American Scandal - Quiz Show Rigging | The Perfect Contestant | 2

Episode Date: March 25, 2025

Herbert Stempel is given the opportunity of a lifetime when television producer Dan Enright offers him a guaranteed winning streak on the quiz show Twenty-One — so long as he follows the script. Stempel enjoys his newfound celebrity and financial success, but as ratings plateau, the producers search for a fresh face to take his place. 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 a September evening in 1956. 29-year-old Herbert Stempel darts around his apartment in Queens, New York, frantically dusting table tops and fluffing pillows to spruce the place up for an important guest. And as he begins stacking his wife's collection of life magazines into a neat pile on the

coffee table, he hears the knock at the door. Stempel's heart skips a beat. He knows who it is. Dan Enright, a TV producer for the quiz show 21. A few weeks ago, Stempel applied to be a contestant on the show. He has a remarkably high IQ and a photographic memory, so if he could get on the show, he thought he'd have a decent shot at winning some money. Even though his wife's family is already wealthy, he doesn't want to be beholden to them financially, and this could give him the

independence he craves while he finishes getting his college degree. Still, Stempel knew being selected was a long shot, so he was pleasantly surprised when just an hour ago he got a call from Enright asking to meet about being cast as a contestant. The producer was so eager to get the ball rolling, he offered to come right over to Stempel's home. Stempel takes a final look around the living room before opening the door. Mr. Enright, thanks for coming by. Please call me Dan. Oh, sure thing. Dan, come on inside.

Can I get you a drink? No, no thank you. I'd like to just get right down to business if that's alright. The two men take a seat on the couch. Stempel watches as Enright opens his black briefcase and removes several stacks of rectangular note cards. Can we start with a little practice round, see how you do? You know the game, right? We give you a category and ask what level of difficulty you want. 1 to 11. One's easiest, 11 is hardest. Yeah, I understand. What's the category? Novels. Well, I'm a big reader, so let's go

for 9. Enright thumbs through the stack and begins reading from the card. All right, for nine points, which Charles Dickens character is based on Dickens' own godfather, the shipping magnate Christopher Huffman? Well, let me first think about which of his novels involves shipping. Oh, that's great. Talk us through what you're thinking, just like that. Even if you know the answer, the audience wants to hear your process. Draw it out.

Oh, okay. Well, I remember now that the novel Dombey and Son is about a family in the shipping business, so I suppose the magnate would be the patriarch of the family. His name was Paul Dombey. For nine points, that's correct. Herb, you're a natural. Let's try another. The next category is baseball.

Ooh, not my forte. I'll try for three points. All right, for three points, who was the winning team in the first World Series in 1903? Oh, geez, well, my dad loves the Yankees, and if it was them, I think he would have mentioned it. So I'm just gonna guess and say it was the Detroit Tigers. I'm sorry, the correct answer is the Boston Americans. Oh, I, no, I would never have known that. Maybe we should try a different category.

I'm better with things like geography or science. You got any of those? No, it's okay, Herb. You know, this is just a practice round. We're feeling it out, you know. I really only got one more question for you. And it's the only one that matters. How would you like to make $25,000?

$25,000, well, who wouldn't? Then play ball with me and I'm gonna make $25,000? $25,000? Well, who wouldn't? Then play ball with me and I'm going to make it happen. Okay? I mean, is 25 about what I could win if I do well on the show? Well, it's not a question of could win. You're going to win tomorrow night. And then come back as the returning champion to win again. 25 is just the minimum I see for you.

It could be potentially much more. Well, I appreciate your confidence in me and I will try my best, but I'm sure the other contestants will be plenty smart as well. Err, I need you to listen to me carefully. I've got another stack of cards here and these are the questions we're going to ask in the actual show tomorrow. I'm gonna leave them here for you and I want you to start studying so you'll be fully prepared. You catch my drift? As Enright pulls the cards from his breast pocket and hands them over, Stempel finally understands what this meeting is about.

21 is rigged. He's not being cast as a genuine contestant, but more like an actor in a play. Looking at the cards, Stempel's mind races through all the legal and ethical implications of what Enright is proposing. But then he thinks about the money. He'd be a fool to say no to 25 grand, and all he has to do is go along with a little charade. Besides,

Enright is a TV professional. If he's okay with putting on a phony game, then it must be just how things are done. So after a moment, Stempel looks up at Enright, meeting the producer's eyes. He gives Enright a little nod and says he's in. Until April 2nd, sky-high elegance at dream prices during the Air France Rendezvous. It's time to book your Rendezvous with Paris starting at $765 or Madrid starting at $885 return from Toronto tax included. You can enjoy a glass of champagne however you fly, economy included. Elegance is a journey Air France.

