Quiz Show Rigging | Consolation Prize | 3

As former quiz show champion Herbert Stempel watches Charles Van Doren continue his staged winning streak on Twenty-One, he threatens to go public with what he knows. Meanwhile, another contestant quietly takes steps of his own to document the show’s fraud. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter Listen to American Scandal on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to binge the newest season. Unlock exclusive early access by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial today by visiting wondery.com/links/american-scandal/ http://wondery.com/links/american-scandal/ now. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Speaker names marked ? are inferred from speaking time and the show’s known hosts — they are not voice-verified.

• 0:00Lindsay Graham?

  Audible subscribers can binge new seasons of American Scandal early and ad-free right now. Join Audible in the Audible app or by subscribing on Apple Podcasts.

• 0:25Lindsay Graham?

  It's a Monday evening in March 1957. Herbert Stample is sitting on the sofa in the living room of his apartment in Queens, New York. He watches TV while his wife Toby sits next to him knitting a sweater. Stample knows he should get up and change the channel because the show that's about to come on only upsets him. It's Twenty One, the quiz show that made him a champion and a household name before its producers decided to hand his title to Ivy League pretty boy Charles Van Doren. But every Monday night for the past three months, Stample has felt compelled to watch Twenty One, hoping to see Van Doren lose, but he never does. Stample winces as he remembers how the show's lead producer Dan Enright convinced him to

• 1:09Lindsay Graham?

  take a fall, using promises of a job and publicity neither of which have materialized. And he thinks about his winnings, tens of thousands of dollars, and how he frittered almost all of it away, first on a fancy new car, and then on a failed investment into an illegal gambling operation in Florida. It's all so embarrassing, Stample can hardly stand it. And to make matters worse, Van Doren has long since eclipsed him, becoming the longest-running and most famous quiz show champion in television history. Some days, it feels like the whole country has fallen in love with Van Doren. In fact, just last month, Time Magazine put his face on the cover.

• 1:50Lindsay Graham?

  But what Stample knows and the public doesn't is that Van Doren is not a trivia savant. The reason he keeps winning is because the producers are feeding him the correct answers, just like they had with Stample before, and carrying that knowledge is eating Stample up inside.

• 2:10Lindsay Graham?

  As he watches Van Doren banter with host Jack Berry at the top of the show, Stempel can already feel himself boiling over. He turns to his wife. Oh, are you seeing this? Can't stand the way Jack Berry fawns over Van Doren. It's like he's talking to Albert Einstein or someone. He keeps calling Van Doren professor, but he's really just an instructor at Columbia. He wouldn't even be on the show if he didn't have a famous last name. This whole thing is such a joke. Herbie, I don't know why you torture yourself like this. Just change the channel. Your psychiatrist told you to stop watching. I know, but it's just so aggravating. I could have wiped the floor with Van Doren if they'd only let me play him straight up. I can't wait to see him lose.

• 2:52Lindsay Graham?

  Well, that makes two of us, but I'll tell you what I think is really getting at you. It's how you've spent your winnings. You're more angry with yourself than you are with 21. Probably some truth in there. So maybe you should go see your friend again about the gambling. See if he can get your money back. Oh, honey, that is not the way it works. I can't start making demands. We just have to wait it out. It'll come through eventually. Okay, but we'll have to start asking my parents for money again. The pittance you get from the G.I. bill isn't cutting it. No, no, I'm tired of them lording it over me with how generous they're being. Look, there's still one more thing I can try. You know, Enright? He said that if I agreed to lose, he'd give me a job at his company, working as a question researcher or something like that.

• 3:37Lindsay Graham?

  He also said he'd get you an appearance on The Tonight Show. Yeah, yeah, I know, but this might be different. This is his company, and why wouldn't he hire me? I'm great with trivia. I could go see him and really try to pin him down on that job, get a firm answer. Well, that sounds like a start. I mean, he does owe you. The show wouldn't be what it is without you. You're damn right, and I held up my end of the bargain. I think it's his turn now. I'll call him tonight.

• 4:03Lindsay Graham?

  As Stempel turns his attention back to the TV, he sees the first round has come to an end with Van Doren breezing to yet another victory. Stempel can feel his skin grow hot with frustration. So he picks up the phone from the end table, begins dialing Enright's number. He's going to ask Enright to make good on his promises, and if he doesn't, Stempel will make it his personal mission to reveal the truth about 21. The show is fake, and its most beloved contestant is a fraud.

• 4:35Speaker 01

  Hey, I'm David Brown, the host of Business Wars from Audible Originals. Indian Motorcycle and Harley-Davidson once defined American riding until Indian collapsed. Decades later, against the odds, one company dared to bring the iconic brand back, and the rivalry has returned. Listen to Business Wars on Audible or wherever you get your podcasts.

