Sid Caesar - This is Your Story with Carl Reiner and Howard Morris (Full Sketch) Kovacs Corner 2026-09-29 | Sid Caesar - This is Your Story with Carl Reiner and Howard Morris (Full Sketch)
Sid Caesar - Japanese Father Kovacs Corner 2020-05-06 | A rather culturally insensitive sketch (this was 1980) where Sid plays the stern Japanese father laying down the law to his daughter's American dates. With Jeff Altman and the late Jim Varney.
Ernie Kovacs - The NBC Years Kovacs Corner 2020-02-27 | [From “Kovacs Corner” on YouTube] Here are some selected sketches from Ernie’s time at NBC. They include a seldom seen rendition of The Nairobi Trio introduced by long time NBC staff announcer Bill Wendell.
Sid Caesar - The New White Rug - The Hollywood Palace 1967 Kovacs Corner 2018-03-22 | First airing on January 21, 1967, Sid reprises a sketch originally presented on Caesar's Hour as one of "The Commuters" on September 26, 1954. With supporting players Joyce Jameson, Mickey Deems, Lauren McGiveny, Cindy Hunter, and the great Donald O'Connor.
Ernie Kovacs Biography Kovacs Corner 2018-01-23 | [From "Kovacs Corner" on YouTube.com] - A story of the life and untimely death of a great pioneer in early television. With interviews with his former wife, actress and singer, Edie Adams. Also includes commentary from Jack Lemmon and Steve Allen.
Sid Caesar - Dean Martin, The Gypsy Violinist (Full Sketch) Kovacs Corner 2018-01-21 | Sid plays an amorous gypsy violinist who has an eye for Dean's date.
Sid Caesar - Dean Martin, Double Dating in a Car Kovacs Corner 2018-01-21 | Sid guest stars in a sketch from Dean Martin's variety show spoofing the perils of double dating.
Ernie Kovacs - Jack Benny, Mickey Rooney - The Jack Benny Show - Modern Prison Sketch - 1962 Kovacs Corner 2017-12-05 | [From "Kovacs Corner" on YouTube.com] - Airing only a few months after Ernie Kovacs' untimely death, Jack recycles a sketch from 1959 which originally featured Ernie in the supporting comedic role. Here is the original sketch from that time... youtube.com/watch?v=FhVh_mDL98I&t=56s
Sid Caesar - What is Jazz? Intro Kovacs Corner 2017-06-28 | Sid's introduction to a jazz fused dance production number on YSOS on October 18, 1956.
Sid Caesar - At the Theatre - The Drummer with Imogene Coca and Jackie Cooper Kovacs Corner 2016-12-21 | A Sid and Imogene sketch about theatre goers who happen to he seated next to drummer. Actor Jackie Cooper makes a guest appearance and appear to be no slouch banging the skins. About a dozen years later, Sid and Imogene reprise this sketch on The Hollywood Palace with drummer Buddy Rich.
Sid Caesar - The Professor - Expert on Marriage with Carl Reiner Kovacs Corner 2016-12-21 | Here is another Caesar virtuoso "Dutch Act" performance as The Professor. Here is offers tips on keeping a happy marriage. From "Your Show of Shows."
Ernie Kovacs - Strangers When We Meet Title Intro, Scene 1 - 1960 Kovacs Corner 2016-06-13 | [From "Kovacs Corner" on YouTube.com] - A suburban architect (Kirk Douglas) loves his wife but is bored with his marriage and with his work, so he takes up with the neglected, married beauty who lives down the street (Kim Novak). Ernie Kovacs plays a novelist who contracts Douglas for his dream house.
