Bob Finkel

Producer/ Director

The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About

About this interview

In his four-hour interview, Bob Finkel (1918-2012) talks about the countless musical variety and awards shows he directed and produced. He describes directing the first televised telethon, hosted by Jack Webb, and producing multiple broadcasts of the People's Choice Awards, Oscars, and Emmy Awards. Finkel recounts producing numerous hits of the 1950s and '60s, including The Eddie Fisher Show, The Dinah Shore Chevy Show and The Andy Williams Show. He fondly recalls working with Elvis Presley, Perry Como, Julie Andrews, and Martin and Lewis, among others, and shares his views on why variety shows all but disappeared from the airwaves. Morrie Gelman conducted the interview on September 10, 1997 in Beverly Hills, CA.

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

"Reality. That's television at its best. When that little bug rolled around on Mars – you can't do a show any better than that. I mean, if you went to the networks and said, 'I want to do a show with a little cart that rolls up and down on the rocks,' they'd throw you out."

People Talking About ...

Bob Finkel

Highlights

Bob Finkel on Eddie Fisher and the smoking chimpanzees

01:57

Bob Finkel on the mistake that made The Perry Como Show popular - a stubborn canary

Bob Finkel on Bing Crosby and thank you notes

01:42

Bob Finkel on Elvis Presley's comeback special, and no live audience

01:02

Bob Finkel on how he'd like to be remembered

00:50

Full Interview

Play Full Interview

Chapter 1

On his childhood and early influences; on working as an usher in his father's nickelodeon; on becoming a semi-professional tap dancer; on his favorite movies and radio programs

On moving to California to be a movie director; on writing television Westerns for Republic Films; on serving in World War II and getting married

Chapter 2

On getting married and working in a theater; on being fascinated by television and getting a job with ABC LA

On becoming a director's assistant and then director; on directing the first televised Emmy Awards broadcast

On leaving ABC to work for Revue (MCA); on forming his own production company, Teram Productions

Chapter 3

On directing Bob Cummings in Love That Bob; on directing Natalie Wood in Pride of the Family; on directing Kim Basinger in MacMillan and Wife

On his preparation for production; on leaving MCA for NBC; on producing The Perry Como Show

Chapter 4

On the writers and guests of The Perry Como Show; on working in New York v. Los Angeles

On The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show, The Eddie Fisher Show and The Dinah Shore Chevy Show; on Bing Crosby's Christmas specials

On his production company; on The Andy Williams Show

Chapter 5

On the disastrous first season of The Andy Williams Show and subsequent changes; on producing and directing Emmy Awards broadcasts; on Bob Newhart's instant fame after appearing on The Emmys

On leaving The Andy Williams Show ; On having creative control of The Jerry Lewis Show; on winning a Peabody Award for a Julie Andrews special

On producing the Oscars; on the disappearance of music/variety shows

Chapter 6

On the disappearance of variety shows; on working with Elvis Presley on his comeback special; on Bill Cosby and The People's Choice Awards; on his relationship with Bing Crosby; on working with Muhammad Ali

On producing the Oscars; on his career regrets and the problems of re-running variety shows; on reality programming and episodic television

On his career highs; on the future of television; on longing for the days of single sponsorship; on how he'd like to be remembered; on thoughts on people with whom he's worked

Chapter 7

On thoughts on people with whom he's worked; on his wife

On his involvement with The Golden Globe Awards; B-roll of pictures - his family and people with whom he's worked

Chapter 8

On B-roll photos of colleagues and family

Shows

Andy Williams Show, The

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Bob Finkel on Tony Bennett appearing on The Andy Williams Show

02:15

Bob Finkel on The Andy Williams Show

02:14

Bob Finkel on The Andy Williams Show

04:11

Bob Finkel on leaving The Andy Williams Show