Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials


The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

Tabs

About

Music & Variety Shows and Specials describe shows featuring one or more musical and/or comedy performance, frequently including guest stars.  For dramatic specials, see: TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials.

Highlights
Steve Binder on producing and directiing Elvis: The '68 Comeback Special
09:51
George Carlin on the material he was forced to censor when appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show
03:29
Who talked about this genre

Andy Ackerman

View Interview
Andy Ackerman on TV shows he grew up watching: The Ed Sullivan Show
01:16

Berle Adams

View Interview
Berle Adams on secretly replacing scripts written by The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show staff writers with better ones written by Danny Arnold and Roland Kibbee
02:32
Berle Adams on his clients Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis breaking up their act before fulfilling a four-episode contract to appear on The Colgate Comedy Hour, and how he convinced them to appear on the show anyway
06:53
Berle Adams on how the television special An Evening With Fred Astaire came to be
02:36
Berle Adams on the controversy over Fred Astaire winning the Emmy for Best Actor for An Evening With Fred Astaire
00:48

Edie Adams

View Interview
Edie Adams on her show, Here's Edie
08:00

Ray Aghayan

View Interview
Ray Aghayan on costume design for The George Gobel Show
06:40
Ray Aghayan on costume design for The Judy Garland Show
01:08
Ray Aghayan on his first impressions of Judy Garland; on her costume choices for The Judy Garland Show
05:03

Charlie Andrews

View Interview
Charlie Andrews on working as a writer/producer on Arthur Godfrey's various shows Arthur Godfrey Time, Arthur Godfrey and His Friends, and Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts
19:51
Charlie Andrews on producing the Miss U.S.A.  pageant and other pageants
05:19

Julie Andrews

View Interview
Julie Andrews on performing in the 1957 Rodgers & Hammerstein special Cinderella
07:12
Julie Andrews on her approach to TV specials and why television is the hardest medium for her
02:38
Julie Andrews on starring in The Julie Andrews Hour
05:35

George Balzer

View Interview
George Balzer on working on the Jack Benny Specials
01:18
George Balzer on writing for The Red Skelton Show
02:39
George Balzer on writing for The Don Knotts Show
00:42

Bob Banner

View Interview
Bob Banner on directing and producing The Fred Waring Show
16:31
Bob Banner on producing The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
07:08
Bob Banner on producing Peggy Fleming Visits the Soviet Union
05:43
Bob Banner on producing The Colgate Comedy Hour
00:58
Bob Banner on working with Frank Sinatra on a number of his television specials
06:58
Bob Banner on producing The Jimmy Dean Show
01:19
Bob Banner on working with Ethel Merman on the special A Salute to American Imagination
01:57
Bob Banner on Carol Burnett's contributions on The Garry Moore Show
06:12
Bob Banner on producing The Carol Burnett Show
03:22
Bob Banner on Solid Gold's popularity in Israel
03:24
Bob Banner on working on various Perry Como Specials
07:09
Bob Banner on the decline of variety programming in the '80s and '90s
02:45
Bob Banner on working with Jim Henson and Muppets on The Jimmy Dean Show  and A Sesame Street Christmas 
04:27
Bob Banner on producing It's Showtime at the Apollo
05:28
Bob Banner on producing Solid Gold
04:03
Bob Banner on producing Star Search
02:55

Paris Barclay

View Interview
Paris Barclay on directing a music video for Bob Dylan
03:15
Paris Barclay on directing the music video for LL Cool J's "Mama Said Knock You Out"
02:42

Anne Beatts

View Interview
Anne Beatts on her time as a writer on Saturday Night Live
24:22
Anne Beatts on the popularity of Saturday Night Live and issues with Standards & Practices on the show
15:39

Ted Bergmann

View Interview
Ted Bergmann on commercial placement and the stars on Cavalcade of Stars
11:37
Ted Bergmann on producing the precursor to The Grammys, original titled The Best On Record
08:12

Milton Berle

View Interview
Milton Berle on getting approached by Texaco to star in their new TV show, Texaco Star Theater
04:04
Milton Berle on the beginnings of Texaco Star Theater
02:46
Milton Berle on the lore of him stealing jokes for Texaco Star Theater
03:51
Milton Berle on how he contributed to the success of Texaco Star Theater
07:14
Milton Berle on memorable live television mishaps on Texaco Star Theater
08:35
Milton Berle on a memorable live television mishap with Red Buttons on Texaco Star Theater
03:36
Milton Berle on the mishap with the "Barber of Seville" sketch on Texaco Star Theater and how it affected the subsequent sketch
04:26
Milton Berle on a typical workweek on Texaco Star Theater
10:01
Milton Berle on memorable guest stars on Texaco Star Theater
06:12
Milton Berle on a memorable flashback scene on Texaco Star Theater
04:25
Milton Berle on how he got his start in television with Texaco Star Theater
01:53

Shelley Berman

View Interview
Shelley Berman on coming up with new material for his 22 Ed Sullivan Show performances; on dealing with censors on live television
06:21

Steve Binder

View Interview
Steve Binder on Shindig and Hullabaloo
03:34
Steve Binder on producing Petula, and the controversy surrounding a segment of it (part 1)
04:49
Steve Binder on producing and directing Elvis: The '68 Comeback Special
09:49
Steve Binder on producing and directing 1977's The Barry Manilow Special
09:49
Steve Binder on directing Diana Ross in Central Park (1985)
04:02

Frank Biondo

View Interview
Frank Biondo on being a camera operator on the ABC show That's Life
04:08
Frank Biondo on being a Chapman camera operator on Barbra Streisand's TV special, A Happening in Central Park
02:16

Allan Blye

View Interview
Allan Blye on being a writer and producer on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour
28:52
Allan Blye on writing for Petula
03:11
Allan Blye on writing Elvis: The '68 Comeback Special with Chris Bearde
13:53
Allan Blye on the typical production schedule on the variety specials he wrote
00:58
Allan Blye on The Andy Williams Show
06:01
Allan Blye on the Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour
15:55
Allan Blye on Van Dyke and Company
02:33

Sam Bobrick

View Interview
Sam Bobrick on getting a job in the ABC mailroom, and on starting to write jokes for The Ray Bolger Show
03:56
Sam Bobrick on writing for The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour
03:03
Sam Bobrick on writing for The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour
27:53
Sam Bobrick on writing for The Kraft Music Hall
12:00

Vin Di Bona

View Interview
Vin Di Bona on producing On Stage America
07:38

Pat Boone

View Interview
Pat Boone on his path to Ted Mack's Original Amateur Hour
09:06
Pat Boone on going on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts
03:21
Pat Boone on his show The Pat Boone Chevy Showroom and TV in the 1950s
55:05

Al Borden

View Interview
Al Borden on being propmaster for The Colgate Comedy Hour
26:34
Al Borden on being propmaster on The Colgate Comedy Hour
17:55
Al Borden on being propmaster for Texaco Star Theater  with Milton Berle
03:22
Al Borden on being propmaster for The Bob Hope Chevy Show
25:38
Al Borden on being propmaster Bob Hope's USO specials
28:29
Al Borden on being propmaster on Bob Hope's specials
04:58

Tom Bosley

View Interview
Tom Bosley on appearing as a regular on the The Dean Martin Show
06:39

Bernie Brillstein

View Interview
Bernie Brillstein on getting Muppet Ralph the dog on The Jimmy Dean Show
02:16
Bernie Brillstein on Elvis Presley on Stage Show
04:23

Kirk Browning

View Interview
Kirk Browning on working on NBC Opera Theatre
24:02
Kirk Browning on directing NBC Opera Theatre
28:57
Kirk Browning on directing NBC Opera Theatre
24:16
Kirk Browning on working with Arturo Toscanini on NBC Opera Theatre
07:21
Kirk Browning on directing TV Recital Hall
03:13
Kirk Browning on working with Frank Sinatra on the first episode of The Frank Sinatra Show
07:13
Kirk Browning on directing various musical specials
03:00
Kirk Browning on directing the first episode of The Frank Sinatra Show
06:01
Kirk Browning on directing various specials including the Miss America Pageant with Bert Parks
01:43
Kirk Browning on directing NET Opera Theatre
08:47

Frances Buss Buch

View Interview
Frances Buss Buch on dancing on The Country Dance
01:19

Carol Burnett

View Interview
Carol Burnett on starting to like television when she did musical comedy/variety on The Garry Moore Show
00:59
Carol Burnett on how she became a regular on The Garry Moore Show
01:22
Carol Burnett on the famous "Went with the Wind!" sketch on The Carol Burnett Show
00:49
Carol Burnett on her co-stars and how she created characters on The Carol Burnett Show
08:20
Carol Burnett on her favorite moment on The Garry Moore Show - on her last day on the show when the cast purposely ruined a scene to see how she'd react
04:06
Carol Burnett on the variety format and whether or not she thinks it could make a comeback
01:47