Ernie Kovacs - Five Golden Hours Title Intro - 1961 Kovacs Corner 2016-06-13 | [From "Kovacs Corner" on YouTube.com] - Aldo Bondi (Ernie Kovacs) is a professional pallbearer and mourner in Rome who lives well off the extravagant gifts given to him by the rich widows he comforts. When he falls for the supposedly penniless Baroness Sandra (Cyd Charisse) – who is actually a rich "black widow" whose husbands all die – he concocts a Ponzi scheme to bilk three widows by taking money from them, telling them that he will invest it during the "five golden hours" between the closing of the stock exchange in Rome, and the opening of the New York Stock Exchange. However, the Baroness absconds with the cash, leaving Bondi in hock to the widows. He attempts to kill them, but the scheme fails and he pretends to have gone insane. In the sanitarium, his roommate is another debtor feigning madness, Mr. Bing (George Sanders).One of the three widows dies, leaving Bondi a fortune, which he can only have if he continues to be insane, otherwise the inheritance is to go to a monastery – so Bondi makes a deal with the brothers to split the money. He returns to Rome, where Mr. Bing makes contact with Baroness Sandra and, for a fee, tells her that Bondi is now rich. Sandra and Bondi get married, and soon he is her seventh dead husband.
Ernie Kovacs - John? The Loretta Young Show introduction spoof. Kovacs Corner 2016-02-10 | [From "Kovacs Corner" on YouTube.com] - Ernie Kovacs' blackout spoof of the flamboyant entrance from the 1950's TV anthology series "The Loretta Young Show." The lovely young lady is actress Jolene Brand. She is the wife of "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In" producer George Schlatter and one of Ernie's partners in crime towards the later part of his television career. She is also known for her appearances in the Walt Disney TV version of "Zorro."
Caesars Hour Intro Kovacs Corner 2015-08-30 | Caesar's Hour is a live, hour-long American sketch comedy television program that aired on NBC from 1954 until 1957. The program starred, among others, Sid Caesar, Nanette Fabray, Carl Reiner, Howard Morris, Janet Blair and Milt Kamen, and featured a number of cameo roles by famous entertainers such as Joan Crawford and Peggy Lee. - Wikipedia.com
The Ritz Bros - WML Mystery Challenger - March 12, 1961 Kovacs Corner 2014-08-06 | [From "Kovacs Corner" on YouTube.com] - The brothers made a guest appearance on the long running CBS game show "What's My Line" on March 12th 1961.
Harry Ritz on Hope Special Kovacs Corner 2014-08-01 | [From "Kovacs Corner" on YouTube.com] - Here we see Harry Ritz struttin' his stuff with composer Sammy Kahn, Marty Allen, Jan Murray, and Jack Carter telecast 1976.
Ernie Kovacs - It Happened to Jane Board Room Scene - 1957 Kovacs Corner 2014-07-30 | [From "Kovacs Corner" on YouTube.com] - This is a scene from Ernie's co-starring role in the 1957 Doris Day and Jack Lemmon comedy "It Happened to Jane." Ernie plays Harry Foster Malone, a railroad magnate billed as "Meanest Man In The World", and a thinly veiled jab at Orson Wells' "Citizen Kane" character Charles Foster Kane. His well played character outlines a rather prophetic example of the type of businessman that would later, in real life, ruin the likes of the Pennsylvania Railroad. Directed by Richard Quine.
Sid Caesar - WML Mystery Challenger - May 19, 1963 Kovacs Corner 2014-07-12 | [From "Kovacs Corner" on YouTube.com] - Fresh from Broadway in his musical hit "Little Me," comedian Sid Caesar drops in as the "Mystery Challenger" on WML.
Sid Caesar / Jack E. Leonard Peyton Place Spoof Kovacs Corner 2014-06-27 | [From "Kovacs Corner" on YouTube.com] - In probably the only pairing ever captured on film or video of these comedians, Sid plays the character "Dr. Rossi" and Fat Jack plays "Constance MacKenzie" in this short spoof of the late 60's TV potboiler.
Abbott & Costello - The Noose Hangs High - The Car Sketch 1948 Kovacs Corner 2014-05-22 | [From "Kovacs Corner" on YouTube.com] - This sketch, which was later used in their half hour syndicated show, has Lou attempting drive away but not without problems. That's also a snappy 1948 Lincoln Continental.
