American Scandal - Quiz Show Rigging | All the Answers | 1

Episode Date: March 18, 2025

In the 1950s, America was captivated by high-stakes television quiz shows like The $64,000 Question and Twenty-One, which promised everyday Americans a shot at life-changing winnings. But behind the scenes, producers decided they couldn’t leave the drama to chance. They needed to ensure that the most compelling contestants battled it out week after week, setting the stage for a fraud that would shake the entire industry. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter Listen to American Scandal on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to binge the newest season. Unlock exclusive early access by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial today by visiting wondery.com/links/american-scandal/ now.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hi, this is Lindsey Graham, host of American Scandal. Our back catalog has moved behind a paywall. Recent episodes remain free, but older ones will require a Wondery Plus subscription. With Wondery Plus, you get access to the full American Scandal archive, ad-free, plus early access to new seasons and more. Join Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts. podcasts. It's November 28, 1956, and NBC Studios at New York City's Rockefeller Center. Thirty-year-old Charles Van Doren is standing backstage waiting to be introduced as the newest contestant on the hit television quiz show 21. He straightens

the collar of his suit and runs his fingers through his curly brown hair, trying to settle his nerves before his TV debut. He peeks through the curtains and sees more than a hundred people in the studio audience waiting for the game to begin. But his mind is on a different audience tonight, his family watching at home. He's a member of the famous Van Doren literary family. His father and uncle are both Pulitzer Prize-winning writers, and his mother is an acclaimed novelist and magazine editor. So he's nervous about how his foray into the lowbrow medium of television might go over with them. Van Doren himself doesn't even own a TV and has never heard of 21 until one of the show's producers asked him to be a contestant just a few weeks ago. Now, seeing the studio audience, the TV lights and cameras, he's beginning to wonder if it was a mistake. So as he hears the show's host,

Jack Berry, call him to stage, he takes a deep breath and prays he doesn't do anything to embarrass himself. Vandoren strides out from the wings and the studio audience erupts in applause. He nods to the crowd, then turns to shake hands with Barry and his opponent, Herbert Stempel. Stempel is already well known to quiz show fans. He's the longest running champion on 21 to date. Some have gone so far as to call him unbeatable, and this only adds to Van Doren's apprehension. The show's host, Jack Berry, then begins reading from a cue card in his hand,

introducing Van Doren to America as an impressive fellow, a professor of music at Columbia University that studied at Cambridge University in England and plays classical piano in chamber groups. Hearing this, Van Doren winces. Truth is he barely plays the piano and he teaches literature, not music. He considers trying to correct the record, but before he can, Barry presses forward, noting Van Doren's famous family, mentioning his award-winning father. noting Van Doren's famous family, mentioning his award-winning father. Van Doren stares into the glowing red light on top of the camera, thinking about his family watching at home. His father is probably mortified to have his name dragged into this, but all Van Doren can do now is smile bashfully as Barry prattles on.

Then finally, after finishing his introduction, Barry asks Van Doren and Stempel to head into their respective isolation booths to begin the game. The show's assistants, a pair of attractive young blonde women, emerge from behind a curtain and lead the contestants into two soundproof glass booths. Inside his booth, Vandoren puts on an oversized pair of headphones, and his world goes completely silent. He then watches as Barry, standing at a lectern, turns to ask Stempel the first trivia question

of the game. A moment later, Van Doren hears Barry's voice in his headphones. Alright, Mr. Van Doren, now it's your turn to play. I'll give you the category, and you choose the difficulty from 1 to 11. The harder the question, the more points you'll earn. The first category is the Civil War. How much do you know about that? Well, that's an awfully big subject. I'll try for eight points. Okay, for eight points. Because of a disagreement with his commanding general, Ulysses Grant was placed under arrest for a brief time in 1862. Who was the commanding general of the Union Army at that time?