Travel from March 17th to June 28th and from August 24th to November 30th 2025. See conditions at airfrance.ca. 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. With sponsored jobs, your post jumps to the top of the page for your relevant candidates. So you can reach the people you want faster.

And just how fast is Indeed? In the minute I've been talking to you, 23 hires were made on Indeed, according to Indeed data worldwide. There's no need to wait any longer. Speed up your hiring right now with Indeed and listeners of this show will get a $100 sponsored job credit to get your jobs more visibility at indeed.com slash wonder ECA just go to indeed.com slash wonder ECA right now and support our show by saying you heard about indeed on this podcast indeed.com slash wonder ECA terms and conditions apply hiring indeed is all you need. In 1955, a quiz show called The $64,000 Question premiered on CBS and quickly became one of

the hottest things on television. Audiences were captivated by the format of the show, in which contestants answered a series of trivia questions to either double their money or be sent home empty-handed. In the wake of the show's success, other networks raced to fill their lineups with competing game shows, and TV producers like Dan Enright were eager to cash in on the craze. Enright pitched NBC his concept of a show based on the card game Blackjack. He called it 21 and the network quickly snatched it up. But when the pilot episode premiered in September of 1956, it was a flop. The contestants were

unable to answer most of the trivia questions, leaving the show devoid of any drama or stakes. The show needed to change course quickly, so Enright devised a brazen new plan. He would find a compelling contestant and simply feed them the correct answers before the show taped, providing the continuity of a repeat champion, so one viewers could get invested in rooting for or against week after week. Enright thought he had found that contestant in Herbert Stempel. And soon after Stempel agreed to the plan, it seemed like the perfect partnership. Enright would get his returning champion, and Stempel would get the prize money.

But Stempel did not realize that he was replaceable. And as soon as the audience began losing interest in him, Enright would begin looking for his next star. This is episode 2, The Perfect Contestant. It's September 1956 in Herbert Stempel's living room. And now that Stempel has agreed to participate in the rigging of Quiz Show 21, producer Dan Enright is making sure Stempel is prepared to make his debut on tomorrow night's episode. Enright sits next to Stempel on the couch, reading off the questions he'll be asked,

and Enright is impressed with the way Stempel carefully talks through every question, building suspense before he gives the correct answer. This is exactly the type of drama quiz show audiences love. So when Enright is satisfied that Stempel has the questions down cold, he moves on to the next and equally important item on his agenda, wardrobe. Enright tells Stempel he'd like to see what clothes he has in his closet to help him pick out what he might wear. So Stempel leaves Enright into the bedroom, opens his closet door and pulls out a black

pinstripe suit. He explains this was the suit he wore in his wedding, the nicest one he owns. Looking it over, Enright thinks to himself it is indeed a nice suit. Too nice. Because Enright believes that every story needs a villain and he's casting Stempel in that role. Enright's idea is to portray Stempel as a human computer, a nerdy, trivia savant, devoid of any charisma or style. clarity, trivia, savant, devoid of any charisma or style. Enright wants Stempel to irritate the audience so that they tune in week after week, hoping to see him lose. But Enright knows Stempel would balk at this vision, so as he flips through Stempel's

closet, he keeps it to himself. Enright then pulls out a half dozen other suits and lays them on the bed. Then he steps back to look the collection over. One of the suits immediately jumps out. It's a boxy, double-breasted navy blue number that looks to be about 50 years old. Enright holds it up to Stempel's body and smiles. It screams schlubby and charmless. Enright tells Stempel he'd like him to wear this one for the show, but Stempel pushes back, explaining it belonged to his father-in-law who passed away and it doesn't fit him well. In fact, he was planning to give it away to charity.

