About
"Generally speaking, the dramatic roles are much easier. The reason that so few of us are good at comedy is that it's so damned hard. You really have to be good to be very sharp, indeed. Some very, very fine actors are lost in comedy. And they're smart enough never to do it. Have you ever seen Paul Newman in a comedy? He tried one."
In his two-hour interview, Tony Randall (1920-2004) talks about his early years, and his earliest experiences working in television with producer Fred Coe. He talks about appearing on the series Mister Peepers which starred Wally Cox, and details his observations of the Hollywood Blacklist at the time. He recounts working in several feature films, among them Pillow Talk with Rock Hudson and Doris Day, as well as appearing in several variety shows and Bob Hope specials. He details his years as “Felix Unger” on The Odd Couple, including working with co-star Jack Klugman, show creators Garry Marshall and Jerry Belson, and supporting cast Al Molinaro and Penny Marshall. He chronicles his experience with two short-lived series The Tony Randall Show and Love Sidney, and his years as the head of the National Actors Theatre. Matt Roush conducted the interview on April 30, 1998 in New York, NY.
Highlights

Tony Randall on producer Fred Coe

Tony Randall on working with Garry Marshall and Jack Klugman on The Odd Couple

Tony Randall on the low ratings of The Odd Couple

Tony Randall on winning the Emmy Award for playing "Felix Unger" on The Odd Couple, and on the end of the show

