Missing Links

A simple show where contestants fill in the blanks of phrases.

Broadcast
NBC 1963-1964 ABC 1964

Packager
Mark Goodson-Bill Todman Productions

Hosts
Ed McMahon 1963-1964 Dick Clark 1964

Announcer
Johnny Olsen

Gameplay
A panel of three celebrities faced a studio contestant who came in with an unusual story. He/she gave a statement with a blank at the end or near the end, and then each panelist tried to guess the missing word. A correct answer from one celebrity won money for the contestant (unlike most panel shows using this type of format), but an incorrect answer passed the turn to the next star. If all three missed, the host gave the starting letter to the answer and the round continued as before.

A correct answer on the first chance won the contestant $50, while a correct answer on a second chance was worth $25. Four statements were played, with the top possible prize being $200.

Three guests played each day, with the final guest being a celebrity.

It was on this game show that when Nipsey Russell was a panelist, Ed McMahon or Dick Clark would always ask him to do a poem. That started Nipsey's trademark to do poetry when guesting on other game shows.

Inventor
Mark Goodson & Bill Todman