Vince Calandra

View Interview
Vince Calandra on getting hired to handle cue cards for The Ed Sullivan Show
04:45
Vince Calandra on doing cue cards and being production coordinator on The Ed Sullivan Show
28:11
Vince Calandra on moving from production into talent coordinating on The Ed Sullivan Show
28:44
Vince Calandra on being promoted to talent coordinator for The Ed Sullivan Show; on how he scouted talent; on booking meetings and pay scales for The Ed Sullivan Show; on how he booked the Beatles' appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964
27:45
Vince Calandra on first meeting The Beatles; on The Beatles' historic first performance on The E d Sullivan Sh; on controversial performances on The Ed Sullivan Show
28:00
Vince Calandra on some of the comics and guests on the show: Alan King, John Byne, Topo Gigio, Senor Wences, Alan King, Fred Astaire, and more; on the cancellation of the show
28:18
Vince Calandra on the cancellation of The Ed Sullivan Show
08:31
Vince Calandra on becoming a talent executive for The Mike Douglas Show; on some of the show's guests and working with Mike Douglas
17:32

Charles Cappleman

View Interview
Charles Cappleman on working with Judy Garland on Ford Star Jubilee, and on working with big stars
01:55
Charles Cappleman on stage managing That's My Boy! and The Jo Stafford Show
02:44
Charles Cappleman on celebrating the 33rd Anniversary of The Carol Burnett Show on stage 33 at Television City with the cast of the show
02:47
Charles Cappleman on The Ed Sullivan Show
02:57
Charles Cappleman on working with Joe Hamilton and Dave Powers on The Carol Burnett Show
04:29
Charles Cappleman on Captain & Tennille
01:20

George Carlin

View Interview
George Carlin on how the HBO specials helped contribute to his long career
01:47

Kevin Carlisle

View Interview
Kevin Carlisle on working on The Garry Moore Show
08:43
Kevin Carlisle on being a choreographer on The Dean Martin Show, and on the dance styles of the 1960s
04:56
Kevin Carlisle on working with Barry Manilow on the Barry Manilow Specials
06:52
Kevin Carlisle on choreographing Solid Gold
26:00
Kevin Carlisle on choreographing various celebrity specials
05:26

Diahann Carroll

View Interview
Diahann Carroll on The Sammy Davis Jr. 60th Anniversary Celebration special (airdate: February 4, 1990)
01:58

Dan Castellaneta

View Interview
Dan Castellaneta on appearing on The Tracey Ullman Show
16:10

Marge Champion

View Interview
Marge Champion on dancing on Admiral Broadway Revue
03:42
Marge Champion on dancing on Your Show of Shows
06:23
Marge Champion on leaving Admiral Broadway Revue  and going on the road with Gower Champion 
05:53
Marge Champion on working on The Dinah Shore Show  and various other television shows in the late '50s
07:18
Marge Champion on appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show  with Gower Champion and touring the Soviet Union with Ed Sullivan
15:49
Marge Champion on dancing with Gower Champion on The Perry Como Show
03:08
Marge Champion on her and Gower Champion's final television appearance on The Bell Telephone Hour
02:43

Cyd Charisse

View Interview
Cyd Charisse on her first television appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show
03:07
Cyd Charisse on The Hollywood Palace produced by Nick Vanoff
00:53
Cyd Charisse on the Cyd Charisse Special  and Center Stage: Cyd Charisse  and working with various choreographers including Tony Charmoli
02:52
Cyd Charisse on appearing on Gene Kelly's American in Pasadena  special 
01:18
Cyd Charisse on appearing on The Kennedy Center Honors  to honor Donald O'Connor
01:22

RuPaul Charles

View Interview
RuPaul Charles on hosting The RuPaul Show on VH1
06:42

Tony Charmoli

View Interview
Tony Charmoli on choreographing Giselle McKenzie for Your Hit Parade and the challenges of working in live TV
05:23
Tony Charmoli on choreographing for an hour long show versus an half hour show while working on The Dinah Shore Show
01:32
Tony Charmoli on choreographing for The Danny Kaye Show
11:52
Tony Charmoli on Danny Kaye's writing team for The Danny Kaye Show
05:28
Tony Charmoli on choreographing for The Julie Andrews Hour
03:47
Tony Charmoli on choreographing for the variety-series The Julie Andrews Hour
04:31
Tony Charmoli on winning an Emmy for choreographing and directing for a Mitzi Gaynor special
04:40
Tony Charmoli on winning and Emmy for directing and choreographing the special Gypsy In My Soul for Shirley MacLaine
04:29

Roy Christopher

View Interview
Roy Christopher on doing production design for The Richard Pryor Show
07:20
Roy Christopher on doing production design for Midnight Special
03:23
Roy Christopher on doing production design for The Carol Burnett Show (1991), and on working with Carol and Lucille Ball
04:34
Roy Christopher on doing art direction for The Dean Martin Show and The Pat Boone Show
11:43

Dick Clark

View Interview
Dick Clark on Dick Clark's Caravan of Music, later renamed American Bandstand, and on moving from doing the radio to television version of Bandstand
28:49
Dick Clark on the many decades of American Bandstand
01:37

Roy Clark

View Interview
Roy Clark on his first television appearance, on the local series The Hayloft Conservatory of Musical Interpretation
04:04
Roy Clark on appearing on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts
04:25
Roy Clark on appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show, and on performing with Sullivan
05:15
Roy Clark on guest-starring on The Jonathan Winters Show, which led to Hee Haw
01:59
Roy Clark on hosting Hee Haw on CBS
06:42
Roy Clark on Hee Haw
28:41
Roy Clark on Hee Haw (Part 2)
24:15

Ron Clark

View Interview
Ron Clark on writing for The Jimmy Dean Show
11:31
Ron Clark on writing for The Jackie Gleason Show
05:43
Ron Clark on writing for The Steve Allen Comedy Hour
01:01
Ron Clark on writing for The Danny Kaye Show
02:33
Ron Clark on writing for The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour
08:03
Ron Clark on writing for The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour  
12:58
Ron Clark on writing for Kraft Music Hall
03:29
Ron Clark on writing for The Tim Conway Comedy Hour
06:14

Robert Clary

View Interview
Robert Clary on appearing on The Garry Moore Show
02:16

Alf Clausen

View Interview
Alf Clausen on being a copyist for The Carol Burnett Show  and various feature films
04:55
Alf Clausen on working as an arranger and music director on Donny & Marie
16:19
Alf Clausen on being music director for The Mary Tyler Moore Comedy Hour
06:33

Art Clokey

View Interview
Art Clokey on working on The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
02:44

Nick Clooney

View Interview
Nick Clooney on hosting a teen dance show (The Nick Clooney School Salute) in Lexington, Kentucky and integrating the show
04:10

Doug Herzog with Emerson College

View Interview
Doug Herzog on the early influence of Saturday Night Live on his career and on the explosion of cable television
03:04

Gary Owens with Emerson College

View Interview
Gary Owens on Goldie Hawn on Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, and the rest of the cast of the show
03:53

Norman Lear with Emerson College

View Interview
Norman Lear on spreading messages in the television he's done and on not speaking up about something on The Colgate Comedy Hour
02:39
Norman Lear on the writing teams on early television and early writing staffs
01:05
Norman Lear on he and Ed Simmons beginning their career writing for Ford Star Revue
00:56
Norman Lear on controversial moments on The Martha Raye Show and why the show got canceled
03:53
Norman Lear on originally being unhappy when Jerry Lewis broke the fourth wall on The Colgate Comedy Hour
01:42

Hal Kanter with Emerson College

View Interview
Hal Kanter on writing for The Danny Kaye Show
00:57

Dick Cavett with Emerson College

View Interview
Dick Cavett on what he learned from Groucho Marx during the two weeks Marx hosted The Tonight Show
02:14
Dick Cavett on his first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show
01:21
Dick Cavett on the comedy team Wayne and Shuster appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show and Ed Sullivan being hard of hearing
02:05

Barbara Feldon with Emerson College

View Interview
Barbara Feldon on how much she enjoyed performing on variety/sketch shows and on those programs disappearing over the years
02:00

Andy Rooney with Emerson College

View Interview
Andy Rooney on writing for television shows, including Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts and The Garry Moore Show
01:52

Jack Riley with Emerson College

View Interview
Jack Riley on writing for The Don Rickles Show
04:47

John Conte

View Interview
John Conte on announcing for the "NBC Spectaculars" for Max Liebman Presents and Producers' Showcase
02:45
John Conte on hosting the music series Mantovani
04:52