Oh, I know his name. Halleck. General H.W. Halleck. That's correct, and you have eight points. Van Doren's headphones go silent again as Barry turns to Stempel to ask another question. Then a moment later, Barry's voice returns in the headphones. Back to you, Mr. Van Doren. Your next category is newspapers. How many points you want to try for? I think I should go for seven, but I'm worried Mr. Semple may be pulling ahead,

so I'll take 10. All right, for 10 points, this is a tough question. The grandsons of Joseph Medill, two of the most successful journalists from 1914 on, were the owners and managers of the Chicago Tribune and the New York Daily News. What were their names? Van Doren pauses for a moment, reaches into his pocket. He pulls out a handkerchief, wipes a few beads of sweat from his forehead. Well, the Chicago

Tribune, that would be Colonel Robert R. McCormick. That's correct. And the Daily News, wouldn't that be Patterson? Joseph Patterson? It would be, and now you have 17 points. Moments later, the game ends in a tie. The show's host, Jack Berry, informs the audience that Van Doren and Stempel will face off again next week and the ultimate winner will go home with an enormous cash prize. As Van Doren heads backstage, he feels queasy, though. Because despite his performance,

he's not quite the trivia expert he just played on TV. In fact, he was given all the answers to the questions in advance by the show's producers. The whole game was rigged from the start, and if the truth is ever revealed, it would bring a level of shame to Van Doren and his family that would tear his entire world apart. You just realized your business needed to hire someone like yesterday. With Indeed, there's no need to stress. You can find amazing candidates fast using Sponsored Jobs.

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all you need. Hey, it's a Martinez I work on a new show. And yeah, the news can feel like a lot on any given day, but I just can't ignore las noticias when important world changing events are happening. So that is where the up first podcast comes in. Every single morning in under 15 minutes we take the news and boil it down to three essential stories. Listen to the Up First Podcast from NPR. From Wondery, I'm Lindsey Graham, and this is American Scandal. In the 1950s, Americans fell in love with a new medium of television. At the start of

the decade, less than 10% of households had a TV set of their own, but by 1955, that number soared to 50%. Watching TV quickly became a habit for much of the country, and nothing captured their attention quite like the quiz show phenomenon. Shows like 21, The $64,000 Question, and Dotto became some of the most watched programs on television. Viewers were hooked by the drama of watching real people compete for prizes, sometimes in the form of life-changing amounts of cash. But many of these early game shows were not what they seemed. Pressured by their corporate sponsors to maintain high ratings, some quiz show producers began engineering the games to favor the most popular contestants.

And there was no contestant more popular than Charles Van Doren. The tall, handsome scion of a prominent literary family, Van Doren's victory over rival contestant Herbert Stempel was a smash hit with viewers, and the four-month winning streak that followed would make Van Doren a household name. All the while, behind the scenes, Van Doren was provided with the answer to every question he was asked. But Stempel and a handful of contestants from other rigged quiz shows soon grew resentful about being forced to lose, and before long they decided to expose what was really happening behind the scenes. Within a few years time, the entire quiz show genre came tumbling down.

And when the full truth came to light, America's relationship with TV would never be the same. This is episode one, All the Answers. All the answers. It's January 1955, nearly two years before Charles Van Doren's quiz show debut. At the Madison Avenue headquarters of cosmetics company Revlon, television producer Lou Cowan is preparing to make one of the biggest pitches of his career. Cowan is waiting in one of the company's upscale conference rooms with a briefcase tucked under his arm. A handful of Revlon executives walk in, including the company's founder, Charles Rebson, and his brother Martin, the company's second-in-command.

Cowan stands and shakes their hands. Then as all the men take their seats, Cowan opens his briefcase and removes a handful of documents and poster boards for his presentation. Before turning back to face the executives though, he takes a deep breath. His instincts tell him he's got a winning idea on his hands, but still, he knows his groundbreaking new concept could be a tough sell. At 46 years old, Cowan has already built a successful career, having produced more than 50 shows across TV and radio.

He first struck gold in the 1940s, creating the hit radio shows Quiz Kids and Stop the Music, before venturing into the new, more lucrative medium of television. But to get that money, the first, most important step in selling a new TV show is getting a sponsor on board. If they agree to cover the cost of producing the show, Cohen can take it to one of the three major broadcast networks and get it on the air. But sponsors like Revlon don't know much about how TV works, so Cohen often uses metaphors to sell him on a new idea. Cohen starts his pitch by placing an oversized photo of Mount Everest on an easel at the end of the conference table. He asks the executives to think back two years to 1953, when Sir Edmund Hillary became the first climber to

reach the summit of Everest. Cowan reminds them that this event captured the imagination of people around the world. It was front page news for months and with this new show Cowan is imagining, they too can capture the magic of scaling the world's tallest mountain with a half-hour televised trivia competition, Cowan looks around the room to gauge the reaction, but he only finds blank stares. Revlon founder Charles Revson clears his throat and checks his watch. Afraid of losing the room entirely, Cowan quickly pivots and brings the pitch back down to sea level.

