"Lots of people make the assumption that if it's entertaining, it couldn't be educational. If it's educational, it couldn't be entertaining. That's not true. It can be both, as I've proved over and over and over and over again."

About This Interview

In his two-hour interview, Don Herbert (1917-2007) describes his early years as an actor on stage and radio before turning to television where he created the classic children's science series Watch Mr. Wizard. He details his hosting of the show, as well as working with his young assistants. He talks about his simultaneous work as G. E. Theater's "progress reporter," hosting a different three-minute commercial segment for each episode through the majority of the run. He recalls the later incarnations of the "Mr. Wizard" franchise. He also mentions his appearances on morning and late-night television talk shows. Karen Herman conducted the interview on January 24, 2005 in Bell Canyon, CA. Note: During this interview, Mr. Herbert was extremely hard-of-hearing.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.
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Don Herbert on how he approached topics on Watch Mr. Wizard

03:13
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Chapter 1

On his early life and influences; on his experiences in World War II; on his earliest experience seeing television

15:28

On why he wanted to do a show like Watch Mr. Wizard, and on the origin of the show; on how he approached topics on Watch Mr. Wizard; on having scientific advisors on Watch Mr. Wizard

14:26

Chapter 2

On Morris H. Shamos, his scientific consultant on Watch Mr. Wizard; on the challenges of doing a live broadcast of Watch Mr. Wizard; on live, on-air mishaps on Watch Mr. Wizard

11:16

On working with children on Watch Mr. Wizard; on how he got the name Mr. Wizard on Watch Mr. Wizard; on the set and equipment of Watch Mr. Wizard

10:24

On the audience of Watch Mr. Wizard; on the state of science during the run of Watch Mr. Wizard and controversial topics on the show; on favorite episodes of Watch Mr. Wizard

08:22

Chapter 3

On what made a good episode of Watch Mr. Wizard; on the crew of Watch Mr. Wizard, including director Lynwood King; on Watch Mr. Wizard airing in schools, and bringing about Mr. Wizard Science Clubs in schools

09:35

On the end of Watch Mr. Wizard; on being the "progress reporter" on General Electric Theater; on working with Ronald Reagan on General Electric Theater

10:48

On appearing on Tonight with Steve Allen; on appearing on Today with Dave Garroway; on appearing on the first episode of Late Night with David Letterman

07:02

Chapter 4

On various specials he did; on returning to television in 1983 with Mr. Wizard's World; on the National Science Foundation project "Teacher to Teacher with Mr. Wizard"

10:06

On television's responsibility to educate; on public reaction to Mr. Wizard; on the legacy of his shows Watch Mr. Wizard and Mr. Wizard's World

04:45

On b-roll pictures from his career- doing a demonstration; 1951 publicity photo; doing a demonstration with children; shooting Mr. Wizard's World; doing an electrical demonstration; with an atomizer; with his wife, Norma; with his wife Norma and sparklers; the Mr. Wizard science set; a copy of his book; his book "Supermarket Science"; Mr. Wizard's World DVDs; Watch Mr Wizard DVDs

10:25

General Electric Theater, The

Don Herbert on being the "progress reporter" on General Electric Theater

05:43

Don Herbert on working with Ronald Reagan on General Electric Theater

04:07

Late Night with David Letterman

Don Herbert on appearing on the first episode of Late Night with David Letterman

02:38

Mr. Wizard's World

Don Herbert on returning to television in 1983 with Mr. Wizard's World

03:09

Don Herbert on the legacy of his shows Watch Mr. Wizard and Mr. Wizard's World

01:00

Today

Don Herbert on appearing on Today with Dave Garroway

01:24

Tonight

Don Herbert on appearing on Tonight with Steve Allen

03:00

Watch Mr. Wizard

Don Herbert on how he approached topics on Watch Mr. Wizard

03:13

Don Herbert on why he wanted to do a show like Watch Mr. Wizard, and on the origin of the show

08:26

Don Herbert on having scientific advisors on Watch Mr. Wizard

02:47

Don Herbert on Morris H. Shamos, his scientific consultant on Watch Mr. Wizard

03:12

Don Herbert on preparing for a live broadcast of Watch Mr. Wizard

02:34

Don Herbert on the challenges of doing a live broadcast of Watch Mr. Wizard

01:58

Don Herbert on live, on-air mishaps on Watch Mr. Wizard

03:32

Don Herbert on working with children on Watch Mr. Wizard

04:31

Don Herbert on how he got the name Mr. Wizard on Watch Mr. Wizard

01:39

Don Herbert on the set and equipment of Watch Mr. Wizard

04:14

Don Herbert on the audience of Watch Mr. Wizard

01:23

Don Herbert on the state of science during the run of Watch Mr. Wizard and controversial topics on the show

02:48

Don Herbert on favorite episodes of Watch Mr. Wizard

04:11

Don Herbert on what made a good episode of Watch Mr. Wizard

01:51

Don Herbert on the crew of Watch Mr. Wizard, including director Lynwood King

04:40

Don Herbert on Watch Mr. Wizard airing in schools, and bringing about Mr. Wizard Science Clubs in schools

03:04

Don Herbert on the end of Watch Mr. Wizard

00:58

Don Herbert on the legacy of his shows Watch Mr. Wizard and Mr. Wizard's World

01:00

Bloopers

Don Herbert on live, on-air mishaps on Watch Mr. Wizard

03:32

Characters & Catchphrases

Don Herbert on how he got the name Mr. Wizard on Watch Mr. Wizard

01:39

Fame and Celebrity

Don Herbert on public reaction to Mr. Wizard

02:27

Historic Events and Social Change

Don Herbert on his experience with World War II

04:09

Pop Culture

Don Herbert on how he got the name Mr. Wizard on Watch Mr. Wizard

01:39

Don Herbert on public reaction to Mr. Wizard

02:27

Television Industry

Don Herbert on television's responsibility to educate

01:08

TV's Golden Age (1940s & '50s)

Don Herbert on the challenges of doing a live broadcast of Watch Mr. Wizard

01:58

War

Don Herbert on his experience with World War II

04:09

World War II

Don Herbert on his experience with World War II

04:09

Classic Anthology Series

Don Herbert on being the "progress reporter" on General Electric Theater

09:50

Service Shows

Don Herbert on Watch Mr. Wizard

14:26

Don Herbert on Watch Mr. Wizard

30:02

Don Herbert on Watch Mr. Wizard

10:33

Don Herbert on various specials he did

03:57

Talk Shows

Don Herbert on appearing on Tonight with Steve Allen

03:00

Don Herbert on appearing on Today with Dave Garroway

01:24

Don Herbert on appearing on the first episode of Late Night with David Letterman

02:38

Steve Allen

Don Herbert on appearing on Tonight with Steve Allen

03:00

Dave Garroway

Don Herbert on appearing on Today with Dave Garroway

01:24

Lynwood King

Don Herbert on the crew of Watch Mr. Wizard, including director Lynwood King

04:40

David Letterman

Don Herbert on appearing on the first episode of Late Night with David Letterman

02:38

Ronald Reagan

Don Herbert on working with Ronald Reagan on General Electric Theater

04:07

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