Army Archerd

Journalist / Host


The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About
About this interview

In his two-and-a-half-hour interview, Army Archerd (1922-2009) describes his early years in New York and his initial desire to be an actor. He talks about getting a job in the Paramount mail room after his service in World War II, which led to a job for the Associated Press, and how he left there to become a "legman" for his mentor, Harrison Carroll. Archerd describes how, in 1953, he joined the staff of Variety, where he covered entertainment in his famous column for over 50 years. He discusses the changes within the entertainment industry and how the process of publicity changed over time. He also discusses the nuts and bolts of getting a story, as well as keeping in contact with celebrities. Along with his work chronicling entertainment news, Archerd speaks of his work in front of the camera, as a host for various shows, including the pilot of Entertainment Tonight, and his work on the red carpet for awards shows. Karen Herman conducted the interview on February 25, 2003 in Los Angeles, CA.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"Tomorrow's column is a compilation of the 24 hours preceding it, plus the 50 years of experience."

People Talking About ...
Highlights
Army Archerd on being known for answering his own phone
01:06
Army Archerd on breaking the story of Rock Hudson's AIDS
05:18
Army Archerd being hired by "Variety" to write a column and his choice to open each one with "Good Morning"
06:17
Army Archerd on his process of writing a column
02:19
Army Archerd on the celebrity game show, The Movie Game
02:21
Army Archerd on his given name and how "Army Archerd" became his career byline
01:00
Full Interview

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Chapter 1

On his name, growing up in New York, his early interests, moving to Los Angeles, and his service in the U.S. Navy during World War II
On his short-lived work in the Paramount mailroom and his first reporting job at Associated Press
On working at Associated Press and his first celebrity nterview (with Barbara Stanwyck)
On moving to the "Herald Express" newspaper in 1947 and a description of how he covered the Hollywood entertainment and nightclub beat

Chapter 2

On reporting from the Hollywood studios and gaining the trust of celebrities
On being hired by "Variety" to write a column and his choice to open each one with "Good Morning"
On working at "Variety"
On how television has come to dominate the entertainment industry
On the celebrity game show, The Movie Game
On the details of how he writes his column for "Variety"

Chapter 3

On how he approaches his work and how he deals with the people he covers
On some stories he's broken including Rock Hudson's AIDS; and the Liz Taylor, Richard Burton, Eddie Fisher love triangle; Warren Beatty marriage; the death of Audrey Hepburn
On his criticism of Michael Jackson's "History" album; Charlton Heston and the NRA; and Elia Kazan's honorary Oscar
On what he thinks is his most notable story, and on avoiding conflict-of-interest issues

Chapter 4

On other entertainment writers from his early career
On celebrity accessibility
On covering the red carpet at the Academy Awards
On his television work at KNXT Los Angeles
On hosting the pilot episode of Entertainment Tonight and his two-years as a correpondent on the show
On what makes a good interview and his acting work on various series through the years
On Desi Arnaz, Lucille Ball, and Gary Morton

Chapter 5

On people he has worked with including: Ingrid Bergman, Milton Berle, Humphrey Bogart, Charlie Chaplin, and Richard Crenna
On people he has worked with including: Bing Crosby, John Frankenheimer, Jim Henson, Sheldon Leonard, Jack Lemmon, and Roddy McDowell
On people he has worked with including: Lew Wasserman and Julie Andrews
On people he has worked with including: Bob Hope, Johnny Carson, Sidney Poitier, and Katharine Hepburn
On Merv Griffin
On summing up his career and style, his advice to aspiring journalists, and how he would like to be remembered
Shows

Academy Awards, The

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Army Archerd on his dismay at Elia Kazan receiving an honorary Oscar
01:30
Army Archerd on covering the red carpet at the Academy Awards
05:42
Army Archerd on Ingrid Bergman being shunned then accepted by the Hollywood community
01:03
Army Archerd on Charlie Chaplin's return to Hollywood
00:56

California Suite

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Army Archerd on filming a scene of California Suite at the Academy Awards
01:36

Diagnosis Murder

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Army Archerd on guesting (with friend Regis Philbin) on an episode of Diagnosis Murder
00:34

Ellen

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Army Archerd on appearing as a guest star on Ellen
00:26

Movie Game, The

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Army Archerd on the celebrity game show, The Movie Game
02:21

People's Choice Awards

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Army Archerd on being the first co-host (with Richard Crenna) of the People's Choice Awards
00:43
Topics

Creative Influences and Inspiration

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Army Archerd on his mentor, Harrison Carroll
01:38

Health and Medicine

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Army Archerd on breaking the story of Rock Hudson's AIDS
05:18