Tim Conway

View Interview
Tim Conway on his 10 year guest appearance on The Carol Burnett Show
02:20
Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on their first appearances on The Carol Burnett Show
27:02
Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on The Carol Burnett Show
28:52
Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on the end of The Carol Burnett Show
03:51

Pierre Cossette

View Interview
Pierre Cossette on producing television specials for Dionne Warwick and Jose Feliciano
07:45

Richard Crenna

View Interview
Richard Crenna on appearing on The Lily Tomlin Comedy Hour with Richard Pryor
02:48

Judy Crown

View Interview
Judy Crown on her first television hairdressing job on The Starland Vocal Band
03:38

Billy Crystal

View Interview
Billy Crystal on his early comedy troupe's act, and appearing on the special That Was the Year that Was
04:14
Billy Crystal on being bumped by Lorne Michaels from the first episode of Saturday Night Live in 1975
07:45
Billy Crystal on being a regular on Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell
02:58
Billy Crystal on The Billy Crystal Comedy Hour and his HBO special A Comic's Line
07:55
Billy Crystal on his stint as a cast member on Saturday Night Live
23:02
Billy Crystal on his involvement, along with Robin Williams and Whoopi Goldberg, in HBO's Comic Relief specials
08:15
Billy Crystal on his HBO special Don't Get Me Started
01:20
Billy Crystal on his HBO special Midnight Train to Moscow, for which he won an Emmy
11:51

Michael Dann

View Interview
Michael Dann on Milton Berle and Texaco Star Theater
02:55
Michael Dann on revamping Your Hit Parade
06:58
Michael Dann on taking The Smothers Brothers' Comedy Hour off the air
02:31

Elias Davis

View Interview
Elias Davis and David Pollock on writing for The Don Knotts Show
03:32
Elias Davis and David Pollock on writing for The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour
05:04
Elias Davis and David Pollock on writing for The Carol Burnett Show
17:29

Bill Davis

View Interview
Bill Davis on how he came to work in New York on The Jimmy Dean Show
08:51
Bill Davis on directing Hullabaloo
06:45
Bill Davis on directing The Smothers Brothers' Comedy Hour
08:00
Bill Davis on directing Hee Haw (Part 2)
14:09

Joe DeTullio

View Interview
Joe DeTullio on working in the art department at Saturday Night Live
01:11:04
Joe DeTullio on doing production design for Saturday Night Live
01:14:33

Milton Delugg

View Interview
Milton Delugg on working on The Morey Amsterdam Show
04:40
Milton Delugg on working on The Doodles Weaver Show
01:12
Milton Delugg on working on Dagmar's Canteen
01:07
Milton Delugg on working on The Bill Cullen Show
01:51
Milton Delugg on working on the music for many Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade broadcasts
03:56
Milton Delugg on working on Bill Cosby's variety show Cos
00:46

Sam Denoff

View Interview
Sam Denoff on writing for The Steve Allen Show on ABC in 1961
06:44

Robert Dickinson

View Interview
Robert Dickinson on light design and winning an Emmy for Solid Gold
20:11
Robert Dickinson on lighting design for Don Kirshner's Rock Concert
01:09

Bob Doyle

View Interview
Bob Doyle on directing NFL Football games and the Metropolitan Opera
04:36

Charles S. Dubin

View Interview
Charles S. Dubin on directing "Judy and Her Guests, Phil Silvers and Robert Goulet," the 1963 special that served as the pilot for The Judy Garland Show
01:38
Charles S. Dubin on directing The Dinah Shore Chevy Show, The Virginian, The Meanest Man in the West, Tarzan, and The Big Valley
03:34

Barbara Eden

View Interview
Barbara Eden on touring with Bob Hope for the Bob Hope Specials
07:15

Ruth Engelhardt

View Interview
Ruth Engelhardt on packaging Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
02:49

Rod Erickson

View Interview
Rod Erickson on going to work for the advertising agency Foote, Cone & Belding as executive director of the radio version of "Your Hit Parade" on behalf of American Tobacco
03:41
Rod Erickson on how early advertising on television worked and on broadcasting We, The People
03:08
Rod Erickson on the Gulf sponsored programs We, The People and The Gulf Road Show
22:19
Rod Erickson on how Holiday Hotel, sponsored by Packard, got on the air produced by Felix Jackson
03:13
Rod Erickson on working on The Fred Waring Show, sponsored by General Electric 
06:23
Rod Erickson on working on The Arrow Show, sponsored by Arrow Shirts
03:03

Nanette Fabray

View Interview
Nanette Fabray on appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show
01:36
Nanette Fabray on appearing on Texaco Star Theater with Milton Berle
01:49
Nanette Fabray on appearing on The Arthur Murray Party
01:25
Nanette Fabray on appearing on Caesar's Hour
13:26
Nanette Fabray on co-starring on Caesar's Hour
23:11
Nanette Fabray on appearing on The Dinah Shore Show
02:05
Nanette Fabray on appearing on The Danny Kaye Show
02:37
Nanette Fabray on appearing on The Andy Williams Show
01:01
Nanette Fabray on appearing on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, and Art Linkletter's House Party
02:40
Nanette Fabray on appearing on The Carol Burnett Show
04:58
Nanette Fabray on appearing on Ford Startime
01:49
Nanette Fabray on appearing on The Bell Telephone Hour
02:29
Nanette Fabray on appearing in the special Alice Through the Looking Glass
02:49

Jamie Farr

View Interview
Jamie Farr on Sherwood Schwartz writing for The Red Skelton Show
01:19

Bob Finkel

View Interview
Bob Finkel on The Perry Como Show
05:23
Bob Finkel on troubleshooting The Eddie Fisher Show
05:54
Bob Finkel on The Dinah Shore Chevy Shore
07:23
Bob Finkel on The Andy Williams Show
02:14
Bob Finkel on the disappearance of music/variety shows
01:25
Bob Finkel on creating/producing The Jerry Lewis Show
04:56
Bob Finkel on the difficulties of residuals for variety shows 
04:01

Tom Fontana

View Interview
Tom Fontana on writing for America: A Tribute to Heroes 
01:53

Ian Fraser

View Interview
Ian Fraser on music direction for several Julie Andrews specials
11:59

Tom Freston

View Interview
Tom Freston on the creation of MTV
39:02

Ron Friedman

View Interview
Ron Friedman on writing for The Danny Kaye Show
07:49
Ron Friedman on writing for The Jonathan Winters Show
02:33

Betty Garrett

View Interview
Betty Garrett on appearing on the Art Carney Specials
02:57
Betty Garrett on appearing on The Chevy Show and The Lloyd Bridges Show
01:47
Betty Garrett on appearing on The Colgate Comedy Hour
01:29

Greg Garrison

View Interview
Greg Garrison on directing The Kate Smith Hour
06:37
Greg Garrison on directing Texaco Star Theater
02:40
Greg Garrison on directing The Standard Oil Anniversary Show for NBC
02:32
Greg Garrison on working with Hubbell Robinson and Jim Aubrey, and on making a deal to direct The Judy Garland Show and The Keefe Brasselle Show
07:41
Greg Garrison on directing a Danny Kaye Special
06:58
Greg Garrison on directing specials for Jack Paar, including Jack Paar Presents and on working with Jonathan Winters on those shows
03:23
Greg Garrison on directing specials for Jonathan Winters
02:27
Greg Garrison on why the variety show dropped out of favor with audiences
01:25
Greg Garrison on directing and producing The Dean Martin Show
26:45
Greg Garrison on producing and directing The Dean Martin Show and The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts >
14:19

Mitzi Gaynor

View Interview
Mitzi Gaynor on appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964, the same night The Beatles were on
06:52
Mitzi Gaynor on her television specials
45:05

Larry Gelbart

View Interview
Larry Gelbart on the schedule, writers, and sketches on Caesar's Hour
08:09

Julian Gomez

View Interview
Julian Gomez on editing Damon Wayans: The Last Stand, and on giving his creative input on projects he's editing
09:32

Mary Lynn Gottfried

View Interview
Mary Lynn Gottfried on working as a receptionist for The Ed Sullivan Show
17:32
Mary Lynn Gottfried on The Ed Sullivan Show
26:30

Carl Gottlieb

View Interview
Carl Gottlieb on being hired to write for The Summer Brothers Smothers Show
04:00
Carl Gottlieb on writing for The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour
49:16
Carl Gottlieb on writing for a series of Flip Wilson Specials (along with Lorne Michaels) after the end of The Filp Wilson Show
13:46

Herb Granath

View Interview
Herb Granath on working during the beginnings of television on The Tonight Show with Steve Allen
02:40
Herb Granath on working during the beginnings of television on The Milton Berle Show
00:42

