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Line 21: '''''You Bet Your Life''''' was an American radio and television [[quiz show]]. The primary version was hosted by [[Groucho Marx]] of the [[Marx Brothers]], with announcer and assistant [[George Fenneman]]. The show debuted on [[ABC Radio]] in October 1947, then moved to [[CBS Radio]] in 1949 before making the transition to the [[NBC Radio]] and [[NBC-TV]] networks in October 1950. Because of its simple format, it was possible to broadcast the show simultaneously on the radio and on television. In 1960, it was renamed '''''The Groucho Show''''' and ran a further year. Most episodes are in the public domain. ==History== John Guedel developed the show and found sponsorship. At that time Groucho was not making movies, and had not been successful on the radio. Guedel happened to see a special with Groucho and [[Bob Hope]], where they [[ad lib\|ad-libbed]] very well. He convinced the skeptical Groucho to take the lead, and invest in 50% of the show, in part by saying that he was "untouchable" at ad-libbing, but not at following a script.<ref>''Life with Groucho'', Arthur Marx, Popular Library Edition, 1960</ref> Since Groucho and the contestants were ad-libbing, Groucho insisted that each show be recorded and edited before release. The mid-1940s was a depressing lull in Groucho's career. His radio show ''[[Blue Ribbon Town]]'' had failed to catch on (it ran from March 1943 to August 1944, but Groucho left in June 1944). During this period, Groucho was scheduled to appear on a radio show with [[Bob Hope]]. Annoyed that he was made to wait in the waiting room for 40 minutes, Groucho went on the air in a foul mood. Hope started by saying, "Why, it's Groucho Marx, ladies and gentlemen. (applause) Groucho, what brings you here from the hot desert?" Groucho retorted, "Hot desert, my foot, I've been standing in the cold waiting room for 40 minutes." Groucho continued to ignore the script, and although Hope was a formidable [[ad lib\|ad-libber]] in his own right, he couldn't begin to keep up with Groucho, who lengthened the scene well beyond its allotted time slot with a veritable onslaught of improvised wisecracks. Listening in on the show was producer [[John Guedel]], who got an idea. He approached Groucho about doing a quiz show. Groucho retorted "A quiz show? Only actors who are completely washed up resort to a quiz show." Guedel explained that the quiz would be only a backdrop for Groucho's interviews of people, and the storm of ad-libbing that they would elicit. Groucho said, "Well, I've had no success in radio, and I can't hold on to a sponsor. At this point I'll try anything." ~~==Show format==~~ John Guedel developed the show and found sponsorship. At that time Groucho was not making movies, and had not been successful on the radio. He convinced the skeptical Groucho to take the lead, and invest in 50% of the show, in part by saying that he was "untouchable" at ad-libbing, but not at following a script.<ref>''Life with Groucho'', Arthur Marx, Popular Library Edition, 1960</ref> Since Groucho and the contestants were ad-libbing, Groucho insisted that each show be recorded and edited before release. ==Show format== Contestants were usually a male and a female, chosen by a complicated process with the ~~goals~~goal of finding interesting, and talkative people. Most were selected from the studio audience, and interviewed by Fenneman;. ~~then~~Then two were shown in a "test" to the studio audience, who picked the one they preferred. (Habitual game show attendees were excluded.) Sometimes famous or otherwise interesting figures were invited. For example, an episode soon after the [[Korean War]] featured a Korean-American contestant who had been a [[prisoner of war]]. By the time of the performance Groucho had a general idea of what topics might arise, but mainly resorted to scripted jokes only as necessary to avoid situations where a contestant was not talkative. The show for the studio audience ran longer than the broadcast versions, so that less interesting or risque material could be removed.<ref>''Life with Groucho'', Arthur Marx, Popular Library Edition, 1960</ref> Groucho would be introduced to the music of "[[Hooray for Captain Spaulding]]", his signature song, introduced in the 1928 [[Broadway musical]] ''[[Animal Crackers (musical)\|Animal Crackers]]'' and the [[Animal Crackers (film)\|1930 film version]]. Fenneman would say, "Here he is: the one, the ONLY..." and the audience would finish with a thunderous "GROUCHO!" In the early years Groucho would feign surprise: "Oh, that's ME, Groucho Marx!"