Proved unscripted sparkle could be appointment TV without a single car chase.
Why it matters
Episode guide
901 episodes across 18 seasons — season-by-season catalog (titles and dates, not a recap dump).
At a glance
Blindfolded panelists guess occupations and celebrity mystery guests with urbane banter and good manners. Occupations range from humble to glamorous; the fun is the guessing game as social theater. Unscripted sparkle without a car chase in sight.
Network & studio
- CBS — broadcast network
- Mark Goodson Productions — production studio
- CBS Productions — production studio
Why watch now
Proto-reality glamour at its most civilized — witty panel TV that still feels like a smart cocktail party.
Cultural impact
What’s My Line? proved unscripted television could be appointment viewing on pure charm. Mystery-guest culture prefigured every “who are they dating” discourse cycle.
Creators
Mark Goodson · Bill Todman
Key cast
- John Charles Daly as Host
- Dorothy Kilgallen as Panelist
- Arlene Francis as Panelist
- Bennett Cerf as Panelist
Flash facts
- Goodson-Todman panel game show; CBS network run February 2, 1950–September 3, 1967 (876 episodes), plus syndicated 1968–1975.
- Panelists guessed contestants’ occupations; celebrity mystery guests often appeared blindfolded.
- Hundreds of episodes survive as kinescopes from the live-TV era.
FAQ
Who hosted the classic CBS version?
John Charles Daly was the longtime host of the original CBS series.
Who produced What's My Line?
Mark Goodson and Bill Todman produced the series.
What is the basic format?
A panel questions contestants to identify their jobs, plus special mystery-guest rounds.
Cultural eras
Official & further reading
External sites for further reading — TV Flash is not affiliated with these networks or studios.
Back to the decade
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