Dan Enright

Dan Enright (August 30, 1917 - May 22, 1992) was one of the most successful game show producers in television. Enright worked with Jack Barry since the 1940's and they were partners creating programs for radio and television.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Enright, who grew up in Israel and in New York, met up with Barry as the latter was working in stand-up comedy. After a stint at WOR radio, the two developed several early-TV shows, including the seminal "interactive" show Winky Dink and You , Juvenile Jury and Life Begins at 80.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The duo hit the jackpot as the producers of the network game shows Tic Tac Dough and Twenty Onein the 1950's. The latter show, originally unrigged, started off as a failure (with contestants repeatedly missing questions) and the sponsor, Geritol, demanded that such failures were not to be repeated. After the first episode, Enright rigged the show to make contestants appear to have a great deal of knowledge and to hopefully attract viewers...though even with rigging, the initial ratings were not overly impressive.

Related Topics:
Tic Tac Dough - Twenty One

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Enright and Barry believed that they needed to find contestants that the audience would root for, a sentiment which itself is not only not illegal but has been a province of the game-show contestant coordinator. But Enright went beyond finding appealing players or even manipulating them (as was allegedly the case with The $64,000 Question and The $64,000 Challenge -- actually scripting the players' outcomes and mannerisms in the booth. It was a process the company repeated for Tic Tac Dough.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Enright's most famous contestant protege in this was Twenty-Ones Charles Van Doren, who went on to win for 14 weeks and became a cover subject for Time Magazine, thus making the show's popularity soar. Van Doren replaced Herb Stempel, who was forced to lose against him. Stempel was bitter about the loss and went to Enright demanding money or else he would expose the show's rigging. Enright said he would help, but put Stempel off. Stempel finally went public with the story, though Enright denied all charges and the show went on for some time.

Related Topics:
Charles Van Doren - Time Magazine - Herb Stempel

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The truth eventually came out and Enright admitted to rigging the show and giving contestants the questions and answers in advance. While co-producer Barry did not directly rig the show himself (and even quiz-show-scandal investigator Joseph Stone questions his involvement), he admitted in 1970s and 80s interviews his role in covering up whether or not the shows had been fixed.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Barry and Enright's careers went into eclipse, though Barry did get some hosting and acting gigs and owned a radio station. Slowly, partner Enright managed to work his way back into television. He was a producer of the early-70s syndicated game show All About Faces with Richard Hayes, produced in Canada.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Then in the 1974-75 Jack Barry, who had enjoyed a career revival as host and producer of The Joker's Wild, brought Enright back as the show's executive producer during its final season on CBS. They resumed their partnership full-time in 1976 with Break the Bank, and later found their longest-lasting success with syndicated versions of Joker and Tic Tac Dough.

Related Topics:
The Joker's Wild - Break the Bank - Tic Tac Dough

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Enright went on to produce a few other game shows over the years. Dan Enright died on May 22nd, 1992.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~