9/7/05 Al onstage: What's my line?

[ToasterBoy]

Read through the whole thing here...

J. Keith van Straaten was the host of Comedy Central's Beat The Geeks. Before that, he was the host of of the J. Keith van Straaten show which was a TV Talk show, that was never on TV. It was just a live show in the ACME theater in Los Angeles. J. Keith has also hosted The B.O.R.E.D. Tour, my annual comedy music show.

Now, J. Keith is doing WHAT'S MY LINE Live on stage at the ACME theater. It's the classic game show, done live on stage with fantastic mystery guests (Last week, Larry King was the Mystery Guest. Yes, that Larry King.)

Anyway, J. Keith dropped me an e-mail yesterday that said he couldn't say who the mystery guest was but that me and my comedy music fan pals would love who it is. Now my guess is that it's either Weird Al or Dr. Demento. Here's why:

Weird Al was a guest on the J. Keith van Straaten show back when he was doing it. So there'sa connection there and it wouldn't surprise me if it is Al.

It COULD be Dr. Demento, because I know at the B.O.R.E.D. Tour this year, J. Keith asked him if he would be interested in doing the show.

So, what have you got to lose by checking it out? :-) At best, you get to see Al. At worst, you get to see Dr. Demento (which really can't be classified as worst can it?).

Of course, there is the slim possibility it could be neither of these two, but knowing J. Keith, I don't think he would have said it was someone big if it wasn't.

Here's the skinny:

What's My Line Live On Stage!
Wednesday, September 7th at 8PM
ACME Comedy Theatre
135 N. La Brea Ave., Hollywood
For reservations, call 323.525.0202
Tickets: $15
...Wow! A limited # of 1/2-price tickets are available at goldstarevents.com!

If anyone's going let me know. I'll even let you sit with me. :-P

Grant
www.DoctorFloyd.com


P.S. I am getting nothing for pimping this here. I actually just went and bought my ticket. I was just passing along the info to other interested parties in Los Angeles!

[Cinnamon]

Thanks for letting people know, Grant!

[CB Johnny]

It's in Hollywood so it's not like Al will have a problem getting there.
Thanks, Toasterboy.

[TheMegChan]

Wow! Any chance this is gonna be on tv for the folks who, say, live thousands of miles from Hollywood and don't have any money? :/ Cause if Al, or even Dr. Demento is on this, I'd love to see it!

Now, what is this exactly? Improv? I've never exactly known what What's My Line is...

[scottidog]

It was an old game show. I'm not sure I've ever actually seen it, but basically I think it's a form of 20 questions. A person is asked a number of questions about themselves and then the contestants have to guess who it is or what they do.
From a What's My Line Fan Site:

How the Game was Played

The object of the game was for four panelists to try to guess unusual occupations of contestants or a product associated with them.
"And now, if you'll take a seat, let's show the audience at home and here in the theater what you do for a living."

The contestant's line appeared on the TV screen for the audience at the studio and home to see. (Home viewers could even play along by looking away from their TV set if they wanted)

Until the telecast of April 17, 1955, each panelist had the right to make a gag "wild guess" at the contestant's occupation. On at least three occasions that a panelist correctly identified the contestant's occupation right off the bat! If the wild guess was wrong, then the game would go on.
"Our contestant performs in a service and is salaried. Now let's start the questioning..."

A panelist would ask a question and the contestant would either answer "yes" or "no". If "yes", then the panelist would ask another question until a "no" answer is reached, and play would pass on clockwise to the next panelist.
"That's one down and nine to go..."

Throughout the entire show's run, a "no" answer would earn a contestant $5.

The game ended when either the occupation is correctly identified, or ten "no" answers were given. The most a contestant would earn was $50.
The Mystery Guest

Near the end of the telecast, or sometimes in the beginning, a special round was played in which the panel would try to identify a celebrity "Mystery Guest" while blindfolded.

The mystery guest had the right to disguise his or her voice so that identification could be avoided quickly.

Play was the same as in the regular game until the telecast on April 17, 1955, when the rule changed in which each panelist would ask one question at a time moving clockwise.

The Mystery Guest round continued until either one of three things happened: the mystery guest is indentified, ten "no" answers were given, or when time ran out.

[Driew_La_27]

Nice thanks!! Anyone taping it?

[TheMegChan]

It was an old game show. I'm not sure I've ever actually seen it, but basically I think it's a form of 20 questions. A person is asked a number of questions about themselves and then the contestants have to guess who it is or what they do.

Oh, ok. I've seen something like this before. Hmm...wonder how it's gonna go. 0.o

[ToasterBoy]

The show is NOT taped at all. It's run EXACTLY like a live TV Game Show but with one exception...No Cameras.

:-)

Grant

P.S. I'll let you know who it is tonight when I get back.

[TheMegChan]

The show is NOT taped at all. It's run EXACTLY like a live TV Game Show but with one exception...No Cameras.

:-)

Grant

P.S. I'll let you know who it is tonight when I get back.

;_; I would have loved to see it, that is if Al IS on it. Curse me for living in the middle of nowhere! ><

Oh well. Have fun. ^^

[twinkieweinersandwiches24_7]

I here ya. I'm so close, and yet, so far... Can't go, even if I had the money.