Andy Griffith

View Interview
Andy Griffith on appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show, and on his feelings about New York City
04:17

Hal Gurnee

View Interview
Hal Gurnee on working on Jackie Gleason's Cavalcade of Stars
02:27
Hal Gurnee on directing The Jimmy Dean Show
07:29
Hal Gurnee on directing The Garry Moore Show
10:04

Earle Hagen

View Interview
Earle Hagen on composing and conducting for The Ray Bolger Show
08:29

Jon Hamm

View Interview
Jon Hamm on his experiences doing live television on Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock
04:51

Dwight Hemion

View Interview
Dwight Hemion on directing Timex All-Star Jazz Show
00:49
Dwight Hemion on producing and directing Kraft Music Hall
04:25
Dwight Hemion on directing the Barbra Streisand Specials
11:19
Dwight Hemion on directing the Frank Sinatra Specials
06:55
Dwight Hemion on directing The Kraft Music Hall
09:25
Dwight Hemion and Gary Smith on the highlights of their partnership, including the special Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass
04:25
Dwight Hemion and Gary Smith on the highlights of their partnership, including the special Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass
04:25

Skitch Henderson

View Interview
Lyle "Skitch" Henderson on The Lawrence Welk Show
00:53

Albert Heschong

View Interview
Albert Heschong on moving over to CBS, and on production designing for The Red Skelton Show
04:41

Leslie Hoffman

View Interview
Leslie Hoffman on performing stunts for The Chuck Barris Rah Rah Show
00:51

Hal Holbrook

View Interview
Hal Holbrook on his one-man show Mark Twain Tonight, which he performed on CBS in 1967, produced by David Susskind
12:36
Hal Holbrook on meeting Ed Sullivan and appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show as "Mark Twain"
12:38

Louis J. Horvitz

View Interview
Louis J. Horvitz on the concept for Solid Gold, which he directed
08:44
Louis J. Horvitz on Tony Verna asking him to direct Live Aid
03:57

Seaman Jacobs

View Interview
Seaman Jacobs on the format of The Ed Wynn Show, and on various bits that Ed Wynn did on his show
05:30
Seaman Jacobs on writing for George Burns' specials
06:09
Seaman Jacobs on writing for The Bob Hope Specials
11:03
Seaman Jacobs on writing for The Tim Conway Show
01:30

Herb Jellinek

View Interview
Herb Jellinek on The Lawrence Welk Show, and on the different formats shows were shot in
02:01

Geri Jewell

View Interview
Geri Jewell on the impact of her role on The Facts of Life and appearing on Norman Lear's special I Love Liberty
06:18

Shirley Jones

View Interview
Shirley Jones on appearing on Lux Video Theatre's "Dark Victory" and on The Ed Sullivan Show
01:56

Lucille Kallen

View Interview
Lucille Kallen on writing for Admiral Broadway Revue
07:13
Lucille Kallen on writing for Admiral Broadway Revue
08:58
Lucille Kallen on writing for Your Show of Shows
19:42
Lucille Kallen on writing for Your Show of Shows
28:07
Lucille Kallen on writing for Your Show of Shows and The Imogene Coca Show
15:03
Lucille Kallen on writing for Your Show of Shows and The Imogene Coca Show
15:03
Lucille Kallen on writing for Max Liebman Presents and The United States Steel Hour
06:17
Lucille Kallen on writing for The Bell Telephone Hour
05:32
Lucille Kallen on her decision to retire from writing for television and focus on writing novels and on Your Show of Shows having been a training ground for comedy writers
03:27

Hal Kanter

View Interview
Hal Kanter on his first television writing job on The Ed Wynn Show
16:28
Hal Kanter on writing for The Ed Wynn Show
01:12
Hal Kanter on The George Gobel Show winning Emmy Awards
02:12
Hal Kanter on writing for Kraft Music Hall featuring Milton Berle
06:54

Elodie Keene

View Interview
Elodie Keene on directing for Ryan Murphy on the series Popular, Nip/Tuck, Glee, and American Horror Story
23:56

Lynwood King

View Interview
Lynwood King on directing the Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon
04:47

Don Roy King

View Interview
Don Roy King on directing Saturday Night Live
55:17
Don Roy King on directing Saturday Night Live
42:21

Ernest Kinoy

View Interview
Ernest Kinoy on writing for The Imogene Coca Show
06:25
Ernest Kinoy on his adaptation of Pinocchio 
03:13
Ernest Kinoy on his adaptation of Brigadoon  in 1966
00:57

Eartha Kitt

View Interview
Eartha Kitt on performing on The Ed Sullivan Show
06:55

William Klages

View Interview
William Klages on lighting an Ethel Merman Special
02:41
William Klages on working on Barbra Streisand's TV specials
01:06
William Klages on working on the Barbra Streisand Specials
04:11

Arnie Kogen

View Interview
Arnie Kogen on his involvement with MADtv
01:12
Arnie Kogen on writing for The Dean Martin Show
04:51
Arnie Kogen on going to write for The Carol Burnett Show
19:53
Arnie Kogen on writing for The Carol Burnett Show
09:16
Arnie Kogen on writing for Donny & Marie
06:52
Arnie Kogen on writing for The Jacksons
03:46

Buz Kohan

View Interview
Buz Kohan on writing for Perry Como Specials and why he was a good fit for the task
04:45
Buz Kohan on working on The Sammy Davis, Jr. Show
11:54
Buz Kohan on writing for The Carol Burnett Show
19:34
Buz Kohan on writing particular sketches for The Carol Burnett Show, the musical guests on the show, and leaving and returning to the show and leaving again
14:03
Buz Kohan on working on The Beatles at Shea Stadium
04:13
Buz Kohan on working with Bette Midler on her TV special Bette Midler: Ol' Red Hair Is Back
03:24
Buz Kohan on working on Bing Crosby's Merrie Olde Christmas, featuring the famous "Little Drummer Boy" duet with Bing Crosby and David Bowie
04:58
Buz Kohan on meeting Michael Jackson and working with The Jackson 5; on working on their first act when they played the MGM Grand
02:15
Buz Kohan on writing for Baryshnikov in Hollywood
03:56
Buz Kohan on consulting for Dolly Parton's variety series Dolly
03:56
Buz Kohan on working with Sammy Davis, Jr. on his Sammy Davis, Jr.'s 60th Anniversary Celebration
12:10
Buz Kohan on working with Frank Sinatra on the TV special Sinatra: 80 Years My Way and other specials
08:17
Buz Kohan on working with Julie Andrews on TV specials and other performances
04:19
Buz Kohan on working on the pilot for The Wayne Brady Show
01:56

Harvey Korman

View Interview
Harvey Korman on joining The Danny Kaye Show
04:48
Harvey Korman on being a "second banana" to Danny Kaye
02:33
Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on their first appearances on The Carol Burnett Show
27:02
Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on The Carol Burnett Show
28:52
Tim Conway and Harvey Korman on the end of The Carol Burnett Show
03:51

Mario Kreutzberger

View Interview
Mario Kreutzberger on Sabado Gigante's legacy as the longest-running variety show on television
00:57

Mort Lachman

View Interview
Mort Lachman on Bob Hope hosting the The Colgate Comedy Hour and his discomfort with TV cameras
02:29
Mort Lachman on writing for the Bob Hope Specials
15:35
Mort Lachman on the Bob Hope Specials
20:38

Perry Lafferty

View Interview
Perry Lafferty on directing Kay Kyser's Kollege of Musical Knowledge along with Buzz Kulik
07:09
Perry Lafferty on directing The Victor Borge Show and Kay Kyser's Kollege of Musical Knowledge
09:06
Perry Lafferty on producing The Imogene Coca Show, and on directing The Arthur Murray Party
08:44
Perry Lafferty on producing Your Hit Parade, directed by Norman Jewison
03:28
Perry Lafferty on producing The Big Show
05:36
Perry Lafferty on producing The Mary Tyler Moore Comedy Hour
02:07

Gene LeBell

View Interview
Gene LeBell on a stunt/dialogue scene he did on The Jack Benny Program with Count Billy Varga in 1962, and his experience working with Benny
02:45

Norman Lear

View Interview
Norman Lear on writing for Ford Star Review and The Colgate Comedy Hour
08:19
Norman Lear on writing for The Colgate Comedy Hour
07:10
Norman Lear on writing for The Martha Raye Show
13:47
Norman Lear on writing for The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show
06:08
Norman Lear on writing for The Andy Williams Show
10:21
Norman Lear on writing for The George Gobel Show
03:57

