Within weeks of its debut, the show knocked I Love Lucy out of first place. Such a sudden and staggering seizure of the public mind warrants closer examination. The opening shot panned the audience of ordinary-looking people, and then zoomed in on one face. Over a drum roll, the announcer said, "Our brush salesman from the Bronx, Wilton Jay Singer, who answered his $8,000 question. He's back to tell us whether he'll take his $8,000 or try for $16,000. On his march to the $64,000 question!"

Tim Wu, The Attention Merchants, loc. 481