About
"We want to strive for something better. If mediocrity is the answer, we'd better all just go home."
In her four-and-a-half-hour interview, Edie Adams (1927-2008) chronicles her long and varied career as a singer and actress. She talks about her appearances as a featured singer with the late Ernie Kovacs, on Ernie in Kovacsland which led to her collaboration with him on his groundbreaking NBC shows (produced out of Philadelphia's NBC affiliate WPTZ): 3 to Get Ready and Kovacs in the Corner as well as (New York shows) Kovacs Unlimited and the various incarnations of The Ernie Kovacs Show. She talks about her Broadway roles in such shows as Wonderful Town and L'il Abner (for which she won a Tony Award) as well as her appearance as the fairy godmother in Rodgers and Hammerstein's first musical for television, Cinderella. She also discusses her work in such feature films as Billy Wilder's The Apartment and Stanley Kramer's It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World. She recalls her many other television appearances such as those on Jack Paar's morning show as well as commercials for Muriel cigars. She speaks about Ernie Kovacs' tragic death and her continued work in television and films, including her Emmy-nominated television show Here's Edie. She also describes her work in preserving Kovacs' legend -- archiving kinescopes and tapes of his programs for future generations. Henry Colman conducted the interview on March 11, 1999 in Los Angeles, CA.
Highlights
Edie Adams on being a regular on Ernie Kovacs' shows
Edie Adams on the origin of the famous "Nairobi Trio" sketches on Ernie Kovacs' shows
Edie Adams on being a regular on Jack Paar's morning show
Edie Adams on Ernie Kovacs' fatal car accident on January 12, 1962
Edie Adams on the legacy of Ernie Kovacs
Edie Adams on advice to aspiring performers
Full Interview
Chapter 1
Introduction
On her early years, education and influences; on her early performances (and becoming Miss U.S. TV); on appearing on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts
Chapter 2
On Joe Behar calling and inviting her to appear on television in Philadelphia; on her appearances as a featured singer with Ernie Kovacs, on Ernie in Kovacsland which led to her collaboration with him on his groundbreaking NBC shows (produced out of Philadelphia's NBC affiliate WPTZ) and the various incarnations of The Ernie Kovacs Show.
Chapter 3
On working with Ernie Kovacs in Philadelphia and New York; on being a regular performer on The Jack Paar Show
Chapter 4
On joining Ernie Kovacs' late night show on DuMont; on the origin of the famous "Nairobi Trio" sketches on Ernie Kovacs' shows; on transitioning to The Ernie Kovacs Show; on the introduction of the lenticular color process
Chapter 5
On appearing on Ernie Kovacs' daytime series; on her starring role on Broadway in L'il Abner; on her appearance as the fairy godmother in Rodgers and Hammerstein's first musical for television, Cinderella
Chapter 6
On her work on Broadway; on working on The Dinah Shore Chevy Show; on working with Ernie Kovacs; on advertising Dutch Masters and Muriel Cigars; on working on the feature film The Apartment
Chapter 7
On meeting and working with Shirley MacLaine; on her clothing and saving costumes from The Dinah Shore Show and from movies on which she worked
On appearing with Wally Cox on "The American Cowboy" on The U.S. Steel Hour; on appearing on the last episode of The Lucy Show
On how much she enjoyed working with Sid Caesar; on her TV show, Here's Edie
On her life after Ernie Kovacs' death in 1962; on Kovacs' fatal car accident
On working with Sid Caesar on Here's Edie and with the many comedians of "It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World"
Chapter 8
On the music-based Here's Edie growing into the comedy-based The Edie Adams Show; on film and television specials on Ernie Kovacs and the TV movie Evil Roy Slade
On her nightclub appearances and recordings; on the PBS show, The Best of Kovacs; on the legacy of Ernie Kovacs and David Letterman's style of comedy being similar to Ernie Kovacs'
On appearing on the pilot of Bosom Buddies and her issues with episodic television
On starting her own fashion line in 1981; on playing Mae West in the TV movie Ernie Kovacs, Between the Laughter
On her then-current projects - writing a one-woman show and sorting through the tapes of Kovacs' shows; on the highlight of her career
Chapter 9
On the early years of television and how the medium has changed over the years; on advancements for women in television
