[quote name=\'Esoteric Eric\' post=\'166287\' date=\'Oct 11 2007, 09:42 AM\']
[quote name=\'PYLW\' post=\'166113\' date=\'Oct 9 2007, 06:35 PM\']I might be going mad, but is that where everyone answered the word "pickle" to each question Gene asked? Actually, I really want to know, I only have a vague recollection of someone telling me that.[/quote]I have a bit more recollection, but just a bit.
I don't recall the exact wording of the question, but I believe the panel's answers referred to "Mary" craving pickles, implying that she was "expecting."
Gene was astonished when the female celeb's team all responded "pickle," and he jokingly threatened to walk out if the first contestant on the other team (celeb: Bill Cullen, I think) had written "pickle." The contestant had done so, so Gene walked out, and Johnny Olson moved behind the host's desk. When the next contestant showed the same response, Johnny walked out, and Dick De himself was left to host the show. Dick said that if (Bill?) wrote "pickle," the audience member selected as the day's phone game contestant would host the rest of the show. Sure enough, (Bill?) did, but that was the end of the gag; Gene and Johnny came back on stage, and play continued.
After almost forty years, the memories of a preteen start to run together; Dick, was that also the episode where the largest phone game jackpot ($3,000) was won?
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E Eric: That's so close, I'll declare you the winner! Here's the story. I'll start with the what happened just before the show. The two celebrities and the four contestants were standing backstage waiting for the tape to roll and the show to begin. One of the celebrities was Bill Cullen who was a great practical joker. He said to everyone backstage: "How about this for a laugh --- no matter what the first question is --- we all answer pickle." Everyone agreed. Bill told me later that he emphasized unless everyone kept their word and said 'pickle', it would be a disaster. Everyone promised, and as you know, everyone did say pickle. And you got most of the rest of the story correct. At one point Rayburn said if the next contestant answers "pickle" I'm walking off the stage. They did and he did. Johnny Olson took over said the same thing --- if the next contestant says "pickle" I'm leaving. They did and Johnny left." So I jumped up and took over. I do remember saying at some point: "I never wanted to write these questions -- I really wanted to host this show and it has finally happened!!!" The last person answered pickle and we went to commercial. Coming back from the commercial Bill Cullen explained his scheme. It was great!!! E. Eric, email with your full name and address and I'll send you your prize. dick@gizwiz.biz And thanks to you folks who wrote me about receiving the questions. I have so many heart felt emails about what it means to own a part of the Match Game. It's wonderful! ___________, everybody. Dick De