Abbott & Costello - The Noose Hangs High Dentist Sketch - 1948 Kovacs Corner 2014-05-21 | [From "Kovacs Corner" on YouTube.com] - Tired of staying awake due to Lou's toothache, Bud drags Lou to the dentist for an extraction. Here the dentist, played by Murray Leonard, works on the hapless Costello. Also look for comedian Fritz Feld.
Sid Caesar - The Hollywood Palace - Bullets Over Broadway Kovacs Corner 2014-05-01 | [From "Kovacs Corner" on YouTube.com] - Broadcast on the ABC Television Network on November 23, 1968, this sketch predates the 1994 movie and current Broadway production by fellow Caesar comedy writer Woody Allen.
Sid Caesar - Admiral Broadway Revue 1949 - Life of Samba Singer Kovacs Corner 2014-05-01 | [From "Kovacs Corner" on YouTube.com] - Admiral Broadway Revue was an American live television variety show that ran from January 28 to June 3, 1949. The show was broadcast live on Fridays from 8 to 9 pm ET simultaneously on both the NBC and the DuMont networks.The show was telecast from the since-demolished International Theatre (also known as the Park Theatre) at 5 Columbus Circle in New York.[2] The hour-long series was directed by Max Liebman, hosted by Sid Caesar, and also starred Imogene Coca. Liebman, Caesar, and Coca would go on to work on NBC's Your Show of Shows, which debuted February 25, 1950.[1]The series was sponsored by TV-set manufacturer Admiral, a company that was in direct competition with NBC's parent company RCA and with DuMont, both of which also manufactured TV sets. For this reason, and because Admiral was unable to keep up with the demand for its sets due to the show, the series was canceled. Its final episode aired June 3, 1949.In this clip, Sid portrays a samba dancer going through his various life events.
The Texaco Star Theater starring Milton Berle - Opening & Closing Kovacs Corner 2014-04-26 | [From "Kovacs Corner" on YouTube.com] - Texaco Star Theater is an American comedy-variety show, broadcast on radio from 1938 to 1949 and telecast from 1948 to 1956. It was one of the first successful examples of American television broadcasting, remembered as the show that gave Milton Berle the nickname "Mr. Television".When the television version launched on June 8, 1948, Texaco also made sure its employees were featured prominently throughout the hour, usually appearing as smiling "guardian angels" performing good deeds of one or another kind, and a quartet of Texaco singers opened each week's show with the following theme song:OPENING"Oh, we're the men of Texaco We work from Maine to Mexico There's nothing like this Texaco of ours! Our show is very powerful We'll wow you with an hour full Of howls from a shower full of stars. We're the merry Texaco men Tonight we may be showmen Tomorrow we'll be servicing your cars! I wipe the pipe I pump the gas I rub the hub I scrub the glass I touch the clutch I mop the top I poke the choke I sell the pop I clear the gear I bop the knock I jack the back I set the clock So join the ranks of those who know And fill your tanks with TexacoSky Chief, fill up with Sky Chief, And you will smile at the pile of new miles you will add Fire Chief, fill up with Fire Chief You'll find that Texaco's the finest friend your car has ever had...And now, ladies and gentlemen... America's number one television star... MILTON BERLE!..."CLOSINGThe curtain is descending and We thank you for attending But before we reach the ending may we add: Remember to be loyal To our gasoline and oil When they save you time and toil you'll be glad Now the clock is striking nine off But just before we sign off CLOSING ANNOUNCE The best friend your car has ever had!They didn't settle on Berle—who hosted a freshly revived radio version in spring 1948—as the permanent host right away; he hosted the first television Texaco Star Theater in June 1948 but was originally part of a rotation of hosts (Berle himself had only a four-week contract). Comedian Jack Carter was host for August. Berle was named the permanent host that fall.He was a smash once the new full season began, Texaco Star Theater hitting ratings as high as 80 and owning Tuesday night for NBC from 8--9 p.m. ET. And, as the show landed a pair of Emmy Awards in that first year (the show itself, for Best Kinescope Show; and, Berle as Most Outstanding Kinescoped Personality), Uncle Miltie (he first called himself by that name ad-libbing at the end of a 1949 broadcast) joked, preened, pratfell, danced, costumed, and clowned his way to stardom, with Americans discovering television as a technological marvel and entertainment medium seeming to bring the country to a dead stop every