel show, do you understand the difference?

[@Blackhawk303]

With a lot of media, we'll look at something brilliant from decades ago and judge the entire era by what survived the test of time. So much utter crap came out in the 1960's that, if it was even recorded, no one has bothered to put up on KZbin because it's not worth watching. As such, our exposure to TV from the 60's is only the content that's good enough to watch today. There are still clever panel shows being made today - QI (Quite Interesting) comes to mind, and is worth checking out if you're not familiar.

[@LordlyJeremy]

He's Tony Randall, best known in the role of Felix Unger in "The Odd Couple" TV series. He also appeared on the Tonight Show 105 times, an all-time record.

[@lohphat]

From The Los Angeles Times: The top 10, with the number of appearances: 1. Bob Hope: 131 2. Joan Rivers: 105 3. David Steinberg: 105 4. Tony Randall: 104 5. Charles Nelson Reilly: 97 6. Orson Bean: 93 7. Joyce Brothers: 90 8. Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme: 86 9. Buddy Hackett: 78 10.Don Rickles: 75.

[@exstreeter1]

Almost 250,000 views. People love this show, all generations.

[@brobador]

I just love this guy!

[@DwightFry78]

One tends to forget that Woody Allen was actually FUNNY a long, long time ago. Fortunately, videos like this remind us of the fact.

[@hopicard]

Tony Randall is soooo funny!

[@davidturk6301]

Love how Tony was honest on the first question even though it resulted in a no.

[@emiliaazzarello3866]

Great !

[@imkluu]

Tony Randall was so funny.

[@Onlymusical]

Everybody wants to be Cary Grant! It's part of the human condition.

[@fenwaypark1725]

That’s the best celebrity fooling the panel bar none. And with great humor. And that scene in Casino Royale when he jumped a wall to evade a firing squad and there’s another one going on on the other side. Priceless

[@HoldenNY22]

This was before he even made- "TAke the MOney and Run" which I think began to put him on the Map.

[@viktorkaposi8256]

As an actor and director. But he was already well-known as a stand-up comedian and writer in the mid-60s.

[@noaddedsugar9010]

the wolf whistles haha

[@fieldingm1969]

Tony Randall would go on to appear in one of Woody's early films, "Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Sex But Were Afraid To Ask".

[@serpinastellaluna7781]

+Steven Kaye I can't remember who did he play in that?

[@quincampbell4496]

It was a comedy sketch movie. In one scene, Woody played a sperm cell where Randall played a brain cell

[@TS-qq7vr]

That was one of the great Woody Allen scenes. Tony played it full Tony.

[@brainsareus]

oh, to have had a threesome with Frances and Mason............ back then!!

[@iadorenewyork1]

So darned cute! He did sound like Peter Falk! TV at its silliest and best!

[@joedebaun4547]

"Sleeper" is my favorite Woody Allen film.

[@joserobertomm7871]

Hillarious

[@lynnturman8157]

Yep. Cary Grant even said he wanted to be Cary Grant (no joke).

[@standamann100]

Bob Hope signed in as Bing Crosby.

[@davidkelley4111]

Woody looked like he was totally enjoying this.

[@rebel2179]

Yay finally a guest won!!! I only seen a handful of then win.

[@bluebear1985]

I've seen Casino Royale, and his performance in that was hilarious. I like how it confused everyone as to who the real James Bond was.

[@demianschultz3749]

Woody Alen has Kirck Dougla's voice. How in hell haven't I ever noticed!

[@gammondog]

@thegreatestg I was just a kid back in those days,but I remember Cary Grant. He was a very popular movie actor who played romantic parts. He was the very opposite of Woody in that he was very handsome,strong and heroic in his movie parts. The girls loved him! He was the epitome of masculinity you might say. Therefore, the audience would have found that sign in to be hilarious.

[@pryletoncyo]

Of course. With the hindsight of all his stuff, everybody would have guessed him from "try me." It was fun, and the game show was for celebrities, if they know their peers, but it's funny how long it takes for one to take one, as it were.

[@DisturbiaLa3]

That face when someone cat whistled him LMAO

[@Epitaph995]

cuteness

[@shaneblankenship8193]

6:57 he really was hilarious in that movie, thats a good 5am flick, good good movie :D

[@NoosaHeads]

The days of real comedy.

[@deegonz06]

i would watch a show like this if it were on today

[@antoniatejedabarros]

We love you, Woody! You're the greatest! #WeLoveWoodyAllen

[@miloesalazar]

Yup, go on and love a child molester. #dumbass

[@gerard1657]

@@miloesalazar you scumbag lying perverted idiot

[@moiraregis]

@imkluu oh yes he was; seeing this makes me realize how much i miss the old boy--

[@jamiesharp152]

There we were thinking hey,hey it's Saturday was original.

[@heardofjohn6854]

As he was shooting "Casino Royale", that would make this video approximately 1966, as the movie was released in 1967.

[@ianburton8050]

I got here by accident, But I'm sure glad, that Dave Allen cracks me up every time, love the joke about the 3 legged crocodile what ever...I had to watch all 7 and a half minuets, to find out if the chicken got away or got eaten by the old fart with the receding hairline..

[@tomryan4968]

Tony Randall was great in Woody's "Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex," made about 5 years later.

[@jamesfeldman4234]

This episode probably was from 1967. Five years later, Tony Randall would be one of the stars (along with Burt Reynolds) in the final hilarious segment from Woody Allen's "Everything You Wanted to Know About Sex But Were Afraid To Ask" (1972).

[@MsYippee123]

It makes you think.

[@soulierinvestments]

Cary Grant never did appear on What's My Line -- so I bet some in the TV audience (if not many) were disappointed.

