Not sure if this is true or not, but I read somewhere he told a black man at a supermarket to go bag his groceries or something like that and the guy happened to be an educated college professor. True?

I would have to say NOT TRUE!

Not sure if this is true or not, but I read somewhere he told a black man at a supermarket to go bag his groceries or something like that and the guy happened to be an educated college professor. True?

No idea. I hope not!!

Obviously I have no clue but if someone forced me to put money on it, I'd say this was bogus. From every interview I've seen with the man, he seems very unlikely to have been someone who practiced bigotry; he was gay (though closeted) and I'm sure knew first hand the stigma of being different. Besides that he just seemed very open minded and easy going.

I think it was because he was closetly gay and someone knew about it.

I don't know if this is true or not, but I heard he got fired for being drunk on the show and insulting one of the contestants.

I don't know if this is true or not, but I heard he got fired for being drunk on the show and insulting one of the contestants.
Yes, I think it was due to drinking. I saw a doctumentary on THS, and it was explained they would tape a weeks worth of shows in one day, and while on break for lunch, Paul would get smashed. I believe he later came back before the original Hollywood Squares was cancelled, though not sure.

Yes, I think it was due to drinking. I saw a doctumentary on THS, and it was explained they would tape a weeks worth of shows in one day, and while on break for lunch, Paul would get smashed. I believe he later came back before the original Hollywood Squares was cancelled, though not sure.yes he came back for the final season in 1980/1981

Not sure if this is true or not, but I read somewhere he told a black man at a supermarket to go bag his groceries or something like that and the guy happened to be an educated college professor. True?

I heard this too. He may have been drunk or extremely upset when he said it, but I don't think Paul was a racist. He did get tipsy on occasion at HS tapings. One famous story after a taping of HS had him parked on the sidewalk when a traffic cop knocked on his window. Paul rolled the window down and said "I'll have a cheeseburger and coke, hold the fries." He was THAT smashed.

Paul left Squares on his own terms in 1978 because he wanted to move on to other things and they wouldn't give him a raise. They got him back for the syndie version in Vegas with a raise and second billing after Peter Marshall on the marquee. I think they needed him to sell the show in syndication.

Here's a biography of Paul Lynde. My former boss hosted a pop-culture radio show on the side several years ago, and knew/knows the authors.

Paul Lynde also did a hilarious stint as a "weatherman" on a Toledo TV station back in 1978. Here's the clip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NX_igvcBICc

Here's a biography of Paul Lynde. My former boss hosted a pop-culture radio show on the side several years ago, and knew/knows the authors.i have that book i really enjoyed reading it

Paul Lynde was great in everything he was in. He always made me laugh. :lol:

i have that book i really enjoyed reading it
It is indeed an enjoyable read.

Paul Lynde was great in everything he was in. He always made me laugh. :lol:
No one could do snarky like he did. :lol:

No one could do snarky like he did. :lol:

He sounded snarky even when he wasn't TRYING to be snarky! :lol:

He sounded snarky even when he wasn't TRYING to be snarky! :lol:
That's exactly what made it so funny. :rofl:

No one could do snarky like he did. :lol:

Speaking of snarky and tv game show personalities, I wonder if Charles Nelson Reilly and Paul Lynde ever did anything together?

Speaking of snarky and tv game show personalities, I wonder if Charles Nelson Reilly and Paul Lynde ever did anything together?
I don't know - good question. Was there a stage on earth big enough for both of them? Throw in Rip Taylor and THAT would've been a sight to behold. :eek: :lol:

Is that what passes for "racist" nowadays? Telling a negro to bag his own groceries? Gee, that's terrible...

Edited.

He sounded snarky even when he wasn't TRYING to be snarky! :lol:

Interesting you should say that...even the characters he would voice on cartoons sounded snarky, like Mildew Wolf...

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Sylvester "Hooded Claw" Sneekley...

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And who can remember Templeton the rat?...

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I remember watching the Paul Lynde autobiography on A&E back in 2001 or 2002 or so and seeing HS: THS! I also remember his publicist or whoever it was allegedly said that Paul got into a tissy w/ Tammy Tucker (all the while he was tipsy) on week of shows off-camera (I think) and alledgedly said that if she didn't shut up he would punch in the face and then writer Jay Redack (the same guy who later became an executive in charge on Tom Bergeron's HS) alledgedly said that Paul was so angry and upset that he supposedly threw a dog dish at Redack.

Those Lynde-less eps. (from before he came back for the final season in Vegas) were somewhat painful and tough to watch at times, b/c Lynde brought that snarky persona and wit to the show.

And I did enjoy his voice as Templeton the Rat on Charlotte's Web.

Templeton: "Why should I help Wilbur?"
Charlotte: "Because if you don't, you'll die...OF STARVATION!"

And I love his singing on there as well.


BTW, this clip