• 4:54Speaker 02

  I'm Lauren Malloy, the host of the podcast My Mom's Murder. For 30 years, I thought my mom died of natural causes. That's what everyone told me. That's what I believed. Until one day, I got a phone call that changed everything. A woman claiming to be my mom's best friend told me my mother was murdered, and that no one had ever investigated it. So I did what the detectives wouldn't: pulled the threads, knocked on doors, and confronted the contradictions. And what I found, it's worse than I imagined. Something happened to my mom. Someone killed her. And I won't stop until I find out who.

• 5:36Speaker 02

  The system may have given up on my mom, but I never will. Listen to My Mom's Murder wherever you get your podcasts. Audible subscribers can binge all 10 episodes early and ad-free right now. Join Audible in the Audible app or by subscribing on Apple Podcasts.

• 6:01Lindsay Graham?

  From Wondery, I'm Lindsay Graham, and this is American Scandal.

• 6:26Lindsay Graham?

  By the spring of 1957, quiz shows had become a bona fide phenomenon in American television. They often appear in the top 10 of the Nielsen ratings and earned big money for their networks, production companies, and sponsors. But as the profits grew, so too did the pressure to keep that success going. And over time, producers began tweaking their shows to ensure they remained hits. They learned that audiences responded best to contestants with compelling backstories and personalities who were able to win multiple episodes and return week after week. This allowed viewers to emotionally connect with the contestants. So some quiz show producers began writing trivia questions tailored to the strengths of their most popular contestants.

• 7:11Lindsay Graham?

  Other producers, like 21 creator Dan Enright, took the manipulation much further. Enright began fully scripting every episode, feeding both of the contestants the questions and answers beforehand, instructing them which ones to get right or wrong, and even when to pause or wipe their brow for dramatic effect. But these extreme measures came with enormous risk. Because as more contestants participated in the deception, it became more and more likely that the truth would come out. And in the spring of 1957, 21's former champion Herbert Stempel seemed very prepared to blow the whistle. This is episode 3, "Consolation Prize."

• 7:55Lindsay Graham?

  It's the morning of March 7, 1957. Dan Enright, the creator and lead producer of 21, is in his Manhattan office sifting through a list of potential trivia questions, when his secretary buzzes in to say that Herbert Stempel is waiting in the lobby. Enright sighs in irritation. Stempel is an hour early, and Enright still needs to prepare for their meeting. The last time Enright saw Stempel, he sounded unhinged, rambling on about what he was owed and threatening to expose the show as a fraud. But as much as Enright would like to just ignore Stempel, he knows he can't risk it. Because right now, he has a lot to lose. Enright and his partner Jack Berry are in the middle of negotiating a deal to sell 21 to NBC, along with a handful of their other shows.

• 8:42Lindsay Graham?

  It's a deal that will likely bring in more than a million dollars. And if Stempel were to blow the whistle now, the whole thing could go up in flames. So Enright has decided to take some precautionary measures. Enright buzzes his secretary, instructing her to stall Stempel. Then he jumps up from his desk and heads to the bookcase. He reaches up to the top shelf and pulls off a reel-to-reel tape machine the size of a small suitcase. Enright pulls the tape recorder off the shelf and loads it up with a fresh reel. Then he hits record and places it back on top of the bookcase, behind a potted plant. So now, as Stempel walks into the office, making threats and raving like a lunatic, this recording will give Enright all the evidence he needs to paint the former contestant

• 9:25Lindsay Graham?

  as an unreliable witness, one whose mental state has been in sharp decline since losing his title as quiz show champion. And if Enright accidentally incriminates himself in the process, he can easily edit those parts out of the recording before sharing it with anyone. So with the tape rolling, Enright returns to his desk and tells the secretary to send in Stempel. A few moments later, he's in Enright's office and looking a bit desperate. Enright leans forward, hoping to take charge of the conversation. How are you, Herb? I hope our conversation can be a little more civil this time. Well, that's up to you, isn't it? Look, Dan, I'll level with you. I wouldn't be here asking for more money if I didn't need to. I'm in a tight spot. I've already spent all the money I want.

• 10:10Lindsay Graham?

  I bought a nice car, okay? There's no crime in that. But then I've got this friend, and yeah, he did some time in prison, but we grew up together. You understand. So this guy was setting up some kind of gambling operation in Florida and said I could double my money, but I haven't seen a dime. I asked a few questions, and then the next thing I know, he shows up at my door. Not so friendly this time. He was sending a message. "Dan, this man's capable of murder." Enright is taken aback by Stempel's rambling, semi-coherent tale. Hold on, Herb. I mean, it sounds like you might have committed a crime here. Yeah, I know. You're stupid. I haven't been in my right mind since I left the show. Okay, well, let's put money aside, because now I'm worried about your mental state. Are you seeing a psychiatrist? Yeah, twice a week.

