Ralph Senensky

Director

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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

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About

About this interview

In his four-hour interview, Ralph Senensky recalls his childhood in Iowa and his early experiences directing community theater in his home state. He describes his move to Los Angeles, directing at the Pasadena Playhouse, and getting his first job in television at CBS' Playhouse 90. He reflects on what he learned from watching established Playhouse 90 directors Franklin J. Schaffner, John Frankenheimer, and George Roy Hill, and shares how he was asked to begin directing the medical drama Dr. Kildare. Senensky then comments on several series he directed for, including Mission: Impossible, The Fugitive, The Partridge Family, and The Wild, Wild West. He details directing memorable episodes of Star Trek, including "Metamorphosis" and "Obsession"; discusses directing episodes of The F.B.I., and speaks at length about directing The Waltons. He also talks about his contributions to Dallas. Stephen J. Abramson conducted the interview on August 23, 2011 in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA.

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

"[Earl Hamner] and I were raised in very like periods and 'The Waltons' was just like putting on an old pair of shoes."

People Talking About ...

Highlights

Ralph Senensky on meeting Norman Felton and how he got his first directing assignment - for Dr. Kildare

04:22

Ralph Senensky on directing the "Metamorphosis" episode of Star Trek

02:55

Ralph Senensky on Ron Howard guest-starring on the episode "The Gift" on The Waltons

01:50

Ralph Senensky on directing the "Grandma Comes Home" episode of The Waltons

03:59

Ralph Senensky on directing four episodes of The Fugitive starring David Janssen

07:27

Ralph Senensky on advice to aspiring directors

00:30

Full Interview

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Chapter 1

On his childhood and early influences; on playing piano and being the director's assistant in a high school play in Iowa and falling in love with directing; on serving in World War II; on his favorite movies; on directing community theater in Iowa; on his first professional directing job in Chicago and moving to Los Angeles

On television shows he watched when he was young; on working at the Pasadena Playhouse; on working for CBS radio and transitioning to television; on CBS' Television City; on his first job at Playhouse 90; on the Playhouse 90 production of "The Death of Manolette"; on his on-the-job training at Playhouse 90 and the production process

On difficulties of live production at Playhouse 90; on Playhouse 90 producers Martin Manulis, John Houseman, Herbert Brodkin, and Fred Coe; on learning from directors Franklin J. Schaffner, John Frankenheimer, and George Roy Hill; on the legacy of Playhouse 90

On becoming production supervisor on soap opera Full Circle; on working for game shows; on on meeting Norman Felton and how he got his first directing assignment - for Dr. Kildare

Chapter 2

On directing Dr. Kildare; on working with Richard Chamberlain; on being an "actor's director"; on what he learned from the crew of Dr. Kildare; on directing an hour-long episode of The Twilight Zone; on working with Norman Felton; on the editing room of Dr. Kildare

On directing Burgess Meredith in "The Printer's Devil" episode of The Twilight Zone; on different lighting setups for the episode; on Rod Serling; on producer Herbert Hirschman getting him the job on The Twilight Zone; on directing Route 66 and Naked City; on directing Breaking Point and "The Bull Roarer" episode in which a young man thinks he might be gay

On directing Arrest and Trial starring Ben Gazarra and Chuck Connors; on directing Barbara Stanwyck in The Big Valley; on Stanwyck being a class act; on directing Westerns; on directing four episodes of The Fugitive starring David Janssen; on the success of The Fugitive; on directing sixteen episodes of The F.B.I. starring Efrem Zimbalist, Jr.

Chapter 3

On actual F.B.I. input on The F.B.I.; on Bette Davis not getting approved by the F.B.I. to appear on The F.B.I.; on sponsor Ford Motor Cars; on specific episodes of the show: "The Death Wind" and "The Assassin"

On his experiences with McCarthyism and the Blacklist; on directing The Wild, Wild West starring Robert Conrad; on shooting in color on The Wild, Wild West; on directing Raymond Burr in Ironside; on Universal wanting people to be loyal to the studio

On the difficulty of directing Mission: Impossible; on directing Star Trek episodes "This Side of Paradise", "Metamorphosis", "Obsession", "Return to Tomorrow", "Bread and Circuses", "Is There No Truth in Beauty? and "The Tholian Web"; on getting fired from Star Trek

