What's My Line? 5 Feb 1961 Part 3 Second Contestant

[harrietcow]

Oy vey, so far in both parts of this episode, every second Debbie Reyonlds has been on air has been torture. Her rambling, stupid remarks, the way she goes on and on and on, plays with that pencil, etc. Ugh! I didn't like her as a mystery guest, either, when she tried too hard to be funny. I like her movies, but in real life...no!

Tony Perkins, on the other hand, is adorable. So cute at 5:51 and 5:58! And he actually had a brain in his head and asked clear, concise, intelligent questions.

[soulierinvestments]

Oooh yes Tony. He was at the height of his early luscious period in this episode. He was certainly entertaining in that episode in 1960 with the Arkansas female justice of the peace and Jane Wyman plugging Pollyanna.

It's telling that Goodson-Todman never used Debbie Reynolds again as a panelist after this one panel appearance. She did appear again as a mystery guest to success. It goes without saying that Debbie is really ON all the time, which can get draining in longer doses..

[calihartley2010]

In this section Debbie played well.

[kcarter619]

They were so hung up on the fact that she was from India they couldn't think straight; India has doctors, lawyers, chefs, fashion designers, etc. the same as America. For some reason, the panel was stuck on the fact that someone from India must have a career that revolves around the fact that they are Indian. And then to top it off - I thought they were finally getting somewhere when Tony said "She's a teacher" only to be followed up by, "Does she teach yoga?" .... really, now.

[n6611]

they were all fooled by the sari she was wearing

[hankaaron1961]

The line of questioning is nearly as bad as the questions the panel asked of an Engineer who wore a turban on the show. At least Cerft didn't ask her if she dealt in the occults. It's as if 15 years of appearring/watching the show hadn' taught the panelist anything at all.

[UDIETHATWAY]

If a man came on the show wearing cowboy boots, jeans and had a bandana wrapped around his neck, the panel would ask him questions regarding cattle etc. If a woman came on the show dressed in a tu tu, the panel would most likely ask if she was a dancer so when THIS woman appears on the show dressed as she is, the panel naturally ask questions regarding India. If this same woman came on the show wearing scrubs, they would ask if she was a doctor...no cultural bias here.

[xander7ful]

Their assumptions that a non-American woman working in New York must have something to do with the foreign service or government also reveals some kind of cultural bias people must have held in those times.

[JPF57]

This guest's appearance is revealing of the assumptions of the time... that an Indian woman would never be suspected of having such a career. Thanks for posting.

[Muffy2314]

Arlene looks just about the prettiest i've ever seen here.

[gandy74]

I'm not sure as to why some of the assessments of Debbie Reynolds' bearing are being made here..she seems perfectly fine to me. She's just an average player.

[Imthecuteone]

lol Tony was totally Dorothy-like in this one.

[saraismyname]

Haha, I thought the same thing as Arlene with the gold fillings ;D

[bigred997]

there is something about debbie reynolds that i find her obnoxious not just here but also in her mystery guest appearances.

she was known to be hard to work with in movie preparation. she had the gall to knock the great gene kelly who did her a favor by giving her a major break. and let's not forget that her daughter carrie had issues with her.

[soulierinvestments]

Debbie never appeared on WML again as a guest panelist after this performance. Wonder if Goodson, Toddman, Fates, Daly and all the rest thought her obnoxious, too.

[EDH1712]

I agree with your assessment of Ms. Reynolds. I love a few of her performances but the way she presents herself in personal appearances leaves a lot to be desired.

[allegrazie]

Reynolds could act the part of a perfectly charming young woman ---but it's evident that this was not her default setting.

[KarinPluss]

Of course it'a matter of opinion if Ms. Reynolds appears obnoxious or not, but in regards to her 'gall' in knocking Gene Kelly, she is far from the only one. He might have been a great dancer, but not always very easy to work with or get along with.

[hkk321]

My feeling is that she is so concerned with being funny that she doesn't really consider the flow of the game or show. I see how it can come across as obnoxious or self-centered, but to be charitable, it might also just be that she's not good at off-the-cuff comedy (as opposed to scripted).

[1simaddict1]

@bigred997 Gene had didn't pick her to work with. It was the head of MGM that did. Gene wanted someone who could dance and she couldn't, not really. She was like 18, 19 and she worked real hard. She almost gave up until Fred Astaire helped her out. And who doesn't have parent problems. Carrie is a manic depressive. She was the daughter of a movie star and felt she had no identity. People were calling her Debbie. I think she was just being funny and having fun. I see nothing wrong with that.