About
"I enjoy every show I do. I don't care what it is, even a game show. I enjoy anything and everything because every show is a challenge. If you go in there, and you don't love, live, and breathe the show that you're doing, you shouldn't be doing it. I don't care what it is - you better like what you're doing or get out and let the person that likes it do it."
In his three-hour interview, Marty Pasetta (1932-2015) talks about his early interest in theater, which culminated in his first job in television at San Francisco's KGO-TV in 1952. He discusses his long association with KGO, where he moved up the ranks from a stage manager to a multifaceted producer. He describes his move to Los Angeles where, because of his hands-on experience at KGO, he soon became a director for several variety series, including The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour and the Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour. Pasetta speaks of his long association with the Grammy Awards (from 1971-78), where he was hired for the show's first live telecast. He outlines the growth of the show's success, some key performances, and the challenges of directing a live awards show. He details his long stint as director of the Academy Awards (from 1972-88), where he instituted the live nominee screenshots and the use of seat-fillers. He relates some historical moments from the show, including the 1970s streaker, Charlie Chaplin's appearance, and John Wayne's final appearance. He speaks in great detail about his favorite project, Elvis: Aloha from Hawaii, which was Elvis's 1973 comeback special. Pasetta also cites various specials, presidential inaugurations (Carter's and Reagan's), and the many variety stars he worked with through the years. Jeff Abraham conducted the interview on January 18, 2007 in Los Angeles, CA.
Highlights
Marty Pasetta on Charlie Chaplin appearing on the first Academy Awards he directed
Marty Pasetta on Vanessa Redgrave's infamous protest speech at the Academy Awards
Marty Pasetta on directing and producing the AFI specials and the pressures of directing the Academy Awards
Marty Pasetta on directing Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan's Inaugural specials
Marty Pasetta on nearly "discovering" Barbra Streisand
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his early life and influences; on working at local San Francisco station KGO
On creating programming for KGO; on various people with whom he worked at KGO; on quitting KGO and moving his family to Los Angeles
Chapter 2
On moving to Los Angeles; on directing The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour and the controversy surrounding the show
On directing various game shows; on directing The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour, The Andy Williams Show and Switched-On-Symphony; on collaborating with stars
Chapter 3
On working with Jimmy Durante, Andy Williams, and Bing Crosby; on directing the Grammys
On working with Pierre Cossette; on memorable Grammy moments and working with rock musicians; on how he came to direct the Academy Awards
Chapter 4
On Charlie Chaplin appearing on the Academy Awards; on directing Elvis: Aloha from Hawaii
On the process of directing the Academy Awards; on the producers of the Academy Awards and keeping the show interesting; on the streaker and Marlon Brando refusing his Oscar
Chapter 5
On John Wayne's final Academy Awards; on winners making controversial speeches on the Academy Awards; on directing the Academy Awards the day after the assassination attempt on Ronald Reagan
On directing the Emmy Awards; on directing various specials; on directing Inaugural galas and The Music of UNICEF: The Gift of Song
Chapter 6
On directing the AFI specials; on his production company; on directing Let Poland Be Poland and An All-Star Celebration of Martin Luther King
On directing and producing various variety specials; on directing Pope John Paul II; on his directing style
Chapter 7
On career regrets and achievements; on how television has changed; on his advice to aspiring producer/directors
Shows
Academy Awards, The
Marty Pasetta on his first time directing the Academy Awards
Marty Pasetta on Charlie Chaplin appearing on the first Academy Awards he directed
Marty Pasetta on the process of directing the Academy Awards
Marty Pasetta on the producers of the Academy Awards
Marty Pasetta on the Academy Awards hosts and the process of directing it
Marty Pasetta on the location of the Academy Awards and keeping the show interesting
Marty Pasetta on the Academy Awards infamous streaking incident
Marty Pasetta on Marlon Brando refusing his Oscar
Marty Pasetta on John Wayne's final Academy Awards appearance
Marty Pasetta on Vanessa Redgrave's infamous protest speech at the Academy Awards
Marty Pasetta on dealing with the winners and their speeches while directing the Academy Awards
Marty Pasetta on the music cues at the Academy Awards and experimenting with parts of the show
Marty Pasetta on how the Ronald Reagan assassination attempt impacted the Academy Awards
Andy Williams Show, The
Marty Pasetta on directing The Andy Williams Show and Switched-On-Symphony
Andy Williams Specials
Marty Pasetta on directing Andy Williams
Bing Crosby Specials
Marty Pasetta on directing Bing Crosby's TV specials
Burnett Discovers Domingo
Marty Pasetta on directing the special Burnett Discovers Domingo
Elvis: Aloha from Hawaii
Marty Pasetta on directing Elvis: Aloha from Hawaii
Marty Pasetta on his favorite achievement
Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)
Marty Pasetta on directing the Emmy Awards
Gene Kelly: An American in Pasadena
Marty Pasetta on directing Gene Kelly: An American in Pasadena and Happy Birthday, America
Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour, The
Marty Pasetta on directing The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour
Grammys, The
Marty Pasetta on directing Andy Williams
Marty Pasetta on directing and producing the Grammys
