Hollywood Squares

American television game show

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July 21, 2026

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The Hollywood Squares was an American television game show where contestants played tic-tac-toe. Each square on the board was occupied by a celebrity, often a comedian. The goal was for the contestant to determine if the celebrity's answer to a question was true or false to win the square.1

The show became well-known for its regular celebrity panelists, particularly comedian Paul Lynde, who was famous for his witty one-liners and often occupied the center square from 1968 to 1979. Quiz shows, in general, gained significant popularity on American radio in the 1930s and then on television in the 1950s, often featuring large cash prizes. While The Hollywood Squares offered a different format, it contributed to the enduring appeal of television game shows.12

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Phyllis Diller
…shows, on the game show Hollywood Squares, and in a recurring role (1999–2004) as Gladys Pope on the soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful. In addition, she was an accomplished cook, best-selling author, and concert pianist who performed with some 100 symphony orchestras in the United States under the…
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…shows, on the game show Hollywood Squares, and in a recurring role (1999–2004) as Gladys Pope on the soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful. In addition, she was an accomplished cook, best-selling author, and concert pianist who performed with some 100 symphony orchestras in the United States under the…
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Paul Lynde
…name as a regular on The Hollywood Squares, a game show in which contestants played tic-tac-toe with each square occupied by a celebrity, often a comedian. Noted for his sharp tongue, Lynde was a popular fixture in the centre square from 1968 to 1979. Frequent quips were thought to reference…
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…name as a regular on The Hollywood Squares, a game show in which contestants played tic-tac-toe with each square occupied by a celebrity, often a comedian. Noted for his sharp tongue, Lynde was a popular fixture in the centre square from 1968 to 1979. Frequent quips were thought to reference…
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Nipsey Russell
…he made frequent appearances included Hollywood Squares, To Tell the Truth, and The $50,000 Pyramid. As an actor, Russell included among his credits the roles of Officer Anderson on the TV series Car 54, Where Are You? (1961–62), Honey Robinson in the series Barefoot in the Park (1970), and the…
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…he made frequent appearances included Hollywood Squares, To Tell the Truth, and The $50,000 Pyramid. As an actor, Russell included among his credits the roles of Officer Anderson on the TV series Car 54, Where Are You? (1961–62), Honey Robinson in the series Barefoot in the Park (1970), and the…
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