Talk:Hal Block

gossipy

The majority of this "article" is a derogatory quotation. If there isn't enough encyclopedic information about Mr. Block available, it's a good candidate for deletion. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 208.127.59.115 (talk) 00:30, 13 May 2009 (UTC)

Your complaints were valid and hopefully I've improved the article. BashBrannigan (talk) 01:40, 20 January 2010 (UTC)

Rating and improvements

I've added material to the article and removed material that was excessively negative. Block was a very successful writer prior to What's My Line. Having read on the topic of WML, I'm confident nothing was ever said definitively for why he was let go, although there is much speculation. I was unable to find much of what he did after WML and nothing about his personal life. I've graded this a C as I think even though this is far from definitive, it has more information here than anywhere else on the web. BashBrannigan (talk) 06:53, 21 January 2010 (UTC)

Hal Block

When I began this article I had barely heard of Hal Block. I had no opinions of him. I was only trying to add balance.

The greatest difficulty writing this article was his firing from What’s My Line. I had two sources for why Block was fired. The interview with Bennett Cerf and Gil Fates' book. Both are very critical of Block and they have much to say. I only used enough to convey facts on why Block was fired and also the attitude on the panel towards Block. If Block spoke directly on his What’s My Line problems, I was unable to find it. Most third-party, supposedly independent, comments usually seem to just mimic Fates’ and Cerf’s comments and that may well have been the source. The only opinion I could find that seemed of offer any alternative, was from the book TV Gameshows and I included it. However, to me, what stood out more than anything was not the problems that Fates/Cerf said they had with Block, but rather a failure by either to credit Block with any contribution. Fates’ comment “He served his purpose when the program was young” is rather dismissive; a backhanded compliment. Putting aside opinion, the facts are, that prior to Block the show consisted of writers and intellectuals, not the most scintillating group, and Block was with the show, practically from the beginning, for almost every episode, and for almost three years. Some balance was needed and I was able to find a quote from Bob Considine which gave Block some credit for the show’s early success.

What also surprised me was the ease of finding information about Block’s career prior to WML. He was very successful. I suspect there is much more to be found with some digging. There was some information of the period immediately after WML. I included whatever I found. However, after 1960, I found little and deliberately included nothing. Since it was reported he had left show business, I felt nothing after that time, other than his death, was relevant. If I could have found something very positive, I may have included it.

I might be able to add more to this article, but this is probably the bulk of it. I would hope others can add to it. BashBrannigan (talk) 04:24, 8 March 2010 (UTC)

I was able to improve the article. Was able to find more of his personal life and a few more details of his career. BashBrannigan (talk) 02:00, 8 September 2010 (UTC)

Block jewish?

There's no mention about his ethnicity or religious background. Was Hal Block jewish? — Orlando F (talk) 04:43, 20 August 2017 (UTC)

I can't recall anything in the research explicitly stating Block's ethnicity. In college he was a member of a Jewish Fraternity, but I don't know if you can infer with certainty from that. BashBrannigan (talk) 13:53, 20 August 2017 (UTC)

sure increases odds and many comedy writers were in those days. 50.230.251.244 (talk) 03:53, 4 December 2022 (UTC)

External links modified

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