Historic Events and Social Change

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Army Archerd on serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II
02:22
Army Archerd on being on a lot when he found out about President Kennedy's death and not using his "Good Morning" tagline in his column the day after the assassination
01:35
Army Archerd on breaking the story of Rock Hudson's AIDS
05:18

JFK Assassination and Funeral

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Army Archerd on being on a lot when he found out about President Kennedy's death and not using his "Good Morning" tagline in his column the day after the assassination
01:35

Pivotal Career Moments

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Army Archerd on his mentor, Harrison Carroll
01:38

War

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Army Archerd on serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II
02:22

World War II

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Army Archerd on serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II
02:22
Professions

Journalists & News Producers

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Army Archerd on covering the Hollywood beat for print news outlets
05:01
Army Archerd on his advice to aspiring entertainment reporters
01:43
Genres

Awards Shows

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Army Archerd on covering the red carpet at the Academy Awards
05:42
Army Archerd on filming a scene of California Suite at the Academy Awards
01:36
Army Archerd on Ingrid Bergman being shunned then accepted by the Hollywood community
01:03

Game Shows

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Army Archerd on the celebrity game show, The Movie Game
02:21
People

Julie Andrews

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Army Archerd on Julie Andrews
01:42

Desi Arnaz

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Army Archerd on Desi Arnaz
00:16

Lucille Ball

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Army Archerd on Lucille Ball
00:42

Warren Beatty

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Army Archerd on Warren Beatty's marriage to Annette Bening
00:35

Annette Bening

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Army Archerd on Warren Beatty's marriage to Annette Bening
00:35

Ingrid Bergman

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Army Archerd on Ingrid Bergman being shunned then accepted by the Hollywood community
01:03

Milton Berle

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Army Archerd on Milton Berle
00:44

Humphrey Bogart

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Army Archerd on Humphrey Bogart's impending death
00:30

Richard Burton

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Army Archerd on his friendship with actor Richard Burton
02:00
Army Archerd on covering the Liz Taylor, Richard Burton, Eddie Fisher love triangle
01:25

Michael Caine

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Army Archerd on filming a scene of California Suite at the Academy Awards
01:36

Harrison Carroll

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Army Archerd on his mentor, Harrison Carroll
01:38

Johnny Carson

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Army Archerd on Johnny Carson
00:17

Charlie Chaplin

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Army Archerd on Charlie Chaplin
00:56

Richard Crenna

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Army Archerd on Richard Crenna
00:43

Bing Crosby

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Army Archerd on Bing Crosby
00:20

Doris Day

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Army Archerd on breaking the story of Rock Hudson's AIDS
05:18

Ellen DeGeneres

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Army Archerd on appearing as a guest star on Ellen
00:26

Eddie Fisher

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Army Archerd on covering the Liz Taylor, Richard Burton, Eddie Fisher love triangle
00:25

John Frankenheimer

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Army Archerd on John Frankenheimer
01:01

Merv Griffin

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Army Archerd on Merv Griffin
01:15

Jim Henson

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Army Archerd on Jim Henson
00:26

Katharine Hepburn

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Army Archerd on being on the set of "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" for Spencer Tracy's last scene
00:40

Audrey Hepburn

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Army Archerd on the death of Audrey Hepburn
00:41

Charlton Heston

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Army Archerd on trying to get Charlton Heston's comments about the National Rifle Association (NRA)
00:41

Bob Hope

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Army Archerd on Bob Hope
00:28

Rock Hudson

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Army Archerd on breaking the story of Rock Hudson's AIDS
05:18

Michael Jackson

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Army Archerd on his criticism of the anti-semitic lyrics in Michael Jackson's "History" album
01:58

Elia Kazan

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Army Archerd on his dismay at Elia Kazan receiving an honorary Oscar
01:30

Jack Lemmon

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Army Archerd on Jack Lemmon
00:19

Sheldon Leonard

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Army Archerd on Sheldon Leonard
00:16

Roddy McDowall

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Army Archerd on the death of Roddy McDowall
00:24

Gary Morton

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Army Archerd on Lucille Ball and Gary Morton
00:42

Regis Philbin

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Army Archerd on guesting (with friend Regis Philbin) on an episode of Diagnosis Murder
00:34

Sidney Poitier

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Army Archerd on being on the set of "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" for Spencer Tracy's last scene
00:40

Barbara Stanwyck

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Army Archerd on his first celebrity interview, with Barbara Stanwyck
00:59

Elizabeth Taylor

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Army Archerd on covering the Liz Taylor, Richard Burton, Eddie Fisher love triangle
01:25

Danny Thomas

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Army Archerd on Danny Thomas suggesting the "Good Morning" tagline of his future "Variety" column
04:55

Spencer Tracy

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Army Archerd on being on the set of "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" for Spencer Tracy's last scene
00:40

Lew Wasserman

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Army Archerd on Lew Wasserman
00:42

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