• 10:55Lindsay Graham?

  Well, let's make it five times a week. I'm serious. I'll pay for the extra sessions. Well, I appreciate it, but that won't solve the money problem. How about this then? I've got a new game show in the works with NBC. It's called High Low. The contestant competes against a panel of celebrities, and I want to have you on that panel once a week. It premieres in July, right after you graduate. You'll be paid for every appearance. Really? Well, that would be great. Yeah, thank you. But I need you to do something for me in return. Enright takes out a pen and paper. He slides them across the desk to Stempel. I'm gonna dictate a letter for you to write out and sign, word for word. A letter? Yeah. I need you to say that you were never given the answers on 21. I need it to be in writing. But that's not the truth.

• 11:39Lindsay Graham?

  Last couple of times we've met, your tone hasn't been exactly friendly, Herb. In fact, it sure sounds like you're trying to blackmail me. Oh, come on, Dan. I would never do anything like that. Just got a little worked up seeing Van Doren and all the money he's winning, the whole Time Magazine thing, you know? Meanwhile, I'm up to my eyeballs in this whole gambling mess. I don't know. It's difficult. I'm sorry. Well, apology accepted, but I need to protect myself, Herb. I need to know I can trust you. Oh, you can, I promise. All right. Just tell me what to write.

• 12:13Lindsay Graham?

  Enright speaks slowly as Stempel dutifully takes down every word. In the letter, Stempel writes that he was never supplied with the answers to any questions before the show. And as Stempel signs at the bottom and slides the letter back, Enright feels himself relaxed. He now has a tape recording where a clearly unwell Stempel admits to financing an illegal gambling operation and to threatening Enright. He also has a signed letter where the contestant definitively states that no collusion ever occurred on the show. So if Stempel tries to pull anything, Enright should have everything he would need to bury him.

• 12:53Lindsay Graham?

  While Enright is managing the Herbert-Stempel situation, he still has a show to run. So he turns his attention back to 21's current champion, Charles Van Doren. By March of 1957, Van Doren has been on the show for more than three consecutive months. He's earned more than $100,000, a record for any quiz show contestant. He's also become a bona fide celebrity, and Enright has been milking his star contestant to generate as much publicity as possible. Enright's even gone so far as to send Van Doren on pre-arranged, highly-public dates with famous actresses to ensure that "21" stays in the papers. But Van Doren has grown anxious from all of the attention, along with the pressure of maintaining the hoax.

• 13:37Lindsay Graham?

  He yearns to get back to a normal life, and after several weeks of pleading, Enright finally grants him his wish. Van Doren is taken off the show much the same way he was brought on. Enright engineers a long series of tie games between Van Doren and another contestant, Vivian Nearing. The standoff lasts three weeks until finally, on March 11th, Van Doren throws the game. And with Enright feeding her the correct answers, Nearing goes on a winning streak of her own. And when her run ends, Enright manufactures yet another new compelling rivalry, but this time, pushing his favorite gimmick even further. The next pair of star contestants, James Snodgrass and Hank Bloomgarten, continuously

• 14:21Lindsay Graham?

  tie and return to face each other for a full month. But once again, Enright underestimates the dangers of colluding with the wrong contestant. Although Snodgrass enjoys the fame that comes with being a returning contestant on a hit game show, he feels uneasy about the legality of their arrangement. And he becomes even more uneasy when the show's producers explain to him that after all the tie games, Snodgrass will be the one who has to lose. He'll be sent home with a consolation prize of $3,000, while Bloomgarden stands to win over $50,000.

• 14:55Lindsay Graham?

  As a young man, struggling to make a career for himself as a screenwriter and painter, Snodgrass feels he's in no position to turn down thousands of dollars. So he agrees to play his part. But as he heads home that evening, his resentment begins to grow. And by the time he opens the door to his Greenwich Village apartment, Snodgrass has decided to throw caution to the wind. When it comes time for him to take a dive, he's going to answer the question correctly, forcing the producers to keep him on the show. Snodgrass has no idea what will happen next, but he's sure the producers won't be happy, so he's going to take an extraordinary step to protect himself from potential fallout. Snodgrass hunts around in his desk until he finds a sheet of carbon transfer paper.

• 15:40Lindsay Graham?

