I've always had an odd fascination with the sound that played when Lange spun the wheel of Melody Roulette on NTT. That slowing-down sound was super cool and unlike other SFX on other shows.

Was that a stock effect or was the keyboard player in the band doing something with the pitch wheel on his synth?

I love this time of year. I endure the shows with Steve Allen and even the daily Line has its charms, but I love the dichotomy of the extra starched What's My Line? and whatever-the-hell-happens-is-fine loosey goosey of Secret. They aren't shows that I seek out the other fifty weeks so this gives me my fill.

Good morning and happy practice Friday. I checked with Jason A1 and he signed off so if you would please fill out a survey for Audience Match and some card Sharks/Mindreaders yes/no questions Brian Henegar and I would appreciate it:

MG
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeoQLd0g5dqiVVQtdMxuaYPGVD7PLNgKfiAVWveRwGU1QWaHg/viewform?usp=header

Yes/No
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScJHUbTXYtZl6n1bWGBg8ntJQ_xYMzs1BOF9NtTTyYjblmOPw/viewform?usp=header

I could go on about shows that would be great to upload in full (Lincoln assassination witness, Philo T. Farnsworth's appearance, etc.).

So far, the recent Buzzr uploads of Secret are of shows that had never aired on GSN or Buzzr before and are genuinely "new" to us.  I really hope they continue to stick to that and not upload slightly-less-edited versions of classic episodes like the ones you mentioned, which are available in their practically-complete form on YouTube.     

Looking at that 1958 episode of IGAS, which I don't remember, because it was so heavily themed around westerns it wasn't sponsored by Winston that week? Which I'm going to guess is the reason it got included this year.

Wow.  I had never noticed that there isn't any sponsor signage on the set for that episode.  Wonder what the deal was with that.

Week 2:
12/23: WML: Betty White (Bruner-era), IGAS: Allan Sherman (1963)
12/24: WML: Johnny Mathis (Bruner-era), Liza Minnelli (1965)
12/25: WML: Little Richard (Bruner-era) IGAS: Christmas Show (1962)
12/26: WML: Bill Cullen (Bruner Era), IGAS: Garry Moore (1966)
12/27: WML: Fannie Flagg (Bruner Era), IGAS: Bob Barker (1972)

What's interesting about this second week of shows is that when I tried to check my listings this past weekend to get a heads up on what was coming, my cable provider (Xfinity) listed three of the What's My Line? episodes as having been from the CBS run instead of the syndicated run. Complete with dates that three of these MGs had previously appeared on as an MG.

9/5/65 - Betty White + Allen Ludden
2/22/59 - Johnny Mathis
7/9/61 - Bill Cullen

The other two listings were only filled with generic information, but I knew were syndicated shows because the cast information included Wally Bruner and Larry Blyden, while the CBS era shows on list John Daly.

And my annual reaction...why?  This has always struck me as the oddest GSN promotion.  Two weeks in the middle of the night completely outside of their target demographic, and almost always well-worn reruns, most of which have made their way to YouTube.  Who is demanding this?

One of the shows they're running this week, IGAS with Dick Van Dyke presumably in celebration of his 100th birthday, I believe they ran just last year (probably for the same reason).

I generally appreciate this promotion because I don't connect my computer to my television often and the opportunity to see these shows in such great quality on a large TV screen is a nice treat. I will admit however that this year does feel a little drab compared to years past that were also filled with well-worn reruns. Doesn't feel like it's as much of a memoriam or theme as it had been, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but only one thing pops out to me.

I'm excited to see that 1958 IGAS because it feels like 95%+ of IGAS reruns now are from 1959 on because of the legal complexity or abundance of caution in airing cigarette sponsored shows and I personally feel as though 1957 to 1960 was one of the best and most fascinating eras of the show. So, it's a shame that they aren't run and it's been a blessing that Buzzr has been uploading cigarette sponsored shows to YouTube and I hope they do more. I could go on about shows that would be great to upload in full (Lincoln assassination witness, Philo T. Farnsworth's appearance, etc.).

Looking at that 1958 episode of IGAS, which I don't remember, because it was so heavily themed around westerns it wasn't sponsored by Winston that week? Which I'm going to guess is the reason it got included this year.