Gilbert Gottfried's Amazing Colossal Podcast - GGACP Classic: Forgotten Game Shows with Dick DeBartolo

Episode Date: September 25, 2025

Keeping with the theme of this week's "Fun For All Ages" game show episode, GGACP revisits this 2017 conversation with "Match Game" writer Dick DeBartolo, who recalls his days as a staff writer-consultant for Goodman-Todson and crafting quips and questions for "Match Game," "Tattletales" and "What's My Line?" Also, the boys look back at some obscure (and largely forgotten) game and quiz shows, including "Don Adams' Screen Test," "The Fun Factory," "The Wizard of Odds" and "The Magnificent Marble Machine." PLUS: The rise and fall of Allan Sherman! Remembering Bobby Van! Sonny Fox hosts "The Movie Game"! And Jackie Gleason apologizes for "You're in the Picture"! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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TV, comics, movie stars hit singles and some toys Trivia and dirty jokes, an evening with the boys Once is never good enough for something so fantastic So here's another Gilbert and Franks, here's another Gilbert and Franks Here's another Gilbert and Franks Colossal Classic Hi, I'm Hi, I'm

Godfrey, and I'm here with my co-host, Frank Santopatra are Gilbert and Franks, amazing colossal. obsessions. You're frightening me. And we're here at Nutmeg. Yes.

And we're here at Nutmeg with our engineer, Frank Verde Roos. And the beleaguered Paul Rayburn, our researcher. And we're here with Dick D. Bartolo. If that's what he calls himself. That's what he's going on himself. I changed it recently. For part two of our game show episode. Now, we talked about Dick's experiences before on match game and to tell the truth and

tattletails and all kinds of stuff. And I got some game show research here. I got deep into this. Yes. And I thought, I wonder if I could fuck with these guys' heads and see what they remember. So I'm going to see how many of these shows you guys remember. This is called, this is our friends at me TV, helping us out with an article called obscure forgotten game shows of the 70s. Okay.

Which I figure is our era. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Right. Me TV thought I was too dirty. They did. Yes. Yes. But they listened to the show because they, they, uh, they,

They did an article about our Don Wells episode. Ah. So that's why I said our friends at me TV. Oh, okay. Is Don Wells good? Fred than those scumbags at me TV. Hey, didn't you have questions? Oh, yeah.

Oh, quotes. We talked about Gilbert on pyramid. In a previous episode, we tell you, that's right, $25,000 pyramid, which Gilbert remembered he had been on. Correct. And on the Internet, one who looks, can find top Gilbert Godfried quotes from $25,000 pyramid. That's sad.

So I have one. I have one. I always wish the hotels were like they are in movies and TV shows, where if you're in Paris right outside your window is the Eiffel Tower. In Egypt, the pyramids are right there. In the movies, every hotel has a monument right outside your window. My hotel rooms overlook the garbage dumpster in the back alley. That's good.

It's a philosophy of life. Wow. It was more a statement about movies and TV than an actual joke. Yeah, but it's Paul, once again That's one of his top 10 quotes When you shouldn't have See, now that observation

Could be used, we could do Another Obsession show Called trenchant insights Yeah, or like ones that You know, they've done They've talked about this a lot Stuff that is only in movies And television

Right, we'll do one of those Yeah, like girls waking up with their blanket over their breasts. No matter where, how long they've been out of the apartment for the day, when two people walk in, there's always ice on the bar. Yes. That's interesting. No one ever goes to the refrigerator. Think of that.

They also park right in front of the building. Yes, that's it. And especially in a hospital. There's always a park in the face. They pull right up and they get out and they leave their car there. That's a good idea for a future episode. Why will we research that? And then I like how girls will, when they're taking a bath, first of all, it'll always be a bubble bath.

And then they'll reach for the towel and wrap the towel around them while they're still in the bed. They won't stand up. Well, that's also, that's a cousin of women getting up from the bed with the sheet and the blanket wrapped around them twice. And it fits like it fit Cleopatra perfectly, you know. All right. So we've got the game show. expert, Dick DeBartolo here with us. Oh, before you talk

to him. Yeah. Talk to him. I'd rather not. Another one is if someone's just wrapped in nothing but a towel, they can get into a fight, they can dance, they can do cartwheels,

the towel will not slip off. Even though you're begging it to. Yes. It's like the towel is like staple to them. See, Dick, one of One of the things that's been established on this show is Gilbert likes what we call incidental nudity. It's called Gilbert nudity.