He asks the executives to recall the old radio quiz show Take It or Leave It. Cowan didn't create that show, but he always admired the format. Contestants were tasked with answering a series of increasingly difficult trivia questions, with each correct answer being awarded twice as much money as the previous question. And if they get a question right, contestants could choose to go home with all the money they'd earned or risk it all to continue playing. Cowan explains this was the real magic of the show. That moment when everyday people were given the choice to take the money and run or risk it all for a chance to double their winnings. This is what he wants to create. A moment of choice. A moment of high stakes. A moment of drama.

Cowan can see Charles Revson's eyes narrow as they meet his own. He finally seems to have the founders full attention. So Cowan reminds the executives that the payout structure for Take It or Leave It. The first question was worth just a dollar, the second question worth two, but eventually contestants would build their way up to the show's big grand prize moment, the $64 question. It worked great for radio, but Cowan asserts that $64 isn't enough to lure a TV audience. Cowan looks up and sees the executives are leaning forward in their seats. Now's the time for the big reveal.

He tells the room that his new show is called the $64,000 question. The executives look around at each other, their eyes wide. Cowan explains that $64,000 would be the most money ever given away on a quiz show, 20 times what the average American makes in a year. If people liked the $64 question, they'd go absolutely wild for a show that's offering a thousand times that. Cowan points back at the photo of Mount Everest, explaining that 64,000 is truly an Everest-worthy number, the kind of money that captures imaginations.

All Cowan needs now is a presenting sponsor. Cowan looks directly at the Revson brothers. He can see Charles Revson rubbing his chin, deep in thought as he considers the implications of giving away that much money. And he watches as Martin Revson begins sketching numbers on a legal pad. So Cowen says he knows he's asking for a lot here. The show will not be cheap to make. But he tells the room to imagine the newspaper headlines the day after the first contestant wins the grand prize.

It'll be covered like the day Everest was scaled. And even better, people will associate the achievement with Revlon. Cowen promises the company's investment will pay for itself many times over. Cowan then takes a seat, wrapping up his presentation, and gives the room a minute to think it over. At the head of the conference table, he sees Charles Revson grinning. Cowan knew he had a good idea, and based on the looking in Charles' eye, it appears he may also have a sponsor. Soon after Lou Cowan's pitch, Revlon agrees to sponsor the $64,000 question. And within just a few months, they find a home for the show on CBS.

The program debuts in June of 1955 and quickly proves to be an enormous hit. Within just a few weeks, it's the top-rated show on Tuesday nights, and by the end of July, it takes the crown as the number one show in all of television, beating out iconic programs like I Love Lucy and The Ed Sullivan Show. All across America, audiences are captivated by the enormous grand prize of $64,000, the equivalent of more than $750,000 today. They also responded well to the show's format. In each episode, contestants answer a series of questions in a single area of expertise, like opera, boxing, or royal families. And when a contestant passes the $4,000 mark, they are only asked one new question per episode, returning week after week to see how far they can climb. They become like recurring characters in a drama series, with audiences tuning in to

see how their favorite player's journey will end. But within a few months of the show's debut, a flaw emerges in its design. By August of 1955, not a single contestant has won the grand prize. In fact, no one has even chosen to attempt it, opting instead to stop at the second to last $32,000 question rather than risk losing it all. And while Revlon has been delighted with the ratings, they're worried that if nobody ever answers the $64,000 question, audiences will eventually lose interest. So the company begins pressuring Cowan to deliver a grand prize winner.

One Wednesday morning, just hours after yet another contestant has declined to attempt the final question, Cowan invites his friend Mark Goodson to his Manhattan office to talk things over. Goodson is himself a veteran producer of game shows for radio and TV, and Cowan wants to get his perspective.

Hey Mark, thanks for coming by. And I'm in a real pickle with this show. I need to pick your brain on it. Have a seat. A real pickle, huh? You've got the number one show on TV. What on earth could be the problem? Is Revlon selling too much lipstick? No, no one's complaining about the ratings, but Revlon wants to see a grand prize winner. Frankly, I agree with them. If we go the whole season without anybody even

attempting the final question, let alone getting it right, the audience is going to notice. I mean, it's in the title of the damn show, $64,000 question. It's our entire selling point. Well, what do you think's holding back the contestants? I mean, is 32 grand just such life-changing money that nobody wants to risk it? I think that's part of it. But there's another problem. Even if they were to win the 64,000, it would push them into a new tax bracket. In effect, the final question is really only worth a few extra thousand in what they take home. Statistically, the contestants are making the right choice, and I suspect some of them have gamed that out. I'm sure they have. Anyone who gets to 32 grand is no dummy. Maybe you could bring on wealthier contestants

who are already in those tax brackets. Maybe they just want a chance to be remembered as the first ever grand prize winner. Yeah, we thought about that. But there's only so many rich people around. Most of them have no desire to appear on a television quiz show. Besides, the audience won't root for people that already have a lot of money. Yeah, there's something else you could do. Just sort through that big pile of applications you got and find the most likeable contestants. You know, nice smiles, relatable backstories.

