What's My Line?

What's My Line?
Company type	Television program
Industry	Entertainment, Television game show
Founded	February 2, 1950; 76 years ago
Founder	Mark Goodson and Bill Todman
Fate	Ended original run in 1967; syndicated revival 1968–1975
Headquarters	United States
Key people	John Charles Daly (host), Dorothy Kilgallen (panelist), Arlene Francis (panelist), Bennett Cerf (panelist)
Products	Television game show
Number of employees	Panelists and production staff

What's My Line? is a panel-based game show that originally aired in the United States on CBS from 1950 through 1967, evolving from black-and-white to color broadcasts and experiencing subsequent American revivals. The program's premise involved celebrity panelists posing questions to contestants in order to determine their professions. While most participants were everyday individuals, each episode featured a weekly celebrity "mystery guest" whose identity was hidden from the panel. The series ranks among the longest-running American primetime network game shows. Primarily hosted by John Charles Daly and regularly showcasing panelists such as Dorothy Kilgallen, Arlene Francis, and Bennett Cerf, What's My Line? received three Emmy Awards (1952, 1953, 1958) along with a 1962 Golden Globe Award for Best Television Show.

More than 700 episodes have been preserved as 16mm kinescope films, capturing early live television before videotape technology became widespread. Some of the earliest recordings were lost due to CBS’s cost-cutting measures between 1950 and 1952, with further losses occurring in 1975 from archives managed by producers Mark Goodson and Bill Todman.

Following its cancellation on CBS in 1967, the show was revived in syndication from 1968 to 1975, airing on weekdays across local stations. This iteration was initially hosted by Wally Bruner and later by Larry Blyden. The format also inspired international versions, radio adaptations, and a live stage production. Although multiple revival proposals surfaced in the U.S., none advanced beyond preliminary planning. No new American episodes have been produced since December 1974.

In 2013, TV Guide placed What's My Line? ninth on its list of greatest game shows, while Time included it among the top 100 television programs of all time.

Original CBS series (1950–1967)

Produced by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman for CBS, the show was initially named Occupation Unknown before adopting the title What's My Line?. The original series, predominantly broadcast live, debuted on February 2, 1950, at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time. After several schedule adjustments, it settled into a weekly Sunday night slot at 10:30 p.m. ET beginning October 1, 1950, continuing until its network finale on September 3, 1967.

Between July 1959 and July 1967, some episodes were recorded using quadruplex videotape, an innovative technology at that time. This method allowed greater scheduling flexibility—particularly when host John Daly was assigned to cover news from Moscow. During these intervals, production involved taping two episodes consecutively on Sunday evenings—one recorded followed by one live broadcast. Additionally, from July 1961 through July 1967, the cast took summer hiatuses. Episodes that were prerecorded explicitly noted their taped status during end credits.

Hosts and panelists

The program’s moderator was seasoned broadcaster John Charles Daly. Occasional substitutes included Clifton Fadiman, Eamonn Andrews, and publisher Bennett Cerf. The initial panel on February 2, 1950 consisted of former New Jersey governor Harold Hoffman, columnist Dorothy Kilgallen, poet Louis Untermeyer, and psychiatrist Richard Hoffmann. Early panels frequently featured Kilgallen, actress Arlene Francis, Untermeyer, and comedy writer Hal Block. In 1951, publisher Bennett Cerf replaced Untermeyer; comedian Steve Allen succeeded Block in 1953 but departed in 1954 to launch The Tonight Show. He was succeeded by comedian Fred Allen until his passing in 1956.

After Fred Allen’s death, the panel generally included Kilgallen, Cerf, Francis, plus a rotating fourth guest from 1956 until 1965. Following Kilgallen’s death in 1965, the lineup consisted of Cerf, Francis, and two guest panelists through the series’ conclusion.

Guest panelists often substituted for regular members; prominent recurring guests included Arlene Francis’s husband Martin Gabel (with 112 appearances), as well as Tony Randall, Robert Q. Lewis, and Phyllis Newman. In a memorable appearance occupying Fred Allen’s former seat in 1966, Dick Cavett humorously commented on his own anonymity to the mystery guest.

Announcers over the years included Lee Vines (1950–55), Hal Simms (1955–61), Ralph Paul (1961), and finally Johnny Olson (1961–67), who became closely linked with Goodson-Todman productions during this era.