Enright pauses to choose his next words carefully. He knows he can't tell Stempel that he wants to make him unlikable, but he does need to offer Stempel some sort of explanation for why he prefers this bad suit. So Enright explains that he doesn't necessarily want Stempel to look stylish for the show. He wants to portray Stempel as a cash-strapped veteran, just an ordinary guy trying to make ends meet as he works his way through college. Exactly the type of guy who would borrow his father-in-law's old suit for a TV appearance. Stempel looks unconvinced, so Enright reminds him that if they're going to be partners, they need to work together to make the most compelling television possible. Stample

should begin to think of himself as a character on a scripted program and Enright as the director. Letting Enright pick the outfit is part of the deal, and if Stample goes along with it, he's guaranteed to win $25,000 on the show. Stempel still is clearly not happy. He offers to put on the suit so Enright can see how bad it truly is. And while he heads to the bathroom to change, Enright notices a wristwatch on top of the dresser. It looks like the type you could buy for a dime at the Salvation Army. The band is made from fake brown leather and the ticking is so loud that it fills the room. Enright thinks it's certainly loud enough to be picked up by the microphone in 21's isolation booth, and that could be a nice touch.

Not only will it complete Stempel's cheap look, the ticking sound would add suspense as the audience waits for Stempel to answer. So when Stempel returns from the bathroom, Enright tosses him the watch and stands back to look at his creation. A grin creeps across his face. Enright knows it for sure. He's just created 21's first villain. The night after his meeting with Dan Enright, Herbert Stempel makes his debut on 21. Having already been supplied with the answers beforehand, he easily wins all three games in the episode, earning around $9,000.

And he continues to win for the next three weeks, again thanks to the answers provided by Enright. After a month on the show, Stempel has earned around $50,000, double what Enright originally promised him, and by far the most money he's ever earned in his life. And with Stempel's run performing well in the ratings, he's also become a bona fide celebrity. His old army buddies call to congratulate him and he gets plenty of positive attention from his classmates and professors at college. Stempel is on top of the world. But as his fifth appearance on 21 approaches, with another big payday in his sights, he learns that things aren't quite as they appear.

On an afternoon in late October 1956, Stempel arrives at Enright's Manhattan office to rehearse the questions and answers for tomorrow night's show, just like he has every week before. But as they conclude this session and Stempel gathers his coat to leave, Enright says there's something else he wants to discuss. As Stempel sits back down on the couch, he can feel the mood shift in the room. Enright begins by explaining that the show's sponsor, Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, has a weekly budget for the show. And in that budget, there's a cap on prize money that can be paid out to contestants. It's standard procedure for any game show, he says.

But Stempel's eyes narrow. He doesn't like the sound of this. So he leans forward and asks Enright exactly what all this means. Enright lets out a sigh and replies that unfortunately, he's not going to be able to pay Stempel the full amount he's won on the show so far, or in future episodes. Stempel jumps to his feet. He reminds Enright that for the last month they've been working hand in hand as partners. Enright has been to his home,

met his wife. Stempel considered them to be friends. He can't believe Enright never brought this issue up before. Enright gives what feels to Stempel like a half-hearted apology and says there's nothing he can do. His hands are tied by the sponsor's budget, which is limited to $10,000 a week for contestant winnings. Anything over that would have to come directly out of the producer's pocket. Stempel feels his chest tighten in anger. Rather than lash out, he takes a breath to calm himself and tries to reason with Enright. He points out that his appearances have been a boost to ratings. Perhaps the sponsor will make an exception for their payout policy. But Enright just shakes his

head. The sponsor is in this to make a profit and they'll never change a contract to give away more money if they don't have to. Then Enright pulls a document from his desk drawer and hands it to Stempel telling him he needs to sign it. In the document, Stempel sees exactly how the reduced payment scheme is laid out. There are tiers. If he wins between $40,000 and $60,000, Stempel will be paid only $40,000. For sums between $60,000 and $80,000, he'll receive $50,000. And for anything over $80,000, he'll just receive $60,000. Stempel rubs his temples as he thinks it over. There are no witnesses here to see him sign the paper. It's not even on official company letterhead. This whole contract feels shady and possibly

illegal, but Stempel isn't sure what he can really do about it. He could tell Enright he wants to bring the document to a lawyer to look it over. That's what would happen in any normal business arrangement, but this one has been anything but normal from the start. Stempel knows that if he angers Enright, the producer could just manipulate the outcome of the next episode, ensuring that Stempel loses. Or he could cut Stempel from the show entirely, right here and now. Enright holds all the cards, and Stempel needs the show much more than the show needs him. So Stempel begrudgingly signs the paper. But as he slides it back across the desk, he takes a fresh look at Enright's face, and for the first time he starts to wonder if this man, one he considered a partner and friend, can ever really be trusted.

