Stump the Stars (1947– ) User Reviews

Celebrity Charades

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 2 March 2008]

This is a show worth reviving. With Mike Stokey both producing and emceeing this show had two competing teams of four celebrities simply playing a game of parlor charades. You had two minutes to guess what name or phrase or whatever the pantomimer was trying to put across. Seeing some very dignified people like Sebastian Cabot playing was funny enough. My favorite was Howard Morris who used to literally jump in as his turn was announced with Mike Stokey saying, "Howie Morris come in from wherever you are."

One moment I do remember from Pantomime Quiz was Beverly Garland trying to come up with Have Gun Will Travel. She kept saying over and over, 'Paddling, Paddling' instead of Paladin. She used up her allotted two minutes and never did come up with the name of Richard Boone's television series.

Another show that could be revived today, just like Hollywood Squares was for awhile. Seeing Tom Cruise's antics on interview shows, I think he'd be a natural as a panelist.

HANS CONREID - Genius.

[sswren1 · 9/10 · 24 June 2023]

This was a show that my family and I would never miss. We collectively thought Beverly Garland was a bit of a nut job but the overall enjoyment factor was tremendous.

The stand out memory for me (and I was about 6) was Hans Conreid. I'd seen him on "Fractured Flickers" and recognised his voice from many a Jay Ward cartoon. I loved him.

He was a William Shakespeare specialist. Any time the object t was a Shakespearean quotation, he'd nail it on no time.

Terrifically paced show and heaps of fun to watch.

Have not seen it since (herein Australia) and would love to k ow f any episodes still exist.

That summer of 1962

[theowinthrop · 22 December 2005]

I was watching this show on Channel 9 in New York City that summer - but it was no longer Pantomime Quiz, but called STUMP THE STARS. The ones I recall seeing very frequently on the show were Ross Martin, Ruta Lee, Beverley Garland, Mickey Manners, but also Sebastian Cabot and Hans Conreid. It was curious to see a show like this where the cast and guests were playing charades, but also interesting because they were themselves when not doing the pantomimes that had to be guessed and solved. All of them were quite witty, and it was nice to see them acting as themselves instead of their normal roles on television or in films. I wonder if any of the kine-scopes of this live series still exist.

Hysterical fun

[gandalara · 10/10 · 29 October 2006]

This was a star for me in "the Golden Age of Game Shows." Other games were fun, but this one was FUNNY. Two panels of four celebrities (well known to TV audiences) took turns with one person trying to make his/her team find a specific word or phrase that was visible to the audience but not the rest of the panel. NONE of the answers were ordinary; they were designed to be difficult and awkward. Half the time, the look on the face of the celebrity as he/she read the words to be pantomimed was priceless.

My favorite moment came when Beverly Garland had to act out "The Hunting of the Snark" -- once they got "Twas brillig," Hans Conreid recited the whole thing. I had never heard of it before, but you can bet I looked it up and enjoyed it as a memory as well as a fine work.

I enjoyed a lot of other game shows of the time, but I don't think celebrity participants had so much fun themselves anywhere else -- and it was so easy to laugh with them. I rarely left that half-hour without aching sides. It's a wonder to me that the concept has not been revived -- perhaps today's celebrities have too much dignity, or the cost of hiring two panels is prohibitive. Celebrities and audiences both are losing out.

My Favorite TV Quiz Show of All Time

[seyulish · 10/10 · 27 March 2020]

We have had so much fun watching the few episodes available. Our favorite combination is Ross Martin and Beverly Garland. They made hundreds of these shows-the series ran for so long. Where are they all?

Original pantomime quiz

[rbelcher-02343 · 10/10 · 18 December 2019]

Favorite episode was the phrase to be acted, "i don't care if your name is Howard Morris, srop jumping on my couch". And they got it.

Mike was a friend if mine and he told me where the shows are now! In The Trash!

[vilenciaproductions · 10/10 · 24 December 2020]

I knew Mike Stokey very well for over 30 years! Once when he was over our house we were projecting some 16mm kinescopes of his early KTLA show "Armchair Detective" (I knew both of the shows hosts for that show as well.) I asked Mike what happened to the prints of his "Pantomime Quiz" shows?

He said: "I got a call from a guy at a Chicago TV station and he said that in the basement they had entire runs of "Pantomime Quiz" on 16mm reels and asked me if I wanted them shipped out here, or should I junk them? - I told him I will never use them again, junk them!" So that's what happened to these shows, the landfill got them! Sad but true!

Have a merry covid-19 Xmas! where's my mask????????

I remember "Stump the Stars" too - a fast-paced game of charades

[Cheyenne-Bodie · 6 August 2017]

This game show was originally called "Pantomime Quiz".

But I watched the version that ran from September 1962 thru September 1963 - when it was called "Stump the Stars".

It was on CBS Monday nights at 10:30 eastern time.

There were two teams of four players each that played against each other. Regulars or semi-regulars (according to the best of my memory) were Vera Miles ("The Wrong Man"), Richard Long ("Bourbon Street Beat"), Beverly Garland ("Decoy"), Stubby Kaye ("Guys and Dolls"), Ruta Lee ("Witness for the Prosecution"), Sebastian Cabot ("Checkmate"), Hans Conried ("Make Room for Daddy"), and Ross Martin ("Mr. Lucky"). Each team had three of the regulars and one of the night's two guest stars.

Beverly Garland was a vivacious woman who screamed a lot. Vera Miles was elegant. Ruta Lee was pert and sexy. Ross Martin was smart - an excellent player. All the regulars had plenty of charm and energy. Dress was formal, with the men wearing tuxedos.

One puzzle had some kind of a take-off on the name Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. No one got it. Host Mike Stokey told Richard Long he should have got it since he had played one of Zimbalist's employees on "77 Sunset Strip". Long was actually one of Zimbalist's partners, but kept his mouth shut.

Stokey once introduced Vera Miles as an actress equally capable of playing spinsters or sex pots. Miles didn't seem to appreciate the introduction.

On one special, four cast members of the movie "PT 109" played against four of the regulars. The "PT 109" cast members were Robert Culp, Ty Hardin, Grant Williams, and James Gregory. The regulars won.

Guest stars I remember included Clint Walker and Roger Smith. Joseph Cotten and his wife Patricia Medina were guests for one show. Sebastian Cabot gave Patricia a big kiss and hug. Apparently they were old friends. Also either Don Murray or Don Taylor was a guest star.

Mike Stokey called the show "the fastest half-hour on television". Each team had two minutes to solve a puzzle. There were eight puzzles per show. The show did go by quickly.

an all star episode

[j-c-silver · 24 September 2006]

I just viewed an episode of Stump the Stars (all star challenge) where the Dick Van Dyke Show members played against four of the STS regulars. It was included as a bonus track** with the 5-disc DVD set - THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW - SEASON 2. Regarding the comment made above... apparently - since I just watched an episode, AND since at the ending credits was written "THIS PROGRAM WAS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED," I'd say that there is a good chance that more episodes are archived... somewhere. It was quite enjoyable... much more interesting than the "quiz" shows of today!!

** Nowhere on the packaging (or disc label) does it state that this bonus track exists!! - - It's a secret... shuuuuu - - disc 5 !!