The Ernie Kovacs Show
Encyclopedia
The Ernie Kovacs Show is an American comedy show hosted by comedian Ernie Kovacs
first shown in Philadelphia during the early 50s, then nationally.
In 1953, Kovacs had an evening show by the same name on CBS
. He also had a late-night talk show on the DuMont Television Network
for one season (1954–1955) by this name.
in 1961–62, also called The Ernie Kovacs Show, is often considered Kovacs' best television work. Shot on videotape using new editing and special effects techniques, it won a 1961 Emmy Award
. Kovacs and co-director Joe Behar also won the Directors Guild of America
award for a November 1961 installment, based on Kovacs' "Eugene" character. Kovacs' last ABC special was aired posthumously, on January 23, 1962. The weekly program included performances of The Nairobi Trio
.
) studio location at 1619 Walnut Street in Philadelphia. That studio was very small and accommodated approximately 45 audience members. The basement studio of the same building is where The Mike Douglas Show
was aired from June 1965 until July 1972. This studio was totally gutted and transformed into offices for an architectural firm in 2002.
Ernie Kovacs
Ernie Kovacs was a Hungarian American comedian and actor.Kovacs' uninhibited, often ad-libbed, and visually experimental comedic style came to influence numerous television comedy programs for years after his death in an automobile accident...
first shown in Philadelphia during the early 50s, then nationally.
In 1953, Kovacs had an evening show by the same name on CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
. He also had a late-night talk show on the DuMont Television Network
DuMont Television Network
The DuMont Television Network, also known as the DuMont Network, DuMont, Du Mont, or Dumont was one of the world's pioneer commercial television networks, rivalling NBC for the distinction of being first overall. It began operation in the United States in 1946. It was owned by DuMont...
for one season (1954–1955) by this name.
ABC-TV specials
A series of monthly half-hour specials for ABCAmerican Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
in 1961–62, also called The Ernie Kovacs Show, is often considered Kovacs' best television work. Shot on videotape using new editing and special effects techniques, it won a 1961 Emmy Award
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
. Kovacs and co-director Joe Behar also won the Directors Guild of America
Directors Guild of America
Directors Guild of America is an entertainment labor union which represents the interests of film and television directors in the United States motion picture industry...
award for a November 1961 installment, based on Kovacs' "Eugene" character. Kovacs' last ABC special was aired posthumously, on January 23, 1962. The weekly program included performances of The Nairobi Trio
The Nairobi Trio
The Nairobi Trio was a skit Ernie Kovacs performed several times for his TV shows. It combined many existing concepts and visuals in a novel and creative way....
.
Production notes
The original studio location was on the 4th floor of the WPTZ-TV (now KYW-TVKYW-TV
KYW-TV, virtual channel 3, is an owned and operated television station of the CBS Television Network, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. KYW-TV shares a studio facility with its sister station, CW flagship WPSG just north of Center City Philadelphia...
) studio location at 1619 Walnut Street in Philadelphia. That studio was very small and accommodated approximately 45 audience members. The basement studio of the same building is where The Mike Douglas Show
The Mike Douglas Show
The Mike Douglas Show is an American daytime television talk show hosted by Mike Douglas that aired in syndication from 1961 to 1982, distributed by Westinghouse Broadcasting and for much of its run, originated from studios of two of the company's TV stations.The program featured light banter with...
was aired from June 1965 until July 1972. This studio was totally gutted and transformed into offices for an architectural firm in 2002.