Gilbert nudity. Oh, okay, right. He doesn't like nudity in the context of a sex scene. He likes casual nudity. Oh, okay. Yeah, like, I want a naked girl doing her taxes. Yes. Putting in a light bulb.

Oh, yeah, changing a light bulb. Nudity in the act of doing, in the process of doing everyday tasks. Oh, okay. Okay, that's good. Tacking down a carpet. Perfect. That kind of thing. Yes.

Yeah, oh, excellent. And now you're talking. Changing the floaty thing in the toilet tank. You can see how many times I've changed it. Who remembers the Wizard of Odds with Albert? Oh, my God, wait, wait. Did I redeem myself with this one? What you find?

The whole found a naked girl climbing up a ladder. That's impressive. Yeah. That's impressive. My best piece of research ever. Yes. Your only piece of research. Now apologize to him.

Yeah. All right. Let's see what you guys can do with these. Alex Trebek hosted a show called The Wizard of Odds. Remember anything about it? I do not remember. From 1973 to 1974. Now, Gilbert, it's a special interest to you because

it was produced by Alan Thick. Oh, my God. Who also sang the theme song, of course he did. Oh, God. And composed it. Alan knows the monies in the theme song. I don't have to listen to that theme song and come back and sing. Paul, maybe you can find us the theme song from the Wizard of Oz.

Hosted by Alex Trebek. I think it was Alex Trebek's first. Yeah. I think it was his fourth. This describes his foray into the American game show hosting. Now, there was a game show that was even, somebody even brought it up on this show that I remember. I used to watch and I loved. But I don't think it lasted that long and that was the movie game.

Oh, with Sonny Fox, former guest and Army Archard. And I like that one. Do you remember the movie game? I remember what time they had Milton Burl as one of the contestants. I think, didn't we talk to Sunny? I think Sunny was the host of the movie game. That was a great episode And a film critic

So much better than Dick Bartlow Sonny's around That's great Sonny's 91 He was Super Yeah This star

Dick Bartolo He doesn't do the kid show anymore De Bartolo Yeah He's a waste of time But Sonny Fox Was a good guest You're being roasted Dick

And Dan And Danny Ayala was a great Dick D Bartolo Who remembers the show Called Stumpers hosted by Alan Ludden Anything?

Oh No These were short-lived October to December of 1970s. Oh, and then there was that game show that lasted one episode that Jackie Gleason came back. Oh, you're in the picture. Yeah, you're in the picture. Yeah. It ran one episode. I think people would stick their head through a picture. You remember this? I have to guess. Yeah. You know, it was like those Coney Island boardwalk things. So this person would stick their head. Oh, and then you have to guess what they were as?

And Gleason hosted it one time, and then came back the second week and apologized. Yeah. He came on and said, I'm embarrassed about it. This was the war show. You know, and never should have gone on. Is there a thing that Don Rickles hosted? Don Rickles hosted a game show. Yeah.

I couldn't find it. I couldn't find the name of it. It was a Goodson show. It was very short-lived. Yeah. Because I remember. Can you imagine? Rickles hosting a game show?

We'll have to, Paul, see if you can dig that out. Okay. Who remembers the fun factory, hosted by Bobby Van? Wizard of Odds is tough. That's a tough one. Maybe we can get that for a future episode. We will return to Gilbert Gottfried's amazing colossal podcast after this. During the Volvo Fall Experience event,

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So what am I looking at him now? Rickles hosted a game show. Yeah. No one remembers the fun factory with Bobby Van? You remember Bobby Van? Oh, yes. The song and dance man, he was married to Elaine Joyce. Yes.

I was just going to say that. He was like hopping through the entire. And I heard it was either the producer or the director. They were pissed off at him. And they invented that dance as punishment where it just had to keep hopping up and down, which probably became really painful. Wow. Did you say?

I had heard that this podcast was painful and it was created to punish Frank. Yes. And it does every week, my friend. It accomplishes that every week. Okay, here's a Goodson-Todman one called The Better Sex, which was hosted by Bill Anderson and Sarah Purcell. Oh, my gosh. Six men and six women competed against each other.

I do not remember that. Well, those two were on a Goodson-Todman summer show called That's My Line. It was to compete with real people. Oh, okay. Where people came on. Yeah, I remember real people. Yeah, okay. How about shoot for the stars?