Eugene Lee

View Interview
Eugene Lee on how he got hired as the original production designer on Saturday Night Live, hiring his first staff, and his original plans for Studio 8H
31:56
Eugene Lee on his early design ideas for Saturday Night Live and staffing his department
36:27
Eugene Lee on expanding the production design team at Saturday Night Live, what a typical week is like, working with Lorne Michaels, and how the show has changed over the years
39:00
Eugene Lee on specific sets and challenging sets on Saturday Night Live, on the importance of his job, and the story behind the Studio 8H balcony seats and seats for talk show sketches on Saturday Night Live
22:32
Eugene Lee on how sets being done last-minute contributes to the live theater aspect of Saturday Night Live; on no longer staying to see the live show on Saturday Night Live, and on musical guests, hosts, and writers that he's enjoyed working with on Saturday Night Live
06:34
Eugene Lee on working with the three other Saturday Night Live production designers on non-SNL projects and how the four of them work together; on the fun part about working on Saturday Night Live and on not caring about celebrities
02:53
Eugene Lee on his proudest career achievement - the balcony in Studio 8H for Saturday Night Live
01:49
Eugene Lee on the importance of makeup and hair on Saturday Night Live
01:48
Eugene Lee on the "Church Lady" and "Wayne's World" sets on Saturday Night Live
01:41
Eugene Lee on the Grand Central Home Base set on Saturday Night Live
00:31

Jack Lemmon

View Interview
Jack Lemmon on his variety special 'S Wonderful, 'S Marvelous, S' Gershwin
06:20

Barry Levinson

View Interview
Barry Levinson on writing for The Carol Burnett Show
07:28

Jerry Lewis

View Interview
Jerry Lewis on The Colgate Comedy Hour
06:53

James Lipton

View Interview
James Lipton on producing Jimmy Carter's Inaugural Gala, the first televised inaugural gala
11:03
James Lipton on producing birthday specials for Bob Hope
14:22

Charles Lisanby

View Interview
Charles Lisanby on designing sets on The Kraft Music Hall
02:45

Jay Livingston

View Interview
Ray Evans and Jay Livingston on music for Satins and Spurs - one of television's first 90-minute spectaculars
08:52
Ray Evans and Jay Livingston on music for Satins and Spurs - one of television's first 90-minute spectaculars
08:52

Loretta Long

View Interview
Loretta Long on appearing in some commercials and on her debut in the variety series Soul!
02:24

Sam Lovullo

View Interview
Sam Lovullo on producing Hee Haw and The Jonathan Winters Show
28:09
Sam Lovullo on producing Hee Haw
24:16
Sam Lovullo on producing Hee Haw
29:09
San Lovullo on producing Hee Haw
28:00
Sam Lovullo on producing Hee Haw
29:12
Sam Lovullo on producing Hee Haw
28:55
Sam Lovullo on producing Hee Haw
29:25
Sam Lovullo on producing Hee Haw
22:23
Sam Lovullo on producing Swing Out, Sweet Land
05:54

Susan Lucci

View Interview
Susan Lucci on guest hosting Saturday Night Live
04:10

Stewart MacGregory

View Interview
Stewart MacGregory on working with Perry Como on The Kraft Music Hall
11:48

Gavin MacLeod

View Interview
Gavin MacLeod on the first time he saw television, and on early shows he watched including Texaco Star Theater with Milton Berle
02:42

Bob Mackie

View Interview
Bob Mackie on Judy Garland and The Judy Garland Show
07:31
Bob Mackie on the famous curtain-rod dress he made for Carol Burnett in "Went With the Wind," a spoof of Gone With the Wind on The Carol Burnett Show
02:17
Bob Mackie on costume design for The Carol Burnett Show
23:37
Bob Mackie on working with Cher on Cher and The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour
16:38

Jodi Mancuso

View Interview
Jodi Mancuso on styling hair for Saturday Night Live
51:44
Jodi Mancuso on styling hair for Saturday Night Live
24:15
Jodi Mancuso on being called in last-minute to style hair for Maya & Marty
02:37

Barry Manilow

View Interview
Barry Manilow on appearing on Midnight Special, Don Kirshner's Rock Concert, and Soundstage
05:37
Barry Manilow on his Barry Manilow Specials
39:43
Barry Manilow on appearing on several episodes of American Idol
03:14

Anita Mann

View Interview
Anita Mann on appearing as a dancer on "The T.A.M.I. Show"
10:39
Anita Mann on dancing on Shindig!
07:17
Anita Mann on appearing on Elvis: The '68 Comeback Special
04:52
Anita Mann on choreographing Cher, and on working with Cher and Bob Mackie
11:56
Anita Mann on choreographing The Jacksons and on working with the Jackson family, including Michael Jackson
08:22
Anita Mann on working with Jim Henson on various Muppet projects including The Fantastic Miss Piggy Show
16:15
Anita Mann on choreographing Solid Gold
39:16
Anita Mann on choreographing the Miss America Pageant for which she won an Emmy
03:52

Penny Marshall

View Interview
Penny Marshall on appearing on Saturday Night Live
06:34

Dick Martin

View Interview
Dick Martin on the writing, title, and era of Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In
03:27

Wink Martindale

View Interview
Wink Martindale on his hit song "Deck of Cards," and on performing it on The Ed Sullivan Show
08:01

Jerry Mathers

View Interview
Jerry Mathers on working on variety shows in the 1950's on live TV with Ed Wynn
02:07

Kent McCray

View Interview
Kent McCray on the experience of working as a stagehand for NBC on shows like The Colgate Comedy Hour and All Star Revue
10:21
Kent McCray on being unit manager for Bob Hope on a show from Alaska, also featuring Ginger Rogers
04:24
Kent McCray on being unit manager for a Bob Hope USO show that also featured Mickey Mantle
04:20
Kent McCray on traveling around the country as an associate producer on Bob Hope's USO Shows
17:19
Kent McCray on traveling to South Korea to associate produce Bob Hope's USO shows
09:28

Bob McGrath

View Interview
Bob McGrath on his association with musician Mitch Miller and working on the Mitch Miller Show
08:42
Bob McGrath on one of his first jobs in television, working on the NBC Opera Theatre
00:05
Bob McGrath on Mitch Miller's musical preferences and conducting style on Sing Along With Mitch
02:56

Ed McMahon

View Interview
Ed McMahon on playing a clown on the circus show Big Top, produced by Charles Vanda
06:16
Ed McMahon on appearing on the Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon
03:43

Barney McNulty

View Interview
Barney McNulty on doing cue cards for The Ed Wynn Show
28:31
Barney McNulty on a typical workweek writing cue cards for The Ed Wynn Show and working on The George Gobel Show
06:10
Barry McNulty on doing cue cards for The Frank Sinatra Show and on working with a teleprompter
04:42
Barry McNulty on working with Bob Hope on his TV specials
16:57
Barney McNulty on doing cue cards and other duties for Bob Hope's USO Specials
17:16
Barney McNulty on doing cue cards for Milton Berle on The Milton Berle Show
02:43
Barney McNulty on doing cue cards for Let's Make a Deal, Ralph Edwards, and The Carol Burnett Show
01:59
Barney McNulty on doing cue cards for Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
01:25

Anne Meara

View Interview
Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara on rehearsals and material for The Ed Sullivan Show
15:35

Emily Meisler

View Interview
Emily Meisler on working as a production secretary for The Ed Sullivan Show
19:46
Emily Meisler on photos from her time working on The Ed Sullivan Show
03:32

Mitch Miller

View Interview
Mitch Miller on making the transition to television; on his series Sing Along with Mitch
04:20
Mitch Miller on creating and hosting Sing Along with Mitch
28:13

Walter C. Miller

View Interview
Walter C. Miller on directing Sing Along with Mitch
05:41
Walter C. Miller on leaving NBC to direct the Barbra Streisand special The Belle of 14th Street with choreographer Joe Layton
06:26
Walter C. Miller on directing ...And Debbie Makes Six starring Debbie Reynolds
00:43
Walter C. Miller on directing Annie, the Women in the Life of a Man starring Anne Bancroft
01:05
Walter C. Miller on directing 'S Wonderful, 'S Marvelous, 'S Gershwin starring Jack Lemmon and Fred Astaire for which he won an Emmy Award
01:50
Walter C. Miller on directing Doug Henning's World of Magic, and on the challenges of doing magic on television
02:04
Walter C. Miller on directing Sha Na Na
02:32
Walter C. Miller on directing Liberty Weekend
02:28
Walter C. Miller on directing Liberty Weekend, with Whitney Houston
02:43
Walter C. Miller on directing Sinatra: Concert for the Americas and his friendship with Frank Sinatra
05:55
Walter C. Miller on directing the 1989 Presidential Inaugural Gala
01:12
Walter C. Miller on directing Dolly Parton's Christmas at Home
01:24
Walter C. Miller on directing A Capital Fourth
02:05

