About
"I'd like to be remembered as a guy who's been able to reveal humor and reality to the public, and also for my great gratitude to the fans who have always been there."
In his one-and-a-half-hour interview, Howard Morris (1919-2005) talks about his work as a regular with Sid Caesar on television's Admiral Broadway Revue, Your Show of Shows, and Caesar's Hour. He briefly discusses his work as a director in features and commercials and speaks of his voiceover work in animation. He also speaks enthusiastically about one of his most well-known characters, "Ernest T. Bass" from The Andy Griffith Show. He recalls guest-starring in several other series, including The Dick Van Dyke Show, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, and The Twilight Zone, as well as directing The Lucy Show, Get Smart, The Patty Duke Show, Bewitched, and Hogan's Heroes. Jennifer Howard conducted the interview on February 27, 2004 in Los Angeles, CA.
Highlights
Howard Morris on being cast as "Ernest T. Bass" on The Andy Griffith Show by show producer Aaron Ruben, and on the character
Howard Morris on producing The Corner Bar with Alan King
Howard Morris on joining the cast of Admiral Broadway Revue, starring Sid Caesar, on and meeting producer Max Liebman
Howard Morris on Admiral Broadway Revue and Your Show of Shows co-star Imogene Coca, and on Carl Reiner
Howard Morris on directing the features "Who's Minding the Mint?", "With Two You Get Eggroll," and "Don't Drink the Water"
Howard Morris on how he would like to be remembered
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his early life and influences and on becoming interested in performing; on being in the cast of The Admiral Broadway Revue with Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca, and Carl Reiner; on Admiral Broadway Revue transitioning to Your Show of Shows
On the chemistry of the ensemble on Your Show of Shows; on the writing staff of Your Show of Shows, including Mel Brooks and Larry Gelbart; on various sketches on the show, and on it going off the air
On appearing on Caesar's Hour; on various sketches of Caesar's Hour; on the end of Caesar's Hour, and on appearing on Mike Stokey's Pantomime Quiz and Kraft Television Theatre
Chapter 2
On appearing on Mike Stokey's Pantomime Quiz; on playing "Ernest T. Bass" on The Andy Griffith Show; on guest-starring as "Mr. Holdecker" on The Dick Van Dyke Show for the episode "The Masterpiece," and on directing episodes of The Andy Griffith Show and Gomer Pyle - USMC
On appearing on Alfred Hitchcock Presents and The Twilight Zone, and on appearing in "The Nutty Professor"; on guest-starring on The Lucy Show with Lucille Ball; on directing Get Smart, The Patty Duke Show,Bewitched, and Hogan's Heroes
On directing the features "Who's Minding the Mint?", "With Two You Get Eggroll", and "Don't Drink the Water"; on his directing style; on his voiceover work
Chapter 3
On doing voiceover work for Hanna-Barbera for shows like The Jetsons and The Flintstones; on directing commercials, including one with George Burns; on producing The Corner Bar with Alan King
On directing Laverne & Shirley, The Love Boat, and The Beatrice Arthur Special; on acting in Ron Howard's movie "Splash"; on appearing on Baywatch, and on his longevity
On advice to aspiring actors and directors; on career regrets; on various people he's worked with in his career, and on how he would like to be remembered
On b-roll footage- pictures from his career- with the Three Stooges; with the cast of Your Show of Shows; with Sid Caesar; cast and crew of Your Show of Shows; the cover of "TV Week" with the Your Show of Shows cast; on the set of Your Show of Shows; from Your Show of Shows; winning an Emmy; from the set of The Andy Griffith Show; from the set of The Andy Griffith Show; from the set of The Andy Griffith Show with the cast; from The Andy Griffith Show "Mountain Wedding"; shot from The Dick Van Dyke Show; with Jackie Gleason; with James Garner; from the set of The Lucy Show; with Milton Berle; on the set of the feature "Call Me Mister"; with Carol Burnett; with George Burns; with Jonathan Winters; with Doris Day; with Jamie Faar; with Rock Hudson
Shows
Admiral Broadway Revue
Howard Morris on joining the cast of Admiral Broadway Revue, starring Sid Caesar, on and meeting producer Max Liebman
Howard Morris on Admiral Broadway Revue and Your Show of Shows, co-starring Imogene Coca, and on Carl Reiner
