It Pays to Be Ignorant

A panel game where ignorance is the key to winning.

Broadcast
NBC 1949

Syndicated 1973

Music
Both versions had lyrics to their theme songs, despite the problem being stupidity being described rather than ignorance.

194? - Unknown

Lyrics

One day when I was walking down the avenue, I met a funny fella with a funny point of view.

He didn't have a brain cell working in his head, But he was very happy, and this is what he said.

It pays to be ignorant, To be dumb, to be dense, to be ignorant, It pays to be ignorant just like me.

It's best not to know too much, Be a dope, your I.Q. shouldn't show too much, Your brain shouldn't grow too much - wait and see.

I took my girl to dinner. We had a wonderful feed. They had to give my girl the check, because I couldn't read. So you see...

It pays to be ignorant, Have no brain, be inane, just be ignorant, It pays to be ignorant just like me.

1973 - Stan Worth, Sheldon Allman, Marilyn Doreen Hall

Lyrics

It pays to be ignorant, It's smart to play dumb, It's great when you show the world, You're ridiculous as they come, It's fun when you demonstrate, How much you don't know, They'll think you're a featherweight, What a wonderful way to go, If you're ignorant, your's a threat to no one, If you're a dummy, you'll get by, If you're not equipped with all your marbles, Pretty soon you'll know why, It pays to be ignorant, It's smart to play dumb, It's great when you show the world, You're ridiculous as they come,