On directing the cast of Star Trek; on the legacy of the show

Chapter 4

On directing The Courtship of Eddie's Father; on directing several episodes of The Bill Cosby Show and The Partridge Family on Playhouse 90 and how to direct comedies and dramas; on directing The Waltons; on Ron Howard guest-starring on the episode "The Gift" on The Waltons; on "The Conflict," "The Marathon," "The Pony Cart," and "Grandma Comes Home" episodes of The Waltons

On changing the "Goodnight, John Boy" ending in the "Grandma Comes Home" episode of The Waltons; on directing Buddy Ebsen in Barnaby Jones; on the death of Eight Is Enough's Diana Hyland; on directing Ed Asner in Lou Grant; on directing several episodes of Insight, shot on tape; on the chemistry between leads Robert Wagner and Stefanie Powers on Hart to Hart

On his role in the creation of Dynasty; on George Peppard being the original "Blake Carrington" on Dynasty; on his short tenure with the show

On directing The Paper Chase on Showtime; on how technology has influenced his directing; on his proudest achievement; on advice to aspiring directors; on how he'd like to be remembered

Shows

Arrest and Trial

Ralph Senensky on directing Arrest and Trial starring Ben Gazarra and Chuck Connors

03:20

Ralph Senensky on a story from directing Arrest and Trial

03:42

Barnaby Jones

Ralph Senensky on directing Buddy Ebsen in Barnaby Jones

00:59

Big Valley, The

Ralph Senensky on directing Barbara Stanwyck in The Big Valley

05:02

Bill Cosby Show, The

Ralph Senensky on directing several episodes of The Bill Cosby Show

02:57

Breaking Point

Ralph Senensky on directing Breaking Point and "The Bull Roarer" episode in which a young man thinks he might be gay

03:52

Ralph Senensky on directing Breaking Point and "The Bull Roarer" episode in which a young man thinks he might be gay

02:41

Courtship of Eddie's Father, The

Ralph Senensky on directing The Courtship of Eddie's Father

03:28

Dr. Kildare

Ralph Senensky on meeting Norman Felton and how he got his first directing assignment - for Dr. Kildare

08:32

Ralph Senensky on directing Dr. Kildare

08:03

Ralph Senensky on the editing room of Dr. Kildare

00:34

Ralph Senensky on directing Carolyn Jones and building a relationship with James Komack that led to directing The Courtship of Eddie's Father

02:18

Dynasty

Ralph Senensky on his role in the creation of Dynasty

14:56

Eight Is Enough

Ralph Senensky on the death of Eight Is Enough's Diana Hyland

00:51

FBI, The

Ralph Senensky on directing sixteen episodes of The F.B.I. starring Efrem Zimbalist, Jr.

01:53

Ralph Senensky on actual F.B.I. input on The F.B.I.; on sponsor Ford Motor Cars; on specific episodes of the show: "The Death Wind", and "The Assassin"

17:26

Family

Ralph Senensky on actors winning Emmys for the episode of Family he directed

00:28

Fugitive, The

Ralph Senensky on directing four episodes of The Fugitive starring David Janssen and the success of the series

07:27

Hart to Hart

Ralph Senensky on the chemistry between leads Robert Wagner and Stefanie Powers on Hart to Hart

00:34

Insight

Ralph Senensky on directing several episodes of Insight, shot on tape

01:34

Ironside

Ralph Senensky on directing Raymond Burr in Ironside

04:02

Lou Grant

Ralph Senensky on directing Ed Asner in Lou Grant

00:54

Mission: Impossible

Ralph Senensky on the difficulty of directing Mission: Impossible; on working with the stars of the show

04:02

Naked City

Ralph Senensky on directing Naked City

01:23

Nanny and the Professor

Ralph Senensky on directing The Partridge Family and Nanny and the Professor

02:07

Paper Chase, The

Ralph Senensky on directing The Paper Chase on Showtime

02:38

Partridge Family, The

Ralph Senensky on directing The Partridge Family

03:54

Playhouse 90

Ralph Senensky on his first job at Playhouse 90 and becoming Production Supervisor

02:30

Ralph Senensky on the Playhouse 90 production of "The Death of Manolete"

04:23

Ralph Senensky on his on-the-job training at Playhouse 90 and the production process

02:10

Ralph Senensky on difficulties on a production of "Last Clear Chance" on Playhouse 90

04:33

Ralph Senensky on the legacy of Playhouse 90

00:21

Ralph Senensky on Playhouse 90 and how to direct comedies and dramas

02:59

Playhouse 90: "The Death of Manolete"

