Latest News from The Interviews

Remembering Sherman Hemsley

 Tue, 07/24/2012 The Archive is sad to report the death of actor Sherman Hemsley , who passed away at the age of 74. Hemsley was best known for playing "George Jefferson" on the All in the Family spin-off The Jeffersons , and "Deacon Earnest Frye" on Amen . He also voiced "B.P. Richfield" on Dinosaurs , had recurring roles on The Love Boat and The Fresh Prince of Bel Air , and enjoyed an active career on Broadway. Below are some selections from Hemsley's 2003 Archive interview: On his screen test for The...

The Seven Dirty Words That Got George Carlin Arrested

 Sat, 07/21/2012 Forty years ago today, on July 21, 1972, George Carlin was arrested for performing "Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television" at Summerfest in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Carlin was subsequently charged with violating obscenity laws, but the case was dismissed in December of '72, with a ruling that Carlin's language was indecent, but not obscene. The following year a similar case entered the court system when a man complained to the Federal Communications Commission after he and his son heard a...

And the Nominees Are...

 Thu, 07/19/2012 The 2012 Primetime Emmy Award season began today with the official nomination announcement at 8:40 AM EST. Congratulations to all the nominees for the 64th Primetime Emmy Awards ! The Archive of American Television would also like to congratulate our interviewees who were nominated this year: Mark Burnett for Outstanding Reality Program ( Shark Tank ) and Outstanding Reality-Competition Program ( The Voice) Kevin Clash for Outstanding Children's Nonfiction, Reality or Reality-Competition...

Remembering William Asher

 Tue, 07/17/2012 The Archive is sad to report that director/producer William Asher passed away on Monday, July 16, 2012 at the age of 90. Asher got his big break at Desilu, first directing episodes of Our Miss Brooks , and then becoming a regular director of I Love Lucy (he directed the famous "Job Switching" episode where Lucy and Ethel work in a candy factory). Asher went on to direct episodes of The Danny Thomas Show , co-created The Patty Duke Show with writer Sidney Sheldon , and created Bewitched for then...

Phyllis Diller Turns 95!

 Tue, 07/17/2012 She was the first female comedian to headline a Vegas Club, the first woman to sneak into the all-male Friar's Club (in drag!), and one of the first successful female stand-up comics. She's also appeared on more Bob Hope Specials than anyone except Bob Hope. Phyllis Diller , who turns 95 today, is not only a television pioneer, but a pioneering force for women in entertainment, as well. Born Phyllis Aida Driver On July 17, 1917 in Lima, Ohio, Diller wanted to be a pianist as a young girl. She...

Remembering Legendary Actor Ernest Borgnine

 Sun, 07/08/2012 We're sad to report that legendary actor Ernest Borgnine died today, July 8th, at the age of 95. The prolific Oscar-winning (for Marty ) and Emmy-nominated actor (for McHale's Navy and ER ), began his carer in early live television, and is best known on TV for his starring roles in McHale's Navy and Airwolf ; plus, he is known to younger generations for his role as "Mermaid Man" on the animated SpongeBob SquarePants . Born Ermes Effron Borgnino on January 24, 1917 in Hamden, Connecticut,...

Remembering Producer Norman Felton

 Thu, 07/05/2012 Noted producer Norman Felton died Monday, July 2nd, at the age of 99 in Woodland Hills, CA. Best known for producing the hit series Dr. Kildare and The Man from U.N.C.L.E . , Felton began his television career in Chicago -- during the medium's first commercial years and worked on such groundbreaking series as Garroway at Large , and These are My Children . He then went to Hollywood where he worked on Robert Montgomery Presents , Playhouse 90 , and Studio One and others, before starting his own...

Remembering Pioneering Television Executive Julian Goodman

 Tue, 07/03/2012 The Archive of American Television is sad to report that former NBC executive Julian Goodman , died Monday, July 2nd, at the age of 90. In 1998, the Archive interviewed him for nearly three-and-a-half hours at his home in Jupiter, FL. During that interview Goodman discussed his years as president of NBC. In addition, he talked about his start at NBC News, when he was a news writer for David Brinkley in 1945. Mr. Goodman also detailed the network's coverage of important news events including...

Remembering Andy Griffith

Tue, 07/03/2012 The Archive is sad to report that actor Andy Griffith passed away this morning at the age of 86. Griffith was best known for his role as "Sheriff Andy Taylor" in The Andy Griffith Show , and also enjoyed success playing the title role in Matlock from 1986-1995. Griffith was also a Grammy winner and talented comedian and singer. Here are some selections from his 1998 Archive interview: On his early comedy routines: On the play "No Time For Sergeants": On how The Andy Griffith Show got started:...

TV's "Guiding Light" Turns 60!

 Sat, 06/30/2012 On the small screen from June 30, 1952 to September 18, 2009, Guiding Light holds the record for longest-running drama in television history. In addition to its 57-year reign on television, The Guiding Light (as it was originally titled) ran from January of 1937-52 on radio. It was the only radio serial to successfully transition to television ( The Brighter Day also made the move, but lasted only eight years.) The show started out at only fifteen minutes long, expanded to thirty minutes in...