Editing Twenty questions

{{Short description|Spoken guessing game using yes–no questions}}
{{About|the spoken game|the toy|20Q|the computer-human game show|20Q (game show)}}

'''Twenty questions''' is a [[spoken game|spoken]] [[parlour game|parlor game]] which encourages [[deductive reasoning]] and [[creativity]]. It originated in the United States by Maggie Noonan and was played widely in the 19th century.<ref>Walsorth, Mansfield Tracy. [https://books.google.com/books?id=VzoVAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA7 ''Twenty Questions: A Short Treatise on the Game''], Holt, 1882.</ref> It escalated in popularity during the late 1940s, when it became the format for a successful weekly radio quiz program.{{Citation needed|date=August 2023}}

In the traditional game, the "answerer" chooses something that the other players, the "questioners", must guess. They take turns asking a question which the answerer must answer with "yes" or "no". In variants of the game, answers such as "maybe" are allowed. Sample questions could be: "[[What's My Line?|Is it bigger than a breadbox?]]", "Is it alive?", and finally "Is it this pen?" Lying is not allowed. If a questioner guesses the correct answer, they win and become the answerer for the next round. If 20 questions are asked without a correct guess, then the answerer has stumped the questioners and gets to be the answerer for another round.

{{anchor|divideAndConquer}}
Careful selection of questions can greatly improve the odds of the questioner winning the game. For example, a question such as "Does it involve technology for communications, entertainment or work?" can allow the questioner to cover a broad range of areas using a single question that can be answered with a simple "yes" or "no", significantly narrowing down the possibilities.

==Popular variants==
A variant is called "animal, vegetable, or mineral". This is taken from the [[Linnaean taxonomy]] of the natural world. In this version, the answerer tells the questioners at the start of the game whether the subject belongs to the animal, vegetable or mineral [[kingdom (biology)#Two kingdoms of life|kingdom]]. These categories can produce odd technicalities, such as a wooden table being classified as a vegetable (since wood comes from trees), or a belt being both animal (if leather) or vegetable (if cloth), and mineral (if it has a metal or plastic buckle). Another variant is "person, place, or thing".

Other versions specify that the item to be guessed should be in a given category, such as actions, occupations, famous people, etc. In Hungary a similar game is named after [[Simon bar Kokhba#The Bar Kokhba game|Simon bar Kokhba]]. A version of twenty questions called yes and no is played as a parlor game by characters in [[Charles Dickens]]' ''[[A Christmas Carol]]''.

==Computers, scientific method and situation puzzles==

The abstract mathematical version of the game where some answers may be wrong is sometimes called [[Ulam's game]] or the [[Rényi–Ulam game]]. The game suggests that the information (as measured by [[Claude E. Shannon|Shannon]]'s [[information entropy|entropy]] statistic) required to identify an arbitrary object is at most 20 [[bit]]s. The game is often used as an example when teaching people about [[information theory]]. Mathematically, if each question is structured to eliminate half the objects, 20 questions allow the questioner to distinguish between 2<sup>20</sup>&nbsp;= {{val|1,048,576}} objects. Accordingly, the most effective strategy for twenty questions is to ask questions that will split the field of remaining possibilities roughly in half each time. The process is analogous to a [[binary search algorithm]] in [[computer science]] or [[successive-approximation ADC]] in analog-to-digital signal conversion.