Chronology of Regular Panel Members

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Game Structure

What's My Line? involved a panel of four guessing either the profession ("line") of a guest or, during the mystery guest segment, identifying a famous personality. The panelists were restricted to yes-or-no inquiries. Episodes commonly featured two standard guessing rounds plus one mystery guest segment, with occasional additional rounds.

Standard Rounds

In the early format, participants signed in on a chalkboard and interacted directly with the panel, who were allowed a single "wild" guess. The inaugural contestant was Pat Finch, a hat check attendant at the Stork Club, who reappeared on both anniversary and finale episodes. Starting in 1955, contestants were seated by host Daly and only introduced to the panel after gameplay; initial wild guesses were discontinued. The contestant’s occupation was disclosed to viewers, with Daly noting whether they were employed by others or self-employed, and beginning in 1960, whether their work involved selling goods or services.

Questioning commenced with one panelist; each affirmative answer permitted continued questioning by the same panelist, while a negative response transferred questioning rights to the next panelist and added five dollars to the prize fund. Daly monitored prize accumulation up to fifty dollars using ten cards; ten negative responses or time running out resulted in awarding the maximum prize. Daly later explained that capping prizes at fifty dollars preserved the show's entertainment focus and avoided impropriety. Occasionally, he granted full prizes arbitrarily to distinguished contestants, emphasizing the fun over monetary rewards.

Panel members could opt out or recuse themselves if they already knew the contestant’s profession or identity beforehand. Brief consultations among panelists on strategy were also permitted.

Panelists often employed a binary search method by posing broad questions about employer type or product category, frequently phrased negatively to increase chances of affirmative responses.

The phrase "Is it bigger than a breadbox?" gained popularity through the show, first introduced by Steve Allen in 1953 and subsequently widely adopted. One notable instance involved correctly identifying a breadbox manufacturer after this question elicited laughter from Daly.

Mystery Guest Segment

A signature portion of the program was the mystery guest round—wherein a celebrity’s identity was guessed by name rather than occupation by a blindfolded panel. (The very first mystery guest was Phil Rizzuto, shortstop for the New York Yankees.) Initially, panelists could ask multiple questions simultaneously; however, starting April 17, 1955, only one question per turn was allowed. Mystery guests predominantly came from entertainment or sports; when guests were less famous or from other fields, they were treated like regular contestants and sometimes blindfolded or signed in anonymously.

Guests often altered their voices to conceal their identities while providing amusement for the studio audience. Panelists frequently made early guesses by tracking celebrities’ presence in town or upcoming projects but typically completed a full round before confirming their suspicions. Bennett Cerf disclosed that his wife was often informed ahead of time about the mystery guest’s identity.

Occasionally, episodes included two mystery guest rounds, with an additional round usually starting the show.

Among the notable mystery guests were luminaries such as Jack Benny, John Wayne, Elizabeth Taylor, Ella Fitzgerald, Ava Gardner, Joan Crawford, James Cagney, Julie Andrews, Jack Lemmon, Jackie Gleason, Steve McQueen, Alfred Hitchcock, Doris Day, Ronald Reagan, Lucille Ball, Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, Sammy Davis Jr., Sean Connery, James Stewart, Henry Fonda, Salvador Dalí, Aretha Franklin, among many others.

Style

What's My Line? was notable for its focus on elegance and decorum. In its initial seasons, hosts and panel members appeared in business attire and street dresses; by 1953, men commonly wore black suits paired with bow ties, while female panelists chose formal gowns often complemented by gloves. Following the deaths of Fred Allen and Dorothy Kilgallen, exceptions arose with male participants opting for straight neckties and women selecting more modest dresses.

The program upheld a dignified atmosphere and rigorous rule enforcement. Daly typically addressed panelists by their last names when handing over questioning rights and would courteously remind them to wait for his cue before beginning. Despite this formal approach, Daly engaged in playful exchanges with panelists, particularly Bennett Cerf, who frequently crafted puns around Daly’s full name, John Charles Patrick Croghan Daly. Daly occasionally responded with clever comebacks.

While Daly often clarified ambiguous questions, his lengthy explanations sometimes added to the panelists’ confusion—a style famously parodied by Danny Kaye. On multiple occasions, Daly intentionally "led the panel down the garden path," a phrase describing when answers misdirected the panel members.