Ralph Senensky on the Playhouse 90 production of "The Death of Manolete"

04:23

Route 66

Ralph Senensky on directing Route 66; on shooting on location

09:23

Star Trek

Ralph Senensky on directing six episodes of Star Trek

03:04

Ralph Senensky on directing the "Metamorphosis" episode of Star Trek

00:41

Ralph Senensky on directing the "Obsession" episode of Star Trek

01:08

Ralph Senensky on directing the "Return to Tomorrow" episode of Star Trek

02:16

Ralph Senensky on directing the "Bread and Circuses" episode of Star Trek

02:00

Ralph Senensky on controversy over a prop when directing the "Is There No Truth in Beauty?" episode of Star Trek

02:14

Ralph Senensky on directing "The Tholian Web" episode of Star Trek

04:14

Ralph Senensky on directing the cast of Star Trek; on the legacy of the show

05:38

Star Trek: "Metamorphosis"

Ralph Senensky on directing the "Metamorphosis" episode of Star Trek

02:55

Star Trek: "This Side of Paradise"

Ralph Senensky on directing "This Side of Paradise" episode of Star Trek

02:18

Twilight Zone, The

Ralph Senensky on directing Burgess Meredith in "The Printer's Devil" episode of The Twilight Zone

00:24

Ralph Senensky on directing Burgess Meredith in the "Printer's Devil" episode of The Twilight Zone

08:23

Waltons, The

Ralph Senensky on directing "The Gift," "The Conflict," "The Marathon," "The Pony Cart" episodes of The Waltons

09:17

Ralph Senensky on directing "Grandma Comes Home" episodes of The Waltons; on changing the "Goodnight, John Boy" ending in the "Grandma Comes Home" episode of The Waltons

05:23

Wild Wild West, The

Ralph Senensky on directing The Wild, Wild West starring Robert Conrad

02:57

Topics

Anthology Drama

Ralph Senensky on working on Playhouse 90

23:31

Censorship / Standards & Practices

Ralph Senensky on censorship when directing Breaking Point and "The Bull Roarer" episode in which a young man thinks he might be gay

02:27

Historic Events and Social Change

Ralph Senensky on serving in World War II

02:23

Ralph Senensky on an episode of Arrest and Trial shutting down because of JFK's assassination

02:18

Hollywood Blacklist

Ralph Senensky on his experiences with McCarthyism and the Blacklist

01:49

JFK Assassination and Funeral

Ralph Senensky on an episode of Arrest and Trial shutting down because of JFK's assassination

02:18

LGBTQIA+

Ralph Senensky on directing Breaking Point and "The Bull Roarer" episode in which a young man thinks he might be gay

03:52

Representation on Television

Ralph Senensky on censorship when directing Breaking Point and "The Bull Roarer" episode in which a young man thinks he might be gay

02:27

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

Ralph Senensky on working on Playhouse 90

23:31

Technological Innovation

Ralph Senensky on shooting in color on The Wild, Wild West

01:01

Ralph Senensky on how technology has influenced his directing

01:38

Television Industry

Ralph Senensky on censorship when directing Breaking Point and "The Bull Roarer" episode in which a young man thinks he might be gay

02:27

War

Ralph Senensky on serving in World War II

02:23

We Cried

Ralph Senensky on directing the "Grandma Comes Home" episode of The Waltons

05:23

World War II

Ralph Senensky on serving in World War II

02:23

Professions

Directors

View Profession

Ralph Senensky on being the director's assistant in a high school play in Iowa and falling in love with directing

05:34

Ralph Senensky on how he got his first directing assignment - for Dr. Kildare

08:32

Ralph Senensky on advice to aspiring directors

00:30

Genres

Adventure/Espionage Series

Ralph Senensky on the difficulty of directing Mission: Impossible; on working with the stars of the show

04:02

Ralph Senensky on actual F.B.I. input on The F.B.I.; on sponsor Ford Motor Cars; on specific episodes of the show: "The Death Wind", and "The Assassin"

17:26

Classic Anthology Series

Ralph Senensky on working on Playhouse 90

23:31

Cop/Detective/Mystery Series

Ralph Senensky on directing four episodes of The Fugitive starring David Janssen and the success of the series

07:27

Daytime/Primetime Serials

Ralph Senensky on his role in the creation of Dynasty

14:56

Drama Series

Ralph Senensky on directing Raymond Burr in Ironside

04:02

Ralph Senensky on directing several episodes of The Waltons

15:08

Medical Dramas

Ralph Senensky on directing Dr. Kildare

32:32

Sci-Fi/Supernatural Series

Ralph Senensky on directing Star Trek, working with the actors, and the enduring nature of the show