  Then he grabs a ballpoint pen and begins writing. He writes out all the questions the producers had him memorize, the questions he'll be given on the episode three days from now. And when Snodgrass is finished, he tears off the carbon paper copy and tucks it in his desk for safekeeping. Then he takes the original, slides it into one envelope, and addresses it to himself. First thing tomorrow morning, he'll head to the post office and mail the questions back to himself via certified mail, ensuring the date is stamped clearly on the sealed envelope. A date two days before the questions inside will be asked live on air. Snodgrass is creating undeniable physical evidence that 21 is rigged, and he has a

• 16:21Lindsay Graham?

  good feeling it'll come in handy someday. Over the next two weeks, James Snodgrass sends himself two more letters via certified mail that contain the rigged questions and answers to that week's episode of 21. Then, on May 20th, he follows through with his plan and gives a correct answer to a question he was supposed to miss. Snodgrass's rebellion sends producers Dan Enright and Albert Friedman into a panic. This is the first time a contestant has refused to play ball. So at the next commercial break, they rush onstage and try to persuade Snodgrass to bow out, suggesting maybe he's not feeling well. But Snodgrass refuses to leave.

• 17:03Lindsay Graham?

  He stays on to finish the episode, which ends in yet another set of ties. So in the next episode, the producers solve this problem by supplying the correct answers only to Bloom Garden, leaving Snodgrass to fend for himself. Bloom Garden easily wins the game and Snodgrass is finally sent packing with his $3,000 consolation prize. Further tempting fate, a month later, Dan Enright reneges on his agreement with Herbert Stempel to cast Stempel as a celebrity panelist on the new quiz show High Low. Enright explains that he recently sold all of his shows to NBC, so the network is now responsible for casting, and they aren't interested in having Stempel on. Hearing this news, Stempel is despondent.

• 17:48Lindsay Graham?

  With the poor investments he's made, he was counting on the steady income from this new show. Adding insult to injury, High Low casts John Van Doren, the brother of Stempel's hated rival Charles Van Doren. Now, consumed by vengeance and with nothing to lose, Stempel follows through on his previous threats to Enright. He reaches out to a few newspapers, offering to share his story about the backstage collusion he experienced firsthand on 21. But to Stempel's dismay, no paper will take the story. Only one reporter even gives him a response, explaining that without physical proof, they can't print Stempel's accusations for fear of a libel suit from the deep-pocketed NBC. But Stempel is relentless.

• 18:31Lindsay Graham?

  He spends months searching for a reporter who's receptive to his story, and finally, in September of 1957, he finds one in Jack O'Brien, a reporter with the New York Journal American. That afternoon, O'Brien is at his desk in his living room, clacking away at a typewriter, working on the latest installment of his syndicated entertainment column when he's interrupted by the phone ringing. O'Brien picks up the phone and hears the voice of a secretary at the paper. She says there's a man named Herbert Stempel on the line, a former quiz show contestant who promises an explosive story. O'Brien is intrigued. He remembers Stempel as a nerdy genius with a long run on 21, so he tells the secretary to put Stempel through.

• 19:14Lindsay Graham?

  But O'Brien can barely finish introducing himself before Stempel begins frantically dumping information. He rants about Dan Enright, calling the producer a liar and a crook, and then he moves on to Charles Van Doren, claiming the man is a phony. After several minutes, O'Brien begins to understand what Stempel is alleging, that 21 is rigged. He says that both he and Van Doren received the answers to the questions in advance, and if true, it would certainly make for a great scoop. But O'Brien will need more than just one man's accusations before printing a story. So O'Brien interrupts Stempel, asking if he has any physical evidence to corroborate these claims. Stempel goes quiet for a moment before admitting he does not. O'Brien pauses to think.

• 19:59Lindsay Graham?

  While Stempel's story is certainly interesting, the man is coming off like a crank with an axe to grind. There's no way O'Brien can put any of this in print without proof. His paper could be sued out of existence. So O'Brien thanks Stempel for the call but says he won't be able to help. But just as O'Brien pulls the receiver away from his ear, Stempel says something that makes him pause. He asks O'Brien, "Doesn't he think it's strange that James Snodgrass and Hank Bloomgarden played a dozen games in a row that all ended in ties?" Stempel explains that to reach a tie, not only do both contestants have to get questions right or wrong at the perfect time, but they also have to select questions with point values that add up to the exact same final score.

• 20:44Lindsay Graham?

  But since both players are in isolation booths, they have no way of knowing what their opponent's score is. The odds of them blindly choosing the perfect combination of point values 12 times in a row must be astronomical, which leaves only two possibilities. Either the producers of the show are the luckiest men in the world, or the show is rigged. O'Brien agrees that it certainly is strange, and tells him he'll think the story over. Then after he hangs up, O'Brien feels a flicker of excitement. Despite the lack of evidence, the claims Stempel made are so explosive that they're worthy of following up on. And if O'Brien can just find some way to confirm Stempel's accusations, he might have stumbled onto the biggest story in television.