Don Mischer

View Interview
Don Mischer on the Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever Special that made his production company well known - where Michael Jackson first does the moonwalk
11:32
Don Mischer on working with Dolly Parton
02:29
Don Mischer on producing Barbara Walters Specials
09:15

John Moffitt

View Interview
John Moffitt on joining The Ed Sullivan Show as a PA
18:43
John Moffitt on The Beatles' appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show
03:55
John Moffitt on The Beatles' appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show  (cont.)
06:25
John Moffitt on directing The Richard Pryor Show
10:54

Leslie Moonves

View Interview
Leslie Moonves on the CBS 9/11 tribute
02:48

Thomas W. Moore

View Interview
Thomas W. Moore on programming and developing The Frank Sinatra Show
06:22
Thomas W. Moore on programming and developing The Jerry Lewis Show, and The Hollywood Palace
05:54

Mary Tyler Moore

View Interview
Mary Tyler Moore on her special, Mary's Incredible Dream (1976)
01:10

Rita Moreno

View Interview
Rita Moreno on appearing on The Ezio Pinza Show assistant directed by John Rich, and on working with Ray Bolger
05:42

Donald A. Morgan

View Interview
Donald A. Morgan on lighting for several variety specials -- including several Smith-Hemion productions
04:55

Pat Morita

View Interview
Pat Morita on how he came to appear on The Hollywood Palace
07:59

Howard Morris

View Interview
Howard Morris on co-starring on Admiral Broadway Revue
07:10
Howard Morris on co-starring on Your Show of Shows
08:40
Howard Morris on co-starring on Caesar's Hour
03:17
Howard Morris on The Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca, Carl Reiner, Howard Morris Special
00:48
Howard Morris on directing Laverne & Shirley, The Love Boat, and The Beatrice Arthur Special
00:38

Robert Mott

View Interview
Robert Mott on a sound effects blooper on The Jackie Gleason Show
01:24
Robert Mott on doing sound effects for The Arthur Godfrey Show
01:52
Robert Mott on doing sound effects for The Ed Sullivan Show 
03:17
Robert Mott on working on The Garry Moore Show
06:03
Robert Mott on moving to Los Angeles and working on The Red Skelton Show
03:08

E. Roger Muir

View Interview
E. Roger Muir on directing NBC Opera Theatre
04:35
E. Roger Muir on directing Your Hit Parade
02:31

Thad Mumford

View Interview
Thad Mumford on writing for The Flip Wilson Show
05:50

Anne Nelson

View Interview
Anne Nelson on helping put together the deal for The Ed Wynn Show
07:27
Anne Nelson on negotiating contracts for CBS in the 1960s, including for The Judy Garland Show and The Carol Burnett Show
05:26
Anne Nelson on The Red Skelton Show
08:52

Alan Neuman

View Interview
Alan Neuman on directing The Three Flames Show
02:33
Alan Neuman on directing the Kate Smith Hour
09:51
Alan Neuman on working with Kate Smith on Kate Smith Hour
07:56
Alan Neuman on directing Broadway Open House
06:15
Alan Neuman on directing various variety shows on location and outdoors
04:15

Bob Newhart

View Interview
Bob Newhart on his short-lived variety show The Bob Newhart Show
07:59

Bernie Orenstein

View Interview
Bernie Orenstein on getting a job writing on The Hollywood Palace after The Les Crane Show was cancelled
02:43
Bernie Orenstein on producing The Beautiful Phyllis Diller Show with Saul Turteltaub
04:38

Gail Parent

View Interview
Gail Parent on writing for The Carol Burnett Show (Part 1)
44:57
Gail Parent on writing for The Carol Burnett Show  (Part 2)
31:35

Marty Pasetta

View Interview
Marty Pasetta on directing The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour
09:06
Marty Pasetta on directing Elvis: Aloha from Hawaii
13:35

Arthur Penn

View Interview
Arthur Penn on working on The Colgate Comedy Hour
14:55

Bill Persky

View Interview
Bill Persky on writing for The Julie Andrews Show and The Andy Williams Show
10:22
Bill Persky on writing, with Sam Denoff, The Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca, Carl Reiner, Howard Morris Special
05:50

Don Pike

View Interview
Don Pike on being technical director for Lights Out  and Your Hit Parade 
04:31
Don Pike on acting as color coordinator for The Perry Como Show
06:53

David Pollock

View Interview
Elias Davis and David Pollock on writing for The Don Knotts Show
03:32
Elias Davis and David Pollock on writing for The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour
05:04
Elias Davis and David Pollock on writing for The Carol Burnett Show
17:29

Mike Post

View Interview
Mike Post on what he learned working with various musical guests on The Andy Williams Show
02:14

Carroll Pratt

View Interview
Carroll Pratt on providing a laugh track for The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour, The Brady Bunch, Gilligan's Island, My Favorite Martian, Happy Days, and The Andy Griffith Show
05:14
Carroll Pratt on providing a laugh track for The Carol Burnett Show, The Jeffersons, Mama's Family, and The Bob Newhart Show, and on not getting screen credit for his work
03:35
Carroll Pratt on providing a laugh track for Hee Haw, on dealing with regional and ethnic audiences when creating a laugh track, and on creating a laugh track for American shows that have been dubbed into another language
06:14

Charlotte Rae

View Interview
Charlotte Rae on performing on The Ed Sullivan Show
02:16
Charlotte Rae on working with Milton Berle on The Jackie Gleason Show
01:44

Hector Ramirez

View Interview
Hector Ramirez on how shooting a variety show differs from shooting a sitcom
01:00

Tony Randall

View Interview
Tony Randall on appearing in The United States Steel Hour's "Holiday on Wheels" with Sid Caesar and various variety shows
02:42
Tony Randall on appearing on Bob Hope Specials
02:10

Joyce Randolph

View Interview
Joyce Randolph on the cast of The Honeymooners  (on Calvalcade of Stars and The Jackie Gleason Show)
11:52

Arthur Rankin, Jr.

View Interview
Arthur Rankin Jr. on Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
13:07
Arthur Rankin Jr. on producing The Cricket on the Hearth and The Ballad of Smokey the Bear with James Cagney
05:28
Arthur Rankin Jr. on The Wacky World of Mother Goose with Margaret Rutherford
02:02
Arthur Rankin Jr. on producing The Little Drummer Boy
02:11
Arthur Rankin Jr. on producing Frosty the Snowman with Jimmy Durante
04:09
Arthur Rankin Jr. on producing The Mad, Mad, Mad Comedians
03:23
Arthur Rankin Jr. on producing Santa Claus is Coming to Town with Fred Astaire and Mickey Rooney
05:17
Arthur Rankin Jr. on producing Here Comes Peter Cotton Tail and The Mouse on the Mayflower
02:50
Arthur Rankin Jr. on producing Mad, Mad, Mad Monsters
04:03
Arthur Rankin Jr. on producing The Year without a Santa Claus starring Shirley Booth
04:07
Arthur Rankin Jr. on producing First Christmas, and on getting the rights to White Christmas from Irving Berlin
02:48
Arthur Rankin Jr. on producing The First Easter Rabbit
01:32
Arthur Rankin Jr. on adapting The Hobbit for television
05:23
Arthur Rankin Jr. on producing Jack Frost with Buddy Hackett
02:57
Arthur Rankin Jr. on producing Leprechaun's Christmas Gold
01:49
Arthur Rankin Jr. on producing The Coneheads
02:19
Arthur Rankin Jr. on producing The Wind in the Willows
02:13

Keith Raywood

View Interview
Keith Raywood on working on Lorne Michaels' The New Show, and Saturday Night Live
14:14
Keith Raywood on working on various MTV and VH1 productions including the MTV Video Music Awards, MTV Unplugged, and VH1 Storytellers
17:28
Keith Raywood on ways in which he presents music on television, including the Eagles Hell Freezes Over special on MTV
07:16
Keith Raywood on production designing The Concert for New York City after 9/11
07:18
Keith Raywood on production designing for Lip Sync Battle
11:13

Marian Rees

View Interview
Marian Rees on working on The  Dennis Day Show
07:34
Marian Rees on to work as a production assistant on An Evening With Fred Astaire 
14:40

Rob Reiner

View Interview
Rob Reiner on writing for The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour featuring Tom and Dick Smothers
15:49
Rob Reiner on writing for The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour
02:03
Rob Reiner on writing Romp!!!
01:21
Rob Reiner on guest hosting Saturday Night Live
03:51
Rob Reiner on directing The T.V. Show, which spawned Spinal Tap
02:42

Carl Reiner

View Interview
Performer/writer Carl Reiner on Your Show of Shows
22:52
Performer/writer Carl Reiner on Your Show of Shows and Caesar's Hour
16:37

