What's My Line? Season 16 Episode 22

FLIP REPORT: All contestants won the full prize tonight. Although the first contestant stumped the panel, the rest were won by flips. John flipped all the cards for the second contestant at three down when Bennett came up with "pickled herring" after a "no" answer to pickles. John flipped them all for the Mystery Challenger, Jimmy Durante, at Dorothy Kilgallen's request. Of course, though the audience didn't know it, the Mystery Challenger always earned an appearance fee of $500, whether or not cards were flipped. John flipped the cards for the final contestant at four down because time ran out. - agent_0042 (2006)

(1) "LIVE" WATCH: This is the 35th known surviving kinescope recording of a live episode in which the word "live" was cut from the intro.
(2) FINAL BOBBY DARIN "WHAT'S MY LINE?" APPEARANCE (AND JACK LEMMON, TOO): Tonight's show marked Bobby Darin's last "WML?" appearance. He had been on the show a total of five times, three as a mystery guest and the last two (including tonight) as a guest panelist. It would also be the last time Jack Lemmon appeared on the show, bringing his total "WML?" appearances to eight - three of which were as a guest panelist, including the special EPISODE #397 of January 12, 1958 which emanated from CBS Television City in Hollywood, California.
(3) "WML?" CREW CREDITS WATCH: There was a glitch in the presentation of tonight's end credits. After the slide card for set designer John Ward, they cut to the card for associate director Dan F. Smith and program staff Alyce Finell - and then cut back to Ward's card before showing the "WML?" card which signified the end of the program. None of the other crew members were shown tonight. - W-B (2006)

Bless Bobby Darin who was on this 1965 episode as an ambassador for the Heart Fund. He died after open-heart surgery when he was only 37 in 1973. GSN aired this episode out of sequence for the Bobby Darin Fest to celebrate "Beyond the Sea," so in one night, we literally saw the panel age eleven years. - talksonthephone

Excuse me for saying this, but I think both Dorothy and Arlene must have had a nip or two before this episode aired. Dorothy especially appeared tipsy. - Bishop

The panel had a so-so night this particular evening. They were totally stumped by the first contestant, the female armored car driver. However, Bennett was essentially on the right track when he asked if she worked for a non-profit organization, because he had a feeling that she had some sort of involvement with the law. The second contestant, the lady who pickled herring, won the full prize on a technicality. This was because after that game, Dorothy revealed that Bennett had told her after the lady had walked out that he had a feeling that she pickled herring. He felt this way because he had only known one other person from Mamaroneck, and that person also pickled herring! It had just been a coincidence. For the mystery guest round, Dorothy correctly guessed that the mystery guest was the delightful Jimmy Durante. The only "no" answer came when guest panelist Bobby Darin mistakenly asked if he was tearing up Broadway. Of course, the Copacabana was not on Broadway. The panel ran out of time during the questioning of the skydiving instructor and he wound up winning the full prize by default. - Sargebri (2004)

BAD BENNETT PUN OF THE NIGHT!!! After the second game, just before the pickled herring packer, Mrs. Chase, left the stage, Bennett said he was "a little hard of herring." - Sargebri (2004)

BOBBY DARIN: Before Neil Young, before David Bowie and before Madonna, Bobby Darin was the first true chameleon of popular music. In the early days of his career, he was one of the original rock and rollers, performing classic 1958 rock songs such as "Splish Splash" and "Queen of the Hop." By 1960, he moved on to performing pop music standards such as "Beyond the Sea" and the song that is most closely associated with him, his signature song "Mack the Knife." But late in the decade, he decided to really shock the world and began performing folk rock. He had his final top ten single in 1966 with the Tim Hardin classic "If I Were a Carpenter." He also started a film career, earning an Academy Award nomination for his performance in the 1963 film "Captain Newman M.D." He was a huge supporter of Bobby Kennedy. During Kennedy's June 1968 funeral service, Darin had a quasi-religious experience which prompted him to stop working, sell off all his possessions and give up performing for a year. He returned to recording in 1969, but unfortunately his comeback was short lived. Severe childhood rheumatic fever had scarred his heart, and he died in the recovery room following open-heart surgery in December 1973. In 1990, in recognition of his entire musical career, Darin was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. - Sargebri (2004)

DURANTE: During John's post-game chat with Jimmy Durante, John brought up the fact that Durante was about to celebrate his 72nd birthday (on February 10, 1965), which got an even bigger applause than when Durante first walked out and signed in. Durante then thanked God for his good life and family and lovingly mentioned his three-year-old daughter. Durante's career would go on for several more years until his death on January 29, 1980 at the age of 86 (almost 87) in Santa Monica, California. - Sargebri (2004)

Ironically, the most nervous contestant was parachute instructor Mr. Lee Guilfoyle, who almost forgot his hometown. - Garrison Skunk

The second contestant was a lady from Mamaroneck, NY, who pickled herring. Ironically, when the lady said she was from Mamaroneck, Bennett said to Dorothy that she must pickle herring, because the only other person he had known from Mamaroneck also pickled herring! The game proceeded and her line was guessed. In the after-game discussion, Bennett tried, without much success, to explain his Mamaroneck association. Then, after a brief awkward pause and with perfect timing, Bennett punned, "I'm a little hard of herring." After the laughs died down, John Daly topped Bennett's groaner with one of his own when he said, "Bennett said he's a little hard of hearing. I'm not so sure he isn't pickled!" It was a classic moment! - Dave R.

The Difference in Show Biz Today! - The loving affection the audience and panel shows Mr. Durante is simply amazing! This kind of respect and admiration is almost gone in the business today. - exapno99

Jimmy Durante promoted his appearance at the Copa. He spoke of the love and joy his adopted 3-year old daughter Cecelia "CeCe" has brought into his life. He said he used to love being on the road, but now relishes time spent at home with his wife and daughter. He and his second wife Marjorie Little were married in 1960 and adopted CeCe in December 1961. Durante mentioned that when CeCe sees him on television, she runs up and kisses the television screen! Mr. Daly announced that Durante will soon celebrate his 72nd birthday. The panel stated how much Durante is admired and loved. Jimmy Durante passed away at age 86 on January 29, 1980. Good night Mr. Durante, wherever you are. - Suzanne (2004)

Read more about this episode on these two web sites! 1) Bobby Darin on 1965 WML 2) More Bobby Darin on 1965 WML

GSN broadcast this episode on December 28, 2004 as part of a week-long celebration of the release of the new Bobby Darin biopic, "Beyond the Sea," starring Kevin Spacey. This was the first of Bobby's five What's My Line? appearances to be aired during the week between Christmas and New Year's Eve. - Garrison Skunk

Tidbits: Bobby Darin was introduced by Arlene as the Ambassador of the Heart Fund. Arlene has a new "bubble" hairdo for this episode.