Latest News from The Interviews

Sid Caesar on "Your Show of Shows," and "Caesar's Hour"

 Sun, 12/27/2009 Sid Caesar's Archive of American Television Interview is now fully catalogued. Caesar is a seminal figure in early TV comedy and one of the first recipients of the Emmy Award for Best Actor (in 1952). Interview description: Sid Caesar emphasizes the challenge of doing live TV in the early days of the medium: “Doing a show live on television is a different animal altogether than doing TV today. I mean on tape, that's like relaxing. That's like going on vacation!” He recounts his early years as a...

The Archive Features "How the Grinch Stole Christmas!"

 Fri, 12/25/2009 The Archive has now posted a page for How the Grinch Stole Christmas , featuring animation producer/director Chuck Jones and the voice of Cindy Lou Who herself, June Foray. The perennial TV special first aired on CBS on December 18, 1966. Sponsored by the Foundation for Commercial Banks, Variety noted, "one can wonder at whom [the] sponsor... was making that quiet pitch." Variety raved apropos to the times: "Christmas kiddie programming on the networks somewhat resembles a Christmas truce in...

Tiny Tim Married Miss Vicki on "The Tonight Show" 40 Years Ago Today

 Thu, 12/17/2009 A pop culture moment in TV occurred when singer Tiny Tim married Victoria Mae "Miss Vicki" Budinger on December 17, 1969 on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson . Tiny Tim had gained prominence for his odd appearance and falsetto voice, playing the ukulele and singing such songs as "Tiptoe Through the Tulips." When he mentioned to Johnny Carson that he was engaged, Carson casually suggested that he should get married on the show. In what certainly came off as a publicity stunt, the two were...

"The Simpsons" At 20

 Wed, 12/16/2009 Tomorrow marks the 20th anniversary of The Simpsons . The Christmas-themed special "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire," was the first show to air (following the Simpsons earlier appearances on The Tracey Ullman Show ), after which the series resumed on January 14, 1990, to become the longest-running American primetime entertainment series. The current Emmy magazine (Issue #6, 2009) features a cover story celebrating The Simpsons ' 20th. Within Emmy magazine's pages you'll find a listing of...

Roy E. Disney Dies at Age 79-- Archive Interview Online

 Wed, 12/16/2009 Interview Description: Roy E. Disney was interviewed for two-and-a-half hours plus in Burbank, CA. He described the early history of the Disney company and the role that his father, Roy O. Disney, and uncle Walt Disney, had in its creation and early years. He related his childhood recollections of some of Disney’s work including the company’s first feature-length animated film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs . He talked about his first job out of college, in guest relations at NBC. He then...

Carl Reiner Makes an Historic Appearance on "The Tonight Show Starring Conan O'Brien"

 Fri, 12/11/2009 Carl Reiner was Conan O'Brien's guest on The Tonight Show yesterday and as he was introduced Conan noted that Reiner had been on all the major versions of The Tonight Show with previous hosts Steve Allen, Jack Paar, Johnny Carson, and Jay Leno. Find a link to Carl Reiner's appearance with Conan on the Archive's Carl Reiner interview page, and watch Reiner's interview where he discusses his legendary career in television which dates back to the late 1940s.

Technical Director Heino Ripp Has Died-- Archive Interview Online

 Wed, 12/09/2009 Technical Director Heino Ripp , who worked at NBC for several decades, and served on such classic series as Your Show of Shows and The Perry Como Show , has died at the age of 84. Interview Description: Heino Ripp was interviewed for three hours in Lake Hopatcong, NJ. Ripp recalled his earliest days at NBC in the NBC Development Group, working alongside engineers who were creating the modern television system. He discussed his transition to working as a technical director, and explained the...

CBS Cancels "As the World Turns" Ending its Over 50-Year Run

 Tue, 12/08/2009 Variety announced today that As the World Turns will end its run in September 2010. When Guiding Light aired its last episode on September 18, 2009 after a 57-year run on television, As the World Turns , which debuted on April 2, 1956, was the inevitable successor of the title "longest-ever soap opera"-- but will now fall short of that "all-time" record. When As the World Turns goes off the air, General Hospital will replace it as the oldest soap on TV ( GH debuted on April 1, 1963). Both...

Irma Kusely, Lucille Ball's Hairstylist, Has Died at Age 95-- Archive Interview Online Soon

 Tue, 12/08/2009 The Make-Up Artists & Hair Stylists Guild periodical The Artisan reports that Ms. Kusely died on July 29, 2009. The Guild notes that she was the first hair stylist to receive screen credit on television, for I Love Lucy . Kusely spent several decades with Lucille Ball, working on her series The Lucy Show , Here's Lucy , and Life with Lucy . Interview Description: Irma Kusely was interviewed for three hours in Burbank, CA. Ms. Kusely described her early work as a wig stylist at MGM. She...

"Murder, She Wrote" Silver Anniversary

 Thu, 12/03/2009 One of the most highly-rated shows of the '80s/early '90s, Murder, She Wrote has endured in syndication and on DVD. Murder, She Wrote made its debut on September 30, 1984 and became a Sunday night fixture following 60 Minutes . Screen star Angela Lansbury played mystery novelist turned amateur detective Jessica Fletcher and was nominated for an Emmy Award for all twelve seasons of the show. Watch Archive interviews with star Angela Lansbury as well as co-creator William Link , and others in the...