Ernie Kovacs NBC Morning Show 12/19/1955 3/3 includes "Welcome Transients"

[From "Kovacs Corner" on YouTube.com] - After his debut stint over WPTZ in Philadelphia, NBC programming chief Sylvester "Pat" Weaver, the father of actress Sigourney, brought Ernie into the New York market over WRCA-TV. Later the call sign was changed to WNBC-TV, which is still the NBC Television Network's flagship station in NYC. This morning program predated The Today Show with Dave Garroway. Prior to this time it was assumed that nobody would watch a television program prior to 7AM. Ernie proved them wrong! While watching these three videos, remember that the rules and and writing techniques that we take for granted today were just being created, tried, and perfected. The audience seems asleep and Ernie makes a heroic effort to keep the pace of the show moving. So little remains of these early television programs, that we by circumstance may not see the very best of Ernie's material from this period. Enjoy it as an example of a surviving work. By the way, Ernie just finished a three hour stint on the NBC Radio Network for "Monitor" before this show! This segment sends up the concept of the "pre-interview". When restaged years later in one of his ABC specials, the sketch featured Joe Mikolos. The one and only "Uncle Miltie" appears in a kinescoped promotional commercial for "The Milton Berle Show". Ernie then practices the art of "stretching for time".

Category:

Comedy

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[patersondave44]

this is one of the funniest things that has ever been on television EVER. maybe the funniest, although one of the other renditions had a better gridley. was that joe mikolas? probably. this one still makes me laugh, the third time i listened to it today.

thanks for posting

[offstride]

Just over a dozen people to create this show with effects. Only 4 writers. How many writers does Leno have on staff with no effects? If Kovacs was alive today he would still be setting the bar for television comedy.

[wmbrown6]

Conway could've gotten the idea for the "DORF" name from things like this.

[wmbrown6]

The audio from certain segments of this particular edition ended up on "The Ernie Kovacs Album" (Columbia PC 34250) in 1976. As to "Welcome Transients," this remains one of my absolute favorite routines of all time. He did this at least twice on his TV show, and it was later printed in a Britannica Book of the Year as an example of the funniest moments of the year.

[sojournersblues]

And you thought Tim Conway owned the patent on the word DORF.

[431516020205]

please keep uploading these great shows buddy!! love them!!