About
"Reality. That's television at its best. When that little bug rolled around on Mars – you can't do a show any better than that. I mean, if you went to the networks and said, 'I want to do a show with a little cart that rolls up and down on the rocks,' they'd throw you out."
In his four-hour interview, Bob Finkel (1918-2012) talks about the countless musical variety and awards shows he directed and produced. He describes directing the first televised telethon, hosted by Jack Webb, and producing multiple broadcasts of the People's Choice Awards, Oscars, and Emmy Awards. Finkel recounts producing numerous hits of the 1950s and '60s, including The Eddie Fisher Show, The Dinah Shore Chevy Show and The Andy Williams Show. He fondly recalls working with Elvis Presley, Perry Como, Julie Andrews, and Martin and Lewis, among others, and shares his views on why variety shows all but disappeared from the airwaves. Morrie Gelman conducted the interview on September 10, 1997 in Beverly Hills, CA.
Highlights
Bob Finkel on Eddie Fisher and the smoking chimpanzees
Bob Finkel on the mistake that made The Perry Como Show popular - a stubborn canary
Bob Finkel on Bing Crosby and thank you notes
Bob Finkel on Elvis Presley's comeback special, and no live audience
Bob Finkel on how he'd like to be remembered
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his childhood and early influences; on working as an usher in his father's nickelodeon; on becoming a semi-professional tap dancer; on his favorite movies and radio programs
On moving to California to be a movie director; on writing television Westerns for Republic Films; on serving in World War II and getting married
Chapter 2
On getting married and working in a theater; on being fascinated by television and getting a job with ABC LA
On becoming a director's assistant and then director; on directing the first televised Emmy Awards broadcast
On leaving ABC to work for Revue (MCA); on forming his own production company, Teram Productions
Chapter 3
On directing Bob Cummings in Love That Bob; on directing Natalie Wood in Pride of the Family; on directing Kim Basinger in MacMillan and Wife
On his preparation for production; on leaving MCA for NBC; on producing The Perry Como Show
Chapter 4
On the writers and guests of The Perry Como Show; on working in New York v. Los Angeles
On The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show, The Eddie Fisher Show and The Dinah Shore Chevy Show; on Bing Crosby's Christmas specials
On his production company; on The Andy Williams Show
Chapter 5
On the disastrous first season of The Andy Williams Show and subsequent changes; on producing and directing Emmy Awards broadcasts; on Bob Newhart's instant fame after appearing on The Emmys
On leaving The Andy Williams Show ; On having creative control of The Jerry Lewis Show; on winning a Peabody Award for a Julie Andrews special
On producing the Oscars; on the disappearance of music/variety shows
Chapter 6
On the disappearance of variety shows; on working with Elvis Presley on his comeback special; on Bill Cosby and The People's Choice Awards; on his relationship with Bing Crosby; on working with Muhammad Ali
On producing the Oscars; on his career regrets and the problems of re-running variety shows; on reality programming and episodic television
On his career highs; on the future of television; on longing for the days of single sponsorship; on how he'd like to be remembered; on thoughts on people with whom he's worked
Chapter 7
On thoughts on people with whom he's worked; on his wife
On his involvement with The Golden Globe Awards; B-roll of pictures - his family and people with whom he's worked
Chapter 8
On B-roll photos of colleagues and family
Shows
Andy Williams Show, The
Bob Finkel on Tony Bennett appearing on The Andy Williams Show
Bob Finkel on The Andy Williams Show
Bob Finkel on The Andy Williams Show
Bob Finkel on leaving The Andy Williams Show
Bing Crosby Specials
Bob Finkel on his friendship with Bing Crosby as a result of producing Crosby's Christmas specials
Bob Finkel on a picture of Bing Crosby's family