Broadcast format

From 1950 through 1966, the series aired in black and white, consistent with the period's standards. In September 1966, all three major networks transitioned their prime-time programming to color television, including What's My Line? Unfortunately, color episodes survive only as black-and-white kinescope recordings, with several from 1967 missing entirely. The original color set design of What's My Line? is no longer accessible.

Initially broadcast live, many episodes during the final eight years were recorded weeks or months prior to airing. The announcer indicated these prerecorded shows during the closing credits.

Radio

In addition to television broadcasts, What's My Line? briefly aired on network radio. From May 20 to August 27, 1952, NBC Radio presented it on Tuesday evenings featuring the TV cast. It subsequently shifted to CBS Radio for live Wednesday 8:00 PM broadcasts over ten months, concluding July 1, 1953. The radio version notably included exclusive appearances by Marlene Dietrich, Constance Bennett, and Marlon Brando.

1953 Community Chest Special

A unique Community Chest Special was broadcast live across CBS, ABC, NBC, and DuMont networks on Sunday afternoon, September 27, 1953.

On-camera

The show traditionally began with Daly and the panel entering from off-stage upon introduction. Prior to 1954, they commenced seated; this changed after viewer feedback requesting to see panelists’ arrivals. The announcer introduced the first panelist, who then presented the next one in sequence until Daly was introduced last. Hal Block originated the custom of introducing Daly with a pun from the final seat; Bennett Cerf later assumed this role, evolving from straightforward to more humorous introductions.

Each round started with Daly inviting contestants to "enter and sign in, please," a phrase that developed from earlier versions. Contestants signed a board—initially an artist’s sketchpad replaced by a chalkboard for better visibility under studio lighting. Daly generally inquired about contestants' hometowns and preferred forms of address for women. In early episodes, panelists sometimes examined contestants' hands or clothing labels.

Though primarily focused on gameplay, the show occasionally incorporated interviews. Its sister program I've Got a Secret and later syndicated editions permitted talent showcases; however, such performances were infrequent on What's My Line?, as executive producer Gil Fates remarked that Daly was hesitant to include them.

Behind the scenes

Mystery guests received a fixed $500 fee for appearing, regardless of game results, plus up to $50 in prize money that was frequently donated to charitable causes. Guest panelists were compensated $750 per appearance, while regular panel members held contracts with substantially higher remuneration. Bennett Cerf revealed that upon joining as a permanent panelist, he earned $300 weekly and later characterized panelists' earnings as "scandalously high" by the conclusion of the show.

Studio locations

The program’s first four episodes (#001–#004; February–March 16, 1950) were broadcast live from a converted loft within the former CBS Studio 41 Grand Central Studios at Grand Central Terminal (15 Vanderbilt Ave., NY).

From episode #005 (April 12, 1950) through approximately 1951, broadcasts originated from the now-demolished CBS Studio 51 (Maxine Elliott Theatre, 109 W. 39th St., NY).

Beginning with episode #034 (January 21, 1951), production moved to CBS Studio 59 (Mansfield Theatre, later known as Brooks Atkinson Theatre, 256 W. 47th St., NY), where it remained until episode #516 (June 5, 1960). Concurrently, the radio version during 1952–1953 aired live from CBS Studio Building 22 (49 E. 52nd St., NY).

Episode #225 (September 19, 1954) was a color broadcast from CBS Studio 72 (Broadway at 81st St., Manhattan), predating the show's full transition to color by twelve years.

Episode #323 (August 12, 1956), coinciding with the 1956 Democratic National Convention, was a special edition filmed in Chicago at CBS-owned WBBM-TV studios (630 N. McClurg Ct., Chicago, IL).

Episode #397 (January 12, 1958) was a Hollywood special produced at CBS Television City (7800 Beverly Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA), although moderator and panel desks were not transported there as they had been for Chicago.

From episode #517 through #829 (June 12, 1960 – September 4, 1966), production relocated to CBS Studio 52 (254 W. 54th St., NY; later known as Studio 54). The final black-and-white episode recorded there was July 17, 1966; the last live black-and-white broadcast aired on July 24.

During its concluding season (#830–#876; September 11, 1966 – September 3, 1967), which marked the permanent switch to color broadcasts, filming took place at CBS Studio 50 (later renamed the Ed Sullivan Theater, located at 1697 Broadway at 53rd St., NY).

