Just Found Out that Charles Nelson Reilly appeared with his "wife" on the game show. IT is widely known that Reilley was gay. Was it known at that time too? Were there any other gay or lesbian actors or actresses that appeared on that game show as "husband & wife?"

Dick Sargent and Fannie Flagg appeared together.

Richard Deacon and Dodie Goodman

Dick Sargent and Fannie Flagg appeared together.
That was my first thought.

I don't think they ever referred to any lady with CNR on TT as his "wife" ever. It was usually just CNR and whoever. Elizabeth Allen, Julie Harris and Karen Morrow appeared with CNR on TT over the years.

Most of the couples who appeared on TT were married or otherwise legitimate, so I wouldn't call the show a sham. Now if they ever had Rock Hudson and Jim Nabors on together, that would be a different story.

They once had Phyllis Diller and Rip Taylor on together for a week. I'm not sure if Rip is a "friend of Dorothy" but I wouldn't be surprised.

It's only a sham if the competition is manipulated by the producers or if the celebrities have faked their eligibility.

They once had Phyllis Diller and Rip Taylor on together for a week. I'm not sure if Rip is a "friend of Dorothy" but I wouldn't be surprised.
Rip Taylor is definitely gay - it was confirmed in the book Love to Love You Bradys.

Rip Taylor is definitely gay - it was confirmed in the book Love to Love You Bradys.
I knew I read it somewhere but I couldn't remember where! Thanks Monika!

I knew I read it somewhere but I couldn't remember where! Thanks Monika!
No prob!!

Doesn't make the show a sham.....it was just a product of its times.
Now a revival of Tattletales would have no problem showing same sex couples....well a cable revival that is........not sure if a broadcast revival would get clearance with those couple possibilities?

^ True!!

Richard Dawson frequently appeared with whoever he was dating at the time... or just a close female friend. It was never expressly stated that the celebrity couples had to be married, or even dating. They just had to know each other very well... and testing that would be the point of the show.

Richard was on TT with Jody Donovan, IIRC. They were supposed to get married but that never happened. Richard was married to and divorced the late actress Diana Dors.

In the early 80s, they had a "Best Friends" week on TT with all guys. Ted Lange and Fred Grandy of The Love Boat, McLean Stevenson & Harvey Korman, and Robert Donner (Mork & Mindy) & Charles Lane. I thought it was a fun week.

"McLean left M*A*S*H and I left the Carol Burnett Show. We both split an Emmy that year for stupid career moves." - Harvey Korman

Buzzr had been running Tattletales regularly recently, but they've currently grounded it to two episodes a week.

Dick Sargent and Fannie Flagg appeared together.

Even though they were both gay they were married. This was common back then.

Just Found Out that Charles Nelson Reilly appeared with his "wife" on the game show. IT is widely known that Reilley was gay. Was it known at that time too? Were there any other gay or lesbian actors or actresses that appeared on that game show as "husband & wife?"
it's not widely known; I didn't know it.