Marty Pasetta on collaborating with Pierre Cossette on the Grammys
Marty Pasetta on dealing with rock musicians on the Grammys
Marty Pasetta on memorable Grammy moments
Marty Pasetta on what he brought to the Grammys
Jimmy Durante Presents The Lennon Sisters Hour
Marty Pasetta on directing Jimmy Durante Presents The Lennon Sisters and Kraft Music Hall
Joker's Wild, The
Marty Pasetta on directing The Joker's Wild
Kraft Music Hall, The
Marty Pasetta on directing Jimmy Durante Presents The Lennon Sisters and Kraft Music Hall with Don Ho
Magical World of Disney
Marty Pasetta on directing the Magical World of Disney
Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, The
Marty Pasetta on getting the job as director of The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour and being inventive to get around budget issues
Marty Pasetta on directing the controversial final season of The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour
Switched-On Symphony, The
Marty Pasetta on directing The Andy Williams Show and The Switched-On-Symphony
Wheel of Fortune
Marty Pasetta on directing Shopper's Bizarre, an early version of Wheel of Fortune
Topics
Advice
Marty Pasetta on advice for aspiring producer/directors
Censorship / Standards & Practices
Marty Pasetta on directing the controversial final season of The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour
Emmy Awards
Marty Pasetta on directing the Emmy Awards
Jimmy Carter
Marty Pasetta on directing Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan's Inaugural specials
Media Consolidation
Marty Pasetta on how television has changed due to technology and business
Memorable Moments on Television
Marty Pasetta on Charlie Chaplin appearing on the first Academy Awards he directed
Marty Pasetta on the Academy Awards infamous streaking incident
Marty Pasetta on Marlon Brando refusing his Oscar
Marty Pasetta on Vanessa Redgrave's infamous protest speech at the Academy Awards
Ronald Reagan
Marty Pasetta on directing Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan's Inaugural specials
Marty Pasetta on how the Ronald Reagan assassination attempt affected the Academy Awards
Marty Pasetta on directing the special Let Poland Be Poland
Technological Innovation
Marty Pasetta on how television has changed due to technology and business
Television and the Presidency
Marty Pasetta on directing Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan's Inaugural specials
Marty Pasetta on directing Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan's Inaugural specials
Marty Pasetta on how the Ronald Reagan assassination attempt affected the Academy Awards
Marty Pasetta on directing the special Let Poland Be Poland
Television Industry
Marty Pasetta on directing the controversial final season of The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour
Marty Pasetta on how television has changed due to technology and business
Marty Pasetta on advice for aspiring producer/directors
We Considered
Marty Pasetta on Vanessa Redgrave's infamous protest speech at the Academy Awards
We Cried
Marty Pasetta on Charlie Chaplin appearing on the first Academy Awards he directed
We Laughed
Marty Pasetta on the Academy Awards infamous streaking incident
Marty Pasetta on Marlon Brando refusing his Oscar
Professions
Directors
Marty Pasetta on his directing style
Marty Pasetta on advice for aspiring producer/directors
Genres
Awards Shows
Marty Pasetta on directing and producing the Grammys
Marty Pasetta on directing the Academy Awards
Marty Pasetta on directing the Academy Awards
Marty Pasetta on directing the Academy Awards
Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials
Marty Pasetta on directing The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour
Marty Pasetta on directing Elvis: Aloha from Hawaii
People
Carol Burnett
Marty Pasetta on directing the special Burnett Discovers Domingo
Glen Campbell
Marty Pasetta on directing The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour
Jimmy Carter
Marty Pasetta on directing Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan's Inaugural specials
Charlie Chaplin
Marty Pasetta on Charlie Chaplin appearing on the first Academy Awards he directed
Pierre Cossette
Marty Pasetta on collaborating with Pierre Cossette on the Grammys
Bing Crosby
Marty Pasetta on directing Bing Crosby's TV specials
Sammy Davis, Jr.
Marty Pasetta on directing Sammy Davis, Jr.
Phyllis Diller
Marty Pasetta on quitting in the middle of a taping of The Gypsy Rose Lee Show and moving to Los Angeles
Placido Domingo
Marty Pasetta on directing the special Burnett Discovers Domingo
Jimmy Durante
Marty Pasetta on directing Jimmy Durante Presents The Lennon Sisters and Kraft Music Hall with Don Ho
Don Ho
Marty Pasetta on directing Jimmy Durante Presents The Lennon Sisters and Kraft Music Hall with Don Ho
Gypsy Rose Lee
Marty Pasetta on quitting in the middle of a taping of The Gypsy Rose Lee Show and moving to Los Angeles
Golda Meir
Marty Pasetta on directing the 30th Anniversary of the State of Israel special
Pope John Paul II
Marty Pasetta on working with Pope John Paul II
Elvis Presley
Marty Pasetta on directing Elvis: Aloha from Hawaii
Ronald Reagan
Marty Pasetta on directing Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan's Inaugural specials
Marty Pasetta on how the Ronald Reagan assassination attempt affected the Academy Awards
Marty Pasetta on directing the special Let Poland Be Poland
Telly Savalas
Marty Pasetta on working with Telly Savalas
Frank Sinatra
Marty Pasetta on working with Frank Sinatra on various specials over the years
Barbra Streisand
Marty Pasetta on nearly "discovering" Barbra Streisand
Marty Pasetta on directing the 30th Anniversary of the State of Israel special
Elizabeth Taylor
Marty Pasetta on directing Elizabeth Taylor
Andy Williams
Marty Pasetta on directing The Andy Williams Show and Switched-On-Symphony
Marty Pasetta on directing Andy Williams
Stevie Wonder
Marty Pasetta on directing An All-Star Celebration Honoring Martin Luther King