The concluding CBS network broadcast

In early 1967, CBS declared the termination of multiple game shows, among them What's My Line?, attributing the move to diminishing appeal during prime-time hours. Bennett Cerf remarked that the announcement was first made public by The New York Times on February 14, prior to notifying the program's production team. The central cause was a decline in overall audience numbers under Michael Dann’s direction, which overshadowed the profitability derived from the show's minimal production expenses.

The series' final CBS installment, marking its 876th episode, was broadcast on September 3, 1967. This farewell edition showcased memorable moments from earlier broadcasts, featured original contestants, included a challenger from the New York unemployment office, and presented John Daly as the closing mystery guest—his debut on air despite serving as an emergency substitute. The producers Mark Goodson, Bill Todman, along with Johnny Olson for a brief period, also made appearances.

Broadcast timeline and Nielsen rankings

Season		Time slot	Rank	Rating
1	1950–1951	Sunday nights at 10:30 PM	Outside Top 30
2	1951–1952		Outside Top 30
3	1952–1953		#20	35.3 (tie)
4	1953–1954		#28	29.6
5	1954–1955		Outside Top 30
6	1955–1956		Outside Top 30
7	1956–1957		#26	28.9 (tie)
8	1957–1958		Outside Top 30
9	1958–1959		Outside Top 30
10	1959–1960		#27	23.9
11	1960–1961		#22	23.1
12	1961–1962		Outside Top 30
13	1962–1963		#13	25.6
14	1963–1964		#24	22.6
15	1964–1965		Outside Top 30
16	1965–1966
17	1966–1967

Launch

Following the conclusion of the original What's My Line?, Goodson-Todman collaborated with CBS’s syndication division (currently known as CBS Media Ventures) to introduce a new weekday version recorded on videotape, debuting one year after cancellation. This edition secured a regular spot on local stations during afternoon and early evening schedules, particularly gaining prominence starting in the 1971–72 season when the FCC's Prime Time Access Rule mandated networks to relinquish thirty minutes to affiliates. Rather than creating local programming, numerous stations preferred cost-effective syndicated shows like WML, especially outside of major metropolitan areas.

The initial three seasons (1968–1971) were filmed in Studio 50—the venue of the original series’ final year—featuring an updated set design. In 1971, production relocated to Studio 6-A at NBC within Rockefeller Center, where it stayed until the series concluded; this period included a set overhaul in 1974 for its last season. Goodson-Todman once again sourced a host through ABC News, appointing Wally Bruner as John Charles Daly’s successor. After Bruner’s departure following the fourth season in 1972, Broadway actor and former panelist Larry Blyden assumed hosting responsibilities for the remaining three seasons.

Panelists

Throughout the syndicated run, two panelists appeared consistently: comedian Soupy Sales and returning regular Arlene Francis. Bennett Cerf made occasional appearances until his passing in the fourth season in 1971. The show also featured a variety of prominent guests including Alan Alda, his father Robert Alda, Joanna Barnes, psychologist Joyce Brothers, Jack Cassidy, Bert Convy, Joel Grey, Elaine Joyce, Ruta Lee, Sam Levene, humorist Henry Morgan, Jerry Orbach, Gene Rayburn, comedian and poet Nipsey Russell, critic Gene Shalit, singer Dana Valery, and actress Anita Gillette.

Look and style

The syndicated version of What's My Line? departed from its original formal attire, opting instead for casual clothing worn by panelists who were identified solely by their first names displayed before them. Some traditional elements remained intact, such as the animated opening sequence from the final CBS seasons, though it featured updated music. Panelists entered one after another, beginning with Soupy Sales (or his substitute), who introduced the next panelist, continuing down the line until Arlene Francis (or her replacement) introduced the host. This sequence was maintained until 1974, when announcer Chet Gould took over the introductions for all panelists and the host simultaneously.

Who's Who? segment

During the syndicated run in the 1960s and 1970s, the "Who's Who?" segment was used to fill additional airtime by bringing four audience members onto the stage holding cards displaying their occupations. Each panelist had 20 seconds to correctly match job titles to these individuals; incorrect guesses resulted in a $25 award per miss to the audience team, with extra prizes if all four managed to stump the panel. A correct match on the first attempt earned audience participants $5 along with a year’s supply of Turtle Wax.

This revival combined What's My Line? with its 1950s spin-off I've Got a Secret, incorporating changes such as contestant demonstrations following games, initiated by host prompts to director Lloyd Gross. The traditional dollar signs used to indicate "no" answers were replaced by sequential numbers. Mystery guest rounds eliminated scoring and ended either upon a correct guess or when time ran out.

