What kind of game show would Salvador Dali play?
It’s not a rhetorical question. The pioneering/celebrity surrealist artist actually appeared on CBS’ profession quizzer “What’s My Line?” in the 1960s, utterly stumping the blindfolded panel -- and there’s YouTube footage to prove it:
Such wonders as this can now be found every night in the wee hours on GSN, which has returned its late-night black-and-white block to the cable airwaves. “What’s My Line?” unreels nightly at 3 a.m., followed at 3:30 by “I’ve Got a Secret” -- two sublime little time trips to a simpler yet more sophisticated time, in the ’50s and ’60s, when women played games in evening gowns, men wore tuxes, and celebrities still seemed larger than life rather than small and pathetic.
See for yourself. TV comedy pioneer Milton Berle plays “I’ve Got a Secret” tonight (late Jan. 9/early Jan. 10 at 3:30 a.m.), with flamboyant pianist Liberace and basketball star Wilt Chamberlain showing up tomorrow (late Jan. 10/early Jan. 11 at 3:30 a.m.).
Speaking of surreal, future guests include Frank Sinatra and Mia Farrow -- when they were married! -- on “What’s My Line?” (late Jan. 23/early Jan. 24). That show reaches the end of its original run and restarts on GSN from its very vintage 1950 debut on Feb. 25/26.