In 1901 [[Charles Sanders Peirce]] discussed factors in the economy of research that govern the selection of a hypothesis for trial: (1) cheapness, (2) intrinsic value (instinctive naturalness and reasoned likelihood), and (3) relation (caution, breadth, and incomplexity) to other projects (other hypotheses and inquiries). He discussed the potential of twenty questions to single one subject out from among 2<sup>20</sup> and, pointing to skilful caution, said:
{{Quote|Thus twenty skilful hypotheses will ascertain what two hundred thousand stupid ones might fail to do. The secret of the business lies in the caution which breaks a hypothesis up into its smallest logical components, and only risks one of them at a time.}}
He elaborated on how, if that principle had been followed in the investigation of light, its investigators would have saved themselves half a century of work.<ref>Peirce, C. S. (1901 MS), "On The Logic of Drawing History from Ancient Documents, Especially from Testimonies", manuscript corresponding to an abstract delivered at the [[United States National Academy of Sciences|National Academy of Sciences]] meeting of November 1901. Published in 1958 in ''[[Charles Sanders Peirce bibliography#CP|Collected Papers]]'' v. 7, paragraphs 162–231; see 220. Reprinted (first half) in 1998 in ''[[Charles Sanders Peirce bibliography#EP|The Essential Peirce]]'' v. 2, pp. 75–114; see 107–110.</ref> Testing the smallest logical components of a hypothesis one at a time does not mean asking about, say, {{val|1,048,576}} subjects one at a time, but extracting aspects of a guess or hypothesis, and asking, for example, "Did an animal do this?" before asking "Did a horse do this?".

That aspect of [[scientific method]] resembles also a [[situation puzzle]] in facing (unlike twenty questions) a puzzling scenario at the start. Both games involve asking yes/no questions, but Twenty Questions places a greater premium on efficiency of questioning. A limit on their likeness to the scientific process of trying hypotheses is that a hypothesis, because of its scope, can be harder to test for truth (test for a "yes") than to test for [[Falsifiability|falsity]] (test for a "no") or vice versa.

In developing the [[participatory anthropic principle]] (PAP), which is an [[Interpretations of quantum mechanics|interpretation of quantum mechanics]], theoretical physicist [[John Archibald Wheeler]] used a variant on twenty questions, called ''surprise twenty questions'',<ref>{{cite book | last1=Wheeler | first1=John Archibald | last2=Zurek | first2=Wojciech Hubert | title=Quantum theory and measurement | publication-place=Princeton, New Jersey | date=1983 | isbn=978-1-4008-5455-4 | oclc=888216845 | page=202}}</ref> to show how the questions we choose to ask about the universe may dictate the answers we get. In this variant, the respondent does not choose or decide upon any particular or definite object beforehand, but only on a pattern of "yes" or "no" answers.  This variant requires the respondent to provide a consistent set of answers to successive questions, so that each answer can be viewed as logically compatible with all the previous answers. In this way, successive questions narrow the options until the questioner settles upon a definite object. Wheeler's theory was that, in an analogous manner, consciousness may play some role in bringing the universe into existence.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zBsDkgI1uQsC&q=participatory+universe |title=Q is for Quantum: An Encyclopedia of Particle Physics |last1=Gribbin |first1=John |last2=Gribbin |first2=Mary |last3=Gribbin |first3=Jonathan |date=2000-02-22 |publisher=Simon and Schuster |isbn=9780684863153 |language=en}}</ref>

==Radio and TV quiz==
===United States===
In the 1940s, the game became a popular radio panel quiz show, ''[[Twenty Questions (American game show)|Twenty Questions]]'', first broadcast at 8&nbsp;pm, Saturday, February 2, 1946, on the [[Mutual Broadcasting System]] from New York's [[Longacre Theatre]] on West 48th Street. Radio listeners sent in subjects for the panelists to guess in twenty questions; [[Winston Churchill]]'s cigar was the subject most frequently submitted. On the early shows, listeners who stumped the panel won a lifetime subscription to ''[[Pageant (magazine)|Pageant]]''. From 1946 to 1951, the program was sponsored by [[Ronson (company)|Ronson]] [[lighter]]s. In 1952–1953, [[Wildroot Cream-Oil]] was the sponsor.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Dunning |first1=John |title=On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio |date=1998 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0195076783 |pages=685–686 |url=https://archive.org/details/onairencyclop00dunn/page/685/mode/1up/ |access-date=30 May 2020}}</ref>