Howard Morris on the format of Admiral Broadway Revue, and on working with Sid Caesar and Max Liebman
Alfred Hitchcock Presents aka The Alfred Hitchcock Hour
Howard Morris on appearing on Alfred Hitchcock Presents and The Twilight Zone
Andy Griffith Show, The
Howard Morris on being cast as "Ernest T. Bass" on The Andy Griffith Show by show producer Aaron Ruben, and on the character
Howard Morris on working with the cast of The Andy Griffith Show, including Griffith and Ron Howard
Howard Morris on specific episodes of The Andy Griffith Show, where he appeared as "Ernest T. Bass," and on the audience reaction to the character
Baywatch
Howard Morris on appearing on Baywatch
Beatrice Arthur Special, The
Howard Morris on directing The Beatrice Arthur Special
Bewitched
Howard Morris on directing The Patty Duke Show, and on directing Bewitched, starring Elizabeth Montgomery
Caesar's Hour
Howard Morris on various sketches of Caesar's Hour
Howard Morris on appearing on Caesar's Hour
Howard Morris on the end of Caesar's Hour
Corner Bar, The
Howard Morris on producing The Corner Bar with Alan King
Dick Van Dyke Show, The
Howard Morris on guest-starring as "Mr. Holdecker" on The Dick Van Dyke Show for the episode "The Masterpiece"
Flintstones, The
Howard Morris on doing voiceover work for Hanna-Barbera for shows like The Jetsons and The Flintstones
Get Smart
Howard Morris on directing the pilot for Get Smart, starring Don Adams, produced by Mel Brooks and Leonard Stern
Gomer Pyle - USMC
Howard Morris on directing The Andy Griffith Show and Gomer Pyle - USMC
Hogan's Heroes
Howard Morris on directing several episodes of Hogan's Heroes
Jetsons, The
Howard Morris on doing voiceover work for Hanna-Barbera for shows like The Jetsons and The Flintstones
Kraft Television Theatre
Howard Morris briefly on his appearance on Kraft Television Theatre's"Code of the Corner"
Laverne & Shirley
Howard Morris on directing Laverne & Shirley
Love Boat, The
Howard Morris on directing The Love Boat
Lucy Show, The
Howard Morris on guest-starring on The Lucy Show with Lucille Ball
Mike Stokey's Pantomime Quiz aka Stump the Stars
Howard Morris on appearing on Mike Stokey's Pantomime Quiz, and being "paid" with complementary visits to Sardi's
Howard Morris on appearing on Mike Stokey's Pantomime Quiz
Patty Duke Show, The
Howard Morris on directing The Patty Duke Show, and on directing Bewitched, starring Elizabeth Montgomery
Return to Mayberry
Howard Morris on appearing in The Andy Griffith Show reunion Return to Mayberry, and on thanking the fans of the show
Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca, Carl Reiner, Howard Morris Special, The
Howard Morris on appearing in The Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca, Carl Reiner, Howard Morris Special
Your Show of Shows
Howard Morris on NBC executive Pat Weaver's launching of Your Show of Shows, and on how it differed in format from the previous show Admiral Broadway Revue
Howard Morris on the chemistry of the ensemble on Your Show of Shows
Howard Morris on Admiral Broadway Revue and Your Show of Shows co-star Imogene Coca, and on Carl Reiner
Howard Morris on various sketches on Your Show of Shows
Howard Morris on the writing staff of Your Show of Shows, including Mel Brooks and Larry Gelbart
Howard Morris on Your Show of Shows going off the air
Topics
Advice
Howard Morris on advice to aspiring actors and directors
Comedy-Variety
Howard Morris on co-starring on Admiral Broadway Revue, Your Show of Shows, and Caesar's Hour, along with Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca, and Carl Reiner
Hollywood Blacklist
Howard Morris on the Hollywood Blacklist
Industry Crossroads
Howard Morris on the Hollywood Blacklist
Television Industry
Howard Morris on the Hollywood Blacklist
Howard Morris on advice to aspiring actors and directors
TV's Golden Age (1940s & '50s)
Howard Morris on co-starring on Admiral Broadway Revue, Your Show of Shows, and Caesar's Hour, along with Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca, and Carl Reiner
Professions
Actor
Howard Morris on advice to aspiring actors and directors
Directors
Howard Morris on his directing style
Howard Morris on advice to aspiring actors and directors
Performers
Howard Morris on his voiceover work
Howard Morris on doing voiceover work for Hanna-Barbera for shows like The Jetsons and The Flintstones
Howard Morris on advice to aspiring actors and directors
Voiceover