Tuesday night, just to see what the madcap Berle might pull next.With Berle at the helm, Texaco Star Theater was largely credited with driving American television set sales heavily; the number of TV sets sold during Berle's run on the show was said to have grown from 500,000, his first year on the tube, to over 30 million when the show ended in 1956. Texaco Star Theater was also the highest rated television show of the 1950--1951 television season, the first season in which the Nielsen ratings were used.Uncle Miltie was far from alone in keeping the show alive and kicking. His support players included Fatso Marco (1948--1952), Ruth Gilbert as "Max", Milton's love-starved secretary (1952--1955), Bobby Sherwood (1952--1953), Arnold Stang (1953--1955), Jack Collins (1953--1955), and Milton Frome (1953--1955). The show's music was provided by Alan Roth (1948--1955) and Victor Young (1955--1956).As phenomenally popular as Texaco Star Theater was, it was hardly an undisturbed appeal. "Berle presented himself as one part buffoon and one part consummate, professional entertainer—a kind of veteran of the Borscht Belt trenches," the Museum of Broadcast Communications would observe decades after the show left the air. "Yet even within his shows' sanctioned exhibitionism, some of Berle's behavior could cross the line from affability to effrontery. At its worst, the underlying tone of the Berle programs can appear to be one of contempt should the audience not respond approvingly. In some cases, this led to a surprising degree of self-consciousness about TV itself—Texaco's original commercial spokesman, Sid Stone, would sometimes hawk his products until driven from the stage by a cop. But the uneven balance of excess and decorum proved wildly successful."
Sid Caesar - Tars and Spars - Wings Over Bombinschitzel Kovacs Corner 2014-04-24 | [From "Kovacs Corner" on YouTube.com] - From his first feature film, Sid portrays US Coast Guardsman Chuck Enders. This routine parodies World War II aviation films which only Sid can do in his own hilarious manner. "Tars and Spars" was the only film starring Broadway actor Alfred Drake.
Sid Caesar sings I Love Eggs from Tars and Spars 1946. Kovacs Corner 2014-04-23 | [From "Kovacs Corner" on YouTube.com] - Sid Caesar's first movie role where he plays US Coast Guardsman Chuck Enders. In this scene, Chuck runs into Penny, played by the late actress Jeff Donnell, who is an old date from Yonkers NY. Completely smitten with him, she is assigned morning mess detail. Penny proceeds to load Chuck plate with a mountain of scrambled eggs which he hates .
The Ritz Brothers guest on Jackpot Bowling starring Milton Berle Kovacs Corner 2014-04-23 | [From "Kovacs Corner" on YouTube.com] - Jackpot Bowling (also known as Phillies Jackpot Bowling and Jackpot Bowling Starring Milton Berle) was a professional bowling show on NBC from January 9, 1959 to June 24, 1960 and again from September 19, 1960 to March 13, 1961.Jackpot Bowling was the first national TV bowling show since Bowling Headliners aired in the early days of television (1948-50) and it originally aired on Fridays at 10:45 PM following the Cavalcade of Sports Friday Night Fight.Leo Durocher was the show's first host, but bowed out after only two shows and was replaced by Mel Allen. Allen's lack of bowling knowledge made him an unpopular host, however. On April 10, 1959 Bud Palmer became the show's third host. Allen returned in October 1959 and remained with the show until April 1960, after which Palmer returned and hosted through June.The show was put on a brief hiatus after the June 24, 1960 episode, as its Cavalcade of Sports lead-in had ended its run on NBC. When it returned on September 19, 1960, a retooled version hit the airwaves; the series not only moved to Monday nights at 10:30, but Bayuk Cigars replaced Phillies Cigars as sponsor, the Hollywood Legion Lanes replaced Wayne, New Jersey's T-Bowl as the show's venue, and Milton Berle took over as host with Chick Hearn providing play-by-play. The show now ran 30 minutes, and the professional bowler challenges were supplemented with segments of celebrities being interviewed by Berle and then rolling a shot for charity. Although the show now had a very popular performer as emcee and celebrity guests, the series would only run another six months -- ending for good on March 13, 1961. Here we see one of the few remaining kinescopes of the show with The Ritz Brothers hamming it up with fellow vaudevillian Milton Berle. Harry throws a very unconventional strike, stepping over the foul line by a country mile, but winning $1000 for their favorite charity.
