Bob Finkel
Producer/ Director
About This Interview
In his four hour Archive Interview, Bob Finkel (1918-2012) talks about the countless musical variety and awards shows he directed and produced. He describes directing the first televised telethon, hosted by Jack Webb, and producing multiple broadcasts of The People's Choice Awards, Oscars, and Emmy Awards . Finkel recounts producing numerous hits of the 1950s and 1960s, including The Eddie Fisher Show, The Dinah Shore Chevy Show, and The Andy Williams Show . He fondly recalls working with Elvis Presley, Perry Como, Julie Andrews, and Martin and Lewis, among others, and shares his views on why variety shows all but disappeared from the airwaves. Morrie Gelman conducted the interview on September 10, 1997 in Beverly Hills, CA.
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Highlights
Bob Finkel on Eddie Fisher and the smoking chimpanzees
Clip begins at: 12:05, Duration: 01m 57s
Bob Finkel on the mistake that made The Perry Como Showpopular - a stubborn canary
Clip begins at: 27:31
Bob Finkel on Elaine May and Mike Nichols' sketch for the Emmys not meeting the approval of the sponsors and Bob Newhart getting the gig as presenter
Clip begins at: 09:15, Duration: 02m 26s
Bob Finkel on Bing Crosby and thank you notes
Clip begins at: 10:04, Duration: 01m 42s
Interview
- Part 1
- On his childhood and early influences; on working as an usher in his father's nickelodeon; on becoming a semi-professional tap dancer; on his favorite movies and radio programs
Clip begins at: 0:83 - On moving to California to be a movie director; on writing television Westerns for Republic Films; on serving in World War II and getting married
Clip begins at: 18:11 - Part 2
- On getting married and working in a theater; on being fascinated by television and getting a job with ABC LA
Clip begins at: 0:20 - On becoming a director's assistant and then director; on directing the first televised Emmy Awards broadcast
Clip begins at: 11:53 - On leaving ABC to work for Revue (MCA); on forming his own production company, Teram Productions
Clip begins at: 25:01 - Part 3
- On directing Bob Cummings in Love That Bob; on directing Natalie Wood in Pride of the Family; on directing Kim Basinger in MacMillan and Wife
Clip begins at: 0:77 - On his preparation for production; on leaving MCA for NBC; on producing The Perry Como Show
Clip begins at: 08:20 - Part 4
- On the writers and guests of The Perry Como Show; on working in New York v. Los Angeles
Clip begins at: 0:62 - On The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show, The Eddie Fisher Show and The Dinah Shore Chevy Show; on Bing Crosby's Christmas specials
Clip begins at: 08:28 - On his production company; on The Andy Williams Show
Clip begins at: 24:19 - Part 5
- On the disastrous first season of The Andy Williams Show and subsequent changes; on producing and directing Emmy Awards broadcasts; on Bob Newhart's instant fame after appearing on The Emmys
Clip begins at: 0:79 - On leaving The Andy Williams Show ; On having creative control of The Jerry Lewis Show; on winning a Peabody Award for a Julie Andrews special
Clip begins at: 11:41 - On producing the Oscars; on the disappearance of music/variety shows
Clip begins at: 24:26 - Part 6
- On the disappearance of variety shows; on working with Elvis Presley on his comeback special; on Bill Cosby and The People's Choice Awards; on his relationship with Bing Crosby; on working with Muhammad Ali
Clip begins at: 0:47 - On producing the Oscars; on his career regrets and the problems of re-running variety shows; on reality programming and episodic television
Clip begins at: 14:35 - On his career highs; on the future of television; on longing for the days of single sponsorship; on how he'd like to be remembered; on thoughts on people with whom he's worked
Clip begins at: 19:14 - Part 7
- On thoughts on people with whom he's worked; on his wife
Clip begins at: 0:34 - On his involvement with The Golden Globe Awards; B-roll of pictures - his family and people with whom he's worked
Clip begins at: 17:10 - Part 8
- On B-roll photos of colleagues and family
Clip begins at: 0:31
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