''I'll Bet'' is an American

game show A game show is a genre of broadcast viewing entertainment (radio, television, internet, stage or other) where contestants compete for a reward. These programs can either be participatory or Let's Play, demonstrative and are typically directed b ...

that ran on

NBC The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an Television in the United States, American English-language Commercial broadcasting, commercial television network, broadcast television and radio network. The flagship property of the NBC Enterta ...

from March 29 to September 24, 1965. The series was created by

Ralph Andrews Ralph Herrick Andrews (December 17, 1927 – October 16, 2015) was an American television producer best known for producing the 1960s game show ''You Don't Say!'', the 1970s game show ''Celebrity Sweepstakes'', and the original 1987 version of ''L ...

, and hosted by

Jack Narz John Lawrence Narz Jr. (November 13, 1922 – October 15, 2008) was an American radio personality, television host, and singer. Early years Narz was born to John and Ado Narz, in Louisville, Kentucky, along with sister Mary, and younger brothe ...

. The series was a precursor to ''

It's Your Bet ''It's Your Bet'' is an American game show which aired in syndication (mostly NBC owned-and-operated stations) from 1969 to 1973. The series was a revised version of the NBC game ''I'll Bet,'' which aired for six months in 1965. Both ''I'll Bet'' ...

''.

Gameplay

Two celebrity couples played. Before taping, one member of each couple drew a name of whom they were playing for, but only the TV station of where that person watches the show was revealed until the end. A separating wall first divided the couple so they could not see what the other bet. One half of the couple (starting with the wife) was told a question through an earpiece. Afterward, he/she made a bet (from $10–$100) on whether their partner would answer the question right or wrong (a lever was pulled which either lit up the phrase "CAN" or "CAN'T"). Narz then read the question to the other half of the couple. The amount of dollars won or lost depended on the bet and the number of dollars risked. After this, the other couple (again, starting with the wife) went through the same process; the men then took their turns at hearing the question, and so on. A couple won either by scoring $200 themselves, or if their opponents ''lost'' $200 (shown as -200).

Episode status

''I'll Bet'' is presumed to have been

wiped Lost television broadcasts are mostly those early television programs which cannot be accounted for in studio archives (or in personal archives) usually because of deliberate destruction or neglect. Common reasons for loss A significant prop ...

, much like all NBC daytime shows of the period. One episode, with guest stars Richard Long, his wife actress

Mara Corday Mara Corday (born Marilyn Joan Watts; January 3, 1930) is an American showgirl, model, actress, ''Playboy'' Playmate, and 1950s cult figure. Early life Corday was born in Santa Monica, California. Wanting a career in films, she came to Hollywoo ...

and fellow actress

Beverly Garland Beverly Lucy Garland (née Fessenden; October 17, 1926 – December 5, 2008) was an American actress. Her work in feature films primarily consisted of small parts in a few major productions or leads in low-budget action or science-fiction movie ...

, circulates among collectors as a black-and-white kinescope. A color episode from September 6, featuring

Denise Darcel Denise Darcel ( née Billecard, 8 September 1924 – 23 December 2011) was a French vaudevillian, actress and singer, who from 1948 and 1963, appeared in films in Cinema of the United States, Hollywood, and briefly on the stage, television ...

and

Robert Culp Robert Martin Culp (August 16, 1930 – March 24, 2010) was an American actor widely known for his work in television. Culp earned an international reputation for his role as Kelly Robinson on ''I Spy'' (1965–1968), the espionage television se ...

, was discovered in February 2009.

External links

* {{IMDb title, 0198147
Gameplay from the surviving kinescope episode

Gameplay from the surviving color episode
1965 American television series debuts 1965 American television series endings 1960s American game shows English-language television shows NBC original programming Television series by Ralph Andrews Productions