23:29

Western Series

Ralph Senensky on directing The Wild, Wild West starring Robert Conrad

02:57

People

Al Lewis

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Ralph Senensky on his experiences with McCarthyism and the Blacklist

01:49

Alan A. Armer

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Ralph Senensky on Alan Armer's contributions to the success of The Fugitive

01:26

Barbara Stanwyck

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Ralph Senensky on directing Barbara Stanwyck in The Big Valley; on how she was a class act

08:08

Ben Gazzara

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Ralph Senensky on directing Arrest and Trial starring Ben Gazarra and Chuck Connors

01:02

Bette Davis

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Ralph Senensky on Bette Davis not getting approved by the F.B.I. to appear on The F.B.I.

03:13

Bill Bixby

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Ralph Senensky on directing Bill Bixby and Brandon Cruz on The Courtship of Eddie's Father

01:10

Bill Cosby

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Ralph Senensky on directing several episodes of The Bill Cosby Show

02:57

Brandon Cruz

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Ralph Senensky on directing Bill Bixby and Brandon Cruz on The Courtship of Eddie's Father

01:10

Buddy Ebsen

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Ralph Senensky on directing Buddy Ebsen in Barnaby Jones

00:59

Burgess Meredith

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Ralph Senensky on directing Burgess Meredith in the "Printer's Devil" episode of The Twilight Zone

06:17

Carolyn Jones

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Ralph Senensky on directing Carolyn Jones and building a relationship with James Komack that led to directing The Courtship of Eddie's Father

02:18

Chuck Connors

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Ralph Senensky on directing Arrest and Trial starring Ben Gazarra and Chuck Connors

01:02

David Cassidy

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Ralph Senensky on directing the musical numbers on The Partridge Family

01:09

David Janssen

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Ralph Senensky on directing four episodes of The Fugitive starring David Janssen

56:36

DeForest Kelley

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Ralph Senensky on directing the cast of Star Trek

00:10

Dean Jagger

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Ralph Senensky on "The Assassin" episode of The F.B.I.

04:14

Delbert Mann

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Ralph Senensky on Playhouse 90 producer Fred Coe and Delbert Mann

02:59

Diana Hyland

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Ralph Senensky on the death of Eight Is Enough's Diana Hyland

00:51

Douglas S. Cramer

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Ralph Senensky on directing "The Tholian Web" episode of Star Trek and getting fired

04:14

Earl Hamner, Jr.

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Ralph Senensky on directing The Waltons

01:09

Ed Begley

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Ralph Senensky on directing Route 66

08:37

Edward Asner

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Ralph Senensky on directing Ed Asner in Lou Grant

00:54

Efrem Zimbalist, Jr.

View Person Page

Ralph Senensky on directing sixteen episodes of The F.B.I. starring Efrem Zimbalist, Jr.

00:53

Ralph Senensky on "The Death Wind", "The Assassin" episode of The F.B.I.

07:31

Ellen Corby

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Ralph Senensky on directing the "Grandma Comes Home" episode of The Waltons

11:57

Esther Shapiro

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Ralph Senensky on his role in the creation of Dynasty

13:43

Franklin J. Schaffner

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Ralph Senensky on learning from Playhouse 90 director Franklin J. Schaffner

01:54

Fred Coe

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Ralph Senensky on Playhouse 90 producer Fred Coe

02:59

Gene Coon

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Ralph Senensky on directing Star Trek

02:15

Ralph Senensky on directing the "Metamorphosis" episode of Star Trek

02:55

Ralph Senensky on the enduring nature of Star Trek

01:42

Gene Roddenberry

View Person Page

Ralph Senensky on controversy over a prop when directing the "Is There No Truth in Beauty?" episode of Star Trek

02:14

George Peppard

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Ralph Senensky on George Peppard being the original "Blake Carrington" on Dynasty

13:43

George Roy Hill

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Ralph Senensky on difficulties on a production of "Last Clear Chance" on Playhouse 90

04:33

Ralph Senensky on learning from Playhouse 90 director George Roy Hill

00:37

George Takei

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Ralph Senensky on directing the cast of Star Trek

00:14

Herbert Brodkin

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Ralph Senensky on Playhouse 90 producer Herbert Brodkin

01:07

Herbert F. Solow

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Ralph Senensky on directing the "Obsession" episode of Star Trek and Herb Solow adjusting Senensky's schedule for Jewish holidays

02:26

Ralph Senensky on directing "The Tholian Web" episode of Star Trek and getting fired

04:14

Herbert Hirschman

View Person Page

Ralph Senensky on producer Herbert Hirschman getting him the job on The Twilight Zone

00:51

Ida Lupino

View Person Page

Ralph Senensky on directing an episode of The Wild, Wild West with Ida Lupino

00:45

J. Edgar Hoover

View Person Page

Ralph Senensky on actual F.B.I. input on The F.B.I.

