Voting Station

You Bet Your Life

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TV Series

The Resume

    (October 5, 1950-June 29, 1961)
    Aired on NBC
    Based on the successful radio show of the same name (1947-1956)
    Hosted by Groucho Marx
    Announced by George Fenneman
    Sponsored by Plymouth automobiles
    Contestants worked in pairs to solve questions from previously chosen categories
    Twist: If a contestant said a ‘secret word,’ a toy duck would come down to award $100

Why You Bet Your Life might be annoying:

    It’s remembered not for the actual game, but for Groucho’s interviews with the contestants.
    It was sometimes hard to tell whether it was a game show or comedy show.
    Much of it was blatant product placement for its sponsor, Plymouth cars.
    For some reason, the famed ‘secret word duck’ was sometimes replaced with a toy Indian.
    One long wave of laughter on it was used as a source recording for many sitcom ‘laugh tracks.’
    Buddy Hackett and Bill Cosby both made unsuccessful attempts to revive it.

Why You Bet Your Life might not be annoying:

    It was the first game show to syndicate its reruns.
    It made Groucho a major TV star, introducing him to a new generation.
    It was also one of the first TV shows to be pre-recorded (because censors worried Groucho’s jokes would be too dirty).
    Many celebrities made appearances on it, including Johnny Weissmuller, William Blatty, a pre-teen Candice Bergen, Groucho’s own brother, Harpo and daughter Melinda.
    It gave Groucho a place to showcase his signature ad-libs.
    Despite many allegations of the contrary, the show was not scripted.
    If a contestant lost all their money Groucho would ask them a real easy question to give them consolation money. The question was typically 'Who is buried in Grant's tomb?' or 'What color is George Washington's white horse?'
    Credit: Ratman
    Urban Legend:
    Allegedly, one contestant was a woman who had seventeen children. When asked why she had so many kids, the woman said, ‘Well, I just love my husband.’ Groucho responded, ‘Well, I love my cigar, but I take it out of my mouth once in a while.’ The footage of the show has been lost, making the story hard to confirm.

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 9 Votes: 11.11% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 8 Votes: 12.50% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 13 Votes: 30.77% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 12 Votes: 41.67% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 14 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 14 Votes: 42.86% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 23 Votes: 52.17% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 10 Votes: 20.0% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 12 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 18 Votes: 55.56% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 50 Votes: 36.00% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 22 Votes: 40.91% Annoying
    In 2007, Out of 140 Votes: 44.29% Annoying
    In 2006, Out of 160 Votes: 41.88% Annoying
    In 2005, Out of 284 Votes: 51.41% Annoying