To Tell the Truth is an American television game show created by Bob Stewart blank">"Game Show Congress" Retrieved 4 August 2007. and produced by _Goodson-Todman Productions that has been aired intermittently in various formats since 1956, hosted by various television personalities. It is one of two game shows in the United States to have aired at least one version every decade for the past five decades. (The other is The Price Is Right, also originally created by Stewart for Goodson-Todman and currently American TV's longest running daily game.) To Tell the Truth has been seen first-run either on network television or in syndication a total of 25 seasons, just exceeding the 24 of What's My Line? and outpacing the 20 of I've Got a Secret.

The show has been hosted by numerous game show hosts of various backgrounds, and has aired mostly in syndication after the Collyer years, with the lone exception being the 1990-91 version. Bud Collyer hosted during the original years, with various people subbing in for him whenever he was sick, most notably Bert Convy, Merv Griffin and even producer Mark Goodson himself. The original show aired in daytime and primetime, with daytime version outlasting the primetime version by one year.

Garry Moore hosted in the 70's for syndication, with Joe Garagiola taking over for the final season after Moore was diagnosed with throat cancer. Canadian comedian Robin Ward took over for the 80's version, with Gordon Elliott, Lynn Swann and Alex Trebek all hosting the 90's version. John O'Hurley hosted the recent 2000 revival.

Many famous celebrities have appeared on the show as guests, including Alan Freed, Orville Redenbacher, Ally Sheedy and Caroll Spinney.

Classic game show in which a person of some notoriety and two impostors try to match wits with a panel of four celebrities. The object of the game is to try to fool the celebrities into voting for the two impostors. Each wrong vote would be worth $250 ($100 in the daytime version). Written by Brian Washington

"To Tell the Truth" has been one of Mark Goodson Productions' most durable formats, and this 1990 represented the fourth revival of the popular game show. The format remained the same--three contestants claim to be associated with a story, read as an affidavit at the start of each game. Only one is actually the person he claims to be; the other two are lying. The four celebrity panelists, one at a time, question the three contestants (addressing them by No. 1, No. 2. and No. 3) in an attempt to expose the liars and determine who was telling the truth. After all four celebrities have had their turn to question the team, they voted separately as to who they thought was the real person associated with the story. Payoffs were based on the team's ability to fool the panel - $500 per incorrect vote and $3,000 if they fooled all four panelists. Two such games were played per show. After the second game, a new segment, "One on One" was played with two more contestants, one an audience member and another with two stories to share, though he was associated with just one. The four panelists, in turn, ask the second contestant one question regarding each story. The audience member then had to guess which story he/she thought was true. If the audience member was correct, he/she won $500; if not, the contestant won the money. Written by Brian Rathjen

The 4th Edition of the classic game show. The Impostors presented by the announcer and the cross-examiners questioned 3 of them. They vote for 1, 2 or 3. Every wrong vote worth $500 and eventually $1000 extra for the same wrong vote and $3000 for the wrong votes by landslide. Then came "One on One" for $500 to 1 audience member to pick the true story of the 2 possible professions and questioned by the cross-examiners. Written by Ben Hallums

The 1969 version of "To Tell the Truth" was among the best known of all versions of this durable format. Many game show fans fondly remember this version for the colorful, "groovy" set (used from 1969-1973, after which a conservative, blue-accented set was used) and its soft rock-flavored lyrical theme. The format, however, remained the same as always: A team of three contestants, one the actual person associated with a story and two imposters, tried to fool the four-member celebrity panel. An affidavit relating a person's story is read sometimes funny; sometimes serious; sometimes inspirational; sometimes having to do with their profession, political activity or cause they were actively involved in; but always interesting. The celebrity panelists, one at a time, question the three contestants (addressing them by No. 1, No. 2. and No. 3) in an attempt to expose the liars and determine who was telling the truth. After all four celebrities have had their turn to question the team, they voted separately as to who they thought was the real person associated with the story. Payoffs were based on the team's ability to fool the panel $50 per incorrect vote and $500 for four incorrect votes. Often, the contestants were invited to demonstrate their skill; other times, skits and film vignettes were used to illustrate the person's story. Two such games were played per show. Written by Brian Rathjen

The fifth (and so far, most recent) incarnation of the classic Mark Goodson Productions' game. Three contestants -- two of them imposters -- each claimed to be the central subject of a story, which host O'Hurley (or sometimes, announcer Burton Richardson) read. The four panelists, one at a time, each questioned the team, addressing them by No. 1, No. 2 or No. 3, in an effort to expose the liars and determine the real person. After the four panelists have completed their questioning, they each vote (separately and without consultation) for whom they believe the real person is; 100 members of the studio audience also voted, with the highest vote-getter receiving the vote. The team was paid $1,000 per incorrect vote, or $5,000 (sometimes $10,000) if they fooled every one. At times, O'Hurley interviewed the real subject, who sometimes demonstrated his skill via video clips or onstage. This fifth version was best known for the one-time appearance of longtime "To Tell the Truth" panelist Kitty Carlisle-Hart, who had appeared in all four other versions. Written by Brian Rathjen

As in the previous incarnations, the 1980 version of "To Tell the Truth" featured a team of three contestants one the actual person associated with a story and two imposters. After the affidavit is read, the celebrity panelists question the three contestants in an attempt to ferret out the liars. The celebrities then voted separately as to who they thought was the real person associated with the story. Payoffs were based on the team's ability to fool the panel $100 per incorrect vote and $1,000 for four incorrect votes. Two such games were played per show. Written by Brian Rathjen