Double or Nothing endured because of the nimble ad-libbing of its hosts and because, over the years, the show gained a reputation for double entendres and unexpected embarrassment. By far the most sensational of these came to be known as the "waitress episode," which was so shocking to audiences of that innocent late 1940s era that its content could not even be hinted in the press {reporter Shirley Gordon mentioned it in Radio Life years later without ever telling her readers what she was talking about}. While interviewing a waitress, O'Keefe asked if she'd had any experiences she could share on the radio. Yes, she said, she once had a friend, male, who had had some psychological problems. She didn't know what she could do for him, but a mutual friend had suggested that he "get a good-looking girl like you and take her home and just have a big screwing party." O'Keefe hustled her through the quiz fast, but the damage was done: the show had been carried live to the East Coast, and CBS was inundated with angry calls. The network ordered all its West Coast affiliates {which had transcribed the show for broadcast in a later timeslot} to cancel it and destroy the transcriptions. Obviously, at least one was saved: the show exists on tape, a nice curiosity piece.
( John Dunning )
[ On the Air: The Encyclopedia ]
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