• 21:32Speaker 03

  Hey, I'm Cassie DePecce, the host of Against the Odds from Audible Originals. In each episode, we share thrilling true stories of survival, putting you in the shoes of the people who lived to tell the tale. In our latest series, we track the story of Hugh Glass, the real-life revenant that inspired the 2015 film starring Leonardo DiCaprio. In 1823, Glass was brutally mauled by a grizzly bear in present-day South Dakota and left for dead. His survival depended on trekking through 350 miles of wilderness alone with grave injuries. But he was driven by his thirst for revenge. Follow Against the Odds wherever you get your podcasts. Audible subscribers can binge all episodes of Against the Odds early and ad-free right now. Join Audible in the Audible app or by subscribing on Apple Podcasts.

• 22:16Speaker 04

  Hi, I'm Kenya Paris.

• 22:18Speaker 05

  And I'm Malcolm Gladwell. We're back for season two of our Audible original podcast, The Unusual Suspects.

• 22:24Speaker 04

  We'll sit down with extraordinary guests from the worlds of art, film, literature, comedy, and wilderness to hear from their unexpected stories of success.

• 22:32Speaker 05

  And who do we have this season? Well, we'll talk with Grammy-winning artist Anderson Paak, athlete Rich Roll, portrait artist Amy Sherald, Oscar-winning director Ron Howard, legendary writer David Sedaris, and many more. These conversations are more intimate than last season, wouldn't you say?

• 22:48Speaker 04

  I would. Listen to season one of The Unusual Suspects wherever you get your podcasts and sign up for a free trial Audible to listen to season two in the Audible app or by subscribing to Apple Podcasts.

• 23:15Lindsay Graham?

  In September of 1957, 21 producer Dan Enright is in his office when he receives a call from reporter Jack O'Brien, asking him to comment on Herbert Stempel's allegations.

• 23:27Lindsay Graham?

  Enright categorically denies everything, claiming that Stempel is mentally unwell and simply bitter over his loss to rival contestant Charles Van Doren. But the conversation does put Enright on high alert. He calls Stempel and offers to make good on his promise to set Stempel up with a week's worth of work as a panelist on High Low, yet another quiz show Enright created. But Stempel isn't interested. He tells Enright that the offer is too little, too late, and before they hang up, Stempel vows to press forward until the whole world knows the truth about 21. It's bad news for Enright, and soon after, he gets even more when he's called into a meeting with one of NBC's top executives.

• 24:08Lindsay Graham?

  That day, Enright travels to NBC headquarters in New York's Rockefeller Center before being shown into an upscale conference room. Inside, he finds NBC Vice President Thomas Irvin seated at the table, flanked by an assistant. Irvin invites Enright to have a seat, and then begins to lay out the situation. Irvin explains that Jack O'Brien from the New York Journal American has called, asking about collusion between producers and contestants on 21. Even more concerning, the New York Post has also informed NBC that they're assigning five reporters to the story. As Irvin talks, Enright can see his career flash before his eyes. He thinks of the multimillion-dollar deal he made with NBC just a few months ago, and

• 24:52Lindsay Graham?

  how easily the deal could be rescinded. If NBC learns that his signature program was based on a massive fraud, they'll be forced to take the show off the air, and will likely do everything they can to get their money back. So Enright looks Irvin in the eye and swears on his life that he's never given answers to Herbert Stempel or any other contestant on 21. The producer explains that Stempel has serious psychological problems, and that the only crime Enright has committed is not recognizing Stempel's instability sooner.

• 25:23Lindsay Graham?

  Irvin replies that he's heard about Stempel's strange behavior from others around NBC as well, but these are serious allegations that could prove damaging to the company. And right now, it's just Enright's word versus Stempel's. But Enright has come prepared for this moment. He reaches into the breast pocket of his suit, pulls out a folded document, and slides it across the table. As Irvin looks it over, Enright explains that this is a letter written and signed by Stempel. In it, Stempel definitively states he was never given answers on the show. Enright explains that he put this together six months ago, after Stempel approached Enright demanding money and threatening to tell the press that 21 was rigged.

• 26:05Lindsay Graham?

  Enright says that he was so spooked by Stempel's erratic behavior, he had him sign this letter to ensure against exactly the crisis they're facing today. Then Enright shares another revelation. He explains to Irvin that he made a secret audio recording of the very meeting where Stempel signed this letter. On the tape, Stempel admits that he attempted to blackmail Enright, and that he's involved in illegal gambling. He can also be heard confessing to his deteriorating mental state, his jealousy of Charles Van Doran, and how he's been seeing a psychiatrist twice a week. Irvin asks Enright if he has that tape on him now. Enright explains it's in a safety deposit box, but he's happy to retrieve it if needed.

• 26:46Lindsay Graham?

  Irvin then reaches his hand across the table, thanking Enright for sharing all this information with him. Then he congratulates Enright for having the foresight to protect the show against a contestant who is obviously unhinged. As Enright shakes Irvin's hand, he breathes a sigh of relief. He knows the battle against Stempel has likely just begun, but for now, he's got NBC in his corner, and his lucrative deal with them appears to be safe.