The night after this meeting, Herbert Stempel appears on 21 again and wins the game with ease, having already been given all the answers. But even with Stempel having agreed to take a reduced payout, the show's lead producer Dan Enroyd and his assistant Albert Friedman soon began discussing when and how to remove Stempel from the show. After Stempel provided an initial spike in ratings, viewership plateaued over the subsequent weeks and by the first week of November 1956, 21 has fallen out of the top ten, lagging well behind rival quiz show The $64,000 Question. So the producers comb through contestant applications again, looking for a replacement, but they

don't find anyone that has the combination of wits and star quality they're looking for. Enright tells Friedman that he needs to be more proactive about recruiting a new star contestant and makes it clear that Friedman's job may depend on it. Friedman hears the message loud and clear, and soon after, he meets an intriguing young man at an upscale cocktail party in Greenwich Village. That night in November 1956, Friedman mingles with a dozen other guests in the fancy living room of one of his friend's apartment. He stands in the corner sipping a Tom Collins as he

surveys the room. Every time he's left home for the past week, he's kept an eye out for anyone who could make for a potential star on 21. But he's not entirely sure what he's looking for. A man, a woman, young, old, upper class, blue collar, but he's hoping he'll know it when he sees it. When he finishes his drink, Freeman heads to the kitchen to make another one, and as he gets closer to the ice bucket, Freeman spots a tall, handsome man, about 30 years old, pouring a pair of drinks for himself and the young woman on his arm. At first glance, Friedman thinks this gentleman may be television worthy, so he puts out his hand and introduces himself.

Hey there, I don't think we've met. I'm Albert Friedman. Pleasure to meet you, Charles Van Doren. Nice party, isn't it? Yeah, it really is. Van Doren, you say? I've heard that name before. You are related to the writers Mark and Dorothy Van Doren?

I am, in fact. They're my parents. Well, with those genes, you must be quite the writer yourself. Well, I don't know about that. I haven't been able to finish a novel yet. So for now, I'm a lowly English instructor at Columbia. Friedman can sense Vandoren's slight insecurity about not living up to the family's name.

And perhaps this is something he can use to his advantage. We can't all be Pulitzer Prize winners, you know? I'm just a lowly TV producer myself. about not living up to the family's name. And perhaps this is something he can use to his advantage. We can't all be Pulitzer Prize winners, you know? I'm just a lowly TV producer myself. I work on one of those silly quiz shows, 21. I'm sorry, I've never seen it, or any quiz show for that matter. I don't even own a television.

Well, you know, it's not a bad way to make a living. And I'll tell you my favorite part of the job, it's that moment at the end, when the host adds up how much the contestant has won. Just a look on their face when they realize they've made life-changing money. We have a fellow on a winning streak right now who's made about 50 grand. Oh my goodness, that really is a lot of money. Yeah, I'm sure it's pocket change to a Van Doren, right? No, not to me it wouldn't be. That's much more than I make at Columbia. I'm barely making do with a small apartment right up the street from here.

Well, then let's get you on the show. I mean, I bet you'd be great on TV. And when you win, then you'll be the most famous Van Doren of all. Oh, I don't know. I'm sure the other players are plenty smart. Don't sell yourself short. You're obviously very well read. Why don't you come by my office this week and we'll give you a test.

I bet you'll ace it. Well, it couldn't hurt to take the test. I mean, worst case, I guess I'll have a fun story to talk about at the next cocktail party, right? Right. Here, take my card. Give me a call, okay? We'll set up a time for you to come in. All right, thanks.

Oh, goodness, I've forgotten your name already. Albert Freeman. Albert, I'll give you a call. As Freeman watches Vandoren and his date return to the party, he can barely contain his excitement. At long last, he may have just found the perfect contestant. A bright, handsome young man from a famous family, one looking to make a name for himself. So he can't wait to get Van Doren into the office so he can meet Dan Enright. And once they convince Van Doren to play along, they can finally replace Herbert Stemple

and make 21 the hit it deserves to be. 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

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In November 1956, Charles Van Doren finds himself with an opportunity he never considered. Despite never having seen a TV quiz show or even owning a television, he performs well on the trivia test and the producers are impressed with his family pedigree, handsome looks, and smooth demeanor. But what Van Doren does not know is that 21 is a rigged game, with the outcome of each episode tightly controlled by producers Dan Enright and Albert Friedman. So later that month, when Friedman invites Van Doren to his apartment to discuss his

debut appearance on 21, Van Doren arrives feeling excited and nervous. He hopes that if he is in fact going to be a contestant, he'll get enough questions right to do his family proud. Friedman answers the door, but Van Doren is immediately puzzled to see a worried look on Friedman's face. Charles, thanks for coming. I need to talk to you about something and I didn't want to do it on the phone. Oh goodness, is everything all right? Yeah, just come in.

