"I prefer live television because it's stage and film and everything rolled into one. Without the pressure. The stage, I think, is my very first favorite, because you're in charge. When you're on that stage, you're in charge. Live television, the director can always stop you, or go back, but at least you have an audience to play to."

    About This Interview

    In her three-hour interview, Nanette Fabray (1920-2018) talks about her early years in theater and in early experimental television where she served as an NBC "color girl." She speaks in great detail about her work with Sid Caesar on the variety series Caesar's Hour. She describes some of the series' most memorable comedy sketches including "Shadow Waltz" (a take-off on Your Hit Parade) and "The Commuters" (a recurring high-strung husband and his wife sketch). She discusses her own short-lived series The Nanette Fabray Show, as well as guest appearances on other shows including The Carol Burnett Show, The Jerry Lewis Show, and The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Fabray then talks about her recurring role on the CBS sitcom One Day at a Time. She also discusses her passion for raising awareness of hearing impairment issues. Jennifer Howard conducted the interview on August 12, 2004 in Pacific Palisades, CA.

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

    Chapter 1

    On her early life and influences; on when she first started performing; on her difficulty with her hearing, and on her participation in issues involving the deaf

    17:00

    On the first time she saw television, and on being NBC's "color girl"; on moving to New York, and on her training as an actress; on her early work in motion pictures

    12:30

    Chapter 2

    On appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show, Texaco Star Theater with Milton Berle, and The Arthur Murray Party; on appearing on Omnibus; on appearing on Playhouse 90, directed by John Frankenheimer

    09:47

    On appearing on Kaiser Aluminum Hour for "A Man's Game"; on the Hollywood Blacklist; on being compared to Imogene Coca on Caesar's Hour, and on working with Sid Caesar

    20:07

    Chapter 3

    On the format of Caesar's Hour and on the music of the show; on working with the writers of Caesar's Hour, and on an on-air mishap where she was injured

    12:51

    On various sketches she performed in with Sid Caesar on Caesar's Hour, including doing pantomime with Caesar; on the kind of fan mail she got while on Caesar's Hour, and on the end of the show; on the legacy of Sid Caesar's Your Show of Shows and Caesar's Hour

    10:21

    On starring on The Nanette Fabray Show; on working with Wendell Corey on The Nanette Fabray Show

    04:54

    Chapter 4

    On appearing on several variety shows including The Dinah Shore Show, The Danny Kaye Show, The Andy Williams Show, and The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour; on appearing on The Carol Burnett Show and doing sign language for the first time on television, and promoting sign language on television; on working with Carol Burnett and Tim Conway on The Carol Burnett Show

    14:34

    On appearing on Ford Startime, The Bell Telephone Hour, Bob Hope Presents Chrysler Theatre, and Alice Through the Looking Glass; on appearing on Password; on appearing on The Hollywood Squares

    11:09

    On appearing in the special George M! with Joel Grey; on appearing on Love, American Style; on appearing in Happy Anniversary & Goodbye with Lucille Ball

    03:19

    Chapter 5

    On appearing as "Mary Richards'" mother on two episodes of The Mary Tyler Moore Show; on her guest appearance as stroke survivor on Maude in the episode "Maude's Reunion"; on appearing in the feature film "Harper Valley P.T.A." with Barbara Eden

    12:49

    On appearing with Fred Astaire in The Man in the Santa Claus Suit; on her role as "Ann Romano's" mother on One Day at a Time; on her guest appearances on Coach

    09:22

    On her guest appearance on Murder, She Wrote; on her acting style; on good advice she's gotten regarding her acting in her career

    06:48

    Chapter 6

    On working with a difficult director; on advice to aspiring actors

    04:59

    On her favorite medium to act in being live television; on career highlights, and on keeping on working; on how she'd like to be remembered

    04:57

    On b-roll pictures from her career - with Sid Caesar; doing a sketch with Sid Caesar on Caesar's Hour; doing a song and dance with Sid Caesar on Caesar's Hour; with Sid Caesar on the set of Caesar's Hour; with Carl Reiner, Howard Morris, and Sid Caesar; with Tony Randall on the set of Ford Startime; with Jerry Lewis; with Mary Tyler Moore on the set of The Mary Tyler Moore Show; on the set of Alice Through the Looking Glass; on the set of What's it All About, World?; with Bonnie Franklin on the set of One Day at a Time; with Bonnie Franklin and Pat Harrington on the set of One Day at a Time; with Phil Silvers; with Mary Tyler Moore on the set of The Mary Tyler Moore Show; on the set of The Bell Telephone Hour; with Andy Williams on the set of The Andy Williams Show; on the set of The Carol Burnett Show with Art Carney; as "The White Queen" in Alice Through the Looking Glass; on the set of George M!; on the set of Caesar's Hour; on the set of The Nanette Fabray Show; with Dean Martin on The Dean Martin Show; in her dressing room