• 27:15Lindsay Graham?

  Following the assurances from Dan Enright, NBC issues a blanket denial of accusations about collusion between producers and contestants on 21. And with no one to corroborate Herbert Stempel's story, the various news outlets investigating the case declined to print the allegations, fearing a potential libel suit from the network. So with the potential scandal seemingly avoided, NBC executives and those at other networks get back to the business of making television. And that fall, as a new TV season kicks into gear, the proliferation of quiz shows only accelerates. By the spring of 1958, there are more than 20 such programs on NBC and CBS combined.

• 27:57Lindsay Graham?

  Of these, the biggest new hit proves to be Dotto, a decidedly lower-brow game that combines simple trivia with a connect-the-dots puzzle. The show airs on CBS and quickly becomes the highest-rated show in the history of daytime television. But much like 21, the outcome of every game is heavily manipulated by the producers. They regularly coach their most compelling contestants to victory, and for several months, the scheme goes smoothly. But on May 20th, a disgruntled contestant makes a startling discovery. That morning, Eddie Hilgemaier is lounging on the couch in the contestant green room down the hall from Dotto's soundstage in midtown Manhattan. Hilgemaier is in his mid-20s, and he's an aspiring actor and stand-up comedian trying

• 28:41Lindsay Graham?

  to break into show business. In order to make ends meet, he's taken a variety of side jobs, and his favorite is game show contestant. At this point, he's already been on a half dozen shows. And today, he's volunteered to serve as a standby contestant, ready to step in if one of the actual contestants is unable to go on. Standbys don't make much, but Hilgemaier hopes it might lead to a real spot on the show in the future. Hilgermeier sits back in the green room, not expecting much and a little bored. He sees Dado's returning champion, Marie Nguyen, seated at a table across the room. Hilgermeier thinks she resembles Hollywood star Audrey Hepburn, so he can see why the producers chose her to be on the show. Hilgermeier continues to watch Nguyen as she scribbles in a notebook and silently mouths

• 29:26Lindsay Graham?

  words to herself. He's not sure what to make of it, and wonders if it's some sort of exercise she's using to sharpen her mind before the competition. Then, a producer steps into the room to escort Nguyen to the stage, and Hilgermeier follows right behind to watch the show. He finds a good vantage point in the wings of the stage, and when the show starts, he watches closely, playing along to try and prepare himself in case he becomes a contestant in the future. He watches Nguyen face off against her opponent, Yefi Kimball, and Hilgermeier is struck by how well Nguyen is performing. In fact, she's doing almost too well. Hilgermeier begins watching Nguyen's face closely, and each time a new puzzle is introduced, she gives a subtle, confident smile,

• 30:09Lindsay Graham?

  like she knows the answer before the first clue is even given. Suddenly, Hilgermeier thinks back to the notebook. And while the show is still taping, he walks back to the green room to see if it's still there. Sure enough, Hilgermeier finds it, sitting on the table, right where Nguyen left it. He opens it up to a random page, and finds a series of seemingly unrelated words and phrases scribbled out. None of them seem to match the content of the game he's been watching. Then he turns another page and finds the name Barry Fitzgerald written at the top. Then it hits him like a lightning bolt. Barry Fitzgerald was the answer to one of the questions he just watched, and Nguyen answered it with ease. She must have been given the answer beforehand by a producer.

• 30:52Lindsay Graham?

  Hilgermeier begins flipping through the pages of the notebook and tearing out any that look suspicious.

• 31:01Lindsay Graham?

  Then, with pages in hand, Ilga Meyer heads back towards stage. But just as he opens the stage door, he bumps into Wynne's competition. Yeffy Kimball, on her way out, Ilga Meyer grabs her sleeve. "Yeffy, where are you going?" "I didn't do so great. Marie beat me pretty quickly. It's intermission now and they're bringing the next guy on." "Well, I'll tell you what. I just found something in the green room and I think it explains why Marie's doing so well." Ilga Meyer hands the notebook pages to Kimball. She skims through them, but looks confused. "What is this?" "These are from Marie's notebook, but look at the top of the page. It says Barry Fitzgerald, clear as day." "That was one of the answers she got right." "Yeah. I think this whole show is rigged. I think you never had a chance."

• 31:45Lindsay Graham?

  "I wondered why she didn't miss a single question. If this is true, this is outrageous. What are you gonna do with the pages?" "You mean, what are we gonna do? Because you're the real victim here. They cheated you out of money. And they would've done the same to me if I'd been put on. The whole thing makes me sick, I tell ya." "Well, hold on, let's think for a moment. Maybe they just made a mistake. I mean, they could've given her the real questions in rehearsal by accident, you know? We should talk to one of the producers. See if they'll set things right. And have us both on for a different episode." "Come on, Yeffy, there's no way this is an accident. I think we should talk to a lawyer. CBS is making money hand over fist on this show. I bet they'd be happy to pay us both just to keep quiet." "You're probably right. And I do know a good attorney." "I think we should give him a call.