The set design was created by Goodson-Todman art director Ted Cooper and featured blue walls decorated with occupational illustrations behind both the panel and host areas. This set debuted at the premiere and relocated from Broadway to Rockefeller Center in 1971, remaining through the 1973–74 season.

Fates' Law

Between 1973 and 1975, producer Gil Fates was frequently referenced by host Larry Blyden during What's My Line?. Blyden introduced a new regulation called "Fates' Law," which stipulated that any panelist who incorrectly guessed the mystery guest would be disqualified from further participation. Fates attributed this rule to panelist Soupy Sales whose remarkable skill at identifying disguised celebrities often resulted in rapid solutions. The intent behind this rule was to curb immediate correct guesses and prolong gameplay.

Later introductions

For the 1974–75 season, the set underwent redesigning; tile walls were replaced with blue panels featuring question marks, complemented by a red and yellow color palette. The animated introduction was discontinued in favor of announcer (typically Chet Gould) previews of contestants’ games.

A fresh contemporary music score was composed by Charles Fox. According to Fox’s account, Bob Israel of Score Productions paid a $1,000 buyout fee for this composition. The recording took place at CTS Studios in Wembley, England, with Fox, Israel, and producer Mark Goodson present during the session.

Announcers

Johnny Olson fulfilled the announcer role until the early part of the 1972–73 season, after which he departed to announce the revived versions of The Price Is Right and I've Got a Secret. Following Olson's exit, various guest announcers stepped in, including Wayne Howell, Dennis Wholey, Bob Williams, Jack Haskell, and Chet Gould, who assumed the full-time announcer position in early 1973. Additionally, Gene Wood served as a substitute announcer for an episode in 1970.

After Bennett Cerf's Passing

Reruns featuring Bennett Cerf continued to be broadcast after his death in 1971, leading to some viewer confusion as audiences anticipated new episodes. The show's syndication involved a videotape-sharing system known as "bicycling," where different stations aired episodes on staggered schedules. Producer Gil Fates addressed concerns from fans by clarifying that continuing to air Cerf’s episodes was both a tribute to his memory and a practical choice to avoid discarding already produced content. Despite calls for the removal of Cerf’s episodes, Fates decided to keep them in syndication.

Conclusion of Revival and Blyden's Tragic Death

The syndicated run produced a total of 1,320 episodes over seven seasons. Efforts to launch an eighth season faltered due to insufficient station commitments. Subsequently, Goodson-Todman offered host Larry Blyden the opportunity to lead Showoffs, a charades-based game show for ABC. Blyden agreed and completed a pilot; however, he was fatally injured in a car accident in Morocco shortly before production was set to begin. At the time of his passing, some What's My Line? episodes had yet to be aired in certain regions, but by fall 1975 all episodes had been broadcast nationwide. Comedian Bobby Van ultimately assumed hosting duties on Showoffs.

Subsequent Revival Efforts

Proposals for new versions of What's My Line? emerged in 1981 and again in 1996 through a collaboration between All-American Television and Miramax Films—marking Miramax’s inaugural venture into television game shows. This revival sought to retain hallmark features such as celebrity panels guessing guests’ professions and identities while incorporating contemporary effects and interactive elements. CBS initially ordered six episodes slated for fall 1999 but canceled the project due to high production expenses and ambitious scope.

In 2000, CBS produced a pilot hosted by Harry Anderson, which involved three panelists participating in the Mystery Guest round followed by the guest joining as an additional panelist. The network ultimately rejected this pilot in favor of airing the reality series Survivor. A further attempt in 2008 featuring David Hasselhoff, developed with FremantleMedia, which owned Goodson-Todman properties, also did not proceed to series. Another pilot created in 2014 for a 2015 launch failed to secure network pickup.

25th Anniversary Special

By early 1975, it became evident that the seventh syndicated season would conclude the series; Viacom and Goodson-Todman were unable to obtain sufficient station agreements to continue production beyond episodes filmed by December 12, 1974. Soon after production ceased, Mark Goodson and Bill Todman proposed a retrospective special commemorating the program’s 25th anniversary titled What's My Line at 25. Although CBS declined the offer, ABC agreed and broadcast the special on May 28, 1975, as part of ABC's Wide World of Entertainment. The program later re-aired on GSN in 2014 and Buzzr in 2018.