    07:52

    Alice Through the Looking Glass

    Nanette Fabray on appearing in the special Alice Through the Looking Glass

    02:49

    Andy Williams Show, The

    Nanette Fabray on appearing on The Andy Williams Show

    01:01

    Art Linkletter's House Party

    Nanette Fabray on appearing on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour and Art Linkletter's House Party

    02:40

    Arthur Murray Party, The

    Nanette Fabray on appearing on The Arthur Murray Party

    01:25

    Bell Telephone Hour, The

    Nanette Fabray on appearing on The Bell Telephone Hour

    02:29

    Bob Hope Presents Chrysler Theatre

    Nanette Fabray on appearing on Bob Hope Presents Chrysler Theatre with Ricardo Montalban and John Forsythe

    00:47

    Caesar's Hour

    Nanette Fabray on appearing on Caesar's Hour with Sid Caesar

    07:15

    Nanette Fabray on being compared to Imogene Coca on Caesar's Hour, and on working with Sid Caesar

    06:11

    Nanette Fabray on the format of Caesar's Hour and on the music of the show

    04:51

    Nanette Fabray on working with the writers of Caesar's Hour, and on an on-air mishap where she was injured

    04:15

    Nanette Fabray on live, on-air mishaps during Caesar's Hour involving Sid Caesar

    03:45

    Nanette Fabray on various sketches she performed in with Sid Caesar on Caesar's Hour, including doing pantomime with Caesar

    06:59

    Nanette Fabray on the kind of fan mail she got while on Caesar's Hour, and on the end of the show

    02:16

    Nanette Fabray on the legacy of Sid Caesar's Your Show of Shows and Caesar's Hour

    01:06

    Carol Burnett Show, The (1967-78)

    Nanette Fabray on appearing on The Carol Burnett Show and doing sign language for the first time on television, and promoting sign language on television

    03:53

    Nanette Fabray on working with Carol Burnett and Tim Conway on The Carol Burnett Show

    01:05

    Coach

    Nanette Fabray on her guest appearances on Coach

    01:11

    Danny Kaye Show, The

    Nanette Fabray on appearing on The Danny Kaye Show

    02:37

    Dinah Shore Show, The

    Nanette Fabray on appearing on The Dinah Shore Show, and on working with Jerry Lewis

    02:05

    Ed Sullivan Show, The aka Toast of the Town

    Nanette Fabray on appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show

    01:36

    Ford Startime

    Nanette Fabray on appearing on Ford Startime with Tony Randall

    01:49

    George M!

    Nanette Fabray on appearing in the special George M! with Joel Grey

    00:49

    Happy Anniversary & Goodbye

    Nanette Fabray on appearing in Happy Anniversary & Goodbye with Lucille Ball

    01:40

    Hollywood Squares, The

    Nanette Fabray on appearing on The Hollywood Squares

    02:08

    Kaiser Aluminum Hour

    Nanette Fabray on appearing on Kaiser Aluminum Hour for "A Man's Game"

    02:42

    Love, American Style

    Nanette Fabray on appearing on Love, American Style

    00:50

    Man in the Santa Claus Suit, The

    Nanette Fabray on appearing with Fred Astaire in The Man in the Santa Claus Suit, and on working with him in the feature "The Band Wagon"

    01:44

    Mary Tyler Moore Show, The

    Nanette Fabray on appearing as "Mary Richards'" mother on two episodes of The Mary Tyler Moore Show

    04:10

    Nanette Fabray on the groundbreaking aspects The Mary Tyler Moore Show

    01:03

    Maude

    Nanette Fabray on her guest appearance as stroke survivor on Maude in the episode "Maude's Reunion"

    03:35

    Murder, She Wrote

    Nanette Fabray on her guest appearance on Murder, She Wrote in the episode "From the Horse's Mouth"

