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S1 E14 The Ernie Kovacs Collection: September 3, 1956

Comedy

TV-PG

36m

Sep 2, 1956

This was Ernie's chance to do a full-scale Sid-Caesar-Steve-Allen-high-profile-big-budget-comedy-variety show, and to prove to the network brass he could deliver what he thought they expected while staying true to his own style and humor.

Season 1, 21 Episodes

Season 1 (21 Episodes)

The Ernie Kovacs Collection - The Ernie Kovacs Collection: It’s Time For Ernie (March 7, 1951)

The Ernie Kovacs Collection: It’s Time For Ernie (March 7, 1951),

Ernie performs cartoon gags, relates directly to us through the television set and even does something we'd probably do during the show . . . get a drink of water.

The Ernie Kovacs Collection - The Ernie Kovacs Collection: It’s Time For Ernie (June 1, 1951)

The Ernie Kovacs Collection: It’s Time For Ernie (June 1, 1951),

The Ernie Kovacs Collection. This is from an unknown date during the show's actual run. The TV set bit and others now that Ernie's worked things out with the director and crew is shot properly.

The Ernie Kovacs Collection - The Ernie Kovacs Collection: Ernie In Kovacsland (July 6, 1951)

The Ernie Kovacs Collection: Ernie In Kovacsland (July 6, 1951),

Ernie was given this nightly prime-time slot as a summer replacement for popular puppet show Kukla, Fran And Ollie on the NBC network.

The Ernie Kovacs Collection - The Ernie Kovacs Collection: Ernie In Kovacsland (August 23, 1951)

The Ernie Kovacs Collection: Ernie In Kovacsland (August 23, 1951),

Ernie was given this nightly prime-time slot as a summer replacement for popular puppet show Kukla, Fran And Ollie on the NBC network.

The Ernie Kovacs Collection - The Ernie Kovacs Collection: Kovacs On The Corner

The Ernie Kovacs Collection: Kovacs On The Corner,

Ernie was given this network daytime half-hour variety show from January through March of 1952, originating from WPTZ and airing nationally on NBC.

The Ernie Kovacs Collection - The Ernie Kovacs Collection: Kovacs Unlimited (May 28, 1952)

The Ernie Kovacs Collection: Kovacs Unlimited (May 28, 1952),

Ernie's daily show for CBS started in a midday slot of 45 minutes and moved to mornings at one hour at the beginning of 1953. Kovacs transplanted his Philly wake-up show to New York City and was now seen by a national audience.

The Ernie Kovacs Collection - The Ernie Kovacs Collection: December 19, 1955

The Ernie Kovacs Collection: December 19, 1955,

After Kovacs Unlimited was canceled, Ernie did a similar program in a late-night slot for the fledgling DuMont network from April 1954 to April 1955, and then landed at NBC that fall.

The Ernie Kovacs Collection - The Ernie Kovacs Collection: February 20, 1956

The Ernie Kovacs Collection: February 20, 1956,

After Kovacs Unlimited was canceled, Ernie did a similar program in a late-night slot for the fledgling DuMont network from April 1954 to April 1955, and then landed at NBC that fall.

The Ernie Kovacs Collection - The Ernie Kovacs Collection: March 15, 1956

The Ernie Kovacs Collection: March 15, 1956,

After Kovacs Unlimited was canceled, Ernie did a similar program in a late-night slot for the fledgling DuMont network from April 1954 to April 1955, and then landed at NBC that fall.

The Ernie Kovacs Collection - The Ernie Kovacs Collection: April 12, 1956

The Ernie Kovacs Collection: April 12, 1956,

After Kovacs Unlimited was canceled, Ernie did a similar program in a late-night slot for the fledgling DuMont network from April 1954 to April 1955, and then landed at NBC that fall.

The Ernie Kovacs Collection - The Ernie Kovacs Collection: June 12, 1956

The Ernie Kovacs Collection: June 12, 1956,

After Kovacs Unlimited was canceled, Ernie did a similar program in a late-night slot for the fledgling DuMont network from April 1954 to April 1955, and then landed at NBC that fall.

The Ernie Kovacs Collection - The Ernie Kovacs Collection: July 2, 1956

The Ernie Kovacs Collection: July 2, 1956,

This was Ernie's chance to do a full-scale Sid-Caesar-Steve-Allen-high-profile-big-budget-comedy-variety show, and to prove to the network brass he could deliver what he thought they expected while staying true to his own style and humor.

The Ernie Kovacs Collection - The Ernie Kovacs Collection: July 30, 1956

The Ernie Kovacs Collection: July 30, 1956,

This was Ernie's chance to do a full-scale Sid-Caesar-Steve-Allen-high-profile-big-budget-comedy-variety show, and to prove to the network brass he could deliver what he thought they expected while staying true to his own style and humor.

The Ernie Kovacs Collection - The Ernie Kovacs Collection: September 3, 1956

The Ernie Kovacs Collection: September 3, 1956,

This was Ernie's chance to do a full-scale Sid-Caesar-Steve-Allen-high-profile-big-budget-comedy-variety show, and to prove to the network brass he could deliver what he thought they expected while staying true to his own style and humor.

The Ernie Kovacs Collection - The Ernie Kovacs Collection: Saturday Color Carnival

The Ernie Kovacs Collection: Saturday Color Carnival,

Nicknamed The Silent Show, this 30-minute program was a turning point in Kovacs's career and in his television work itself.

The Ernie Kovacs Collection - The Ernie Kovacs Collection: Kovacs On Music

The Ernie Kovacs Collection: Kovacs On Music,

Having for the first time the luxury of recording the show on videotape â€ and without a studio audience Kovacs points his camera eye at his love for music, which Juilliard graduate Edie Adams had deepened over the years.

The Ernie Kovacs Collection - The Ernie Kovacs Collection: Special #4 (September 21, 1961)

The Ernie Kovacs Collection: Special #4 (September 21, 1961),

Airing monthly from April 1961 to January 1962, with a break in the summer, these shows are Kovacs's essence and contain many of his iconic masterpieces of comedy, visuals and love of music.

The Ernie Kovacs Collection - The Ernie Kovacs Collection: Special #5 (October 28, 1961)

The Ernie Kovacs Collection: Special #5 (October 28, 1961),

Airing monthly from April 1961 to January 1962, with a break in the summer, these shows are Kovacs's essence and contain many of his iconic masterpieces of comedy, visuals and love of music.

The Ernie Kovacs Collection - The Ernie Kovacs Collection: Special #6 (November 24, 1961)

The Ernie Kovacs Collection: Special #6 (November 24, 1961),

Airing monthly from April 1961 to January 1962, with a break in the summer, these shows are Kovacs's essence and contain many of his iconic masterpieces of comedy, visuals and love of music.

The Ernie Kovacs Collection - The Ernie Kovacs Collection: Special #7 (December 12, 1961)

The Ernie Kovacs Collection: Special #7 (December 12, 1961),

Airing monthly from April 1961 to January 1962, with a break in the summer, these shows are Kovacs's essence and contain many of his iconic masterpieces of comedy, visuals and love of music.

The Ernie Kovacs Collection - The Ernie Kovacs Collection: Special #8 (January 23, 1962)

The Ernie Kovacs Collection: Special #8 (January 23, 1962),

Airing monthly from April 1961 to January 1962, with a break in the summer, these shows are Kovacs's essence and contain many of his iconic masterpieces of comedy, visuals and love of music.

Details

The Ernie Kovacs Collection

Comedy

TV-PG

1 Season

8m

Ernie Kovacs was a visionary, and between 1951 and 1962 he broke rules that hadn't even been made yet and created a language that is now taken for granted.

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