Gilbert. In 1977, hosted by Jeff Edwards, who was better known for hosting a show called Jackpot. Yes. Wow. And this was the last NBC game show to originate from New York City. What, does it say what year? On 1977. It aired from January to September of 1977. Holy cow. It was the last one. How about Blankety Blanks, hosted by Bill Cullen? Blankety Blank was Goodson-Timesman, was it? Yeah. Yeah. Uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, created by Bob Stewart, who was a Goodson and Toddman. The Todman person back then, yes. Okay, here's one of my favorites.

The Magnificent Marble Machine. Oh, my God. Does anybody remember this but me? It was a giant pinball game. And the people... Hosted by Art James, who was a... Yeah, did the people actually get in the machine? No, it was two celebrities.

I have a picture here of Artie Johnson and Earl Holloman. Wow. Thank the magnificent marble machine against what looks like Leslie Uggams and Adrian Barbeau. What looks like? Oh, that's very funny. I can't tell because it's a very small picture. That's not the perfect game show case. That's just like the scripted.

And Art James. Art James, who hosted. He died very early, right? Didn't he host PDQ? He did. No, I think it was Art James. He used to live on 79th in Broadway, the Ansonia. I think of all the Bears.

Art James did a lot. lot of game shows. Yes. Yeah, they described this as something like a psychedelic album or a Sid and Marty Croft production. It featured a massive pinball machine as its centerpiece that was 20 feet high and 12 feet long, created by Heater and Quigley. Oh, yeah, Quigley production. Yeah. So, and here's some that we have talked about on this show. Now, I know you know this one, Gilbert. Yes. This is called Don Adam's Screen Test. Oh, yes, yes. You remember this? I remember. And this was Don Adams when he was at the height of two forces there.

One was midlife crisis. Yeah. And the other was that horrible 70s fashions. Yeah, well, there he is in a ridiculous leisure season. Oh, my gosh. With a ruffled shirt. Now he's clean shaven there, though. Yeah.

Because for a while he grew like a handlebar mustache, I think. and he would dress in those terrible 70s fast. You had the processed hair. And yeah, I definitely remember that. Yep, it was an American game show hosted by Don Adams. The announcer was Dick Tufeld of Lost in Space fame. He was the voice of the robot. Oh, my gosh.

Lost in Space, he was the announcer. And it was an hour-long pilot in May 16, 1975. It ran short-lived September, one year, September 75 to September. 76. There's also, I think I'm looking at the same thing you are, Frank, says it's owned by Universal Television, but has not been seen since its original airing. I found a clip on YouTube that has Rona Barrett and the director George Marshall, who was an old-time film director.

So what contestants would basically do screen tests? Yes. And the prize was you got to go to Hollywood and do an actual screen test. Yes. Now, do you remember Richard Dawson? Masquerade Party. Yes. Before that, you know, you know what the fun...

It was somebody else first. Yes, it was starting the 50s. Mike Stokies, right? I think it started in the 50s on the Dumont Network hosted by Bud Collier. Oh, my God. But just getting back to that screen test one, what's so funny about that, they get you, if you win, you get a screen test. That was the prize. That's like, I like, I think.

think you're an intelligent guy. I'm going to get you a job interview. I'm going to show you where they sell lottery tickets. That's funny. Masquerade party started in 52. It ran through the 50s. Bud Collier, Peter Donald, Eddie Bracken hosted it at one point. The immortal Robert Q. Lewis Oh, Robert, yes. He did some good. Who Cabot told us about. Bert Parks hosted it from 58 to 60. And then they brought it back in the 70s with Richard Dawson as the host. Now, you'll love this, Gilbert. Comedian Alan Sherman was the producer.

Oh, wow. How about that? And celebrities would dress in prosthetic makeup. Yes, I remember this show, yes. And there was a theme to who they were and you had to guess they would act out scenes and then people would guess it was like. And then they would get a screen test. Yeah. Now, Alan Sherman, I heard that Alan Sherman, like, you know, before he became famous, you know, he was like a fat nebish.

And then when he started getting fame and money, he became a thin Catholic. Yeah, yeah, no, he, it just everything he was before and everything he wanted to be, it drove him crazy. They said he was a difficult guy to work with, Alan Sherman. And he died young. He died from, I think, during open heart surgery. Yeah, and I think he just got carried away with its own success. You'll never have to worry about that. That's for sure.