Peter Sellers as Dr. Strangelove Kovacs Corner 2014-04-17 | [From "Kovacs Corner" on YouTube.com] - Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb, more commonly known simply as Dr. Strangelove, is a 1964 British-American black comedy film which satirizes the nuclear scare. It was directed, produced, and co-written by Stanley Kubrick, stars Peter Sellers and George C. Scott, and features Sterling Hayden, Keenan Wynn, and Slim Pickens. The film is loosely based on Peter George's Cold War thriller novel Red Alert (also known as Two Hours to Doom).The story concerns an unhinged United States Air Force general who orders a first strike nuclear attack on the Soviet Union. It follows the President of the United States, his advisers, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and a Royal Air Force (RAF) officer as they try to recall the bombers to prevent a nuclear apocalypse. It separately follows the crew of one B-52 bomber as they try to deliver their payload.- Wikipedia.com
The Ritz Brothers - Life Begins in College - Yankee Doodle Dance 1937 Kovacs Corner 2014-04-17 | [From "Kovacs Corner" on YouTube.com] - "Subtle they're not. New they're not. But funny." This 1961 newspaper review of the Ritz Brothers succinctly summed up their appeal for their millions of fans -- and was also a fair assessment of their lack of appeal for their millions of nonfans. The sons of Austrian-born haberdasher Max Joachim, the brothers grew up in New Jersey and Brooklyn, deciding individually to pursue show business careers. Al, the oldest, took the plunge first, winning numerous dance contests and doing extra work for a Long Island movie studio; Jimmy and Harry followed suit, securing solo stage bookings as singer/dancers. After all three Joachim brothers graduated from high school, they decided to team up as a song-and-comedy act, adopting the stage name "Ritz," reportedly having spotted their new cognomen on a laundry truck. With fourth brother George as their agent, the Ritz Brothers worked their way up from nightclubs and vaudeville to several featured spots in the lavish Broadway revues of legendary showman George White. The boys' act, which substantially remained the same throughout the years, consisted of the threesome indulging in precision dancing, tongue-twisting lampoons of popular stories and song hits, and plenty of knockabout comedy. While all three brothers had healthy egos, they had no qualms about building several of their routines around the superior talents of Harry Ritz, as witness their famous bit "The Man in the Middle is the Funny One." In 1934, the Ritz boys made their screen debut in the two-reel comedy Hotel Anchovy, which led to their being signed by 20th Century-Fox as a specialty act for that studio's big budget musicals. - Fandango.com
The Ritz Brothers - Life Begins in College - Indian Dance (1937) Kovacs Corner 2014-04-16 | [From "Kovacs Corner" on YouTube.com] - "Subtle they're not. New they're not. But funny." This 1961 newspaper review of the Ritz Brothers succinctly summed up their appeal for their millions of fans -- and was also a fair assessment of their lack of appeal for their millions of nonfans. The sons of Austrian-born haberdasher Max Joachim, the brothers grew up in New Jersey and Brooklyn, deciding individually to pursue show business careers. Al, the oldest, took the plunge first, winning numerous dance contests and doing extra work for a Long Island movie studio; Jimmy and Harry followed suit, securing solo stage bookings as singer/dancers. After all three Joachim brothers graduated from high school, they decided to team up as a song-and-comedy act, adopting the stage name "Ritz," reportedly having spotted their new cognomen on a laundry truck. With fourth brother George as their agent, the Ritz Brothers worked their way up from nightclubs and vaudeville to several featured spots in the lavish Broadway