Ed Resnick

View Interview
Ed Resnick on shooting Korla Pandit's Adventure in Music
02:14

John Rich

View Interview
John Rich on being stage manager/AD on The Colgate Comedy Hour
11:17
John Rich on directing The Ezio Pinza Show
04:43

Heino Ripp

View Interview
Heino Ripp on acting as technical director for Admiral Broadway Revue and Your Show of Shows
08:04
Heino Ripp on being technical director for The Perry Como Show
18:55
Heino Ripp on The Perry Como Show traveling to other countries, including London and Cuba
11:33
Heino Ripp on acting as technical director for the Barbra Streisand Specials
05:42
Heino Ripp on being technical director for Saturday Night Live
08:53

Fatima Robinson

View Interview
Fatima Robinson on choreographing music videos for Michael Jackson, Mary J. Blige, Whitney Houston, Bobby Brown, Brandy, Dr. Dre, Tupac Shakur, Busta Rhymes, and Aaliyah
37:17
Fatima Robinson on directing music videos for "Hey Mama" and for several Meghan Trainor songs
02:54
Fatima Robinson on being a choreographer/executive producer on We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial
03:36
Fatima Robinson on choreographing the NBC special The Wiz Live!
09:52
Fatima Robinson on the process for choreographing performances on music competition shows, and on her work on specific programs
02:08

Fred Rogers

View Interview
Fred Rogers on working as floor manager at NBC on NBC Opera Theatre
09:47
Fred Rogers on working as floor manager at NBC on The Kate Smith Hour
Fred Rogers on Kate Smith as a performer on Kate Smith Hour
01:11
Fred Rogers on stage managing The Gabby Hayes Show
05:49
Fred Rogers on imitations of him on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and by Eddie Murphy on Saturday Night Live
03:24

Edgar J. Scherick

View Interview
Edgar Scherick on developing The Hollywood Palace
01:20

Thomas Schlamme

View Interview
Thomas Schlamme on directing Whoopi Goldberg's HBO special Whoopi Goldberg: Direct from Broadway
05:39
Thomas Schlamme on directing Bette Midler's HBO special Art or Bust
03:55

George Schlatter

View Interview
George Schlatter on booking and producing The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
08:20
George Schlatter on producing The Judy Garland Show
07:11

Herbert S. Schlosser

View Interview
Herbert S. Schlosser on the genesis of Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In
05:28
Herbert S. Schlosser on programming Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, and on the show being a huge hit for NBC
02:03
Herbert S. Schlosser on programming The Flip Wilson Show, and on other NBC variety shows
02:58
Herbert S. Schlosser on Saturday Night Live
17:32

Arthur Schneider

View Interview
Arthur Schneider on editing The Colgate Comedy Hour
02:28
Arthur Schneider on editing The Dinah Shore Chevy Show and This Is Your Life
01:56
Arthur Schneider on editing Milton Berle's Texaco Star Theater
02:30
Arthur Schneider on editing The Perry Como Show
01:12
Arthur Schneider on editing Your Show of Shows
00:29
Arthur Schneider on editing the Bob Hope Specials
03:54
Arthur Schneider on editing the Bob Hope Specials
16:33
Arthur Schneider on editing for The Julie Andrews Show, with guest-star Gene Kelly
03:43
Arthur Schneider on editing for The Dean Martin Show
01:17
Arthur Schneider on editing his final Bob Hope Special, and on those being his favorites
04:19

Sherwood Schwartz

View Interview
Sherwood Schwartz on writing for The Red Skelton Show
03:57

William Self

View Interview
William Self on producing The Frank Sinatra Show
04:10
William Self on an unsold pilot, and on the difficulties he had with producing The Frank Sinatra Show
07:03

Paul Shaffer

View Interview
Paul Shaffer on watching The Ed Sullivan Show with his parents growing up, and their knowledgeability of the acts
01:05
Paul Shaffer on being friends with Brian Doyle-Murray and Bill Murray when he first came to New York, and collaborating with Bill on his nightclub club singer bit (which he later used on SNL)
02:41

John Shaffner

View Interview
John Shaffner on set design for Star Search
08:01
John Shaffner on set design for David Copperfield
11:02

William Shatner

View Interview
William Shatner on the experience of hosting Saturday Night Live
06:46

Jack Shea

View Interview
Jack Shea on being hired for the "Bob Hope Specials" and "Jerry Lewis Specials" and on Jerry Lewis' personality and Bob Hope's interest in the quality of the writing staff
07:21
Jack Shea on directing The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour and working with Glen Campbell and his parents
03:40

James Sheldon

View Interview
James Sheldon on directing Holiday Hotel
03:06
James Sheldon on directing The Eddie Albert Show and working with Eddie Albert
03:30

Fred Silverman

View Interview
Fred Silverman on promoting variety shows like The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour
00:41

Treva Silverman

View Interview
Treva Silverman on writing for The Dean Martin Show
04:50

Garry Simpson

View Interview
Garry Simpson on directing Macbeth for NBC- considered NBC's first "spectacular"
05:16
Garry Simpson on directing Four Star Revue
03:05
Garry Simpson on directing Jimmy Durante, Ed Wynn, and Jackie Gleason on Four Star Revue
16:48
Garry Simpson on directing the Ford Festival
07:59

Doris Singleton

View Interview
Doris Singleton on her husband, Charlie Isaacs, being the head writer of Colgate Comedy Hour and working with Jimmy Durante and many others
02:52
Doris Singleton on hitting Red Skelton on The Red Skelton Show
00:45

Ira Skutch

View Interview
Ira Skutch on stage managing Hour Glass
13:21
Ira Skutch on his first time directing television -- on the show Disc Magic aka Musical Merry-Go-Round
04:41

Howard Smit

View Interview
Howard Smit on doing makeup for The Red Skelton Show
03:12
Howard Smit on working with Red Skleton and the various guest stars of The Red Skelton Show
02:59

Gary Smith

View Interview
Gary Smith on doing art direction for Perry Como's The Kraft Music Hall
05:51
Gary Smith on his duties as a set designer and on working with Harry Belafonte on "Tonight with Belafonte" on The Revlon Revue
06:37
Gary Smith on working with Perry Como on The Kraft Music Hall
04:11
Gary Smith on producing The Judy Garland Show
21:17
Gary Smith on producing The Bell Telephone Hour and Ford Presents the New Christy Minstrels, and on how he came to produce Hullabaloo
07:22
Gary Smith on producing the special Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass
02:07
Gary Smith producing Hullabaloo
05:59
Gary Smith producing The Kraft Music Hall
10:00
Gary Smith on producing various shows in London for Lew Grade including James Paul McCartney and Peter Pan, starring Mia Farrow
05:00
Gary Smith on producing Singer Presents Tony Bennett, directed by Dwight Hemion, and on producing Sammy for Sammy Davis, Jr.
04:36
Gary Smith on producing Burt Bacharach: Opus No. 3 and Bette Midler: Ol' Red Hair Is Back
03:28
Gary Smith on working with Barbra Streisand on her various specials
02:40
Gary Smith on working with Neil Diamond
01:45
Gary Smith on the end of the variety format
01:02

Sid Smith

View Interview
Sid Smith on the format, setup, and surveys on Your Hit Parade
05:40
Sid Smith on the studio and music setup, musical guests, and favorite memories of Eddie Condon's Floor Show
06:02
Sid Smith on directing Your Hit Parade
07:34
Sid Smith on directing Jimmy Durante on All Star Revue
13:43
Sid Smith on directing Jimmy Durante on The Jimmy Durante Show
06:20
Sid Smith on the writing, format, guests and audience response to The Jimmy Durante Show
23:22
Sid Smith on becoming one of the main directors of The Bell Telephone Hour
02:40
Sid Smith on the staging of and memorable performances on The Bell Telephone Hour
22:33
Sid Smith on his seventeen year association with Bob Hope, directing Bob Hope Specials
10:52
On directing and producing the Miss U.S.A. and Miss Universe pageants
06:56
Sid Smith on directing Bob Hope Specials
15:55
Sid Smith on directing Circus of the Stars
07:12

Dick Smith

View Interview
Dick Smith on his work on Hour Glass with Bert Lahr and his spinning toupee
02:08

G.E. Smith

View Interview
G.E. Smith on being music director for Saturday Night Live (Part 1)
15:48
G.E. Smith on being music director on Saturday Night Live (Part 2)
50:49

Tom Smothers

View Interview
Tom and Dick Smothers on the changing social and political views in the sixties as The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour came on the air
02:14
Tom and Dick Smothers on the variety show genre and  working with CBS executives on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour
04:03
Tom and Dick Smothers on how their comedy show transcended the variety format
02:25

Dick Smothers

View Interview
Tom and Dick Smothers on the changing social and political views in the sixties as The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour came on the air
02:14
Tom and Dick Smothers on the variety show genre and  working with CBS executives on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour
04:03
Tom and Dick Smothers on how their comedy show transcended the variety format
02:25