And just give them the answer to the final question. Give them the answer? Rig the show? Well, in so many words, yeah. I mean, at least the final question. That's really the only way you can be sure they'll try it. I can't believe you're saying this. Wow, what's the big deal? I mean, be honest, Lou.

Half the show is already smoke and mirrors. You're keeping the questions on stage in an oversized bank vault with a pair of armed guards. We both know that's all for show. I mean, I'm not criticizing. It's great TV. You've got the number one show in the country. But you might as well take it one step further. No, I don't think so. It would be unethical. Well, unethical? Maybe. But not illegal.

We're making entertainment, not documentaries. Your only job is to give the audience the drama they want and keep Revlon happy. What the audience doesn't know won't hurt them. Ugh, Mark. All it would take is for one contestant to blab and the whole thing would come tumbling down. Imagine how Revlon would react if the audience turned on them for putting on a fraudulent show. We'd be canceled the very next day and I'd never work again. There has to be another way. Well, you know, it's just an idea. I'll think on it.

But look, I've got another meeting. Yeah, yeah. I knew too. Thanks for stopping by. I'm sure I'll figure something out. As Cowan walks his friend out and closes the door behind him, he feels a knot growing in his stomach. The idea of rigging the game feels dirty, even if it could help persuade more contestants to take a chance at the grand prize question. Cowan knows there has to be a better, more ethical solution to the problem, but in the

meantime he'll just have to pray that someone finally has the guts to play the game all the way through. Throughout the summer of 1955, Revlon continues to pressure Lou Cowan to produce the first grand prize winner of the $64,000 question, and Cowan continues to resist rigging the outcome of the show. But when Cowan leaves for another job, Martin Revson, second in command at Revlon, takes a more direct role in overseeing the show. Revlon's sponsorship has proven to be more successful than the company's executives

ever dreamed. Their gross earnings are at an all-time high and the stock price has more than doubled. Revlon has come to see their fortunes as being directly tied to the show's success. And when one of the show's producers, Merton Copland, travels to Revlon's Madison Avenue headquarters for a meeting, he discovers firsthand just how eager the cosmetic company executives are to maximize the show's success. As the meeting begins, Martin Revson slides a chart across the desk to Copland. It's a graph with two lines, one tracking the weekly ratings of the show and the other showing weekly sales for Revlon.

Copland listens as Revson explains how they move up and down nearly in lockstep. Revson then passes over another chart, this one showing how the ratings fluctuate up and down each week based on who the contestants are. As Copland looks it over, Revson says this proves that the $64,000 question cannot afford to have too many unpopular contestants. He tells Copland that to juice the ratings in Revlon's bottom line, he needs to make sure that the most compelling contestants stay on the show for as long as possible.

Coughlin instantly understands the implications of Revson's point. It sounds like the Revlon executive is pressuring him to engineer who wins or loses week to week. But Revson goes one step further. He notes that when Lou Cowan initially pitched the show, he promised that the first $64,000 winner would create massive media coverage for the show, he promised that the first $64,000 winner would create massive medium coverage for the show and Revlon. So Revson tells Copland that he needs to deliver on Cowan's promise and soon.

If Copland can't make that happen, then Revlon may need to bring in their own team of producers or find a new quiz show to sponsor. Copland doesn't know what to say. He's been given a seemingly impossible choice, either manufacture a winner or lose his job. Logistically, he knows he could rig the show. Not only is he responsible for picking which questions are used, he also spends significant time with contestants in the days leading up to their first appearance discussing their topic of expertise and helping them prepare. So he has plenty of opportunity to give the answers to Revson's preferred contestants.