revues of legendary showman George White. The boys' act, which substantially remained the same throughout the years, consisted of the threesome indulging in precision dancing, tongue-twisting lampoons of popular stories and song hits, and plenty of knockabout comedy. While all three brothers had healthy egos, they had no qualms about building several of their routines around the superior talents of Harry Ritz, as witness their famous bit "The Man in the Middle is the Funny One." In 1934, the Ritz boys made their screen debut in the two-reel comedy Hotel Anchovy, which led to their being signed by 20th Century-Fox as a specialty act for that studio's big budget musicals. - Fandango.com
Sid Caesar - A Streetcar Named ??? April 5, 1952 Kovacs Corner 2014-02-15 | [From "Kovacs Corner" on YouTube.com] - Performed on "Your Show of Shows" on April 5,1952, Sid and Imogene spoof one of latest film releases of the day "A Streetcar Named Desire." Sid play the Marlon Brando role of Stanley Kowalski and Imogene Coca plays the Vivian Leigh's role of Blanche Dubois. Who is the actress is playing Stanley's wife? 50's pitchwoman Betty Furness.
Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca - The Tonight Show Sept 9, 1977 Kovacs Corner 2014-02-13 | [From "Kovacs Corner" on YouTube.com]
Abbott & Costello - The Payphone Sketch (Alexander 4444) Kovacs Corner 2013-11-05 | [From "Kovacs Corner" on YouTube.com] - The Abbott and Costello Show is an American television sitcom starring the popular comedy team of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello that premiered in syndication in the fall of 1952 and ran until May 1954.The series is regarded among the most influential comedy programs in history. In 1998 Entertainment Weekly praised the series as one of the "100 Greatest TV Shows of All Time." In 2007, Time magazine selected it for its "The 100 Best TV Shows of All-TIME."The show was a vehicle to bring the duo's tried and true burlesque routines to television in a format that the team could control. It contained none of the musical interludes or love stories that marked most of their feature films. Basically, if a situation or gag was funny, the team filmed it with little regard to plot, character or continuity. As a result, the show became a record of classic burlesque scenes performed by the duo.
Ernie Kovacs - The Kapusta Kid in Outer Space - NBC Morning Show 12/19/1955 Kovacs Corner 2013-03-13 | [From "Kovacs Corner" on YouTube.com] - "The Kapusta Kid" was Ernie's wild take on children's puppet shows which were a staple of early television from the late 40's to the mid 1950's. Kapusta was a puppet bear who was accompanied by his associate "Albumin", a horse, and "O'Brien", the Sicilian monkey. It appears in this episode that Ernie is having a problem with the stage hands running the teleprompter faster than Ernie can read the copy. Ernie's good natured frustration is apparent. The introduction is read by long time NBC staff and David Letterman announcer Bill Wendell along with Ernie's rendition of "Hot Cakes and Sausages."
Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis Spoof 1950s Game Shows Kovacs Corner 2013-01-16 | During the late 1940's and up past the mid 1950's, the singing-comedy team of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis was considered the hottest entertainment team in America. The combination of the sexy swave looks and romantic singing of Dean Martin contrasting with the wild man-boy comedy antics of Jerry Lewis captivated the nation. The duo made their biggest splash on television through their semi-regular appearances on the "The Colgate Comedy Hour" (and later "The Colgate Variety Hour") on NBC. Here is an example of their comedy which takes on the other major television sensation of the time...network game shows. Specifically the soon to be revealed most dishonest of the genre "The $64,000 Question."
