Ernie Kovacs - "The Jack Benny Program" 1/25/1959 - Prison Sketch / Closing Routine

[From "Kovacs Corner" on YouTube.com] - This is the main comedy sketch that was performed by Ernie when he was a guest on "The Jack Benny Program", which originally aired 1/25/1959 on the CBS Television Network. The 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. Of course, off-camera we hear Benny's long time announcer Don Wilson.

Category:

Comedy

Tags:

• Ernie
• Kovacs
• Jack
• Benny
• Classic
• TV
• kinescope
• jail
• prison
• prisoners
• inmates
• convicts
• penal
• penitentiary
• reform

[431516020205]

love ernie and jack!! they just dont make um like this anymore!! thanx buddy!!

[rolko52]

So do I, but I love Jack and Cola better!

[duncaninchina]

Nice to see an early clip with Len Lesser. Not so nice to think he is no longer with us.

[fromthesidelines]

According to Jack's executive producer/manager Irving Fein, Benny was somewhat concerned about this sketch, as he personally felt somewhat uncomfortable appearing in "prison stripes". However, after the reaction to this live sketch- and the fact this episode won an Emmy- Jack insisted on restaging it for one of his filmed episodes- which he did with Mickey Rooney, filmed in 1961 and telecast on April 15, 1962...three months after Ernie's fatal auto accident.