But Copland also knows that if a contestant were ever to go public about this, his career would be over. Copland racks his brain trying to find a way to give Revson what he wants without making the show fraudulent. Eventually, Copland offers a compromise. He says that once a contestant proves to be good for TV, he'll spend extra time with them before every show and really narrow down their exact area of expertise. For example, if the topic is geography, he'll find out

which areas they know the most about. Then he'll write specific questions he's confident they'll be able to answer. That way, Revlon can get what they want without the liability of going over the line into rigging the show. Leaning back in his chair, Revson says he likes the sound of that, but there's still the issue of how to make sure at least one of the contestants attempts this $64,000 question. Copland admits this would be a tougher challenge, but he assures Revson that he's already got an idea for how to make it happen, how to stage it so that the $64,000 question becomes the most talked about show on television. Have you ever wondered how a circus performer could become the most powerful woman in the Byzantine Empire? Even the Royals is a podcast from Wondery that pulls back the curtain on royal families,

from ancient empires to modern monarchs, to show you the darker side of what it means to be royalty. Before she ruled an empire, Theodora was a teen sensation in circus shows, featuring dancing bears, burlesque performers, and blood-soaked chariot races. But when her star came crashing down, she clawed her way from rock bottom to the very top, using everything from comedy to espionage to get there. Empress Theodora didn't just survive, she revolutionized women's rights across the Byzantine Empire, like changing laws to let women divorce men, own property, and bring abusive men to justice.

For all her work in pioneering, she's remembered as the most powerful Byzantine Empress in history. Follow Even The Royals on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to Even the Royals early and ad free by joining Wondery Plus. In 1920, American women won the right to vote, but it took over 70 years and three generations of activists to get there. Hi, I'm Lindsey Graham, the host of Wondery Show American History Tellers. We take you to the events, times, and people that shaped America and Americans.

Our values, our struggles, and our dreams. In our latest series, we trace the decades-long struggle for women's voting rights and tell the stories of the visionary and often controversial suffragists who led the fight, including Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Alice Paul, and Ida B. Wells. Follow American History Tellers on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad free and be the first to binge the newest season only on Wondery Plus. Join Wondery Plus in the Wondery app, Apple podcasts, or Spotify. Start your free trial today. In late summer 1955, Merton Copland, producer of the $64,000 question, starts looking for a contestant who might finally attempt to answer the show's final grand prize question.

For weeks, he examines one contestant after another, assessing their likability and their appetite for risk. Before long, he identifies a possible candidate, Richard McCutcheon. McCutcheon is a Marine captain, which should make him easy for viewers to root for. Copland also figures that a person who's seen combat may be more willing to risk his previous winnings by going for the top prize. And on the night of September 13, 1955, Copland is thrilled to see McCutcheon do just that. Copland is backstage watching the show live on air at Rockefeller Center. McCutcheon has returned to the stage after successfully answering the $32,000 question the previous week. Now,

the show's host, Al March, asks McCutcheon if he'd like to go home with the money he's already won or try for one more question, attempting to become the first grand prize winner in the show's history. Without hesitation, McCutcheon says he's going to go for it. Copland pumps his fist as the room fills with applause. A moment later, the isolation booth is wheeled to the front of the stage and a young female assistant leads McCutcheon inside. As the crowd goes silent, the stage lights dim leaving a single spotlight on the booth. Copland watches anxiously as host Hal March takes the question envelope from a security guard on stage. Copland holds his breath, knowing he's done all he can to prepare McCutcheon for this moment.

The previous afternoon he spent hours with him, giving him practice questions about his chosen topic of expertise, cooking. What he learned is that McCutcheon has a deep knowledge about the history of British cuisine, so Copland custom tailored the final question. Now as Copland and the rest of America watches, host Hal March opens the envelope and reads the question. He asks McCutcheon to name and describe five dishes and two wines from the menu of a royal banquet hosted by King George VI in honor of French President Albert Le Brun in 1939. It's an incredibly

specific and difficult question, truly worthy of the $64,000. Copland knows only a tiny fraction of all the people on Earth could answer it correctly and he made sure that McCutcheon is one of them. The two men discussed this exact meal in their practice session yesterday. McCutcheon even brought it up on his own, inspiring Copland to craft the final question around it. So now Copland watches as the music ends and McCutcheon has asked for the answer. He cracks his knuckles and grins with confidence. Knowing what's coming, Copeland smiles as well. McCutcheon moves through the first five delicacies and two wines with ease, even throwing in

some additional details about the meal for good measure. And when the answer is confirmed correct, the audience explodes in applause. McCutcheon steps out of the booth beaming with pride. Copland imagines Martin Revson watching at home equally as happy. Copland has finally delivered the big winner as promised. And on top of that, he's found a successful formula for engineering the show, ensuring that there will be even more grand prize winners to come. When ratings for McCutcheon's victory are reported the following day, Merton Copland sees that his gambit has paid off. 55 million Americans watch the broadcast, making it