Steve Allen - Steven L. Stevens Musical Sketch (Improved Audio) Kovacs Corner 2012-06-28 | [From "Kovacs Corner" on YouTube.com] - This is a sketch has been attributed elsewhere on YouTube as originating on "The Tonight Show" but I am more inclined to think that it is from Steve's Sunday evening show on NBC. Although black and white in this kinescope copy, that show was broadcast in color. Part of the color technology at that time was the special effect "chroma key". Without too much techncial explanation it basically replaced a particular color with another video image. In the late 1950's this was considered a novelty. Ernie Kovacs pioneered the effect for comedic purposes in black and white technology through "superimposition". At one point it has been reported that Ernie had taken a full page ad in one of the New York newspapers slamming Steve and his writers for stealing sketch ideas and quickly, and without too much creative change, using them for his own. In my opinion, this sketch is not high on comedic impact, as Steve's persistent cover laugh and the relative audience silence suggests, and it also appears more like a "me too" effort on Steve's part. He also take a Kovacs cue by referencing classical composers Enrico Caruso and Giacomo Puchinni. Very Kovacsian in my opinion. YT viewers can ultimately agree or not. I also pumped up the audio from the original YT poster's effort.
Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca, Buddy Rich on The Hollywood Palace - Theatre Sketch Kovacs Corner 2012-06-25 | [From "Kovacs Corner" on YouTube.com] - Reunited on the stage of The Hollywood Palace, Sid and Imogene play a pair of theater goers who are unfortunately seated next to the orchestra's drummer. He also happens to be drum legend Buddy Rich!
Sid Caesar & Imogene Coca - Your Show of Shows Mata Hari Kovacs Corner 2012-06-12 | [From "Kovacs Corner" on YouTube.com] - While again displaying his mastery of ethnic "doublespeak" which he honed from waiting tables at his father's 24 hour diner in Yonkers New York, Sid plays a World War I Imperial German general who meets the notorious spy Mata Hari. Mata, played by co-star Imogene Coca, and the show's other co-stars Carl Reiner and Howard Morris are also drawn into the spy's fiendish plan.
Sid Caesar & Nanette Fabray - Shadow Waltz Kovacs Corner 2012-06-03 | [From "Kovacs Corner" on YouTube.com] - After the cancellation of the critically acclaimed "Your Show of Shows", Carl Reiner, Howard Morris, and newcomer Nanette Fabray joined Sid in "Caesar's Hour". The staging of this sketch is a take off of the type utilized on television shows of the era like "Your Hit Parade". Using the terminology of the era, Sid plays "the listener". Retaining most of his first rate writing staff, this show also broke ground for the addition of a fledgling comedy writer by the name of Woody Allen.
Sid Caesar & Imogene Coca - Your Show of Shows - Classical Musicians Kovacs Corner 2012-06-02 | [From "Kovacs Corner" on YouTube.com] - From the legendary NBC comedy series "Your Show of Shows", this pantomime sketch features Sid Caesar and the late Imogene Coca as a pair of symphonic musicians performing Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture". They say that immitation is the sincerest form of flattery and in this video we can see that Ernie may have taken that immitation very sincerely....especially during the finale of the sketch. ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDcxHP41a84 )
The Jack Benny Program with Ernie Kovacs 1959 (Full Episode) Kovacs Corner 2012-05-03 | [From "Kovacs Corner" on YouTube.com] - Ernie makes his only guest appearance on Jack Benny's program circa 1959. Jack comments on Ernie's signature appearance item upon which Ernie rolls out his "mustache collection". The humor is guided more by Benny's writers, which makes it tame compared to Kovacs' zany style. Later in the program, the prison sketch pokes fun of the late 1950's-era concept of progressive penitentiary reform "California-style" in the year 1970. Also appearing in the sketch are Len Lesser as "Mugsy McGurk", Walter Burke as "Inky Green", Ken Christy as the warden, Ray Kellogg as the prisoner "Alfred", and Nan Leslie as the girl photographer. Don Wilson, displays the form of integrated commercials that was normal for radio and the early days on many television programs. Look closely at one of the beatnik dancers. She is Ann Morgan Guilbert, aka Millie Helper, from The Dick Van Dyke Show.