00:17

James Doohan

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Ralph Senensky on directing the cast of Star Trek

00:41

James Komack

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Ralph Senensky on directing Carolyn Jones and building a relationship with James Komack that led to directing The Courtship of Eddie's Father

02:18

John Forsythe

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Ralph Senensky on John Forsythe replacing George Peppard as "Blake Carrington" on Dynasty

01:48

John Frankenheimer

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Ralph Senensky on the Playhouse 90 production of "The Death of Manolete"

04:23

Ralph Senensky on learning from Playhouse 90 director John Frankenheimer

00:46

John Houseman

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Ralph Senensky on Playhouse 90 producer John Houseman

01:34

Ralph Senensky on directing The Paper Chase on Showtime

02:38

Leonard Nimoy

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Ralph Senensky on directing "This Side of Paradise" episode of Star Trek

02:18

Ralph Senensky on controversy over a prop when directing the "Is There No Truth in Beauty?" episode of Star Trek

02:14

Ralph Senensky on directing the cast of Star Trek

01:10

Martin Landau

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Ralph Senensky on directing the cast (Steven Hill, Martin Landau) on Mission: Impossible

01:18

Martin Manulis

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Ralph Senensky on difficulties on a production of "Last Clear Chance" on Playhouse 90

04:33

Ralph Senensky on Playhouse 90 producer Martin Manulis

00:37

Meta Rosenberg

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Ralph Senensky on directing Breaking Point and "The Bull Roarer" episode in which a young man thinks he might be gay

03:52

Mickey Rooney

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Ralph Senensky on an episode of Arrest and Trial shutting down because of JFK's assassination

02:18

Norman Felton

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Ralph Senensky on meeting Norman Felton and how he got his first directing assignment - for Dr. Kildare

04:22

Ralph Senensky on working with Norman Felton

01:45

Paul Muni

View Person Page

Ralph Senensky on difficulties on a production of "Last Clear Chance" on Playhouse 90

04:33

Quinn Martin

View Person Page

Ralph Senensky on Quinn Martin's contributions to the success of The Fugitive

01:46

Raymond Burr

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Ralph Senensky on directing Raymond Burr in Ironside

04:02

Richard Chamberlain

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Ralph Senensky on working with Richard Chamberlain on Dr. Kildare

00:31

Richard Shapiro

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Ralph Senensky on his role in the creation of Dynasty

13:43

Robert Conrad

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Ralph Senensky on directing The Wild, Wild West starring Robert Conrad

01:56

Robert Redford

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Ralph Senensky on Robert Redford being the first choice for the psychiatrist in "The Bull Roarer" episode of Breaking Point

11:12

Robert Wagner

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Ralph Senensky on the chemistry between leads Robert Wagner and Stefanie Powers on Hart to Hart

00:34

Rod Serling

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Ralph Senensky on Rod Serling

02:06

Ron Howard

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Ralph Senensky on Ron Howard guest-starring on the episode "The Gift" on The Waltons

01:50

Ruth Roman

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Ralph Senensky on directing Route 66

08:37

Shirley Jones

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Ralph Senensky on directing the musical numbers on The Partridge Family

01:09

Stefanie Powers

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Ralph Senensky on the chemistry between leads Robert Wagner and Stefanie Powers on Hart to Hart

00:34

Steven Hill

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Ralph Senensky on directing the cast (Steven Hill, Martin Landau) on Mission: Impossible

01:18

William Shatner

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Ralph Senensky on controversy over a prop when directing the "Is There No Truth in Beauty?" episode of Star Trek

02:14

Ralph Senensky on directing "The Tholian Web" episode of Star Trek and getting fired

04:14

Ralph Senensky on directing the cast of Star Trek

01:01

Ralph Senensky on William Shatner controversy on Star Trek

00:40