Tony Randall on starring on Love, Sidney

Tony Randall on creating the National Actors Theater, and on making cameos on Late Show with David Letterman
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his early life and influences; on making his Broadway debut, and on making a living as a radio announcer early on; on his earliest experiences with television
on his earliest appearances on television including One Man's Family; on the experience of acting on live television in the '50s; on producer Fred Coe, and appearing on the series Mr. Peepers with Wally Cox
Chapter 2
On a typical workweek on Mister Peepers; on Mister Peepers writer Jim Fritzell; on learning to do comedy on Mister Peepers
On the end of Mister Peepers and on appearing on several classic anthology series; on appearing on Studio One and the Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse production of "The Huntress" with Judy Holiday; on the Hollywood Blacklist
On getting into feature films; on replacing Arthur Godfrey for a couple weeks on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts
On appearing in the feature film "Pillow Talk" with Doris Day and Rock Hudson; on working with Delbert Mann
Chapter 3
On appearing in The United States Steel Hour's "Holiday on Wheels" with Sid Caesar and various variety shows; on appearing on Bob Hope Specials
On appearing in the play version of The Odd Couple before he did the movie; on playing "Felix Unger" with different "Oscar Madisons" including Jack Klugman on The Odd Couple; on working with Garry Marshall and Jack Klugman on The Odd Couple
On he and Jack Klugman inserting their own personalities into "Felix Unger" and "Oscar Madison" on The Odd Couple; on Garry Marshall's week-to-week involvement in the production of The Odd Couple; on working his own interests, including ballet and opera, into The Odd Couple
On the process of writing scripts for The Odd Couple, and on the decision to film in front of a live audience; on the low ratings of The Odd Couple;
On the rehearsal process of The Odd Couple, and working with directors like Jerry Paris; on the co-stars of The Odd Couple including Al Molinaro and Penny Marshall
Chapter 4
On individual episodes of The Odd Couple; on winning the Emmy Award for playing "Felix Unger" on The Odd Couple, and on the end of the show; on starring on The Tony Randall Show
On starring on Love, Sidney; on creating the National Actors Theater, and on making cameos on Late Show with David Letterman; on doing The Odd Couple reunion movie
On directing for the National Actors Theater, and on the importance of continuing to work; on career highlights, and on becoming a father late in life; on the then-current state of television, and how he'd like to be remembered
Shows
Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts
Tony Randall on replacing Arthur Godfrey for a couple weeks on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts
Bob Hope Specials
Tony Randall on appearing on Bob Hope Specials
Love, Sidney
Tony Randall on starring on Love, Sidney
Mister Peepers
Tony Randall on being cast on Mr. Peepers and working with Fred Coe and Wally Cox
Tony Randall on a typical workweek on Mister Peepers
Tony Randall on Mister Peepers writer Jim Fritzell
Tony Randall on learning to do comedy on Mister Peepers
Tony Randall on the end of Mister Peepers and on appearing on several classic anthology series
Odd Couple, The (1970-75)
Tony Randall on playing "Felix Unger" with different "Oscar Madisons" including Jack Klugman on The Odd Couple
Tony Randall on appearing in the play version of The Odd Couple before he did the movie
Tony Randall on working with Garry Marshall and Jack Klugman on The Odd Couple
Tony Randall on he and Jack Klugman inserting their own personalities into "Felix Unger" and "Oscar Madison" on The Odd Couple
Tony Randall on Garry Marshall's week-to-week involvement in the production of The Odd Couple
Tony Randall on working his own interests, including ballet and opera, into The Odd Couple
Tony Randall on the process of writing scripts for The Odd Couple, and on the decision to film in front of a live audience
Tony Randall on the low ratings of The Odd Couple
Tony Randall on the rehearsal process of The Odd Couple, and working with directors like Jerry Paris
Tony Randall on the co-stars of The Odd Couple including Al Molinaro and Penny Marshall
Tony Randall on individual episodes of The Odd Couple
Tony Randall on winning the Emmy Award for playing "Felix Unger" on The Odd Couple, and on the end of the show
Tony Randall on doing The Odd Couple reunion movie
One Man's Family
Tony Randall on his earliest appearances on television including One Man's Family
Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse
Tony Randall on appearing on Studio One and the Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse production of "The Huntress" with Judy Holiday
Studio One
Tony Randall on appearing on Studio One and the Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse production of "The Huntress" with Judy Holiday
Tony Randall Show, The
Tony Randall on starring on The Tony Randall Show
United States Steel Hour, The
Tony Randall on appearing in The United States Steel Hour's "Holiday on Wheels" with Sid Caesar and various variety shows
Topics
Anthology Drama
Tony Randall on the experience of acting on live television in the '50s
Emmy Awards
Tony Randall on winning the Emmy for playing "Felix Unger" on The Odd Couple, and on the end of the show
Hollywood Blacklist
Tony Randall on the Hollywood Blacklist
Industry Crossroads
Tony Randall on the Hollywood Blacklist
Television Industry
Tony Randall on the Hollywood Blacklist
Tony Randall on the then-current state of television
TV's Golden Age (1940s & '50s)
Tony Randall on the experience of acting on live television in the '50s
Genres
Comedy Series
Tony Randall on being cast on Mr. Peepers and working with Fred Coe and Wally Cox
Tony Randall on playing Felix Unger on The Odd Couple
Tony Randall starring in The Odd Couple
Tony Randall starring in The Tony Randall Show
Tony Randall on starring on Love, Sidney
Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials
Tony Randall on appearing in The United States Steel Hour's "Holiday on Wheels" with Sid Caesar and various variety shows
Tony Randall on appearing on Bob Hope Specials
Talk Shows
Tony Randall on creating the National Actors Theater, and on making cameos on Late Show with David Letterman
People
Sid Caesar
Tony Randall on appearing in The United States Steel Hour's "Holiday on Wheels" with Sid Caesar and various variety shows
Fred Coe
Tony Randall on being cast on Mr. Peepers and working with Fred Coe and Wally Cox
Tony Randall on producer Fred Coe
Wally Cox
Tony Randall on being cast on Mr. Peepers and working with Fred Coe and Wally Cox
Doris Day
Tony Randall on appearing in the feature film "Pillow Talk" with Doris Day and Rock Hudson
Bob Hope
Tony Randall on appearing on Bob Hope Specials
Rock Hudson
Tony Randall on appearing in the feature film "Pillow Talk" with Doris Day and Rock Hudson
Jack Klugman
Tony Randall on working with Garry Marshall and Jack Klugman on The Odd Couple
Delbert Mann
Tony Randall on working with Delbert Mann
Garry Marshall
Tony Randall on working with Garry Marshall and Jack Klugman on The Odd Couple
Tony Randall on Garry Marshall's week-to-week involvement in the production of The Odd Couple
Penny Marshall
Tony Randall on the co-stars of The Odd Couple including Al Molinaro and Penny Marshall
Al Molinaro
Tony Randall on the co-stars of The Odd Couple including Al Molinaro and Penny Marshall
Jerry Paris
Tony Randall on the rehearsal process of The Odd Couple, and working with directors like Jerry Paris