Herbert F. Solow

View Interview
Herbert F. Solow on producing the documentary, Elvis: That's the Way It Is
04:54

Jean Stapleton

View Interview
Jean Stapleton on consciously trying to avoid being typecast as "Edith Bunker," by declining, among other things, guest appearances on variety shows that were a variation of "Edith"
01:32

Ben Starr

View Interview
Ben Starr on his first television job, writing for The Jack Carter Show; on the show's intense production schedule
07:27

Jeremy Stevens

View Interview
Jeremy Stevens on writing for Playboy After Dark
08:16
Jeremy Stevens on writing for The Richard Pryor Show
06:45
Jeremy Stevens on writing for Saturday Night Live
14:10
Jeremy Stevens on writing for Saturday Night Live
08:44

Dick Stiles

View Interview
Dick Stiles on working at CBS Television City as a page in the early '60s and on becoming a draftsman for The Red Skelton Show
07:54

Jerry Stiller

View Interview
Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara on rehearsals and material for The Ed Sullivan Show
15:35

Gale Storm

View Interview
Gale Storm on appearing on Milton Berle's variety show
26:19
Gale Storm on her appearances on The Perry Como Show
02:23
Gale Storm on hosting the NBC Comedy Hour nine times
05:22
Gale Storm on her memories of filming scenes for a special with Bob Hope
02:00
Gale Strom on the producer of The Colgate Comedy Hour Ernie Glucksman
00:18

George Sunga

View Interview
George Sunga on being Production Supervisor on The Judy Garland Show
08:55
George Sunga on being Associate Producer on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour
03:52
George Sunga on producing The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour
24:50

William Tankersley

View Interview
William Tankersley on CBS Standards & Practices' problems with The Smothers Brothers' Comedy Hour
06:00

June Taylor

View Interview
June Taylor on the June Taylor Dancers appearing on Toast of the Town (later The Ed Sullivan Show)
11:25
June Taylor on expanding the number of June Taylor Dancers when they appeared on The Jackie Gleason Show, and on working with Jackie Gleason
03:05
June Taylor on the kinds of numbers the June Taylor Dancers performed on Toast of the Town  (later The Ed Sullivan Show), and on rehearsal and budget for that show
04:29
June Taylor on the June Taylor Dancers performing on Cavalcade of Stars
11:11
June Taylor on the June Taylor Dancers on Cavalcade of Stars
06:15
June Taylor on the June Taylor Dancers on The Jackie Gleason Show
15:34
June Taylor on doing choreography for The Jackie Gleason Show
30:45
June Taylor on choreographing The Jackie Gleason Show
05:37
June Taylor on choreographing Stage Show
06:12
June Taylor on choreographing American Scene Magazine
10:31
June Taylor on choreographing the 1966 version of The Jackie Gleason Show
04:02
June Taylor on the potential for variety shows to make a come back
00:57

Mel Tolkin

View Interview
Mel Tolkin on writing for Admiral Broadway Revue
17:43
Mel Tolkin on writing for Your Show of Shows
08:55
Mel Tolkin on writing for Your Show of Shows
28:53
Mel Tolkin on writing for Your Show of Shows
10:26
Mel Tolkin on writing for Caesar's Hour
15:57
Mel Tolkin on writing for Caesar's Hour
15:22
Mel Tolkin on writing for The Danny Thomas Show
07:42
Mel Tolkin on writing for I'm Dickens ... He's Fenster and for The Danny Kaye Show with Larry Gelbart
04:02
Mel Tolkin on writing The Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca, Carl Reiner, Howard Morris Special, and on his deal with Universal Television
05:27

Ret Turner

View Interview
Ret Turner on costume designing for The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour
12:05
Ret Turner on costume designing for Donny & Marie
13:02
Ret Turner on how he came to do costume design for The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour
07:19

Saul Turteltaub

View Interview
Saul Turteltaub on writing The Super Comedy Bowl with writing partner Bernie Orenstein
02:25
Saul Turteltaub on writing for The Carol Burnett Show
08:15
Saul Turteltaub on leaving The Carol Burnett Show to be a producer for The Beautiful Phyllis Diller Show
01:29
Saul Turteltaub on producing The Beautiful Phyllis Diller Show and decisions he regrets making on the show
06:21
Saul Turteltaub on writing a special for Cass Elliot and how that led to Marlo Thomas asking he and his partner Bernie Orenstein to produce That Girl
01:52

Leslie Uggams

View Interview
Leslie Uggams on getting her start in television as a child on The Milton Berle Show and other variety shows
01:19
Leslie Uggams on appearing Your Show of Shows and The Milton Berle Show as a child and her interactions with the performers and writers
01:44
Leslie Uggams on her work on Sing Along with Mitch
13:36
Leslie Uggams on appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show
01:46
Leslie Uggams on The Leslie Uggams Show
07:37

Jac Venza

View Interview
Jac Venza on production design for The Big Record
00:47
Jac Venza on becoming an associate producer on The Blue Angel and learning the ins and outs of directing live television
01:06
Jac Venza on his work on Music '55
01:51

Tony Verna

View Interview
Tony Verna on directing Live Aid and Sport Aid
08:46

Bruce Vilanch

View Interview
Bruce Vilanch on working with Florence Henderson on The Brady Bunch Hour
14:07
Bruce Vilanch on writing for Donny & Marie
07:14
Bruce Vilanch on writing for The Paul Lynde Show
06:07
Bruce Vilanch on writing for The Star Wars Holiday Special
05:53
Bruce Vilanch on writing for The Star Wars Holiday Special which featured Beatrice Arthur and Harvey Korman
06:28
Bruce Vilanch on writing for The Barry Manilow Special and for Bette Midler: Ol' Red Hair Is Back
10:55
Bruce Vilanch on writing for Dolly
05:44
Bruce Vilanch on writing for Cher and The Sonny Comedy Review
03:19

James Wall

View Interview
James Wall on performing a dance on Sing it Again
00:53

Betty White

View Interview
Betty White on hosting Tournament of Roses Parade and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
02:11
Betty White on appearing on Mama's Family and The Carol Burnett Show
03:36

Tucker Wiard

View Interview
Tucker Wiard on working on The Carol Burnett Show
08:25

Max Wilk

View Interview
Max Wilk on writing for 54th Street Revue produced by Max Liebman and on Admiral Broadway Revue
09:55
Max Wilk on Ed Wynn of The Ed Wynn Show
04:41
Max Wilk on writing various episodes of Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse and The Victor Borge Show
05:42

Andy Williams

View Interview
Andy Williams on the genesis of The Andy Williams Show
03:30
Andy Williams on his Christmas specials and songs
03:19
Andy Williams on new talent he debuted on The Andy Williams Show, regular guests, rehearsal process, scripts, and how he welcomed guests onto the show
10:27
Andy Williams on guests, "Cookie Bear," the crew of The Andy Williams Show and changes to the show during its last two years, and his show's theme song, "Moon River"
25:06
Andy Williams on why The Andy Williams Show went off the air in 1971 and on continuing to do Christmas specials even though he and his wife were separated by that time
02:20

Larry Wilmore

View Interview
Larry Wilmore on writing for In Living Color
12:26

Ben Wolf

View Interview
Ben Wolf on shooting The Red Skelton Show
18:30
Ben Wolf on working on the special Brigadoon, for which he won an Emmy
03:58

Bud Yorkin

View Interview
Bud Yorkin on associate directing The Dinah Shore Show
04:36
Bud Yorkin on associate directing The Tony Martin Show
01:15
Bud Yorkin on producing The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show
06:41
Bud Yorkin on directing Light's Diamond Jubilee for David O. Selznick
04:13
Bud Yorkin on writing, producing, and directing An Evening with Fred Astaire
12:04
Bud Yorkin on producing The Andy Williams Show
02:21

Leo Yoshimura

View Interview
Leo Yoshimura on production designing for Saturday Night Live
42:03

Alan Young

View Interview
Alan Young on his first TV show The Alan Young Show
18:32
Alan Young on The Alan Young Show producer Ralph Levy, and on working with Stan Laurel
05:32

Lauren Zalaznick

View Interview
Lauren Zalaznick on the creation of Pop Up Video for VH1
09:35

Alan Zweibel

View Interview
Alan Zweibel on meeting Lorne Michaels and being hired to write for Saturday Night Live
03:27
Alan Zweibel on writing for Saturday Night Live
57:13
Alan Zweibel on writing for Saturday Night Live
28:51
Alan Zweibel on writing for the Lorne Michaels-produced The New Show
04:51
Alan Zweibel on writing for Saturday Night Live
16:22