To create this special, original kinescope films were retrieved from archives and underwent intensive editing over three days by Goodson-Todman personnel working under tight deadlines. During this restoration process, several kinescopes covering episodes from the original series were either damaged or lost entirely—including complete episodes from April and June 1967 featuring guests Candice Bergen, Betty Grable, and F. Lee Bailey. Other episodes sustained partial damage.

The special included on-screen appearances by Mark Goodson, Arlene Francis, and John Charles Daly presenting classic clips primarily drawn from the CBS Sunday night run—the version most recognized by audiences—while syndicated hosts Wally Bruner and Larry Blyden did not participate.

That's My Line

In 1980, Mark Goodson developed That's My Line, a reality program focusing on unique professions, distinctively omitting any panel or game components. The series was presented by Bob Barker with Johnny Olson serving as announcer, and it aired on CBS for two seasons.

Live stage adaptation (2004–present)

Between November 2004 and July 2006, Jim Newman alongside J. Keith van Straaten produced hour-long live stage renditions titled What's My Line? — Live On Stage at Los Angeles' ACME Comedy Theatre. The production temporarily halted when van Straaten relocated to New York but recommenced in June 2007.

The New York premiere took place at the Barrow Street Theatre on March 24, 2008, running for six performances. With licensing from FremantleMedia, the rights holders of What's My Line?, the show featured mystery guests such as George Wendt, Moby, and Tony Roberts. Panelists included personalities like Jonathan Ames, Stephanie D'Abruzzo, Frank DeCaro, as well as original television veterans Betsy Palmer and Julia Meade. Pat Finch, who appeared on the original CBS broadcast, was the first guest in New York.

Notable Los Angeles panelists have encompassed entertainers such as Carlos Alazraqui, Alison Arngrim, Andy Dick, Paul Goebel, Annabelle Gurwitch, Mariette Hartley, Rick Overton, Greg Proops, Nicole Sullivan, and Wil Wheaton. Celebrity mystery guests have included figures like Ed Begley Jr., Drew Carey, Larry King, Tara Lipinski, and Sean Young.

Several participants have appeared across both the original television and live stage formats, including Shelley Berman, Lee Meriwether, radio commentator Michael Jackson, and Jayne Meadows. These veteran appearances often incorporated screenings of original kinescope footage for attendees.

The production has also showcased relatives of original cast members: Jill Kollmar (offspring of Dorothy Kilgallen and Richard Kollmar), Nina Daly (daughter of John Charles Daly), and Vint Cerf (Internet co-inventor and distant cousin of Bennett Cerf). In a tribute segment, Vint Cerf's son Bennett participated as a guest.

Episode accessibility

All episodes from the original series were preserved via kinescope recordings on film; however, early 1950s networks sometimes destroyed these films to reclaim silver content. CBS routinely recycled What's My Line? kinescopes until July 1952, when producers Mark Goodson and Bill Todman offered to finance copies. Consequently, only roughly ten episodes from the initial two years remain, including the first three broadcasts.

Prominent surviving episodes include #048 (April 29, 1951) housed at the University of Wisconsin Center For Film and Theater Research; #013 (August 2, 1950), #084 (January 6, 1952), and #855 (March 26, 1967) preserved at The Paley Center for Media; along with fragments of #097 (April 6, 1952), full episode #533 (October 2, 1960), and the landmark 800th episode (January 23, 1966) archived at UCLA Film and Television Archive. Partial footage of episode #191 (January 24, 1954), featuring Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis, exists and was screened during What's My Line? at 25. Episode #195 (February 21, 1954) survives only as a second-hand collector's kinescope.

In 2016, episode #018 (October 1, 1950) was rediscovered, subsequently preserved and digitally restored for public release. An audio excerpt from lost episode #866 (June 18, 1967) is included on RCA Records' LP The Age of Television, containing an interview segment with Betty Grable. Missing segments include a contestant reveal featuring attorney F. Lee Bailey.

Digitized kinescopes have been rebroadcast on television networks such as the Game Show Network and Buzzr—a digital network owned by Fremantle. Some CBS radio episodes from the 1950s are accessible at the Paley Center for Media and the Library of Congress, though availability varies.

