Latest News from The Interviews

Happy St. Patrick's Day

 Wed, 03/17/2010 The Archive of American Television is getting in the St. Paddy’s Day spirit by recognizing some of the most beloved Irish-American television greats. So, if green beer isn’t your thing, but you’d still like to celebrate, EMMYTVLEGENDS.ORG presents a few Irishmen (and women) who deserve some recognition. Carroll O’Connor : All in the Family star Carroll O'Connor used the stage name George Roberts in the 1950s, until famed Irish actor Cyril Cusack convinced him to reclaim his name and embrace his...

You weren't the only one whose sister forced you to watch "Little House on the Prairie"

 Mon, 03/15/2010 The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences hosted "An Evening with Modern Family " on March 3rd. Short interviews with the show's ensemble on the press line are now posted on the Archive's new page for Modern Family . Hear Ed O'Neill comment on how he wasn't looking to do a sitcom, but the writing was too good to pass up; Sofia Vergara talk about the camraderie on the set; Julie Bowen say how Modern Family reflects her own family. Plus, don't miss: show co-creator Steve Levitan and cast...

"The Untouchables" Aired a Potent Series Episode Fifty Years Ago Today

 Wed, 03/10/2010 As so aptly noted by The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows : "With the chatter of machine-gun fire and the squeal of tires on Chicago streets, The Untouchables brought furious controversy— and big ratings— to ABC in the early 1960s." This was no more evident than in the March 10, 1960 episode "The White Slavers." Although one wouldn't think an episode about the abduction of young Mexican women for the purposes of prostitution to be a subject for 1960 prime time...

Stephen J. Cannell on "Wiseguy"

 Mon, 03/08/2010 Wiseguy: The Collector's Edition gets released on DVD tomorrow. Although short-lived (it ran from 1987-90), Wiseguy garnered Emmy nominations for Best Drama series and acting nominations for star Ken Wahl and supporting player Jonathan Banks; Wahl was awarded the Golden Globe. Harry and Wally's Favorite TV Shows (by Harry Castleman & Walter J. Podrazik), said of the then-contemporary series: "When producer Stephen J. Cannell gets it right, he somehow manages to combine action, adventure,...

The Monsters Were Due on Maple Street Fifty Years Ago Today

 Thu, 03/04/2010 One of The Twilight Zone 's best remembered episodes— and a staple of Twilight Zone marathons— is the first season's "The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street." Scripted by Rod Serling, it's one of the series' social commentaries-- on how easily ones neighbors can turn against each other. It stars Claude Akins and Jack Weston, and among the supporting cast is young actor Burt Metcalfe . Metcalfe would become an Emmy-nominated producer ( M*A*S*H ) in later years. Watch what he had to say about this...

"Moonlighting" Silver Anniversary Today

 Wed, 03/03/2010 25 years and the Anselmo case is still unsolved. On March 3, 1985 Moonlighting debuted and a beloved television classic was born. Moonlighting fans have remained in such full force that an online petition prompted the release of all five seasons of the show on DVD. And could Bruce & Cybill and Allyce & Curtis reunite for a feature film? That's a dream sequence all Moonlighting fans hope for. 1980s shows such as Hill Street Blues , The Cosby Show , and Roseanne are often cited as...

As Leno Returns, a Look Back to Where NBC Late Night Began

 Mon, 03/01/2010 Starting tonight, Jay Leno returns to his Tonight Show berth, continuing the hosting duties he initially began in 1992. The Tonight Show 's long history started with Steve Allen (photo, left), who hosted the local WNBT-TV Tonight from June of 1953, going national on September 27, 1954. When Allen launched a prime time series in the summer of 1956, he cut back his Tonight hosting to Wednesday through Friday, and a series of guest hosts did the Monday-Tuesday hosting (eventually Ernie Kovacs took...

"Your Show of Shows" 60th Anniversary

 Thu, 02/25/2010 Sixty years ago today Your Show of Shows debuted, creating a blueprint for American TV sketch comedy to come. The forerunner of such shows as The Carol Burnett Show and Saturday Night Live , Your Show of Shows is a touchstone of the kind of programming for which the Golden Age of Television is known. Following the demise of the short-lived 1949 series Admiral Broadway Revue , many of the talents from that show were assembled to make up Your Show of Shows , including producer Max Liebman,...

Jack Benny Puts Up His Own Money

 Mon, 02/22/2010 Jack Benny was pained to part with his money. So ingrained was this part of the Jack Benny persona that on his radio program, among his biggest laughs came when a robber held him up demanding "Your money or your life?" prompting a long pause from Benny... who finally said "I'm thinking it over!" In the 1950s, when Benny's popular radio show made the transition to TV (where it had a fifteen year run), audiences were well aware of Benny's penchant for stinginess. So his appearance on quiz show...