[@imawarioimagonnawinn]

i like how they say a "movie on broadway" a little unknown expression from yesteryear

[@gerard1657]

because there were both stage theaters and movie theaters on broadway

[@laffingwithme]

"are you available anywhere in New York?" ;)

[@quizmaster85]

*_TRY ME!_*

[@kyolym]

continued- which is how he got work as a comic writer. I still have the gift card note from his mom to my mom when my oldest brother was born in 1955. Woody was very smart and witty from what my mom remembers but he was very bored in class and did not care for it and he was a bit of a nerd His last real name was Allan Stewart Konigsberg. My mom name was Sara Barach and I am sure he would remember her well

[@MeenyMcSweeny]

@indigenous4logic That'd be freaking awesome and hilarious...especially the secret guest part

[@brookehanley3659]

Annie Hall was his masterpiece.

[@wystanisles4094]

No Manhattan wad

[@wystanisles4094]

No Manhattan was

[@brookehanley3659]

+Laurence Herring Very good too. But to me Annie Hall had the sharp wit.

[@harrycleaver190]

+Laurence Herring No, Crimes and Misdemeanors was

[@TheJimbo1791]

+Brooke Hanley No, Zelig was

[@fuckingharpsichord]

i am bondian in general, yes

[@jennymayer7277]

He is kind of adorable.

[@jimm7098]

Damn I've never seen a celebrity actually stump them before.

[@bertverwoerd]

Me neither, can't remember one single one!

[@bobtaylor170]

Julie London stumped them TWICE.

[@123Rockchild]

Wow....that's a young Cary Grant! LOL

[@wmlfan9]

Rare is the WML clip where the panel gets ten no's during the mystery guest segment. It's fun watching the panel complete miss the mystery guest and then being told who it is.

[@bailinnumberguy]

I love the big stakes that the contestants are chasing. $5 for each wrong guess up to a maximum of $50. Different era I guess.

[@CLASSICALFAN100]

Loaf of bread for 10 cents, and gasoline 35 cents/gallon...

[@mja91352]

Gee, you think the 60s were a different era?

[@mwj5368]

In 1969 minimum wage was $1.25 an hour while I was being paid 90 cents an hour, but maybe this was 1958. (?) I recall about 1962 a man in my little hometown bragging he made $600 a month.

[@metaspherz]

@@mwj5368 Actually, in 1962, if you got paid $600 a month, you were most likely in the upper-middle class. Also, in 1966, Congress enacted a law that raised the federal minimum wage from $1.25 to $1.40 an hour. And then to $1.60 in 1968. The first car I ever bought was a new 1967 VW Super Beetle for $999.00. At the time, I worked for a supermarket chain called Wrigley's that paid union wages at $1.89 an hour. Concurrently, my father was an AC Spark Plugs employee who got paid $2.79 an hour (about .40 cents an hour less than the typical GM automotive division hourly worker). Of course, with over-time, the wages were higher.

[@mwj5368]

@@metaspherz Hi! My memory is only accurate then in regard to what I remembered in 1962, odd. Maybe where I worked the sign on the wall where you punched in was old, or my memory is too old ha! I do remember I was paid 90 cents an hour for several years. I was shopping and met first time in decades a secretary that worked in the owner's office. She said he would swagger in and announce he had made one million dollars at least one of those years. So I was robbed of wages for even more. I was very shy and very nervous would ask his brother, manager of the department I worked in, for a raise. He would just say I was in training. He even on company time, once when he was making a new garage/apartment bldg adjacent to his home, he suddenly stopped the company truck we were in and I realized he was using my labor, hard labor wheelbarrowing concrete, to pour in the foundation. I know his brother was a Republican, so all seemed par to me, at least years later it did. I don't know what party my direct boss was in, but Democrats can be that way too... Thanks for your input!

[@soleaguirre100]

Allen ...unique'!!! I love him is so ...smart!!!

[@RocketKirchner]

Woody stumped them

[@Keltster]

This originally aired on APRIL 3, 1966.

[@JohnSmithAprilMay]

@Tigerlily21 Around 1967? He'd be the equivalent of Patton Oswalt today. A popular television comic and writer, not quite a household name but well-known and loved among the tastemakers.

[@demianschultz3749]

I love Woody Alen

[@jonathanfunnell4167]

LOVE WOODY ALLEN WITH ALL MY HEART AND ALWAYS WILL

[@Onlymusical]

Yes, he also said that he envisioned the persona he wanted and pretended to be that person until he became that person. Actually, much of it came from "The Awful Truth" director Leo McCarey who even looked like Cary Grant.

[@fatchickinla]

I loved Casino Royal. He was so funny.

[@soulierinvestments]

@whato1986 other programs like this one, appearing on KZbin "I've Got a Secret" and "The Name's the Same." Names' the Same is especially interesting.

[@romeman01]

@romeman01 At 3.23-25, Allen suspects that too much of his own voice came across in his "no" (as can be seen by the lifting of the eyebrows afterward). Randall then says the voice sounds very familiar; Allen, now positive that he had just given himself away, gestures in frustration at 3.30. It gets worse: Randall adds that he doesn't think the guest is putting on a false voice. Allen smirks resignedly, sure he had given himself away. He only relaxes when Randall identifies him as Peter Falk.

[@AventuraLuver]

Wow, what a cutie pie he was!

[@BurninJester]

and making movies!

[@lappyguy8697]

"I'm a child"........LOL

[@surrepeight]

Some people just have humor built into their heads and souls. Woody is one.

[@rust44]

"Are you a girl?"

[@FlaMan991]

no a pedofile

[@MrFawkesGuy]

"eugggggggggggh."

[@ManInTheBigHat]

Get a load of the simple decor and low key production. They really relied on themselves to make the show work.