    02:25

    Nanette Fabray Show, The

    Nanette Fabray on starring on The Nanette Fabray Show

    04:17

    Nanette Fabray on working with Wendell Corey on The Nanette Fabray Show

    00:37

    Nanette Fabray on why she decided to ease up on work after the cancellation of The Nanette Fabray Show, and on appearing on variety shows

    01:13

    Omnibus

    Nanette Fabray on appearing on Omnibus

    01:23

    One Day at a Time (1975-84)

    Nanette Fabray on her role as "Ann Romano's" mother on One Day at a Time

    05:27

    Nanette Fabray on working with her niece Shelley Fabares on One Day at a Time

    00:59

    Password

    Nanette Fabray on appearing on Password

    01:07

    Playhouse 90

    Nanette Fabray on appearing on Playhouse 90, directed by John Frankenheimer

    03:33

    Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, The

    Nanette Fabray on appearing on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour and Art Linkletter's House Party

    02:40

    Texaco Star Theater

    Nanette Fabray on appearing on Texaco Star Theater with Milton Berle

    01:49

    Your Show of Shows

    Nanette Fabray on the legacy of Sid Caesar's Your Show of Shows and Caesar's Hour

    01:06

    Advice

    Nanette Fabray on good advice she's gotten regarding her acting in her career

    01:54

    Nanette Fabray on advice to aspiring actors

    02:30

    Bloopers

    Nanette Fabray on working with the writers of Caesar's Hour, and on an on-air mishap where she was injured

    04:15

    Nanette Fabray on live, on-air mishaps during Caesar's Hour involving Sid Caesar

    03:45

    Hollywood Blacklist

    Nanette Fabray on the Hollywood Blacklist

    03:59

    Industry Crossroads

    Nanette Fabray on the Hollywood Blacklist

    03:59

    Overcoming Adversity

    Nanette Fabray on her difficulty with her hearing, and on her participation in issues involving the deaf community

    06:26

    People with Disabilities

    Nanette Fabray on her difficulty with her hearing, and on her participation in issues involving the deaf community

    06:26

    Nanette Fabray on appearing on The Carol Burnett Show and doing sign language for the first time on television, and promoting sign language on television

    03:53

    Nanette Fabray on her guest appearance as stroke survivor on Maude in the episode "Maude's Reunion"

    03:35

    Pivotal Career Moments

    Nanette Fabray on her difficulty with her hearing, and on her participation in issues involving the deaf community

    06:26

    Representation on Television

    Nanette Fabray on her difficulty with her hearing, and on her participation in issues involving the deaf community

    06:26

    Nanette Fabray on appearing on The Carol Burnett Show and doing sign language for the first time on television, and promoting sign language on television

    03:53

    Nanette Fabray on her guest appearance as stroke survivor on Maude in the episode "Maude's Reunion"

    03:35

    Technological Innovation

    Nanette Fabray on the first time she saw television, and on being NBC's "color girl" for General David Sarnoff

    03:33

    Television Industry

    Nanette Fabray on the Hollywood Blacklist

    03:59

    Nanette Fabray on good advice she's gotten regarding her acting in her career

    01:54

    Nanette Fabray on advice to aspiring actors

    02:30

    Actress

    Nanette Fabray on her acting style

    02:30

    Nanette Fabray on good advice she's gotten regarding her acting in her career

    01:53

    Nanette Fabray on working with a difficult director

    02:29

    Nanette Fabray on advice to aspiring actors

    02:30

    Performers

    Nanette Fabray on her acting style

    02:30

    Nanette Fabray on good advice she's gotten regarding her acting in her career

    01:53

    Nanette Fabray on working with a difficult director

    02:29

    Nanette Fabray on advice to aspiring actors

    02:30

    Classic Anthology Series

    Nanette Fabray on appearing on Omnibus

    01:24

    Nanette Fabray on appearing on Playhouse 90

    03:33

    Nanette Fabray on appearing on Kaiser Aluminum Hour for "A Man's Game"

    02:42

    Comedy Series

    Nanette Fabray on starring on The Nanette Fabray Show

    04:54

    Nanette Fabray on appearing on Love, American Style

    00:50

    Nanette Fabray on appearing as "Mary Richards'" mother on two episodes of The Mary Tyler Moore Show

    05:13

    Nanette Fabray on her guest appearance as stroke survivor on Maude in the episode "Maude's Reunion"