As a television series, ''Twenty Questions'' debuted as a local show in New York on [[WWOR-TV|WOR-TV]] Channel 9 on November 2, 1949. Beginning on November 26, the series went nationwide on [[NBC]] until December 24, after which it remained dormant until March 17, 1950, when it was picked up by [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] until June 29, 1951.{{Citation needed |date=November 2024}} Some of the early TV episodes were simulcast on WOR-TV, WNBT-TV and Mutual radio.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Franken |first=Jerry |date=December 17, 1949 |page=10 |title=Twenty Questions |magazine=Billboard |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4kQEAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA194&dq=%22Eloise%20McElhone%22&pg=PA194#v=onepage&q=%22Eloise%20McElhone%22&f=true |accessdate=December 8, 2024 }}</ref> 

Its longest and best-known run, however, is the one on the [[DuMont Television Network]] from July 6, 1951, to May 30, 1954. During this time, original host [[Bill Slater (broadcaster)|Bill Slater]] was replaced by Jay Jackson. After this run ended, ABC picked up the series once again from July 6, 1954, to May 3, 1955. The last radio show had been broadcast on March 27, 1954.

=== Canada ===
''[[Twenty Questions (Canadian TV series)|Twenty Questions]]'' aired locally on [[CJAY-TV]] in Winnipeg, Canada from March to June, 1961 and then on the new [[CTV Television Network|CTV]] network beginning in September, 1961; its host, Stewart Macpherson, went on to become the original host of the UK version.

=== Hungary ===
In Hungary, the game is known as {{lang|hu|Barkochba}}, named after [[Simon bar Kokhba]], the leader of the second-century Jewish uprising against the Romans. The story goes that the Romans cut out a spy's tongue, so when he reached bar Kokhba's camp, he was only able to nod or shake his head to answer bar Kokhba's questions. The number of questions is not limited to twenty.

{{lang|hu|Barkochba}} was played by Frigyes Karinthy and his company in Budapest back in 1911. So the game started in Hungary from the New York café in Budapest.

{{lang|hu|Barkochba}} was staged as a television game show {{lang|hu|Kicsoda-Micsoda?}} (later renamed {{lang|hu|Van Benne Valami}}) on the Hungarian national television [[Magyar Televízió]] from 1975 to 1991. It was the first show presented by [[István Vágó]], who would later host the Hungarian versions of ''[[Jeopardy!]]'' ({{lang|hu|Mindent vagy semmit!}}) and ''[[Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?]]'' ({{lang|hu|Legyen Ön is milliomos!}}).

=== Ireland ===
A bi-lingual (Irish/English) version of Twenty Questions aired on [http://www.rte.ie RTE] Radio 1 in the 1960s and 1970s. It was hosted by [[Gearóid Ó Tighearnaigh]], written by Dick O'Donovan and produced by Bill O'Donovan (occasional panelist) and included Dominic O’Riordan, Tony Ó Dálaigh, Seán Ó Murchú and Máire Noone on the panel. It proved enormously popular, travelling the length and breadth of Ireland, hosted in local clubs and community halls.

=== Norway ===
[[Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation|NRK]] aired its own version continuously from 1947 to the early 1980s. In 2004, the radio series was revived and regained its popularity, leading to a 2006 TV version. The Norwegian {{lang|no|20 spørsmål}} continues on NRK radio and TV, and a web-based game is available at [http://www.nrk.no/ the official NRK website]. A 2006 board game based on the series is currently the prize sent to listeners who beat the panel.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nrk.no |title=NRK |publisher=Nrk.no |date=2009-06-20 |access-date=2009-07-25}}</ref>

=== Poland ===
Polish version, {{lang|pl|20 pytań}} was shown in [[TVP1]] in 1960s, hosts were Ryszard Serafinowicz and Joanna Rostocka. In Polish version there were three 3-player teams: mathematicians, journalists and mixed team from [[Łódź]]. Show was cancelled due to scandal, when it turned out that mathematicians used [[binary search algorithm]] to answer the questions,<ref>{{Cite web |url= https://giklik.pl/20-pytan-jak-dwoch-matematykow-doprowadzilo-do-usuniecia-programu-z-ramowki/ |title= „20 pytań”. Jak dwóch matematyków doprowadziło do usunięcia programu z ramówki |trans-title= "20 questions". How two mathematicians caused to remove the show from the programming |author= Sebastian Jadowski-Szreder |date= 2023-12-21 |access-date= 2024-09-29 |language= pl |publisher= GikLik}}</ref> using to it [[Wielka Encyklopedia Powszechna PWN]].

