''Answer Yes or No'' is an American television game show that was broadcast on NBC from April 30, 1950, until July 23, 1950.

Premise

''Answer Yes or No'' featured a celebrity panel with playwright

Moss Hart Moss Hart (October 24, 1904 – December 20, 1961) was an American playwright, librettist, and theater director. Early years Hart was born in New York City, the son of Lillian (Solomon) and Barnett Hart, a cigar maker. He had a younger brother ...

as host. Regular panelists were

Kitty Carlisle Kitty Carlisle Hart (born Catherine Conn; September 3, 1910 – April 17, 2007) was an American stage and screen actress, opera singer, television personality and spokesperson for the arts. She was the leading lady in the Marx Brothers movie '' ...

Arlene Francis Arlene Francis (born Arline Francis Kazanjian; October 20, 1907 – May 31, 2001) was an American game show panelist, actress, radio and television talk show host. She is best known for her long-running role as a panelist on the television game ...

, and

Quentin Reynolds Quentin James Reynolds (April 11, 1902 – March 17, 1965) was an American journalist and World War II war correspondent. He also played American football for one season in the National Football League (NFL) with the Brooklyn Lions. Early life ...

. Francis was the only member of the panel who stayed from the show's beginning to its end. Guests (who were also celebrities) had to decide how they would act if a specific hypothetical situation should occur. Each guest indicated his or her decision by putting down a card marked "yes" or "no". Panelists discussed what they thought the guest's response would be, after which the guest displayed the card and explained the response Guests who appeared on the show included

Bennett Cerf Bennett Alfred Cerf (May 25, 1898 – August 27, 1971) was an American writer, publisher, and co-founder of the American publishing firm Random House. Cerf was also known for his own compilations of jokes and puns, for regular personal appearanc ...

Arthur Schwartz Arthur Schwartz (November 25, 1900 – September 3, 1984) was an American composer and film producer, widely noted for his songwriting collaborations with Howard Dietz. Biography Early life Schwartz was born to a Jewish family in Brooklyn, New ...

and Marsha Hunt.

Production

Initially a product of West Hooker Productions (WHP), ''Answer Yes or No'' was among a group of TV shows obtained by the

Music Corporation of America Music Corporation of America, formerly known as Universal Music Group Nashville, is Universal Music Group's country music subsidiary. It was officially opened in 1945 as MCA Nashville and Mercury Nashville which opened on New Year's Day 1950 a ...

when it bought WHP in October 1950. Wayne Wirth was the producer, and Joe Cavalier was the director. Sponsorship was on a co-operative advertising basis, with each station that carried it selling advertising rather than having a network-wide sponsor as was done with most programs at that time. ''Answer Yes or No'' was the third NBC program to use co-op sponsorship. ''Answer Yes or No'' was broadcast from 10:30 to 11 p.m. Eastern Time on Sundays.

Critical response

Critic

Jack Gould John Ludlow Gould (February 5, 1914 – May 24, 1993) was an American journalist and critic, who wrote commentary about television. Early life and education Gould was born in New York City into a socially prominent family and attended the Loomis ...

, writing in ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

'', commented that the show "has spontaneity and sparkle" with a format that allowed "studio participants and home audience to enjoy the stimulus . . . of thinking." Gould noted that the show "starts off slowly and seems a little contrived but, once it gets going, it is thoroughly diverting." He commended Hart's way of keeping the program informal while also keeping it moving. Syndicated newspaper columnist John Crosby found little to like about ''Answer Yes or No''. Early in his review he commented that the celebrity participants "must wonder from time to time what the devil they're doing there." Later in the review he added, "But why a man of Mr. Hart's great attainments should get mixed up in such a ridiculous operation is beyond my powers of concentration." He added that the same feeling applied to the other celebrities involved. A review in the trade publication ''

Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

'' said that the premiere episode "came off as a disappointment". While the review acknowledged the cleverness of the panel with retorts and ad-libs, it said, "the show seems a bit contrived" and questioned "whether the show can sustain continuing interest and appeal." A different article in ''Variety'' said, "Hart still lacks a TV aplomb, striving too hard for an effect in a situation where there's nothing much to say" and concluded that a format revision "only served to accent that here, in essence, are some suave, smart New Yorkers acting like kids trying to be sophisticated."

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Answer Yes or No 1950 American television series debuts 1950 American television series endings 1950s American game shows NBC game shows