Lee Meriweather, Wil Wheaton Join Celebrity Panel for 55th Anniversary of "What's My Line?" Live on L.A. Stage

Lee Meriwether, a Mystery Guest on the original Whats My Line?" TV show in 1954, and actor/writer Wil Wheaton (Star Trek: The Next Generation") headline the panel for a special tribute marking the 55th Anniversary of the classic game show Whats My Line?" at the ACME Theatre on Wednesday, February 2 at 8 p.m. The show is hosted by J. Keith van Straaten

Hollywood, CA (PRWEB) January 27, 2005 -- Lee Meriwether, a Mystery Guest on the original Whats My Line?" TV show in 1954, and actor/writer Wil Wheaton (Star Trek: The Next Generation") headline the panel for a special tribute marking the 55th Anniversary of the classic game show Whats My Line?" at the ACME Theatre on Wednesday, February 2 at 8 p.m.

Patt Morrison (Pulitzer prize-winning columnist), and comedian Carlos Alazraqui (Reno 911") will also appear as panelists on the second season premiere of Whats My Line? -- Live On Stage" hosted by J. Keith van Straaten. The nine-show season" continues at the ACME Theatre on Wednesdays in February and March.

Whats My Line?" premiered on CBS on February 2, 1950 and became an instant classic, running for 25 years on American television. To celebrate the 55th anniversary of the first episode, Whats My Line? -- Live on Stage" will feature guests and panelists who have a connection to the original show --and loads of surprises.

J. Keith van Straaten, the panel moderator, hosted Comedy Centrals Beat The Geeks" game show, and had a long and successful run as creator and host of L.A.s talk-show-in-a-theatre, the critically acclaimed The J. Keith van Straaten Show, winning the following accolades: Best of L.A." -- Los Angeles Magazine; Pick of the Week" -- LA Weekly; Best Bet" -- LA Times.

Whats My Line? -- Live On Stage" had an initial run of six shows in November and December of 2004, and featured panelists and Mystery Guests such as Rose Marie (The Dick Van Dyke Show"), Nanette Fabray (Caesars Hour"), Marcia Wallace (The Bob Newhart Show"), baseball player Jose Canseco, singer-songwriter Stephen Bishop, and fashion critic Mr. Blackwell. Panelists and guests included winners of Pulitzers, Emmys, Oscars, Grammys, Tonys, Golden Globes, and even American League Rookie of the Year.

Whats My Line? -- Live On Stage," follows the basic format of the classic TV game show that ran for over 25 years: Four celebrity panelists try to guess the occupation of a guest, asking only yes-or-no questions. The guests are all regular folks with interesting or unusual occupations --plus an appearance by a special celebrity mystery guest. The show, however, is not broadcast; the only audience is the folks who show up in the 99-seat theatre. Its a real game with real people with real occupations and genuine celebrity mystery guests --the show is not scripted.

I couldnt watch one more reality show where someone was fired, voted off, or had to eat a bug," van Straaten says. I thought someone ought to bring back the wit and civility of 'Whats My Line? --so I did it myself!"

Whats My Line? -- Live On Stage" - (The Classic TV Game Show, Without the TV")

Whats My Line? -- Live On Stage

ACME Comedy Theatre, 135 N. La Brea Ave., Hollywood, (1/2 block south of Beverly Blvd., next door to Amalfi restaurant)

Opens Wednesday, February 2. 8 p.m.

Runs Wednesdays, 8 p.m. February 2, 9, 16, 23. March 2, 9, 16, 23, & 30.

Tickets; $12. Reservations: 323-525-0202

For More Info:    www.jkeith.net

Panelists for Wednesday, February 2 -- Season Premiere:

Lee Meriweather is a former Miss America who appeared on the original Whats My Line?" TV show in 1954. Shes gone on to play such iconic roles as Catwoman in the Batman movie, and was a regular on such hit TV shows as Barnaby Jones" and Time Tunnel." She can currently be seen in Nunsense" at Theatre West.

Wil Wheaton gave a critically acclaimed performance in Rob Reiner's "Stand By Me" and spent his teenage years on the starship Enterprise as a series regular on "Star Trek: The Next Generation". Wil is a successful author. His book "Just A Geek" is available in bookstores now.

Patt Morrison is a Pulitzer Prize-winning writer and columnist for The Los Angeles Times. She has won six Emmys and four Golden Mike awards as host and commentator on "Life & Times," the nightly news and current affairs program on KCET-TV.

Carlos Alazraqui portrays Officer Garcia on Comedy Centrals Reno 911" and also provided the voice for one of the most recognizable ad campaigns in history -- Yo Quiero Taco Bell." He has voiced Mr. Crocker on Nickelodeons Fairly Odd Parents," Rocko on Rockos Modern Life, and Lube and Winslow in Cat/Dog."

This show is in no way associated with nor endorsed by FremantleMedia, Mark Goodson Productions, The Mark Goodson Estate, Gil Fates, CBS, Viacom, GSN, or any other entity which may have at one time developed, produced, or owned "What's My Line?". No challenge to current ownership is intended.

###