=== United Kingdom ===
The [[BBC]] aired a version on radio from 28 February 1947 to 1976 with TV specials airing in 1947 and 1948 plus a series from 1956 to 1957. On radio, the subject to be guessed was revealed to the audience by a "mystery voice" (originally [[Norman Hackforth]] from 1947 to 1962; he was later a regular panelist).<ref name=Obituary>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-norman-hackforth-1315049.html|title=Obituary: Norman Hackforth|newspaper=[[The Independent]]|date=1996-12-18|access-date=2009-08-26}}</ref> Hackforth became well known amongst the British public as much for his aloofness as his apparent knowledgeability.

The series was originally presented by [[Stewart MacPherson (broadcaster)|Stewart MacPherson]]. The panel comprised [[Richard Dimbleby]], [[Jack Train]], [[Anona Winn]] and [[Joy Adamson]], in later years comedian [[Peter Glaze]] also. A later presenter, [[Gilbert Harding]], was ousted in 1960 by producer [[Ian Messiter]] when, after having drunk a triple gin-and-tonic he had originally offered to Messiter, proceeded to completely ruin the night's game &ndash; he insulted two panelists, failed to recognise a correct identification after seven questions (after revealing the answer upon the 20th question, he yelled at the panel and audience), and ended the show three minutes early by saying "I'm fed up with this idiotic game ... I'm going home".<ref>[http://www.ukgameshows.com/ukgs/Twenty_Questions UK Game Shows: "20 Questions"]</ref> He was replaced by [[Kenneth Horne]] until 1967, followed by [[David Franklin (broadcaster)|David Franklin]] from 1970 to 1972.

A revival ran for one season in the 1990s on [[BBC Radio 4]], hosted by [[Jeremy Beadle]]. A version with a rival line-up,<ref name=Austerity>{{cite book|title=Austerity Britain 1945–51|author=David Kynaston|author-link = David Kynaston|isbn=978-0-7475-9923-4|page=583|year=2008|publisher=[[Bloomsbury Publishing|Bloomsbury]]}}</ref> produced by commercial station [[Radio Luxembourg (English)|Radio Luxembourg]], is not acknowledged by the BBC.<ref name=Obituary/> Another revival, under the title ''Guess What?'', was hosted by [[Barry Took]] for a single series in 1998.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.radiolistings.co.uk/programmes/g/gu/guess_what_.html |title=Guess What? |website=RadioListings |access-date=2013-07-23}}</ref>

A televised version ran from 1960 to 1961, produced by [[Associated-Rediffusion]] for [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] and hosted by [[Peter Jones (actor)|Peter Jones]] (who later hosted in 1974). The "mystery voice" later became a running gag on the radio series ''[[I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue]]''.

The [[BBC World Service]] also broadcast a version called ''Animal, Vegetable and Mineral'', chaired by [[Terry Wogan]] with a panel including [[Rachael Heyhoe Flint]] and [[Michael Flanders]].{{Citation needed|date=March 2015}}

In the movie ''[[The 20 Questions Murder Mystery]]'' (1950) then members of the team, including Richard Dimbleby and Norman Hackforth, appear. Together with two newspaper reporters, they work to find the identity of a serial killer who sends in questions for the panel that prefigure his next victim.

==See also==
* {{annotated link|20Q}}
* {{annotated link|Akinator}}
* ''{{annotated link|Aswamedham (TV series)|Aswamedham}}''
* ''{{annotated link|Guess Who?}}''
* {{annotated link|List of programs broadcast by the DuMont Television Network}}
* {{annotated link|List of surviving DuMont Television Network broadcasts}}
* {{annotated link|Situation puzzle}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Party games}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Games and sports introduced in the 19th century]]
[[Category:20 (number)]]
[[Category:Guessing games]]
[[Category:Party games]]
[[Category:1940s British game shows]]
[[Category:1950s British game shows]]
[[Category:1960s British game shows]]
[[Category:1970s British game shows]]
[[Category:American games]]