• 32:30Lindsay Graham?

  ASAP."

• 32:33Lindsay Graham?

  As Kimball hustles back to the green room, Ilga Meyer looks up and down the hallway, making sure no one from the show has been watching. Then he neatly folds the pages from Wynne's notebook and slides them into the pocket of his suit jacket. Ilga Meyer can feel his heart beating through his chest. He knows that what's in his pocket is clear and potentially lucrative evidence of a rigged quiz show. And he has every intention of using it.

• 33:01Speaker 06

  Journalist Tristan Redman goes where no son-in-law should ever go. Deep into his wife's family history, digging up the cold case of who murdered her great-grandmother. Because, I should mention, he thinks the murderer might actually be the beloved family patriarch. For the best binge-watch series like Ghost Story, listen to the Audible True Crime Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

• 33:21Speaker 01

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• 34:03Lindsay Graham?

  In the spring of 1958, Dotto contestants Eddie Hilgemaier and Yeffy Kimball consult with a lawyer and make photocopies of the evidence Hilgemaier found in contestant Marie Wynn's notebook. Then they reach out to the show's producers, threatening legal action. On the next morning's episode, the show's host tells viewers that winning contestant Marie Wynn has fallen ill and will not be returning to defend her crown. And over the next several weeks, the producers go back and forth with Hilgemaier and Kimball, negotiating a settlement in hopes of buying their silence. Ultimately, Kimball is paid $4,000, and Hilgemaier accepts $1,500. But when Hilgemaier learns that he's been paid substantially less money than his counterpart, he gets upset.

• 34:48Lindsay Graham?

  And he's further angered when he comes to suspect that CBS is refusing to grant him other game show appearances or coveted acting roles. So on July 31, Hilgemaier and his lawyer present an affidavit to the Federal Communications Commission, the government agency that regulates television. The affidavit details the story of Wynn's notebook, as well as Hilgemaier's claim of being blackballed by the network. Soon after, the FCC opens an investigation, marking the first time any government authority has looked into allegations of backstage collusion on a quiz show. But Hilgermeyer grows impatient, waiting for the results of the FCC's inquiry. So two weeks later, on August 16th, he shows up at the office of Joseph Stone,

• 35:31Lindsay Graham?

  an assistant district attorney in the Manhattan DA's office. Stone finds Hilgermeyer's tale amusing, but he doesn't think there's much he can do about it. Even if the story is true, the prosecutor's not sure what, if any, crime has been committed. So he writes off Hilgermeyer as a struggling actor with a bitter grievance. But when Stone arrives to work the following Monday, he's forced to take a second look.

• 35:58Lindsay Graham?

  Around 10 a.m. on August 18th, Stone strives into the office of his boss, District Attorney Frank Hogan, for their usual Monday morning meeting to kick off the week. Morning Frank, what's on the agenda? Well, take a look at this. Hogan hands Stone a copy of that morning's New York Post, folded open to a story with a headline that reads, "Next Question: Why Did Dato Die?" Apparently, the show was canceled over the weekend, and CBS gave no explanation as to why. The article says it was the top-rated show on daytime TV, but now, poof, it's just gone. Well, that's interesting. On Saturday, a contestant from Dato showed up at the office. Some guy named Hilgermeyer says that he caught the producers helping one of the players cheat on the show. And now he's being blacklisted as an actor.

• 36:44Lindsay Graham?

  He was pretty sore about the whole thing, but I didn't think much of it. He seemed like a kook to me. Well, this article says a disgruntled contestant filed an affidavit with the FCC, making the same allegations. I bet that's your guy. You're probably right. He never mentioned the FCC, though. And if CBS canceled the show, that could be a sign the allegations have merit. Maybe he's not a kook. Maybe not. I think we ought to look into it. Well, here's my first question. Is putting on a phony quiz show even a crime? I'm not aware of any statute that says it is. Who's the victim? The audience? I mean, at first blush, I'm inclined to let the FCC handle it. Well, normally I'd agree, but this article makes me think otherwise. Let me, um, let me see if you can follow my logic. Number one, these quiz shows are the biggest thing on TV these days. Lots of people watching.

• 37:30Lindsay Graham?

  Number two, you can bet the public's gonna be very interested in any story about quiz show cheating. And number three, I'm running for senate. Right. Voters are gonna wanna know what the DA is doing about this. They are. So why don't you do a little digging? Bring your guy back in. Tell him to bring that affidavit and any evidence he has to back it up. Then, let's give CBS a ring. If the press come calling about this, at least we won't look asleep at the wheel.