The two men take a seat on Friedman's couch as they talk. Here's the thing, our current champion, this guy Herbert Stempel, we just got a call from the sponsor and they want him off the show as soon as possible. We thought we'd have more time but they're really pushing hard. I don't understand. Well, you know, Stempel, he's made for a great villain. You know, he's an arrogant know-it-all and people tuned in to see if anyone could beat him. But now he's out worn his welcome. Ratings have dipped and the sponsor's anxious for someone to take him out. That's where you come in.

Well, I'm willing to give it a try and I'm flattered you think I could do it. But if he's been on the show for a month, he must be very sharp. Well, that's what I want to discuss with you. I want to make sure you win. So you and I will go through the answers before the show. Vandorne is stunned.

He feels his body filled with tension. Oh, goodness, I wasn't expecting this. I don't think I'm comfortable with being given the answers. Is that even legal? Well, it doesn't matter. Nobody's going to find out because this will be just between you and me, right? The sponsor won't know.

The audience sure as heck won't. The host won't even know. Yes, but I will. And I'm not sure I want to live with that. Well, you know, it's just a TV show. There's no victim here. Stempel's played his part. He's made a bundle. Now it's your turn. All you have to do is answer the questions, throw in a few dramatic pauses for effect. Well, I'm sure I could give the performance, but I don't know if I want to. Charles, here's the deal. I can promise you eight grand, minimum.

And if the ratings jump like I suspect they will, then we'll have you back to make a lot more. Eight thousand dollars, minimum. And even more important, I want to help you make a name for yourself. No man should have to live in the shadow of his parents, right? Play ball with me and you'll be the biggest star in your family. Bandoran leans forward, holding his head in his hands as he thinks over Friedman's offer. He knows that Friedman is trying to manipulate him by bringing up his family.

But the producer isn't wrong. It would be nice to be in the spotlight for once. The money wouldn't hurt either. A few days after meeting with Albert Friedman, Charles Van Doren agrees to play his role in the rigging of 21. And with contestant Herbert Stempel also being supplied with the answers beforehand, their impending matchup will mark the first time that both players are on board with a fully scripted episode. When the contestants face off on the night of November 28, 1956, it goes just how Friedman and his boss Dan Enright planned it.

Both contestants perform their roles to perfection and play to three consecutive ties. And as the prize money rolls over and escalates with each subsequent tied game, the suspense only grows, with Van Doren and Stempel now set to return the following week. The morning after this episode airs, grows with Van Doren and Stempel now set to return the following week. The morning after this episode airs, Enright calls Friedman into his Manhattan office to celebrate and plot the next steps for the show. Enright is at his desk looking over printouts of last night's ratings when Friedman enters the room.

Enright holds up the papers and shares the good news. Last night's episode produced the highest ratings in the history of the show, and the number of viewers steadily increased as the episode went on. The sponsor is Ecstatic, and according to the studio manager, people have been lined up since dawn trying to get tickets to see next week's rematch. Enright goes on to gush over Van Doren's performance in particular, congratulating Friedman on finding the perfect contestant. He explained that it's now obvious that Van Doren should be the ultimate victor, but he wants to talk through how to script it. Enright suggests that since the three straight ties were such a smashing success, they should have the two-man tie three times again next week, send the ratings even higher. But Friedman pushes back, arguing

that six consecutive ties could arouse suspicions. He wonders aloud what the statistical likelihood of that would be. All it would take is for one mathematically inclined viewer to run the numbers and people might start poking around into what's really going on behind the scenes. Enright argues that ties may now have been proven to be the secret to the show's success and they'd be foolish not to milk them for all their worth. The room goes silent for a moment as both men think it through. Then Friedman speaks up, offering a compromise. Perhaps they could have just one more tie game at the top of the next episode and then Van Doren could win in the second game.

