Howard Morris

Actor


The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About
About this interview

In his one-and-a-half-hour Archive 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 voice-over 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.

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

"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."

People Talking About ...
Highlights
Howard Morris on being cast as "Ernest T. Bass" on The Andy Griffith Show by show producer Aaron Ruben, and on the character
01:18
Howard Morris on producing The Corner Bar with Alan King
01:13
Howard Morris on joining the cast of Admiral Broadway Revue, starring Sid Caesar, on and meeting producer Max Liebman
03:18
Howard Morris on Admiral Broadway Revue and Your Show of Shows co-star Imogene Coca, and on Carl Reiner
01:09
Howard Morris on directing the features "Who's Minding the Mint?", "With Two You Get Eggroll," and "Don't Drink the Water"
02:46
Howard Morris on how he would like to be remembered
00:40
Full Interview

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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

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Howard Morris on joining the cast of Admiral Broadway Revue, starring Sid Caesar, on and meeting producer Max Liebman
03:18
Howard Morris on Admiral Broadway Revue and Your Show of Shows, co-starring Imogene Coca, and on Carl Reiner
01:06
Howard Morris on the format of Admiral Broadway Revue, and on working with Sid Caesar and Max Liebman
01:32

Alfred Hitchcock Presents aka The Alfred Hitchcock Hour

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Howard Morris on appearing on Alfred Hitchcock Presents and The Twilight Zone
01:54

Andy Griffith Show, The

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Howard Morris on being cast as "Ernest T. Bass" on The Andy Griffith Show by show producer Aaron Ruben, and on the character
01:18
Howard Morris on working with the cast of The Andy Griffith Show, including Griffith and Ron Howard
00:51
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
03:15

Baywatch

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Howard Morris on appearing on Baywatch
00:54

Beatrice Arthur Special, The

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Howard Morris on directing The Beatrice Arthur Special
00:52

Bewitched

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Howard Morris on directing The Patty Duke Show, and on directing Bewitched, starring Elizabeth Montgomery
01:52

Caesar's Hour

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Howard Morris on various sketches of Caesar's Hour
01:52
Howard Morris on appearing on Caesar's Hour
00:47
Howard Morris on the end of Caesar's Hour
00:35

Corner Bar, The

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Howard Morris on producing The Corner Bar with Alan King
01:13

Dick Van Dyke Show, The

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Howard Morris on guest-starring as "Mr. Holdecker" on The Dick Van Dyke Show for the episode "The Masterpiece"
00:48

Flintstones, The

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Howard Morris on doing voiceover work for Hanna-Barbera for shows like The Jetsons and The Flintstones
05:01

Get Smart

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Howard Morris on directing the pilot for Get Smart, starring Don Adams, produced by Mel Brooks and Leonard Stern
02:55

Gomer Pyle - USMC

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Howard Morris on directing The Andy Griffith Show and Gomer Pyle - USMC
01:07

Hogan's Heroes

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Howard Morris on directing several episodes of Hogan's Heroes
01:07

Jetsons, The

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Howard Morris on doing voiceover work for Hanna-Barbera for shows like The Jetsons and The Flintstones
05:01

Kraft Television Theatre

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Howard Morris briefly on his appearance on Kraft Television Theatre's"Code of the Corner"
00:48

Laverne & Shirley

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Howard Morris on directing Laverne & Shirley
00:38

Love Boat, The

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Howard Morris on directing The Love Boat
00:47

Lucy Show, The

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Howard Morris on guest-starring on The Lucy Show with Lucille Ball
01:30

Mike Stokey's Pantomime Quiz aka Stump the Stars

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Howard Morris on appearing on Mike Stokey's Pantomime Quiz, and being "paid" with complementary visits to Sardi's
00:25
Howard Morris on appearing on Mike Stokey's Pantomime Quiz
00:30

Patty Duke Show, The

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Howard Morris on directing The Patty Duke Show, and on directing Bewitched, starring Elizabeth Montgomery
01:49

Return to Mayberry

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Howard Morris on appearing in The Andy Griffith Show reunion Return to Mayberry, and on thanking the fans of the show
00:53

Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca, Carl Reiner, Howard Morris Special, The

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Howard Morris on appearing in The Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca, Carl Reiner, Howard Morris Special
00:48

Your Show of Shows

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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
02:20
Howard Morris on the chemistry of the ensemble on Your Show of Shows
01:08
Howard Morris on Admiral Broadway Revue and Your Show of Shows co-star Imogene Coca, and on Carl Reiner
01:06
Howard Morris on various sketches on Your Show of Shows
01:13
Howard Morris on the writing staff of Your Show of Shows, including Mel Brooks and Larry Gelbart
02:04
Howard Morris on Your Show of Shows going off the air
00:43
Topics

Advice

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Howard Morris on advice to aspiring actors and directors
00:38

Comedy-Variety

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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
16:48

Hollywood Blacklist

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Howard Morris on the Hollywood Blacklist
00:47

Industry Crossroads

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Howard Morris on the Hollywood Blacklist
00:47

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

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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
16:48

Television Industry

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Howard Morris on the Hollywood Blacklist
00:47
Howard Morris on advice to aspiring actors and directors
00:38
Professions

Actor

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Howard Morris on advice to aspiring actors and directors
00:38

Directors

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Howard Morris on his directing style
01:09
Howard Morris on advice to aspiring actors and directors
00:38