• 38:00Lindsay Graham?

  With his marching orders in hand, Stone heads back to his office to start making calls. He still thinks it's a frivolous case and likely a waste of time. But orders are orders, and his boss is right. There's bound to be a ton of public interest in this story.

• 38:18Lindsay Graham?

  Within days of opening his preliminary investigation into Dotto, prosecutor Joseph Stone obtains a copy of the suspicious notebook pages Eddie Hilgemaier found in the show's green room. He also requests a copy of the episode in question from CBS. And when the 16mm film arrives, he's eager to see if the questions in the notebook match up with the questions that were asked in the episode. If they do, this investigation might have some legs. So on the afternoon of August 25th, 1958, Stone shuffles into a conference room inside the Manhattan DA's office. And while one of his assistants threads the film strip into a projector at the back of the room, Stone opens the folder in his lap and takes out laminated copies of the pages from Marie Wynn's notebook. Looking over the top page,

• 39:03Lindsay Graham?

  Stone sees a list of seemingly unrelated words and phrases including Donald Duck and Barry Fitzgerald, along with Alexander's ragtime band. Then the lights are turned off, and the film strip begins playing. Stone watches closely to see if any of these words relate to what's in the episode. As the game begins, Stone is struck by the silliness of it all. The round starts with a collection of dots on a large screen on stage. Each time a contestant answers a trivia question correctly, a line forms between two of the dots. And over time, the lines begin to make out the shape of a face or group of faces. The first contestant to guess the identity of the faces wins. As the first round progresses, Stone's eyes move back and forth between the notebook

• 39:48Lindsay Graham?

  pages and the screen, looking for any connection. But after a few minutes, none of the trivia questions have matched what's on the page. Stone begins to wonder if Hilgermeyer's accusations were oversold. Maybe the young man is just what the prosecutor first suspected, just a frustrated actor making a fuss. But then, a few questions later, as the face on screen takes further shape, Marie Nguyen takes a shot at guessing who it is. She asks if the face belongs to Barry Fitzgerald, the famous movie actor. The host confirms it is indeed Fitzgerald, and awards win $500 as the crowd applauds. Now, Stone's eyes dart back to the page. There it is, right in the middle, the name Barry Fitzgerald. Stone's pulse begins to quicken.

• 40:33Lindsay Graham?

  This now certainly looks like evidence of collusion between Nguyen and Datto's producers. He begins to think he's got a real investigation on his hands. And if Datto's producers were colluding with Nguyen, then it's likely they were aiding other contestants as well. This could be just the tip of the iceberg. From Wondery, this is episode three, a quiz show rigging from American Scandal. In our next episode, the district attorney's investigation expands into other quiz shows, putting the entire genre in jeopardy. But key figures implicated in the fraud push back, going to extraordinary and even criminal lengths to save their reputations.

• 41:13Lindsay Graham?

  American Scandal is only possible because of listeners like you, so thank you. And don't miss an episode. Be sure to follow American Scandal on Audible or wherever you get your podcasts. And Audible subscribers can binge new seasons of American Scandal early and ad-free right now. Join Audible in the Audible app or by subscribing on Apple Podcasts. And to find out more about me, including my other podcasts, my live show, the history tours I'm arranging, and all sorts of other things, go to historyishuman.com. That's historyishuman.com.

• 41:50Lindsay Graham?

  If you'd like to learn more about this story, we recommend the books Television Fraud by Kent Anderson, Primetime and Misdemeanors by Joseph Stone and Tim Yawn, and the PBS American Experience documentary, The Quiz Show Scandals. This episode contains reenactments and dramatized details, and while in most cases we can't know exactly what was said, all our dramatizations are based on historical research. American Scandal is hosted, edited, and executive produced by me, Lindsay Graham, for Airship. Audio editing by Christian Paraga, sound design by Gabriel Ghul, music by Thrum. This episode is written by Corey Metcalf, edited by Emma Courtland, fact checking by Alyssa Jung Perry, produced by John Reed, managing producer Joe Florentino. Senior producers are Andy Beckerman and Andy Herman.

• 42:33Lindsay Graham?

  Development by Stephanie Jens, and executive producers are Jenny Lauer Beckman, Marshall Louie, and Aaron O'Flaherty for Wondery.

• 42:48Speaker 04

  Hi, I'm Kenya Barris.

• 42:49Speaker 05

  And I'm Malcolm Gladwell. We're back for season two of our Audible original podcast, The Unusual Suspects.

• 42:55Speaker 04

  We're bringing you fresh, new conversations from guests like Anderson Paak, David Zedarius, Ryan Howard, Rich Roll, Amy Sheldon, and many more.

• 43:01Speaker 05

  Sign up for a free trial to Audible to listen to season two in the Audible app or by subscribing on Apple Podcasts.