the highest rated episode in the history of television. By this time, TV game shows have become a full-blown cultural phenomenon. Hoping to replicate the success of the $64,000 question, the major networks have filled dozens of time slots with other game shows such as The Big Surprise, Treasure Hunt, and The Price is Right. Among those eager to cash in on the craze are producer Dan Enright and host Jack Berry. They quickly get their program Tic Tac Doe onto NBC and soon after they follow it up by creating another quiz show called 21, offering a unique twist on the popular card game Blackjack. On each episode of 21, two contestants go head to head, taking turns answering trivia

questions on a variety of topics. Each question is assigned a point value from 1 to 11, with harder questions earning more points. The goal is to end the round with a score as close as possible to 21. Enright and Barry bring on a sponsor, Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, the makers of the multivitamin Geritol, and together they find a home for 21 on NBC. But when the first episode airs in September of 1956, it proves to be a flop. So the following morning, when Enright walks into Barry's office, his expression is grim.

Jack, got a second? Yeah, sure Dan, what's going on? I'm at level with you. I think we're in trouble with 21. I knew the ratings weren't going to be great, but the sponsor is even more upset than I was expecting. Just got off the phone with him. He called the show a total dud, lacking any sort of suspense or drama. Well, honestly, I agree. Even on stage, I could almost feel the audience yawning. Well, we're never going to let that happen again.

Something has to change. Yeah, to me, the problem is the contestants. I mean, I'm not going to be able to get a good score. I'm not going to be able to get a good score. I'm not going to be able to get a good score. I'm not going to be able to get a good score. I'm not going to be able to get a good score. I'm not going to be able to get a good score.

I'm not going to be able to get a good score. I'm not going to be able to get a good score. I'm not going to be able to get a good score. I'm not going to be able to get a good score. I'm not going to be able to get a good score. I'm not going to be able to get a good score. I'm not going to be able to get a good score. I'm not going to be able to get a good score. I'm not going to be able to get a good score. I'm not going I could almost feel the audience yawning. Well, we're never going to let that happen again. Something has to change. Yeah.

To me, the problem is the contestants. They just weren't that good, you know? They barely got any questions right. Nobody wants to watch people miss questions over and over again. So we either need to find smarter players or get dumber questions. We certainly need more correct answers, that's for sure. But I don't want easier questions. The audience wants to see a challenge, to be impressed by the contestants.

Alright, so what are your ideas? I'm thinking about a more drastic change. I mean, you've seen the numbers for $64,000 question. People aren't tuning in just to see someone get a big pile of money. They're tuning in for the people on the show they know and like. It's no different than how people follow their favorite characters on sitcoms or soap operas. They get attached to these contestants. They're not even contestants anymore. They're characters. They want to see how far they'll go, where their story ends. Yeah, sure. But how do we make it happen on 21? Well, remember Richard Jackman, the contestant

we had on Tic Tac Doe? Writer from upstate. Yeah, did some modeling. Yeah, he was good. Good looking, well spoken. But we're not gonna be able to find 10 more Richard Jackmans. I don't think we have to. We just bring him back on 21. Okay, easy enough. We can cast him for the show, but who says he'll win?

Well, here's the idea. I'll give Jackman a practice quiz before the show, just like I do with everyone else. But for him, I'll use the real questions. And if he gets any wrong, I'll just tell him the right answer. Damn, that sounds like rigging the game. I mean, he's a smart guy. He'll figure out what you're doing.

Of course he will. But what's he going to do? Refuse to take the money? I don't know. What if Jackman tells someone? Or worse, he could think we've made a mistake and stop me live on air and say he's already been given the answers. Now look, Jackman said it himself. He's a struggling writer, right? This guy's gonna make more money in one night than he's made in the past decade. And then he'll show up to double it the next week. Trust me, he's not gonna say a word. Nobody is that honest. Well, we need to save the show. And if you think this is what's needed, then I'm not gonna stand in your way. But leave me out of it. I'm just going to ask the questions on the cards. You're going to have to handle the rest." As he leaves Barry's office, Enright shakes his head. He was hoping Barry would be more excited

about this creative solution. It's his job to make sure the show is working. Sometimes that means manufacturing a little drama for the audience. So when Enright returns to his own office, he reaches for the filing cabinet, pulls out Jackman's file, praying that this plan will work. Because if it doesn't, in the new cutthroat world of TV game shows, 21 could go bust. Hello, I'm Dax Shepard. And I'm Monica Padman. And we are in our seventh year of hosting actors, musicians, athletes, presidents, CEOs,

scientists and professors. Monica and I do three weekly shows with celebrities on Monday, experts on Wednesdays and crazy stories from listeners on Fridays. It's got an ample dose of irreverence, humor and vulnerability. We regularly get sides of our guests that were previously unknown, and it is a celebration of all the messiness that makes us human. We like it here. We love it here. We're chatterboxes and it's a good excuse to talk. Also, we're friends. Barely.

