About
"You've got to study people. If you go to Actor's Studio, fine. If you take lessons from someone, fine. There are all kinds of workshops and comedy stores and dramatic workshops... but you must be an observer. You must look at everything around you."
In his nearly two-and-a-half-hour interview, Jonathan Winters (1925-2013) reminisces about his early days in Ohio and New York and recalls some of his first television appearances on The Garry Moore Show and The Tonight Show, hosted by Steve Allen. Winters talks about the evolution of some of his well-known characters, including "Maude Frickert," "Elwood P. Suggins," and "King Kwasi," and discusses many of the well-known television personalities with whom he worked during his career: Jack Paar, Andy Williams, Dean Martin, Bob Hope, and Johnny Carson. He discusses his roles on Mork & Mindy, Hee Haw, and Davis Rules and offers advice to those starting out in comedy. Dan Pasternack conducted the interview on October 11, 2002 in Santa Barbara, CA.
Highlights
Jonathan Winters on his "Maude Frickert" character
Jonathan Winters on advice to those starting out in comedy
Jonathan Winters on the special quality Johnny Carson brought to The Tonight Show
Jonathan Winters on what is "funny" and what the word means to him.
Jonathan Winters on the format of his first show, the 15-minute Jonathan Winters Show on NBC - which introduced his famous characters "Maude Frickert" and "Elwood P. Suggins"
Jonathan Winters on advice for creating characters
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his childhood and early interests; on joining the Marines and serving in World War II; on his first comedic performance in the service
On life after the Marines; on going to art school and being asked to DJ at WING
Chapter 2
On his first job as a DJ at WING radio; on his troubled relationship with his father; on inventing characters for his radio show
On his next job at WBNS television in Columbus Ohio; on his first impressions of television and going to the 1940 World's Fair; on moving to New York and performing in clubs
On his first television show, the 15-minute Jonathan Winters Show on NBC - which introduced his famous characters "Maude Frickert" and "Elwood P. Suggins"
Chapter 3
On characters "Elwood P. Suggins," "Willard Crachlow," and "King Kwasi;" on The Jonathan Winters Show; on his early appearances on The Garry Moore Show; on The Tonight Show with Steve Allen
On appearances on The Jack Paar Show; On his time on Broadway; On Rod Serling and playing a dramatic role on The Twilight Zone
Chapter 4
On his nervous breakdown in 1961 and being diagnosed as manic depressive; On It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World and his co-stars in the film
On working with Andy Williams, Dean Martin and Bob Hope; on the special quality Johnny Carson brought to The Tonight Show
Chapter 5
On joining the cast of Mork & Mindy; on his appearance on Hee Haw; on winning an Emmy for Davis Rules
On advice to those starting out in comedy; on advice for creating characters
Shows
Andy Williams Show, The
Jonathan Winters on working with Andy Williams on The Andy Williams Show
Garry Moore Show, The
Jonathan Winters on his early appearances on The Garry Moore Show
Hee Haw
Jonathan Winters on his appearances on Hee Haw
Jack Paar Show, The (1954)
Jonathan Winters on his appearances on the Jack Paar Show; on guest-hosting the show; on different talk-show hosts' styles
Jonathan Winters Show, The (1956-57)
Jonathan Winters on the format of his first show, the 15-minute Jonathan Winters Show on NBC - which introduced his famous characters "Maude Frickert" and "Elwood P. Suggins"
Jonathan Winters on putting together the characters for the first Jonathan Winters Show on NBC which was just 15 minutes long; on how his improvisation style worked on live TV
Mork & Mindy
Jonathan Winters on joining the cast of Mork & Mindy
Omnibus
Jonathan Winters on how he got offered a part on Omnibus after Alistair Cooke discovered him performing his Custer's Last Stand routine at the Ruban Blue nightclub
Tonight
Jonathan Winters on working with Steve Allen on The Tonight Show with Steve Allen and his team: Louis Nye, Tom Poston, Pat Harrington
Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, The
Jonathan Winters on the special quality Johnny Carson brought to The Tonight Show
Twilight Zone, The
Jonathan Winters on appearing on Rod Serling's The Twilight Zone; on why he wanted to take a dramatic role
Topics
Characters & Catchphrases
Jonathan Winters on his famous granny character Maude Frickert, first introduced on the Jonathan Winters Show on NBC
Jonathan Winters on his famous granny character "Elwood P. Suggins", first introduced on the Jonathan Winters Show on NBC
Jonathan Winters on his characters "Elwood P. Suggins", "General Pershing", and "King Kwasi"
Emmy Awards
Jonathan Winters on winning an Emmy for his role on Davis Rules
Technological Innovation
Jonathan Winters on doing the first color TV show in the U.S.
Professions
Comedian
Jonathan Winters on advice for creating characters
Jonathan Winters on advice to those starting out in comedy
Performer
Jonathan Winters on his admiration for actors on stage
Performers
Jonathan Winters on his admiration for actors on stage
Jonathan Winters on advice for creating characters
Jonathan Winters on advice to those starting out in comedy
Genres
Comedy Series
Jonathan Winters on joining the cast of Mork & Mindy
Talk Shows
Jonathan Winters on the special quality Johnny Carson brought to The Tonight Show
People
Spiro T. Agnew
Jonathan Winters on a dinner party at Bob Hope's house which Vice President Spiro Agnew attended
Steve Allen
Jonathan Winters on working with Steve Allen on The Tonight Show with Steve Allen and his team: Louis Nye, Tom Poston, Pat Harrington
Johnny Carson
Jonathan Winters on the special quality Johnny Carson brought to The Tonight Show
Pam Dawber
Jonathan Winters on joining the cast of Mork & Mindy
Pat Harrington, Jr. with Emerson College
Jonathan Winters on his friendship with Pat Harrington whom he met when appearing on the Steve Allen Tonight Show; on "Guido Panzini"
Bob Hope
Jonathan Winters on Bob Hope
Bonnie Hunt
Jonathan Winters on winning an Emmy for his role on Davis Rules and having great chemistry with Bonnie Hunt
Stanley Kramer
Jonathan Winters on Stanley Kramer wanting him to be in It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
Dean Martin
Jonathan Winters on working with Dean Martin
Audrey Meadows
Jonathan Winters on winning an Emmy for his role on Davis Rules
Jack Paar
Jonathan Winters on Jack Paar and appearances on the Jack Paar Show
Rod Serling
Jonathan Winters, who appeared on an episode of The Twilight Zone, on Rod Serling
Phil Silvers
Jonathan Winters on Phil Silvers and a scene with Phil Silvers in It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
Arnold Stang
Jonathan Winters on the gas station scene of It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
Barbara Walters
Jonathan Winters on Barbara Walters interviewing Bob Hope
Robin Williams
Jonathan Winters on joining the cast of Mork & Mindy
Andy Williams
Jonathan Winters on working with Andy Williams on The Andy Williams Show