You're in the Picture

Game Show hosted by Jackie Gleason for CBS in 1961 where four panelists (Pat Harrington Jr., Pat Carroll, Jan Sterling, and Arthur Treacher) stuck their heads into a scene and had to guess what it was based on Gleason's responses to their questions. The panelist who guessed the scene got 100 CARE packages donated in their name, while the packages were donated in Gleason's name if nobody got it. The series was sponsored by Kellogg's and L&M Cigarettes, with Dennis James pitching some commercials for the former.

After the premiere on January 20, the show was blasted by nearly every critic in the country; viewers of the timeslot on January 27 saw Gleason sitting on a barren stage apologizing for (and making fun of) the show, chalking up its failure to "the intangibles of show business" and sharing memories of other failures he was involved in.

The apology (part of which can be seen here) was critically-lauded, and Gleason finished out his network commitment with a one-on-one informal talk show entitled The Jackie Gleason Show, which ran until March 24.

The following Game Show tropes appear in You're in the Picture:
Tropes used in You're in the Picture include:
  • Catch Phrase: "I'm sorry, your time is up."
  • Foreshadowing: Near the end of the apology, Gleason mentioned that "This isn't a requiem for a heavyweight." While the reference [1] and joke [2] are somewhat obvious, it should be noted that Gleason starred in the 1962 film adaptation of Requiem For A Heavyweight.
  • I Need a Freaking Drink: During the apology episode, an audience member ran onstage and poured alcohol in Gleason's coffee cup. While drinking from it, Gleason realized what had happened.

Gleason: It's a new blend called "Chock Full O'Booze".

  • Missing Episode: Johnny Carson claimed on October 18, 1985 that a second episode had been made with him on the panel (ostensibly to promote his daytime game Who Do You Trust?). At one point, Carson recalled, he asked Gleason "Would you tell me what I'm doing with my head stuck in this picture?"
  • One-Episode Wonder
  • Product Placement: L&M Cigarettes and Kellogg's.
  1. ↑ (Requiem For A Heavyweight, the famous 1956 episode of Playhouse 90 written by Rod Serling)
  2. ↑ (Gleason's weight, a Running Gag on The Honeymooners)
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