Hanging on by a thread. We're so excited to officially be a part of the Wondry Network, so follow Armchair Expert on the Wondry app or wherever you get your podcasts and subscribe to Armchair Expert on YouTube. I'm Zing Singh. And I'm Simon Jack. And together we host Good, Bad, Billionaire. The podcast exploring the lives of some of the world's richest people. In the new season, we're setting our sights on some big names.

Yep, LeBron James and Martha Stewart, to name just a few. And as always, Simon and I are trying to decide whether we think they're good, bad, or just another billionaire. That's Good Bad Billionaire from the BBC World Service. Find it on bbc.com or wherever you get your BBC podcasts. After producer Dan Enright recruits the handsome and engaging Richard Jackman as a contestant on 21, he gets to work prepping him for his appearance. The day before the episode is set to tape, Enright spends hours with Jackman practicing trivia questions, sneaking in the actual questions Jackman will be asked on the show. Enright leaves Jackman completely unaware that he's been handpicked to be

21's first breakout star, but that proves to be a disastrous miscalculation. On the night of October 3, 1956, En Enright is backstage at 21 Studio inside Rockefeller Center. The episode is nearing its end and Enright is ecstatic. Jackman has already defeated two opponents and he's one question away from beating the third. Enright watches as Jackman answers his final question correctly, winning the game 19-7. And as Jackman steps out of his isolation booth, host Jack Berry congratulates him on his incredible performance. He informs Jackman he's earned more than $24,000, the most ever won on the show, and

invites Jackman back next week for a chance to win even more. The crowd explodes in applause. It's clear they love Jackman and that Enright's scheme is working according to plan. When the episode wraps up its broadcast, Jackman walks off stage and Enright greets the new champion with a slap on the back. Wow, Richard, heck of a show. I knew you'd be great. Well, I'm glad you enjoyed it.

Because I certainly did not. What do you mean? Jackman pulls En right by the arm, away from the crowded backstage area into a secluded hallway. Those questions were identical to the ones you gave me in the practice quiz yesterday. Please tell me that was some sort of mistake.

Well, you got me there. I just wanted to make sure you performed well. And based on how the games went, I'm guessing you didn't give that sort of help to my opponents? Look, you're a smart guy. You probably could have won all on your own. All I did was help things along.

You're great on camera, and we'd like to keep you on the show for a while. You should be thrilled. You should have told me about your little scheme. I never would have agreed to come on the show. I am an honest man, not some sort of quiz show crook. Well, I have to tell you, Richard, I'm shocked at this reaction.

I've never seen a man so upset about making $24,000 for a half hourhour work. Well, I've got news for you I'm not taking a dime of that money. You can send it to the other contestants or give it a charity It could be 24 million for all I care. My conscience is not for sale I'm very sorry Richard. Well, it seems like we should have told you that this is how the show works But but listen what go home and take some time and cool off. When you come back next week, we'll play a clean game. No answers in advance.

Well, I don't have any intention of returning. You'll just have to figure out something else." Jackman storms off toward the green room while Enright watches stunned. He rubs his temples, absorbing what just happened and thinking about what to do next. Just moments ago, he was celebrating the success of his seemingly foolproof plan, but now it's blown up in his face on the very first try. He'll need to figure out a new way forward and fast. In the days following Richard Jackman's victory on 21, Dan Enright continues talking with

him, imploring Jackman to return and compete again on the following week's episode. Because Enright knows if Jackman simply disappears from the show, it will be confusing to the audience at best and at worst deeply suspicious. Eventually, Enright convinces Jackman to accept a payout of $15,000, significantly less than what he earned on the show. Jackman also agrees to appear at the top of the next episode and explain to the audience that he's chosen to retire from the game because he doesn't want to risk the portion of his winnings that he would forfeit if he were to lose. Enright is relieved to have put the immediate problem behind him, but he's still left with