On advice to aspiring performers; on television's influence on music
On being a founding member of the Costume Designer's Guild; on television at its best and the future of TV
On how she thinks Ernie Kovacs' career would have progressed if he had lived; on how she'd like to be remembered
On her thoughts on people with whom she's worked over the years
Chapter 10
On her thoughts on people with whom she's worked, including Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra, and Milton Berle; on her son
On B-roll photos from her life and career
Shows
3 to Get Ready
Edie Adams on performing on Ernie Kovacs' early shows
Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts
Edie Adams on her first television appearances; on appearing on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts
Bosom Buddies
Edie Adams on appearing on the pilot of Bosom Buddies and her issues with episodic television
Dinah Shore Show, The
Edie Adams on her clothing and saving costumes from The Dinah Shore Show and "Wonderful Town"
Ernie in Kovacsland
Edie Adams on performing on Ernie Kovacs' early shows
Ernie Kovacs Show, The
Edie Adams on performing on Ernie Kovacs' early shows
Edie Adams on The Ernie Kovacs Show being filmed in lenticular color
Edie Adams on the origin of the famous "Nairobi Trio" sketches on Ernie Kovacs' shows
Ernie Kovacs Specials
Edie Adams on the origin of the famous "Nairobi Trio" sketches on Ernie Kovacs' shows
Frasier
Edie Adams on being a fan of Seinfeld and Frasier
Here's Edie
Edie Adams on her show, Here's Edie
Edie Adams on working with Sid Caesar on Here's Edie
Edie Adams on the music-based Here's Edie growing into the comedy-based The Edie Adams Show
Jack Paar Show, The (1953-56)
Edie Adams on being a regular on Jack Paar's morning show
Kovacs on the Corner
Edie Adams on performing on Ernie Kovacs' early shows
Edie Adams on being a regular on Ernie Kovacs' shows
Lucy Show, The
Edie Adams on appearing on the last episode of The Lucy Show
Seinfeld
Edie Adams on being a fan of Seinfeld and Frasier
United States Steel Hour, The
Edie Adams on appearing with Wally Cox on "The American Cowboy" on The U.S. Steel Hour
Topics
Characters & Catchphrases
Edie Adams on the origin of the famous "Nairobi Trio" sketches on Ernie Kovacs' shows
Fame and Celebrity
Edie Adams on Ernie Kovacs' fatal car accident on January 12, 1962
Memorable Moments on Television
Edie Adams on how Ernie Kovacs would tune a television
Edie Adams on memorable moments from Ernie Kovacs' acts and shows - playing the giant piano
Pop Culture
Edie Adams on Ernie Kovacs' fatal car accident on January 12, 1962
Representation on Television
Edie Adams on being an uncredited female writer/producer on her show Here's Edie
Edie Adams on advancements for women in television
Technological Innovation
Edie Adams on The Ernie Kovacs Show being filmed in lenticular color
We Laughed
Edie Adams on how Ernie Kovacs would tune a television
Edie Adams on memorable moments from Ernie Kovacs' acts and shows - playing the giant piano
Women
Edie Adams on being an uncredited female writer/producer on her show Here's Edie
Edie Adams on advancements for women in television
Professions
Actress
Edie Adams on advice to aspiring performers
Performers
Edie Adams on advice to aspiring performers
Genres
Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials
Edie Adams on her show, Here's Edie
News and Documentary
Edie Adams on the PBS show, The Best of Kovacs
TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials
Edie Adams on acting with Cloris Leachman in the TV movie Ernie Kovacs, Between the Laughter
People
Ray Aghayan
Edie Adams on being a founding member of the Costume Designer's Guild
Steve Allen
Edie Adams on her thoughts on people with whom she's worked over the years - Steve Allen
Julie Andrews
Edie Adams on a photo of her with Julie Andrews from "Cinderella"
Desi Arnaz
Edie Adams on working with Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz on the last episode of The Lucy Show
John Astin
Edie Adams on the TV movie Evil Roy Slade
Lucille Ball
Edie Adams on working with Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz on the last episode of The Lucy Show
Edie Adams on working with Lucille Ball later in life
David Begelman
Edie Adams on male executives ignoring her
Joseph Behar
Edie Adams on her thoughts on people with whom she's worked over the years - Joe Behar
Jerry Belson
Edie Adams on the TV movie Evil Roy Slade
Jack Benny
Edie Adams on a photo of her with Jack Benny
Milton Berle
