17 quotes
Misplaced Identity of Native Americans
Herb Stempel
You know why they call them Indians? Because Columbus thought he was in India. They're Indians because some white guy got lost.
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Tension in a Game of Deception
Dick Goodwin
I have Enright cold — and sir, that means I have you.
Robert Kintner
Really?
Dick Goodwin
Really.
Robert Kintner
Then why are you the one that's sweating?
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Examining Bias in Game Show Outcomes
Dick Goodwin
He told me this whole story about when a Jew is on the show, he always loses to a Gentile, and then the Gentile wins more money. I mean, who could dream up a scheme like that?
[laughs]
Dan Enright
A symptom of his Van Doren fixation!
[laughs]
Dick Goodwin
The thing of it is, I looked it up: it's true.
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Isolation and the Struggles of Recognition
Herb Stempel
You know what the problem with you bums is? You never leave a guy alone unless you're leaving him alone.
[To a reporter outside the Congressional hearing room]
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The Impact of Media and Self-Importance
Herb Stempel
That box is the biggest thing since Gutenberg invented the printing press, and I'm the biggest thing on it.
[Referring to television]
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The Nature of Truth and Deception
Charles Van Doren
Compare with made by Charles Van Doren.
[http://www.historymatters.gmu.edu/d/6566/ the real statement]
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The Paradox of Knowledge and Popularity
Herb Stempel
And they love me for the same reason they used to hate me, because I'm the guy who knows everything.
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Expertise in Family Dynamics
Toby Stempel
My mother want to know why you only went for eight on the movies.
Herb Stempel
Because my real expertise is pain-in-the-ass in-laws, all right?
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Critique of Fame and Worship
Herb Stempel
You wanna be worshipped? Go to India and moo.
[To his wife]
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Determination to Prove Knowledge of Film History
Herb Stempel
You want to know what? If I do nothing else I will convince them that Herbert Stempel knows what won the goddamned Academy Award for best picture of 1955; that's what I'm gonna accomplish.
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The Complexity of Money and Ambition
Dick Goodwin
Don't treat me like I'm a member of your goddamn fan club. Are you telling me everybody got the answers but you?
Charles Van Doren
You're so persistent, Dick. You know, I really envy you that.
Dick Goodwin
Was it just the money, Charlie?
Charles Van Doren
You'll forgive me, but anyone who thinks money is ever just money couldn't have much of it.
Dick Goodwin
Charlie, you want to insult me, fine; but you can't envy me at the same time.
Charles Van Doren
Jesus, Dick, if someone offered you all this money to be on some rigged quiz show, instant fame, the works, would you do it?
Dick Goodwin
No. Course not.
Charles Van Doren
No? Throw the whole thing in, the cover of Time, Dave Garroway, $50,000 a year to read poetry on television — would you do it?
Dick Goodwin
No.
Charles Van Doren
And I would?
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Herb Stempel's Dramatic Television Announcement
Herb Stempel
This week on Twenty One, watch Herb Stempel be fed to the Columbia lions. Watch Charles Van Doren eat his first kosher meal on Twenty One.
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Questioning Evidence and Perception in Quiz Show
Dick Goodwin
Dan, I have it on the kinescope, it's clear as day. The man literally did a double-take.
[Dick Goodwin questions Dan Enright about evidence of Twenty One being fixed]
Dan Enright
He did a double-take? And who told you this? Is this Herb again? Or is this the Greenwich Village Beatnik?
[laughing]
Dick Goodwin
That's interesting, why is he a beatnik? Because he's not Charlie Van Doren?
Dan Enright
Yeah, you're damn right he's not Charlie Van Doren. You know, you got these crackpots coming out of the woodwork, you're snooping around asking questions. You don't have a shred of concrete evidence.
Dick Goodwin
Dan, let me tell you something. In this envelope are all the questions that James Snodgrass was asked on Twenty One. The odd thing about this envelope is that he appeared on the show January 13th, if you recall. Yet, he somehow mailed this to himself on January 11th via registered mail. I'd say that's pretty damn concrete, wouldn't you?
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The Cost of Humiliation in Competition
Herb Stempel
Don't do this to me, it's humiliating.
Dan Enright
For seventy grand, Herb, you can afford to be humiliated.
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The Value of Truth in Entertainment
Mark Van Doren
For $64,000, I hope they ask you the meaning of life.
Martin Rittenhome
You see, the audience didn't tune in to watch some amazing display of intellectual ability. They just wanted to watch the money.
Rep. Derounian
Mr Van Doren, I'm also from New York, a different part of New York. I'm happy that you made the statement, but I cannot agree with most of my colleagues. You see, I don't think an adult of your intelligence ought to be commended for simply, at long last, telling the truth.
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Critique of Charles Van Doren's Knowledge
Herb Stempel
Charles Van Doren — he wouldn't know the answer to a doorbell if you didn't give it to him.
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The Burden of Secrets and Guilt
Dick Goodwin
I remember five-six years ago my uncle Harold told my aunt about this affair he had. It was a sort of mildly upsetting event in my family... The affair was over, something like eight years. So I remember asking him, "Why did you tell her? You got away with it." And I'll never forget what he said. It was the getting away with it part that he couldn't live with.
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