figuring out how to ensure the most entertaining outcomes and produce a compelling repeat champion, someone who's not only likable and charismatic, but willing to keep quiet about being fed the answers. So on the night of October 16th, 1956, two weeks after Jackman's first appearance on the show, Enright begins sifting through a stack of contestant applications on his desk. Each one includes a headshot, along with biographical information and the results of the sample quiz the contestant took when applying. But it's hard to know which of these people would make a compelling champion, let alone

if any of them would be willing to play along with the scheme. After a few minutes of digging, Enright sits back in his chair feeling defeated. He realizes there's no way to ensure any of these potential contestants will behave any differently than Jackman. But then it comes to him. What he needs to do is make sure they're willing co-conspirators from the very beginning. He'll have to make a deal with them up front, offering them a hefty payout in return for willingly taking part in the hoax. So with that in mind, offering them a hefty payout in return for willingly taking part in the hoax. So with that in mind, Enright returns to the stack of applications. On the top of the pile he finds a folder for an applicant named Herbert Stempel. He flips it open and sees his

headshot. Stempel looks like the quintessential nerd. He's wearing a drab suit and horn-rimmed glasses with thick lenses. And at first he doesn't seem especially compelling. But as Enright reads over Stempel's biography, he becomes intrigued. Stempel is a 29-year-old student at the City College of New York. He's a veteran of World War II, and his tuition is being covered by the GI Bill. He also has a wife and a young son, which means he'd likely be thrilled by the chance to make tens of thousands of dollars, and isn't likely to risk it by blabbing about what goes on behind the scenes. Then Enright looks over Stempel's score on the sample quiz. It's outstanding. In fact,

it's the best Enright has ever seen. To earn a score, this high Stempel must have an IQ in the top 1%. That would make him much more believable as a repeat champion. So Enright picks up Stempel's headshot again, leans back in his chair. He imagines how Stempel might come across on TV. He was hoping to find someone who could match the model-worthy looks of Jackman, but maybe Stempel could be molded into a different, but equally compelling type of character. Enright thinks of an episode of pro wrestling he recently watched on TV. Of course the crowd loved to see the hero win, but they were equally invested in seeing the villain lose. Maybe Stempel could be 21's first villain. Enright can mold him into a smug know-it-all kind of character, a human computer with zero charisma.

The audience would tune in week after week just hoping to see him lose. Enright finds Stempel's phone number in the file and begins dialing. And as he waits for Stempel to answer, a sly grin creeps across Enright's face. Stempel has no idea he's about to be made into America's most hated quiz show champ. From Wondering, this is episode one of Quiz Show Rigging for American Scandal. In our next episode, a rivalry on 21 catapults the show in the ratings, bringing fame and fortune to a pair of contestants. But when one of the men is forced to leave the show, he threatens

to expose the backstage collusion and bring the entire quiz show industry tumbling down. If you're enjoying American Scandal, you can unlock exclusive seasons on Wondry+. Binge new season first and listen completely ad-free when you join Wondry Plus in the Wondry app, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And before you go, tell us about yourself by filling out a survey at Wondry.com slash survey. If you'd like to learn more about this story, we recommend the books Television Fraud by Kent Anderson, Prime Time and Misdemeanors by Joseph Stone and Tim Young, and the PBS American Experience documentary The Quiz Show Scandals. This episode contains reenactments

and dramatized details. And while in most cases we can't know exactly what was said, all our dramatizations are based on historical research. American Scandal is hosted, edited and executive produced by me, Lindsey Graham for Airship. Audio editing by Christian Peraga. Sound design by Gabriel Gould. Music by Thrum. This episode is written by Corey Metcalf. edited by Emma Cortland, fact checking by Alyssa Jung Perry, produced by John Reed. Managing producer is Joe Florentino. Senior producers are Andy Beckerman and Andy Herman. Development by Stephanie Jens, and executive producers are Jenny Lauer Beckman, Marshall Louis, and Erin O'Flaherty for Wondering. Hi, I'm Kelly Corrigan. You probably never heard of me. Maybe you did.

I wrote some New York Times bestsellers. I gave a TED Talk. But the reason I'm in your ear now is to invite you to listen to Kelly Corrigan Wonders. We talked to everyone from Bono to Amy Schumer, Spike Lee to Rainn Wilson, Krista Tippett, and Bryan Stevenson, about purpose, creativity, well-being, and what makes life worth living. Follow and listen to Kelly Corrigan Wonders on the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts.