Happy New Year 2010!

Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin Eve reaches its 38th annual edition with the Dec. 31, 2009- January 1, 2010 special. Dick Clark and Ryan Seacrest will host the special starting at 10:00 p.m. (ET & PT) from New York (with Fergie as Las Vegas co-host). Dick Clark spoke about his first New Year's special in 1959 and his inauguration of New Year's Rockin' Eve in 1972 (competing with Guy Lombardo who at that time “owned” New Year’s Eve on TV), when he was interviewed by the Archive of American Television on July 29, 1999.

Music legend Paul Shaffer's Archive interview is online

Watch the Archive's fun and informative interview with David Letterman and early-SNL music guru Paul Shaffer. Among our favorite moments: he plays an impromptu theme song for his new memoir (see the clip below):



Interview description:
In his Archive interview, Paul Shaffer talks about serving as a musician/performer on Saturday Night Live , as well as his long association with David Letterman as music director of Late Night with David Letterman and The Late Show with David Letterman. Paul Shaffer was interviewed in New York, NY on June 24, 2009; Dan Pasternack conducted the three-and-a-half-hour interview.

Sid Caesar on "Your Show of Shows," and "Caesar's Hour"

Sid Caesar's Archive of American Television Interview is now fully catalogued. Caesar is a seminal figure in early TV comedy and one of the first recipients of the Emmy Award for Best Actor (in 1952).

Interview description:
Sid Caesar emphasizes the challenge of doing live TV in the early days of the medium: “Doing a show live on television is a different animal altogether than doing TV today. I mean on tape, that's like relaxing. That's like going on vacation!” He recounts his early years as a performer, including his time writing and acting in shows for the Armed Forces. He notes how his first series, Admiral Broadway Revue was launched, that gave way to the now classic Your Show of Shows. He speaks about the phenomenon of “live” TV and the pressures and rewards of helming an hour-and-a-half weekly variety series. Caesar speaks about NBC’s decision to separate the network’s Your Show of Shows commodities by having producer Max Liebman do TV “spectaculars” and giving Caesar and co-star Imogene Coca their own shows. He expresses how surprised he was that Your Show of Shows was ending: “I said we've got a winning combination. What are you breaking things up for? Four years. That's it?” Caesar then discusses his next successful venue, the variety series Caesar’s Hour, with Nanette Fabray filling the void left by Imogene Coca. From both Your Show of Shows and Caesar’s Hour, Caesar chronicles such famous sketches as “The Professor,” “The Hickenloopers” and “The Haircuts.” He also humorously recounts many of the gaffes that occurred on “live” television, including the time he forgot the name of the guest star during the show’s introduction, when he was dressed in the wrong costume seconds before going on, and when his make-up pencil broke during his Pagliacci take-off (leading to one of his most-famous ad-libs). He then frankly discusses his bout with alcoholism and his decision to get sober. Lastly, he give his impressions of the many talented collaborators he worked with over the years, including: writers Larry Gelbart and Mel Brooks, and performers Imogene Coca, Carl Reiner, and Howard Morris. Sid Caesar was interviewed in Beverly Hills, CA on March 14, 1997; Dan Pasternack conducted the three-hour interview.

The Archive Features "How the Grinch Stole Christmas!"

The Archive has now posted a page for How the Grinch Stole Christmas, featuring animation producer/director Chuck Jones and the voice of Cindy Lou Who herself, June Foray. The perennial TV special first aired on CBS on December 18, 1966. Sponsored by the Foundation for Commercial Banks, Variety noted, "one can wonder at whom [the] sponsor... was making that quiet pitch." Variety raved apropos to the times: "Christmas kiddie programming on the networks somewhat resembles a Christmas truce in the Vietnam war [with] a literate half-hour... right there in primetime on Sunday night."

As posted on the Archive's How the Grinch Stole Christmas page, Chuck Jones talks about the translation of the Dr. Seuss classic to the screen, including the invention of Max, the Grinch's dog. Additionally, animator Phil Roman talks about the cartoon's legacy, June Foray does the voice of "Cindy Lou Who," and producer-director Ron Howard talks about his big-screen version that required the approval of Dr. Seuss' widow.

Tiny Tim Married Miss Vicki on "The Tonight Show" 40 Years Ago Today

A pop culture moment in TV occurred when singer Tiny Tim married Victoria Mae "Miss Vicki" Budinger on December 17, 1969 on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. Tiny Tim had gained prominence for his odd appearance and falsetto voice, playing the ukulele and singing such songs as "Tiptoe Through the Tulips." When he mentioned to Johnny Carson that he was engaged, Carson casually suggested that he should get married on the show. In what certainly came off as a publicity stunt, the two were married in front of an audience of millions of TV viewers.

Watch the wedding and hear announcer/Carson sidekick Ed McMahon recount how it all came about at the Archive's The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson page.

Roy E. Disney Dies at Age 79-- Archive Interview Online

Interview Description:
Roy E. Disney was interviewed for two-and-a-half hours plus in Burbank, CA. He described the early history of the Disney company and the role that his father, Roy O. Disney, and uncle Walt Disney, had in its creation and early years. He related his childhood recollections of some of Disney’s work including the company’s first feature-length animated film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. He talked about his first job out of college, in guest relations at NBC. He then described his work as an editor, starting with his apprenticeship on the 1950s television police drama Dragnet. He chronicled his work from assistant editor to producer/director of Disney’s “True-Life Adventures” series, explaining the approach to these documentary films. He recalled the opening of the Disneyland theme park and its coverage for television. He outlined Disney’s entrance into television series with Disneyland on ABC, and touched on a number of the projects he worked on under the show’s banner. He described the turmoil in the executive suites at Disney in the 1980s and the company’s return to glory in animation movies, for which he played a large part. He talked about his efforts in 2003 to change the direction the studio was headed and the 2005 appointment of Robert A. Iger as President and CEO. Finally, he expressed his views of both his father and Walt Disney’s legacy to the Walt Disney Company. The interview was conducted by Jennifer Howard on November 5, 2007.

"The Simpsons" At 20

Tomorrow marks the 20th anniversary of The Simpsons. The Christmas-themed special "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire," was the first show to air (following the Simpsons earlier appearances on The Tracey Ullman Show), after which the series resumed on January 14, 1990, to become the longest-running American primetime entertainment series.

The current Emmy magazine (Issue #6, 2009) features a cover story celebrating The Simpsons' 20th. Within Emmy magazine's pages you'll find a listing of several of the writers-producer's favorite episodes over the series long run to-date. What is "Simpsons" creator Matt Groening's favorite episode? Groening chose "Lisa the Skeptic" from season 9 (airdate: 11/23/97). To see what other episodes were chosen, pick up a copy of Emmy magazine, currently on newsstands.

Go to the Archive's The Simpsons page to watch James L. Brooks' interview in which he discusses the development of the show.

Carl Reiner Makes an Historic Appearance on "The Tonight Show Starring Conan O'Brien"

Carl Reiner was Conan O'Brien's guest on The Tonight Show yesterday and as he was introduced Conan noted that Reiner had been on all the major versions of The Tonight Show with previous hosts Steve Allen, Jack Paar, Johnny Carson, and Jay Leno.

Find a link to Carl Reiner's appearance with Conan on the Archive's Carl Reiner interview page, and watch Reiner's interview where he discusses his legendary career in television which dates back to the late 1940s.

Technical Director Heino Ripp Has Died-- Archive Interview Online

Technical Director Heino Ripp, who worked at NBC for several decades, and served on such classic series as Your Show of Shows and The Perry Como Show, has died at the age of 84.

Interview Description:
Heino Ripp was interviewed for three hours in Lake Hopatcong, NJ. Ripp recalled his earliest days at NBC in the NBC Development Group, working alongside engineers who were creating the modern television system. He discussed his transition to working as a technical director, and explained the duties he carried out in that position. He also spoke about some of the programs that he worked on in this capacity, including The Howdy Doody Show, Admiral Broadway Revue, Your Show of Shows, dozens of Max Liebman “Spectaculars” and, especially, The Perry Como Show. He also talked briefly about working on the first two television specials starring entertainer Barbra Streisand, and being on the job during the Apollo space launches. Finally, he discussed his work on NBC’s Saturday Night Live, and later on working as a director on The New Show. The interview was conducted by Michael Rosen on October 23, 2000.

Irma Kusely, Lucille Ball's Hairstylist, Has Died at Age 95-- Archive Interview Online Soon

The Make-Up Artists & Hair Stylists Guild periodical The Artisan reports that Ms. Kusely died on July 29, 2009. The Guild notes that she was the first hair stylist to receive screen credit on television, for I Love Lucy. Kusely spent several decades with Lucille Ball, working on her series The Lucy Show, Here's Lucy, and Life with Lucy.

Interview Description:
Irma Kusely was interviewed for three hours in Burbank, CA. Ms. Kusely described her early work as a wig stylist at MGM. She spoke about her friendship with Lucille Ball and Danny Thomas, which ultimately led to a job at Desilu, where she was the hairstylist on I Love Lucy as well as other Desilu shows. After I Love Lucy went of the air, Kusely worked almost exclusively with Lucille Ball, following her through her three subsequent television shows, and traveling with Ms. Ball for all public appearances. The interview was conducted by Karen Herman on June 14, 2001.

CBS Cancels "As the World Turns" Ending its Over 50-Year Run

Variety announced today that As the World Turns will end its run in September 2010. When Guiding Light aired its last episode on September 18, 2009 after a 57-year run on television, As the World Turns, which debuted on April 2, 1956, was the inevitable successor of the title "longest-ever soap opera"-- but will now fall short of that "all-time" record. When As the World Turns goes off the air, General Hospital will replace it as the oldest soap on TV (GH debuted on April 1, 1963).

Both Guiding Light and As the World Turns were created by Irna Phillips, a pioneer of the form in radio and television. One of the driving creative forces behind As the World Turns was producer/director Ted Corday (later co-creator, with his wife Betty, of Days of Our Lives). In her Archive interview, actress Ruth Warrick one of As the World Turns's first cast members described Ted Corday's philosophy: "[he] used to say the art soap opera is to tie the most knots in the shortest piece of string. And everybody needs to be involved with everybody else. So you would be in a room and there are six people and somebody makes a statement, and you cut from face to face, and [with] each face you know what they’re thinking."

"Murder, She Wrote" Silver Anniversary

One of the most highly-rated shows of the '80s/early '90s, Murder, She Wrote has endured in syndication and on DVD. Murder, She Wrote made its debut on September 30, 1984 and became a Sunday night fixture following 60 Minutes. Screen star Angela Lansbury played mystery novelist turned amateur detective Jessica Fletcher and was nominated for an Emmy Award for all twelve seasons of the show.

Watch Archive interviews with star Angela Lansbury as well as co-creator William Link, and others in the cast and crew at the Archive's new Murder, She Wrote page. Hear the behind-the-scenes stories of Jean Stapleton's original casting, how Angela Lansbury insisted on a longer shooting schedule, and the changes made when Lansbury became the show's executive producer.