Edie Adams on her thoughts on people with whom she's worked - Milton Berle
Steve Binder
Edie Adams on the music-based Here's Edie growing into the comedy-based The Edie Adams Show
Carol Burnett
Edie Adams on her thoughts on people with whom she's worked - Carol Burnett
George Burns
Edie Adams on a photo of her with George Burns
Sid Caesar
Edie Adams on how much she enjoyed working with Sid Caesar
Edie Adams on working with Sid Caesar on Here's Edie
Edie Adams on working with Sid Caesar on "It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World"
Imogene Coca
Edie Adams on her thoughts on people with whom she's worked - Imogene Coca
Wally Cox
Edie Adams on appearing with Wally Cox on "The American Cowboy" on The U.S. Steel Hour
Michael Fuchs
Edie Adams on Comedy Central's alterations to the PBS show, The Best of Kovacs
Arthur Godfrey
Edie Adams on her first television appearances; on appearing on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts
Edie Adams on her thoughts on people with whom she's worked over the years - Arthur Godfrey
Jeff Goldblum
Edie Adams on playing Mae West in the TV movie Ernie Kovacs, Between the Laughter
Merv Griffin
Edie Adams on her thoughts on people with whom she's worked over the years - Merv Griffin
Edith Head
Edie Adams on being a founding member of the Costume Designer's Guild
Bob Hope
Edie Adams on her thoughts on people with whom she's worked - Bob Hope
Ernie Kovacs
Edie Adams on performing on Ernie Kovacs' early shows
Edie Adams on being a regular on Ernie Kovacs' shows
Edie Adams on the origin of the famous "Nairobi Trio" sketches on Ernie Kovacs' shows
Edie Adams on Ernie Kovacs' fatal car accident on January 12, 1962
Edie Adams on film and television specials on Ernie Kovacs
Edie Adams on the PBS show, The Best of Kovacs
Edie Adams on the legacy of Ernie Kovacs
Edie Adams on memorable moments from Ernie Kovacs' acts and shows - playing the giant piano
Edie Adams on playing Mae West in the TV movie Ernie Kovacs, Between the Laughter
Edie Adams on the highlight of her career - Ernie Kovacs
Edie Adams on how she thinks Ernie Kovacs' career would have progressed if he had lived
Edie Adams on early photos of her and Ernie Kovacs
Edie Adams on early photos of her and Ernie Kovacs as "Percy Dovetonsils"
Edie Adams on a photo of Ernie Kovacs on the cover of "Life" magazine
Cloris Leachman
Edie Adams on acting with Cloris Leachman in the TV movie Ernie Kovacs, Between the Laughter
Edie Adams on her thoughts on people with whom she's worked over the years - Cloris Leachman
Jack Lemmon
Edie Adams on her thoughts on people with whom she's worked over the years - Jack Lemmon
David Letterman
Edie Adams on David Letterman's style of comedy being similar to Ernie Kovacs'
Bob Mackie
Edie Adams on being a founding member of the Costume Designer's Guild
Edie Adams on her thoughts on people with whom she's worked - Bob Mackie
Shirley MacLaine
Edie Adams on meeting and working with Shirley MacLaine
Garry Marshall
Edie Adams on the TV movie Evil Roy Slade
Dean Martin
Edie Adams on her thoughts on people with whom she's worked over the years - Dean Martin
Dick Martin
Edie Adams on her thoughts on people with whom she's worked - Dick Martin
Ralph Nelson
Edie Adams on her thoughts on people with whom she's worked - Ralph Nelson
Jack Paar
Edie Adams on being a regular on Jack Paar's morning show
William S. Paley
Edie Adams on her thoughts on people with whom she's worked over the years - William S. Paley
Mickey Rooney
Edie Adams on her thoughts on people with whom she's worked - Mickey Sullivan
Dan Rowan
Edie Adams on her thoughts on people with whom she's worked - Dan Rowan
Rosalind Russell
Edie Adams on her thoughts on people with whom she's worked over the years - Rosalind Russell
Edie Adams on a photo of her with Rosalind Russell in "Wonderful Town"
Dinah Shore
Edie Adams on her thoughts on people with whom she's worked over the years - Dinah Shore
Phil Silvers
Edie Adams on working with Phil Silvers on "It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World"
Frank Sinatra
Edie Adams on her thoughts on people with whom she's worked - Frank Sinatra
Frank Stanton
Edie Adams on her thoughts on people with whom she's worked over the years - Frank Stanton
Ed Sullivan
Edie Adams on her thoughts on people with whom she's worked - Ed Sullivan
Sylvester L. "Pat" Weaver
Edie Adams on her thoughts on people with whom she's worked - Pat Weaver
Billy Wilder
Edie Adams on her thoughts on people with whom she's worked over the years - Billy Wilder