Bob Cummings Show, The aka Love That Bob
Bob Finkel on directing Love That Bob
Colgate Comedy Hour, The
Bob Finkel on a picture of Martin and Lewis
Dean Martin Show, The
Bob Finkel on Greg Garrison's involvement with The Dean Martin Show
Dinah Shore Chevy Show, The
Bob Finkel on a picture of him with Dinah Shore and the crew of The Dinah Shore Show
Bob Finkel on The Dinah Shore Chevy Shore
Eddie Fisher Show, The
Bob Finkel on troubleshooting The Eddie Fisher Show
Golden Globe Awards, The
Bob Finkel on his involvement with The Golden Globe Awards
Jerry Lewis Show, The (1967-69)
Bob Finkel on creating/producing The Jerry Lewis Show
Julie Andrews Specials
Bob Finkel on a picture of Julie Andrews Specials
McMillan & Wife
Bob Finkel on directing Kim Basinger in MacMillan and Wife
Bob Finkel on directing MacMillan and Wife
Mysteries of Chinatown
Bob Finkel on mishaps during the live presentation of Mysteries of Chinatown
People's Choice Awards
Bob Finkel on a picture of Bill Cosby at The People's Choice Awards
Bob Finkel on producing The People's Choice Awards and working with Bill Cosby
Perry Como Show, The
Bob Finkel on producing The Perry Como Show, in color
Bob Finkel on the writers and guests of The Perry Como Show
Bob Finkel on the guests of The Perry Como Show
Pride of the Family
Bob Finkel on directing Natalie Wood in Pride of the Family
Ted Knight Musical Comedy Variety Special, The
Bob Finkel on a picture of The Ted Knight Musical Comedy Variety Special
Tennessee Ernie Ford Show, The
Bob Finkel on The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show
Topics
Emmy Awards
Bob Finkel on directing the first televised Emmy Awards broadcast
Bob Finkel on The Andy Williams Show winning Emmys
Bob Finkel on producing and directing Emmy broadcasts, and winning an Emmy while producing the Emmys
Bob Finkel on what he learned from producing and directing Emmy broadcasts, and applying it to other awards broadcasts
Technological Innovation
Bob Finkel on his experience with color television
Professions
Directors
Bob Finkel on directing commercial films in Pittsburgh
Bob Finkel on filling in as a director in an emergency - his big break in directing
Genres
Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials
Bob Finkel on The Perry Como Show
Bob Finkel on troubleshooting The Eddie Fisher Show
Bob Finkel on The Dinah Shore Chevy Shore
Bob Finkel on The Andy Williams Show
Bob Finkel on the disappearance of music/variety shows
Bob Finkel on creating/producing The Jerry Lewis Show
Bob Finkel on the difficulties of residuals for variety shows
People
Goodman Ace
Bob Finkel on the writers of The Perry Como Show
Muhammad Ali
Bob Finkel on wanting to work with Muhammad Ali
Julie Andrews
Bob Finkel on winning a Peabody Award for a Julie Andrews Special
Bob Finkel on a picture of Julie Andrews Specials
Army Archerd
Bob Finkel on a picture of Bill Cosby at The People's Choice Awards
Bob Finkel on producing The People's Choice Awards and working with Bill Cosby and Army Archerd
Kim Basinger
Bob Finkel on directing Kim Basinger in MacMillan and Wife
Tony Bennett
Bob Finkel on Tony Bennett appearing on The Andy Williams Show
Gower Champion
Bob Finkel on Gower Champion choreographing a musical for the theater he managed
Carol Channing
Bob Finkel on Carol Channing getting cast in a musical for the theater he managed
Perry Como
Bob Finkel on Perry Como
Bob Finkel on how Perry Como worked with Ethel Merman
Jackie Coogan
Bob Finkel on doing basic training with Jackie Coogan
Bill Cosby
Bob Finkel on a picture of Bill Cosby at The People's Choice Awards
Bob Finkel on working with Bill Cosby
Bing Crosby
Bob Finkel on producing Bing Crosby's Christmas specials
Bob Finkel on his friendship with Bing Crosby as a result of producing Crosby's Christmas specials
Bob Finkel on a picture of Bing Crosby's family
Bob Cummings
Bob Finkel on directing Love That Bob
Michael Dann
Bob Finkel on Michael Dann
Phyllis Diller
Bob Finkel on a picture of him with Phyllis Diller
David Dortort
Bob Finkel on getting hired along with David Dortort, Norman Felton and Sheldon to produce and create different genres of shows