The Ernie Kovacs Show (Full Episode) Kovacs Corner 2012-05-03 | One of the monthly 30 minute specials that Ernie produced for the ABC Network around 1962.
Edie Adams - Christmas in Killarney sung on The Ernie Kovacs Show Kovacs Corner 2011-12-22 | [From "Kovacs Corner" on YouTube.com] - This song and dance piece first aired December 19, 1955 on the NBC Television Network. Edie was, of course, Ernie's wife and they had made arrangements to kinescope their Christmas show for delayed broadcast. That was something unusual in the 1950's but normal today.
Edie Adams on The Red Skelton Show 1959 Act II / Brigitte Bardot /Jayne Mansfield Impersonation Kovacs Corner 2011-12-07 | "Crooked Mayor San Fernando runs off with his accomplice Ruby (Adams) to Alaska, the one state they haven't hidden in yet, where they set up business again with their usual graft, corruption, and hilarity." - IMDB.com To put some of the jokes in perspective, keep in mind that Alaska was just admitted into the union as the 49th state.
Edie Adams on The Red Skelton Show 1959 Act I Kovacs Corner 2011-12-07 | "Crooked Mayor San Fernando runs off with his accomplice Ruby (Adams) to Alaska, the one state they haven't hidden in yet, where they set up business again with their usual graft, corruption, and hilarity." - IMDB.com. To put some of the jokes in perspective, keep in mind that Alaska was just admitted into the union as the 49th state.
Ernie Kovacs & Edie Adams - The Dinah Shore Chevy Show Thanksgiving Dinner 1957 (Full Production) Kovacs Corner 2011-11-24 | [From "Kovacs Corner" on YouTube.com] - Originally airing November 24, 1957 on NBC, this clip is a quintessential example of 1950's variety show musical production numbers. With her husband at the time, George Montgomery, Dinah welcomes for Thanksgiving "dinner" Ernie and Edie, singer Keely Smith and her incomperable husband Louis Prima. This show was directed by the legendary TV producer, director, and writer Bob Banner who passed away this year at the age of 89. God wouldn't be the only who knows that I wouldn't be permitted to bring a cigar to the Thanksgiving table! "Dem Bones", "Dry Bones" or "Dem Dry Bones" is a well-known traditional spiritual song, used to teach basic anatomy to children. The melody was written by African-American author and songwriter James Weldon Johnson (1871--1938). Two versions of this traditional song are used widely, the second an abridgment of the first. The lyrics are based on Ezekiel 37:1-14, where the prophet visits the Valley of Dry Bones and prophesies that they will become alive by God's command. - Wikipedia.com
Ernie Kovacs Tribute on George Schlatters ABC-TV Special Funny 1985 Kovacs Corner 2011-11-23 | [From "Kovacs Corner" on YouTube.com] - Shot as a pilot for the ABC Television Network, this 1985 special was produced and co-written by George Schlatter. He is best known as the the producer of "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In" in the late 1960's. George is also married to Ernie's co-star Jolene Brand.
Ernie Kovacs - Ode to a Book Worm with Percy Dovetonsils Kovacs Corner 2011-10-12 | [From "Kovacs Corner" on YouTube.com] - Percy Dovetonsils offers more poetic incantations. This time the title is "Ode to a Book Worm". Percy's martini is flavored with an unexpected ingredient...courtesy of the NBC stagehands!
Ernie Kovacs - A Kovacs Kaleidoscope / Composition by Deems Taylor Kovacs Corner 2011-10-08 | [From "Kovacs Corner" on YouTube.com] - Take a simple toy kaleidoscope, an empty frozen orange juice can, and you have what may be the precursor to the modern television music video. From the creative genius of Ernie Kovacs! Appropriately, the movement has been identified as "Through the Looking-Glass" / "The White Knight" by Deems Taylor .