What do you got on Richard Dawson's masquerade party, Paul? Anything? No, I didn't. I'm trying to see what him to Alan Sherman, though. I'm working on that at the moment. How about the who-what or where game? Does that ring any bells? Also hosted by Art James. God, he hosted a lot of loses.

And then three on a match hosted by Bill Cullen. That wasn't Goodson, was it? Bob Stewart. Bob Stewart, oh, okay. Yeah, the announcer was, but these were shows that originated in New York. Yeah, because Bob Bosley.

Sale of the Century. Stuart was in New York. Joe Gargiola was done here in New York. Oh, Joe Gargiola did, to tell the truth for a while. Right. So tell us, did you ever work for Jack Barry and, and Enright? Yes.

Yes. The famous blackballed producers? It was my first job. It was my after-school job working as a messenger. And then I met Bob Noah there, and Bob Noah went over to Goodson. And he said, you know, Goodson has this idea for a game show, match game. Oh, and then it became match game. And he said, you know, they're looking for someone to write questions. You want to give it a shot? And I said, yeah.

Yeah, because Sonny told us that he knew Enright, because he, remember Sonny was on the fringes of the, of the, the Quisho scandal? Yes. Yeah. And Barry and Enright were really, they were brought down by that. They didn't work for years. No, absolutely. And also, there was a third name for a while. It used to be Barry Enright friendly.

Was it? Did it? Okay, another challenge for the Green Hornet, Paul. Can I give you Ellen Sherman a little bit about it? Go. Yeah. It's sad. It's a sad story.

He was affected by. The Kennedy assassination, when Vaughn Meader stopped doing any impressions, and his comedy was perceived to be similar kind of comedy. And so he couldn't get work. He was divorced. His wife got custody of the kids. How bizarre. He lived in the, what is this? You guys probably know this. The sort of a home for motion picture and television, country house and hospital near Calabasas. Yeah, Calabasas. In 1971, he did the voice of the cat in the hat for the television special. did one more Dr. Seuss thing and died at either 47 or 47.

Oh my gosh. Yeah, he died very young. That's a tragedy. He was a big star in the early 60s. He was a rocket. Yeah, he had those his parody is. Yeah, they were super.

He had a lot of albums. Yeah. Well, thanks for bringing the show down, Paul. Yeah, yeah. It's funny. And Weird Al was definitely influenced. We had a weird Al on the show, and he was a big Alan Sherman fan.

Yeah. He's a big mad fan, too. Yeah, I know he edited an issue of mad. Those Alan Sherman albums, if you go back at my son, the folk singer, is quite good. Oh, very funny. I remember, aside from, you know, hello mother, hello father, that was a number one hit on the radio. He had that one, Harvey and Sheila. Harvey and Sheila, Harvey.

And that was something like, she worked for NBC, he worked for A&P. There was a parody of Matilda, the Harry Belafonte song called My Zelda. She took the money and ran with the tailor. And the ballot of Harry Lewis, Glory, Glory, Harry Lewis, and Pop hates the Beatles. You got a great memory. Oh, I love that. We should do an episode looking back at those tunes. Yeah, well, we'll do a comedy album episode.

We'll do one where we talk about Vaughn Mee, too and Alan Sherman in fact their careers were happening right around the same time Sherman was a big deal in the early 60s there's my son the folk singers filled with with JFK references oh yeah Jackie Kennedy jumped down spin around pick a dress of cotton oh that's very funny yeah funny man but I and I don't want to disparage the man but I understand he had a difficult life yeah wow 47 that's too that's too early to go yeah well now I want to kill myself Well, you knew none of these games shows.

I'm just doing my job here. I still haven't been figuring out what you had to do. I noticed he wrote down the name of that retirement home. That's hilarious. He passed you a note and said, get me in the room rates on that. We had the sad demise of Gloria Swanson and Alan Sherman in this episode. All right, Gil. Okay.

Why don't you just say, our guest has been? Our guest has been. Dick D. Bartolo. He got it. And this has been. Gilbert. God, thank you. This has been Gilbert and Franks.

Amazing. Collage. S. It felt like you're an iron lung. sexy? Thank you, Dick. Thank you.

Thank you, Paul. Thank you, Frankie. I'm not thanking you.