Enright mulls it over, then finally with a nod agrees. Then he moves on to the topic of how to get Stempel off the show in the most entertaining fashion. He compares it to professional wrestling in that in every staged match there's a moment near the end where it looks like the villain is seconds away from pinning the hero, but then the villain makes a foolish mistake allowing the hero to score a dramatic come-from-behind win. The crowds just eat it up. Friedman likes the idea, so Enright suggests that in their final game, Stempel should run up a seemingly insurmountable score. 15 to zero, or even more. Then he'll have Stempel miss an easy question, something most people

watching at home would get. The audience will finally get the satisfaction of seeing that Stempel, the so-called human computer, is mortal after all. Friedman loves the idea, and with the basic scripting settled, he heads down to his own office to call Van Doren with the good news. But that leaves Enright to begin thinking of how best to break the news to Stempel. He's expressed that his time on the show has been one of the greatest experiences of his life. So if he learns that he's being replaced by a new star contestant and right knows there's a chance a stemple will not go quietly.

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I was meant to sow terror. He's awoking the people to a true issue. Listen to Law and Crime's Luigi exclusively on Wondery Plus. You can join Wondery Plus in the Wondery app, Spotify, or Apple podcasts. In 1920, American women won the right to vote, but it took over 70 years and three generations of activists to get there.

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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+. Join Wondery Plus in the Wondery app, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. Start your free trial today. By the first week of December 1956, Herbert Stempel has reigned as 21's champion and breakout star for more than a month. In that time, he's won a life-changing amount of money and come to enjoy being treated as a celebrity by the public, and he's done it with the help of the show's lead producer,

Dan Enright. Stempel has received the answers to trivia questions before each episode, and in exchange, Stempel has done everything Enright has asked. He stuck to a tightly controlled script, altered his appearance and mannerisms to portray himself as a charmless nerd, and even signed a secret agreement to accept a reduced payout of prize money. But on the most recent episode, Enright introduced a new wrinkle to the show that has Stempel worried.

Stempel has become accustomed to winning every game handily, but this time the episode ended in three consecutive ties between himself and a charismatic new contestant, Charles Van Doren. With each tie, the money rolled over to the next game, and now the two contestants are set to square off once again with an enormous amount of money going to the victor and Stempel is praying it'll be him So on December 4th when Stempel heads into Enright's office to rehearse the following night's episode He's eager to hear what Enright has planned

But immediately Stempel notices something odd a pile of vinyl records stacked on the couch. Dan, what's all this? Oh, it's something I thought you'd like to have. Audio recordings from all of your appearances on the show. Token of my appreciation, since this might be the last time you're here in the office. Last time? What do you mean? I'll be rehearsing with a different producer going forward? No, let me show you something. Close the door, please.

Stempel watches as Enright walks to a chalkboard on the wall and begins sketching. See, these are the ratings for 21. You can see we started out quite low, way down here. Then we brought you on and there was an immediate spike, which was great. But over the weeks, this line plateaued and then began to dip. But then last week, as soon as we introduced Charles Van Doren, we shot up to a new all-time high. I hope you can see where I'm going with this. You're saying I'm off the show. You're going to replace me with Van Doren. Look, try not to take this too personally. You have had a very good run, and we both knew it wouldn't last

forever. You agreed from the beginning to do everything I asked, and well, now I'm asking you to lose. Stemple begins pacing anxiously, panic rising in his chest. He feels like his newfound identity as a quiz show champion is being stripped away from him. This is going to be another way. Let's make a deal. Don't give me the answers this time.

Let me just play Van Doren straight up. We both know I can beat him. You said I had the highest score ever on that application test. No, I'm sorry Herb. You said I had the highest score ever on that application test. Nah, I'm sorry, Herb. You've been a great contestant. But 21 is a business like any other, and I have to make a business decision here. Well, I guess now I have my own decision to make.

Once we're live on air, I can do or say anything I want, right? Maybe I'll decide to answer all the questions correctly and blow up your little plan with Van Doren. Well, I think that would be a bad idea. Why is that? Because I've got nothing to lose now. Well, because I was hoping this would be

just the start of our partnership. My company has several quiz shows on the air now and more in the works. So I'd like to put your talents to work as a full-time research consultant. You could make a real career out of it and the money for a TV producer can be quite good. Are you being serious?

