Is it True That Paul Lynde Was Fired From 'Hollywood Squares' For Being A Racist? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 08-15-2010, 06:05 PM

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?

dakert · 08-15-2010, 09:20 PM

I would have to say NOT TRUE!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

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?

catlover79 · 08-15-2010, 09:36 PM

No idea. I hope not!!

Retro4Life · 08-15-2010, 10:16 PM

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.

MrCleveland · 08-15-2010, 10:40 PM

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

old grouch · 08-16-2010, 01:59 PM

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.

McGillicuddy · 08-16-2010, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by old grouch

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.

70s show watcher · 08-17-2010, 03:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markway895

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

BillCullen1 · 08-17-2010, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

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.

catlover79 · 08-17-2010, 02:36 PM

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.

catlover79 · 08-17-2010, 02:39 PM

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

70s show watcher · 08-17-2010, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

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

Mr. Television · 08-17-2010, 05:21 PM

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

catlover79 · 08-17-2010, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 70s show watcher

i have that book i really enjoyed reading it

It is indeed an enjoyable read.

catlover79 · 08-17-2010, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stuck In The '70's

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

No one could do snarky like he did.

08-15-2010, 06:05 PM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,108	Is it True That Paul Lynde Was Fired From 'Hollywood Squares' For Being A Racist? 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? Attached Images
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08-15-2010, 09:36 PM	#3
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	No idea. I hope not!!
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08-15-2010, 10:16 PM	#4
Retro4Life Accept No Substitutes Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 04, 2009 Location: IL Posts: 6,708	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.
	__________________ Alex Reiger :[Trying to convince Louie not to antagonize Bobby] "It's not hard to make people feel bad about their lives. What's hard is making people feel good about their lives."

08-15-2010, 10:40 PM	#5
MrCleveland Drew Carey from Hell Forum Star Join Date: Nov 10, 2007 Location: The City of Cleveland, in The State of Cleveland, in The United States of Cleveland Posts: 14,222	I think it was because he was closetly gay and someone knew about it.
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08-17-2010, 02:36 PM	#10
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	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. Attached Images

08-16-2010, 01:59 PM	#6
old grouch Member Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2010 Location: montana Posts: 1,877	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.

08-17-2010, 02:39 PM	#11
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	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

08-17-2010, 05:21 PM	#13
Mr. Television 22 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,127	Paul Lynde was great in everything he was in. He always made me laugh.
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