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If you haven't seen "The Pioneers of Television" on PBS, take a look next time it's on. What's so great about television and books is that they are time machines. Not unlike a magical knife cutting through the fog of the present to allow you a view of the past, television can show us the way it used to be....and it can show us how incredibly talented the stars of yesteryear were when they had low budgets, little to no special effects, and yet were able to entertain millions for an hour every night.
It’s a field filled with big personalities, larger-than-life late night television comedians and conversationalists who put America to bed each night. From Jack Paar’s extemporaneous small talk to Steve Allen’s infectious laugh to Johnny Carson’s witty monologues, and all the big personalities that filled the guest chairs, America has had a love affair with late night television programming for years. It’s how we unwind, ingest the day’s news and laugh at ourselves. And some of the most talented, and varied, hosts have led us down the path, taken us through good times and bad, and a few nearly feeling like members of our family.
For 30 years “The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson” featured the boy from Nebraska who never seemed to lose his quick smile and friendly demeanor. His ratings remain the highest in the history of late night television. But Carson and many others in this crowded field — Jay Leno, Joey Bishop and David Letterman among them — owe much to funny man Steve Allen, who broke the plane between stage and viewer and pioneered the first audience participation gags that dominate late night comedy today.
For years, late night TV programming has prompted America to look at the lighter side of the day’s news, to giggle a little before climbing into bed. And, because of the late hour, the programming has grown edgier and more provocative through the years, challenging us with humor to understand ourselves a little better.
Known everywhere as the quintessential American cultural identity, westerns filled small screens across the country night after night and were some of the most successful television shows in history. Fess Parker's portrayal of Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett channeled the bravery, independence, honesty and rugged individualism of a young nation -- and made Walt Disney enough money to build an empire. Westerns introduced James Garner, who starred in the television hit "Maverick," where he developed the reluctant hero character that would cement his successful TV and film career. Garner, in his only recent interview, and Parker tell their stories, and Linda Evans recalls how two strong female characters emerged with her onscreen interaction with Barbara Stanwyck in "The Big Valley." This episode also examines the success of Robert Conrad in "The Wild Wild West," the popularity of "Bonanza" and the creation of the classic series, "Gunsmoke" with James Arness -- one of the longest-running television series of all time.
Now let me post something that in the decades and the nearly hundreds of times that I've seen it, still makes me laugh to this day. Back when the late Steve Allen created The Tonight Show, television was broadcast live, not aired after the program was videotaped. One night Steve Allen was doing a bit and happened to glance into the monitor just offstage. After seeing how ridiculous his wig and outfit looked, he began breaking up, live, on stage, from coast to coast. He continued to laugh uncontrollably through the whole skit, thus creating one of the most memorable moments in the history of television.
Bob Hope, Desi & Lucy, Milton Berle, Johnny Carson, Steve Allen, John Daly, Ernie Kovacs, Jack Benny, Garry Moore, Dean Martin.
.......these are the Pioneers of Television
It’s a field filled with big personalities, larger-than-life late night television comedians and conversationalists who put America to bed each night. From Jack Paar’s extemporaneous small talk to Steve Allen’s infectious laugh to Johnny Carson’s witty monologues, and all the big personalities that filled the guest chairs, America has had a love affair with late night television programming for years. It’s how we unwind, ingest the day’s news and laugh at ourselves. And some of the most talented, and varied, hosts have led us down the path, taken us through good times and bad, and a few nearly feeling like members of our family.
For 30 years “The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson” featured the boy from Nebraska who never seemed to lose his quick smile and friendly demeanor. His ratings remain the highest in the history of late night television. But Carson and many others in this crowded field — Jay Leno, Joey Bishop and David Letterman among them — owe much to funny man Steve Allen, who broke the plane between stage and viewer and pioneered the first audience participation gags that dominate late night comedy today.
For years, late night TV programming has prompted America to look at the lighter side of the day’s news, to giggle a little before climbing into bed. And, because of the late hour, the programming has grown edgier and more provocative through the years, challenging us with humor to understand ourselves a little better.
Known everywhere as the quintessential American cultural identity, westerns filled small screens across the country night after night and were some of the most successful television shows in history. Fess Parker's portrayal of Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett channeled the bravery, independence, honesty and rugged individualism of a young nation -- and made Walt Disney enough money to build an empire. Westerns introduced James Garner, who starred in the television hit "Maverick," where he developed the reluctant hero character that would cement his successful TV and film career. Garner, in his only recent interview, and Parker tell their stories, and Linda Evans recalls how two strong female characters emerged with her onscreen interaction with Barbara Stanwyck in "The Big Valley." This episode also examines the success of Robert Conrad in "The Wild Wild West," the popularity of "Bonanza" and the creation of the classic series, "Gunsmoke" with James Arness -- one of the longest-running television series of all time.
Now let me post something that in the decades and the nearly hundreds of times that I've seen it, still makes me laugh to this day. Back when the late Steve Allen created The Tonight Show, television was broadcast live, not aired after the program was videotaped. One night Steve Allen was doing a bit and happened to glance into the monitor just offstage. After seeing how ridiculous his wig and outfit looked, he began breaking up, live, on stage, from coast to coast. He continued to laugh uncontrollably through the whole skit, thus creating one of the most memorable moments in the history of television.
Bob Hope, Desi & Lucy, Milton Berle, Johnny Carson, Steve Allen, John Daly, Ernie Kovacs, Jack Benny, Garry Moore, Dean Martin.
.......these are the Pioneers of Television