Of course I'm being serious. Come back and see me as soon as you graduate in June. And in the meantime, I want you to be something of an ambassador for 21, keeping you in the public eye. I'm talking to NBC right now about booking you as a guest on The Tonight Show. It all depends on you playing your role tomorrow night. Stempel takes a moment to consider this offer. He despises the idea of intentionally losing to a man he knows he can beat. But what Enright said is true. Stempel did agree to bow out whenever asked. He just hoped it wouldn't be so abrupt.

So now he imagines himself making a good living working behind the scenes, perhaps even working directly with Enright. And sitting on the guest couch of The Tonight Show wouldn't be bad either. All of this would have been unimaginable just six weeks ago and he'd be a fool to throw it away now. So Stempel swallows his pride and agrees that he'll follow Enright's script and bow out gracefully, but he says he's not happy about it. In the hours after Herbert Stempel agrees to intentionally lose on the next episode of 21, his excitement over a potential career in television gives way to resentment over being pushed off the show. NBC promotes the episode as a showdown between humble

college student Stempel and the upper crust Ivy League professor Charles Van Doren. But Stempel knows he's the smarter man and finds the framing deeply insulting. So to soften the embarrassment of his impending loss, Stempel reveals to a half dozen people that he's been instructed to take a dive. He tells his wife, family friend, his maid, even his barber and pharmacist. And on the day of the show, December 5th, Stempel shows up to the studio looking much different than previous episodes. Rather than the old ill-fitting suits of his disheveled, unlikable character on the show, now Stempel dons his nicest

suit, determined to look his best for what will be his quiz show funeral. But when the cameras roll, Stempel sticks to Enright's script, which calls for him to tie the first game and then lose the second. But he's mortified when he's forced to intentionally miss one particular question. With Stempel leading the first game 16-0 and one question away from victory, he's asked who won the 1955 Academy Award for Best Picture. Stempel knows the answer is the earnest Borgnein film Marty. Not only is this an incredibly easy question, but it also happens to be Stempel's favorite

movie. Being forced to pretend he doesn't know the answer is humiliating. Still Stempel keeps his promise and incorrectly answers on the waterfront, allowing Van Doren to stay alive and eventually tie the game in dramatic fashion. Then in the next game, Stempel once again deliberately fails to answer a question correctly and host Jack Berry declares Van Doren the winner. In a day, Stempel leaves his soundproof isolation booth and begrudgingly shakes Van Doren's hand. The crowd explodes in applause

for the new champion as the show's triumphant theme music plays. And then, just moments later, it's all over. The music stops and the house lights come on. The audience begins to file out. Stempel watches as Enright springs onto stage, brushes past him and greets Van Doren with a big slap on the back. This gesture couldn't be any more clear. Van Doren is now 21's chosen son and Stempel is old news. So he hangs his head and walks backstage alone to have his makeup removed. But as Stempel takes a seat in the chair, he can hear a pair of stage hands talking nearby. They're discussing the episode and one of them remarks that he's happy to finally have a clean-cut intellectual as a champion, saying Van Doren

is much more likeable than Stempel, who's just some freak with a good memory. Stempel feels like he's had a knife shoved in his heart. His instinct is to confront the man, grab him by the lapels and scream that the show is rigged. He could have beat Van Doren. He wants to tell him that he's not a freak, he was just playing a character that Dan Enright invented. But Stempel doesn't do any of that. He just takes a deep breath as he thinks better of it. Enright has promised him a job with his production company, along with an appearance on The Tonight Show.

It would be foolish to throw these opportunities away by running around backstage telling the people the show's a hoax. But as Stempel swallows his anger, he wonders if he can really trust Enright to come through with everything he's promised. This is the same man who set him up to unwittingly play the role of 21's villain, made him sign away a sizable chunk of his rightful winnings. But this time, if Enright betrays him again, Stempel has leverage. He knows firsthand what goes on behind the scenes of 21.

And if he needs to, that's a card he's going to play. From Wondery, this is episode 2 of Quiz Show Rigging for American Scam. In our next episode, Charles Van Doren becomes the biggest quiz show star in television history. But soon the industry's dark secrets are going to come out and the public will demand answers. If you're enjoying American Scandal, you can unlock exclusive seasons on Wondery+. Binge new season first and listen completely ad-free when seasons on Wondery+. Binge new seasons first and listen completely ad-free when you join Wondery+, in the Wondery app, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. And before you go, tell us about yourself by filling out a survey at Wondery.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 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. 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.