Performers

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Howard Morris on his voiceover work
01:49
Howard Morris on doing voiceover work for Hanna-Barbera for shows like The Jetsons and The Flintstones
05:01
Howard Morris on advice to aspiring actors and directors
00:38

Voiceover

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Howard Morris on his voiceover work
01:49
Howard Morris on doing voiceover work for Hanna-Barbera for shows like The Jetsons and The Flintstones
05:01
Genres

Adventure/Espionage Series

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Howard Morris on appearing on Baywatch
00:54

Animation

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Howard Morris on doing voiceover work for Hanna-Barbera for shows like The Jetsons and The Flintstones
05:01

Classic Anthology Series

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Howard Morris on appearing on Alfred Hitchcock Presents and The Twilight Zone
01:54

Comedy Series

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Howard Morris on being cast as "Ernest T. Bass" on The Andy Griffith Show
05:00
Howard Morris on guest-starring as "Mr. Holdecker" on The Dick Van Dyke Show for the episode "The Masterpiece"
00:48
Howard Morris on directing The Andy Griffith Show and Gomer Pyle - USMC
00:57
Howard Morris on guest-starring on The Lucy Show with Lucille Ball
01:30
Howard Morris on directing the pilot for Get Smart
02:55
Howard Morris on producing The Corner Bar with Alan King
01:13
Howard Morris on directing Laverne & Shirley, The Love Boat, and The Beatrice Arthur Special
00:38

Commercials

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Howard Morris on directing commercials, including one with George Burns
02:42

Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials

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Howard Morris on co-starring on Admiral Broadway Revue
07:10
Howard Morris on co-starring on Your Show of Shows
08:40
Howard Morris on co-starring on Caesar's Hour
03:17
Howard Morris on The Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca, Carl Reiner, Howard Morris Special
00:48
Howard Morris on directing Laverne & Shirley, The Love Boat, and The Beatrice Arthur Special
00:38
People

Lucille Ball

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Howard Morris on guest-starring on The Lucy Show with Lucille Ball
01:30

Frances Bavier

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Howard Morris on various people he worked with in his career: Frances Bavier
00:23

Mel Brooks

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Howard Morris on the writing staff of Your Show of Shows, including Mel Brooks and Larry Gelbart
02:04

Carol Burnett

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Howard Morris on various people he worked with in his career: Carol Burnett
00:40

George Burns

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Howard Morris on directing commercials, including one with George Burns
02:42

Red Buttons

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Howard Morris on various people he worked with in his career: Red Buttons
00:11

Sid Caesar

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Howard Morris on the format of Admiral Broadway Revue, and on working with Sid Caesar and Max Liebman
01:32

Imogene Coca

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Howard Morris on Admiral Broadway Revue and Your Show of Shows co-star Imogene Coca, and on Carl Reiner
01:09

Bill Dana

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Howard Morris on various people he worked with in his career: Bill Dana
00:33

Patty Duke

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Howard Morris on directing The Patty Duke Show, and on directing Bewitched, starring Elizabeth Montgomery
01:49

Dick Van Dyke

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Howard Morris on guest-starring as "Mr. Holdecker" on The Dick Van Dyke Show for the episode "The Masterpiece"
00:48

Maurice Evans

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Howard Morris on appearing in a production of Twelfth Night with Maurice Evans
00:50

Larry Gelbart

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Howard Morris on the writing staff of Your Show of Shows, including Mel Brooks and Larry Gelbart
02:04

Andy Griffith

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Howard Morris on working with the cast of The Andy Griffith Show, including Griffith and Ron Howard
00:51
Howard Morris on various people he worked with in his career: Andy Griffith
00:15

Jonathan Harris

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Howard Morris on various people he worked with in his career: Jonathan Harris
00:11

Ron Howard

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Howard Morris on working with the cast of The Andy Griffith Show, including Griffith and Ron Howard
00:51
Howard Morris on acting in Ron Howard's movie "Splash"
04:41

Don Knotts

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Howard Morris on various people he worked with in his career: Don Knotts
00:21

Sheldon Leonard

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Howard Morris on various people he worked with in his career: Sheldon Leonard
00:20

Jerry Lewis

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Howard Morris on appearing in the Jerry Lewis feature film "The Nutty Professor"
00:49

Max Liebman

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Howard Morris on joining the cast of The Admiral Broadway Revue and meeting producer Max Liebman
03:09
Howard Morris on joining the cast of The Admiral Broadway Revue, starring Sid Caesar, and meeting producer Max Liebman
03:19
Howard Morris on the format of Admiral Broadway Revue, and on working with Sid Caesar and Max Liebman
01:32

Elizabeth Montgomery

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Howard Morris on directing The Patty Duke Show, and on directing Bewitched, starring Elizabeth Montgomery
01:49

Donny Osmond

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Howard Morris on various people he worked with in his career: Donny Osmond
00:44

Marie Osmond

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Howard Morris on various people he worked with in his career: Marie Osmond
00:48

Carl Reiner

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Howard Morris on Admiral Broadway Revue and Your Show of Shows co-star Imogene Coca, and on Carl Reiner
01:09

Aaron Ruben

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Howard Morris on being cast as "Ernest T. Bass" on The Andy Griffith Show by show producer Aaron Ruben, and on the character
01:18

Mike Stokey

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Howard Morris on appearing on Mike Stokey's Pantomime Quiz
00:30

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