Howard Morris on his voiceover work
Howard Morris on doing voiceover work for Hanna-Barbera for shows like The Jetsons and The Flintstones
Genres
Adventure/Espionage Series
Howard Morris on appearing on Baywatch
Animation
Howard Morris on doing voiceover work for Hanna-Barbera for shows like The Jetsons and The Flintstones
Classic Anthology Series
Howard Morris on appearing on Alfred Hitchcock Presents and The Twilight Zone
Comedy Series
Howard Morris on being cast as "Ernest T. Bass" on The Andy Griffith Show
Howard Morris on guest-starring as "Mr. Holdecker" on The Dick Van Dyke Show for the episode "The Masterpiece"
Howard Morris on directing The Andy Griffith Show and Gomer Pyle - USMC
Howard Morris on guest-starring on The Lucy Show with Lucille Ball
Howard Morris on directing the pilot for Get Smart
Howard Morris on producing The Corner Bar with Alan King
Howard Morris on directing Laverne & Shirley, The Love Boat, and The Beatrice Arthur Special
Commercials
Howard Morris on directing commercials, including one with George Burns
Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials
Howard Morris on co-starring on Admiral Broadway Revue
Howard Morris on co-starring on Your Show of Shows
Howard Morris on co-starring on Caesar's Hour
Howard Morris on The Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca, Carl Reiner, Howard Morris Special
Howard Morris on directing Laverne & Shirley, The Love Boat, and The Beatrice Arthur Special
People
Lucille Ball
Howard Morris on guest-starring on The Lucy Show with Lucille Ball
Frances Bavier
Howard Morris on various people he worked with in his career: Frances Bavier
Mel Brooks
Howard Morris on the writing staff of Your Show of Shows, including Mel Brooks and Larry Gelbart
Carol Burnett
Howard Morris on various people he worked with in his career: Carol Burnett
George Burns
Howard Morris on directing commercials, including one with George Burns
Red Buttons
Howard Morris on various people he worked with in his career: Red Buttons
Sid Caesar
Howard Morris on the format of Admiral Broadway Revue, and on working with Sid Caesar and Max Liebman
Imogene Coca
Howard Morris on Admiral Broadway Revue and Your Show of Shows co-star Imogene Coca, and on Carl Reiner
Bill Dana
Howard Morris on various people he worked with in his career: Bill Dana
Patty Duke
Howard Morris on directing The Patty Duke Show, and on directing Bewitched, starring Elizabeth Montgomery
Maurice Evans
Howard Morris on appearing in a production of Twelfth Night with Maurice Evans
Larry Gelbart
Howard Morris on the writing staff of Your Show of Shows, including Mel Brooks and Larry Gelbart
Andy Griffith
Howard Morris on working with the cast of The Andy Griffith Show, including Griffith and Ron Howard
Howard Morris on various people he worked with in his career: Andy Griffith
Jonathan Harris
Howard Morris on various people he worked with in his career: Jonathan Harris
Ron Howard
Howard Morris on working with the cast of The Andy Griffith Show, including Griffith and Ron Howard
Howard Morris on acting in Ron Howard's movie "Splash"
Don Knotts
Howard Morris on various people he worked with in his career: Don Knotts
Sheldon Leonard
Howard Morris on various people he worked with in his career: Sheldon Leonard
Jerry Lewis
Howard Morris on appearing in the Jerry Lewis feature film "The Nutty Professor"
Max Liebman
Howard Morris on joining the cast of The Admiral Broadway Revue and meeting producer Max Liebman
Howard Morris on joining the cast of The Admiral Broadway Revue, starring Sid Caesar, and meeting producer Max Liebman
Howard Morris on the format of Admiral Broadway Revue, and on working with Sid Caesar and Max Liebman
Elizabeth Montgomery
Howard Morris on directing The Patty Duke Show, and on directing Bewitched, starring Elizabeth Montgomery
Donny Osmond
Howard Morris on various people he worked with in his career: Donny Osmond
Marie Osmond
Howard Morris on various people he worked with in his career: Marie Osmond
Carl Reiner
Howard Morris on Admiral Broadway Revue and Your Show of Shows co-star Imogene Coca, and on Carl Reiner
Aaron Ruben
Howard Morris on being cast as "Ernest T. Bass" on The Andy Griffith Show by show producer Aaron Ruben, and on the character
Mike Stokey
Howard Morris on appearing on Mike Stokey's Pantomime Quiz
Dick Van Dyke
Howard Morris on guest-starring as "Mr. Holdecker" on The Dick Van Dyke Show for the episode "The Masterpiece"