Bob Finkel on David Dortort
Norman Felton
Bob Finkel on getting hired along with David Dortort, Norman Felton and Sheldon to produce and create different genres of shows
Bob Finkel on Norman Felton
Eddie Fisher
Bob Finkel on Eddie Fisher
Bob Finkel on a picture of The Photoplay Awards with Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher
Tennessee Ernie Ford
Bob Finkel on Tennessee Ernie Ford
Zsa Zsa Gabor
Bob Finkel on a picture of a Sy Howard pilot with Zsa Zsa Gabor
Judy Garland
Bob Finkel on Judy Garland
Greg Garrison
Bob Finkel on Greg Garrison's involvement with The Dean Martin Show
George Gobel
Bob Finkel on George Gobel
Bob Finkel on performer George Gobel
Mort Green
Bob Finkel on the writers of The Perry Como Show
Rock Hudson
Bob Finkel on directing Rock Hudson in MacMillan and Wife
Gene Kelly
Bob Finkel on winning a Peabody Award for a Julie Andrews Special with Gene Kelly
Klaus Landsberg
Bob Finkel onseeing Klaus Landsberg on television, covering the Kathy Fiscus incident - child fell down a well
Norman Lear
Bob Finkel on Norman Lear
Sheldon Leonard
Bob Finkel on getting hired along with David Dortort, Norman Felton and Sheldon to produce and create different genres of shows
Jerry Lewis
Bob Finkel on creating/producing The Jerry Lewis Show
Bob Finkel on a picture of Martin and Lewis
Dean Martin
Bob Finkel on Greg Garrison's involvement with The Dean Martin Show
Bob Finkel on a picture of Martin and Lewis
Elaine May
Bob Finkel on Elaine May and Mike Nichols' sketch for the Emmys not meeting the approval of the sponsors and Bob Newhart getting the gig as presenter
Ethel Merman
Bob Finkel on how Perry Como worked with Ethel Merman
Ray Milland
Bob Finkel on directing Ray Milland
Bob Newhart
Bob Finkel on Elaine May and Mike Nichols' sketch for the Emmys not meeting the approval of the sponsors and Bob Newhart getting the gig as presenter
Mike Nichols
Bob Finkel on Elaine May and Mike Nichols' sketch for the Emmys not meeting the approval of the sponsors and Bob Newhart getting the gig as presenter
Donny Osmond
Bob Finkel on Donny Osmond and Marie Osmond's start in show business on The Andy Williams Show
Marie Osmond
Bob Finkel on Donny Osmond and Marie Osmond's start in show business on The Andy Williams Show
Tom Parker
Bob Finkel on Col. Tom Parker and Elvis Presley
Bob Finkel on pranking Tom Parker
Marty Pasetta
Bob Finkel on wanting Marty Pasetta to direct the Oscars
Gregory Peck
Bob Finkel on meeting with Gregory Peck to revamp the Oscars
Elvis Presley
Bob Finkel on Elvis Presley and Col. Tom Parker
Bob Finkel on pranking Tom Parker
Bob Finkel on pictures of him with Elvis Presley
Bob Finkel on working with Elvis Presley on a television special
Debbie Reynolds
Bob Finkel on a picture of The Photoplay Awards with Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher
Hubbell Robinson
Bob Finkel on Hubbell Robinson
Thomas W. Sarnoff
Bob Finkel on Tom Sarnoff, his assistant at ABC
Bob Finkel on Tom Sarnoff, now VP of West Coast Productions at NBC
Bob Finkel on Tom Sarnoff
Bob Finkel on a picture of Tom Sarnoff, Elvis and Finkel
Dinah Shore
Bob Finkel on a picture of him with Dinah Shore and the crew of The Dinah Shore Show
Bob Finkel on performer Dinah Shore, her hour long show and her guest stars
Frank Sinatra
Bob Finkel on Dinah Shore performing with Frank Sinatra
Elizabeth Taylor
Bob Finkel on the Eddie Fisher and Elizabeth Taylor drama
Grant Tinker
Bob Finkel on Grant Tinker
Lew Wasserman
Bob Finkel on Lew Wasserman and MCA's agents
Bob Finkel on leaving ABC to be part of Revue (MCA)
Sylvester L. "Pat" Weaver
Bob Finkel on Pat Weaver
Jack Webb
Bob Finkel on directing the first televised telethon with Jack Webb
Andy Williams
Bob Finkel on a picture of him with Andy Williams
Bob Finkel on Tony Bennett appearing on The Andy Williams Show
Bob Finkel on performer Andy Williams
Bob Finkel on Bud Yorkin negotiating a show for Andy Williams
Bob Finkel on Andy Williams
Natalie Wood
Bob Finkel on directing Natalie Wood in Pride of the Family
Bud Yorkin
Bob Finkel on Bud Yorkin
Bob Finkel on Bud Yorkin negotiating a show for Andy Williams