    03:35

    Nanette Fabray on her role as "Ann Romano's" mother on One Day at a Time, and on her guest appearances on Coach

    07:38

    Cop/Detective/Mystery Series

    Nanette Fabray on her guest appearance on Murder, She Wrote

    02:25

    Game Shows

    Nanette Fabray on appearing on Password

    01:07

    Nanette Fabray on appearing on The Hollywood Squares

    02:08

    Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials

    Nanette Fabray on appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show

    01:36

    Nanette Fabray on appearing on Texaco Star Theater with Milton Berle

    01:49

    Nanette Fabray on appearing on The Arthur Murray Party

    01:25

    Nanette Fabray on appearing on Caesar's Hour

    13:26

    Nanette Fabray on co-starring on Caesar's Hour

    23:11

    Nanette Fabray on appearing on The Dinah Shore Show

    02:05

    Nanette Fabray on appearing on The Danny Kaye Show

    02:37

    Nanette Fabray on appearing on The Andy Williams Show

    01:01

    Nanette Fabray on appearing on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, and Art Linkletter's House Party

    02:40

    Nanette Fabray on appearing on The Carol Burnett Show

    04:58

    Nanette Fabray on appearing on Ford Startime

    01:49

    Nanette Fabray on appearing on The Bell Telephone Hour

    02:29

    Nanette Fabray on appearing in the special Alice Through the Looking Glass

    02:49

    TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials

    Nanette Fabray on appearing in Happy Anniversary & Goodbye with Lucille Ball

    01:40

    Nanette Fabray on appearing with Fred Astaire in The Man in the Santa Claus Suit, and on working with him in the feature "The Band Wagon"

    01:44

    Beatrice Arthur

    Nanette Fabray on her guest appearance as stroke survivor on Maude in the episode "Maude's Reunion" with Beatrice Arthur

    03:35

    Fred Astaire

    Nanette Fabray on appearing with Fred Astaire in The Man in the Santa Claus Suit, and on working with him in the feature "The Band Wagon"

    01:44

    Lucille Ball

    Nanette Fabray on appearing in Happy Anniversary & Goodbye with Lucille Ball

    01:40

    Carol Burnett

    Nanette Fabray on appearing on The Carol Burnett Show and on working with Tim Conway

    04:58

    Sid Caesar

    Nanette Fabray on live, on-air mishaps during Caesar's Hour involving Sid Caesar

    03:45

    Nanette Fabray on various sketches she performed in with Sid Caesar on Caesar's Hour, including doing pantomime with Caesar

    06:59

    Nanette Fabray on the legacy of Sid Caesar's Your Show of Shows and Caesar's Hour

    01:06

    Tim Conway

    Nanette Fabray on appearing on The Carol Burnett Show and on working with Tim Conway

    04:58

    Barbara Eden

    Nanette Fabray on appearing in the feature film "Harper Valley P.T.A." with Barbara Eden

    04:01

    Shelley Fabares

    Nanette Fabray on working with her niece Shelley Fabares on One Day at a Time

    00:59

    Bonnie Franklin

    Nanette Fabray on her role as "Ann Romano's" (Bonnie Franklin) mother on One Day at a Time

    05:27

    Danny Kaye

    Nanette Fabray on appearing on The Danny Kaye Show

    02:37

    Norman Lear

    Nanette Fabray on being cast by Norman Lear as stroke survivor on Maude in the episode "Maude's Reunion"

    03:35

    Jerry Lewis

    Nanette Fabray on appearing on The Dinah Shore Show, and on working with Jerry Lewis

    02:05

    Mary Tyler Moore

    Nanette Fabray on appearing as "Mary's" mother on two episodes of The Mary Tyler Moore Show

    04:10

    Tony Randall

    Nanette Fabray on appearing on Ford Startime with Tony Randall

    01:49

    David Sarnoff

    Nanette Fabray on the first time she saw television, and on being NBC's "color girl" for General David Sarnoff

    03:33

    Dinah Shore

    Nanette Fabray on appearing on The Dinah Shore Show, and on working with Jerry Lewis

    02:05

    Dick Smothers

    Nanette Fabray on appearing on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, and Art Linkletter's House Party

    02:40

    Tom Smothers

    Nanette Fabray on appearing on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, and Art Linkletter's House Party

    02:40

    Andy Williams

    Nanette Fabray on appearing on The Andy Williams Show

    01:01

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