On February 26, 2008, Alpha Video issued an unofficial DVD containing four public domain episodes; however, no official release has been confirmed. A dedicated YouTube channel hosts all surviving 757 CBS episodes along with extras and "lost" episodes not included in reruns. Numerous episodes from the syndicated run between 1968–75 have been preserved and aired since the 1990s on networks like GSN and Buzzr.

Lowell (1955)

The inaugural What's My Line? board game, inspired by the Daly period, was introduced by Lowell in 1955.

Whitman (1969)

Whitman issued a subsequent edition in 1969, representing the Bruner/Blyden era of the show.

Endless Games (2001)

In celebration of the program's 50th anniversary, Endless Games launched a special commemorative version in 2001.

Record album

Dot Records produced an album in 1955 containing audio clips from eight "mystery guest" segments dating back to the Daly era.

Book

In 1978, Prentice Hall published a retrospective authored by executive producer Gil Fates, chronicling the show's 25-year history. The book cover displays panelists Arlene Francis, Bennett Cerf, Dorothy Kilgallen, alongside host John Daly.

In popular culture

The 1956 children's novel The Hundred and One Dalmatians and its 1961 Disney film adaptation featured a spoof named What's My Crime?, where panelists attempted to identify a criminal’s offense.
A 1959 episode of The Art Carney Special included "Whats Your Business?", a parody starring Art Carney as John Daly and Dick van Dyke as the mystery guest.
Woody Allen’s 1972 movie Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex satirized the program with "What's My Perversion?", hosted by Jack Barry and featuring former panel members.
The late 1970s comedy series SCTV created a parody titled "What's My Shoe Size?".

International versions

| Emma Forbes | Template:Flagu Venezuela

Country	Title	Host(s)	Network	Debut	End
File:Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australia	What's My Line?	John Barnes	TCN-9	1956	1958
Template:Country data Brazil	Adivinhe o que ele Faz?	Madeleine Rosay Blota Junior	TV Tupi (Rio de Janeiro) TV Record (São Paulo)	1953	1956
File:Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada	Chacun son métier (French)	Louis Morisset	Radio-Canada	1954	1959
File:Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada	What's My Line? (English)	Don McGowan	CTV	September 19, 1978	1980
Template:Country data Chile	Quién soy yo	Enrique Bravo Menadier	Canal 13	1967	1970
Template:Country data Chile	Quién soy yo	Enrique Bravo Menadier	TVN	1970	1979
File:Flag of Denmark.svg Denmark	Tippejob	Otto Leisner	DR1	1977	1984
File:Flag of Germany.svg Germany	Was bin ich?	Robert Lembke	ARD	January 2, 1955	March 21, 1958
		Robert Lembke	ARD	February 11, 1961	January 11, 1989
		Björn Hergen Schimpf	Kabel 1	October 5, 2000	Early 2005
File:Flag of Indonesia.svg Indonesia	Siapa Dia	Aom Kusman Denny Chandra Ananda Omesh	TVRI	August 3, 1992	June 26, 1998
			TVRI	March 1, 2013	August 26, 2013
			Trans 7	October 27, 2014	March 1, 2015
File:Flag of Ireland.svg Ireland	What's My Line	Larry Gogan	RTÉ	January 4, 1970	?
File:Flag of Lithuania.svg Lithuania	Kas tu toks?	Vytenis Sinkevicius	Lietuvos Rytas	2010	?
File:Flag of Slovakia.svg Slovakia	Inkognito	Vlado Voštinár	TV JOJ	2003 2015	2007 present
File:Flag of Slovenia.svg Slovenia	Inkognito	Saša Jerković	TV SLO 1	2025	present
File:Flag of South Korea.svg South Korea	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	1956	1963
File:Flag of Spain.svg Spain	Adivine su vida	Estanis González and Juan Felipe Vila San Juan	Televisión Española	1960	1961
File:Flag of Sweden.svg Sweden	Gissa mitt jobb	Per-Martin Hamberg	Sveriges Television	1960	1960
rowspan="6" File:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom	rowspan="6" What's My Line?	Eamonn Andrews	BBC One	July 16, 1951	May 13,1963
David Jacobs	BBC Two	August23,1973	May25,1974
Eamonn Andrews \|- Penelope Keith \|- Angela Rippon	ITV	March26,1984	August31,1990
ITV Wales & West and ITV Meridian	September20,1994	December17,1996
Mi Trabajo y Yo	Renny Ottolina	RCTV	1961	?

External links

What's My Line? — Live On Stage