Sam Lovullo

Producer
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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About
About this interview

In his five-hour interview, Sam Lovullo (1928-2017) talks about growing up in Buffalo, NY, and moving to Los Angeles at age fifteen. He describes his first job in television, as chief accountant for CBS business affairs. He discusses moving into production with The Jonathan Winters Show, on which he became an associate producer. Lovullo then discusses in great detail his long association with the popular syndicated series Hee Haw, which he produced in Nashville. He speaks about several of the series regulars, including Roy Clark, Buck Owens, Minnie Pearl, and Louis "Grandpa" Jones, as well as several featured country music guest stars. He describes the origins of some of the show's signature elements, including the musical segment "Pffft You Was Gone" and the cast's antics in the "Kornfield." He talks about the show's growth in syndication as well as the need for syndicated shows following the FCC's prime access rule. Finally, he talks about his work with the Country Music Association. Stephen J. Abramson conducted the interview on February 3, 2005 in Encino, CA.

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

"Lord only knows how many times I would go to the Grand Ole Opry, not to be seen, I'd hide behind the curtains so that I could understand their kind of comedy. To understand what the artists were doing. After a while, it became a habit, and people knew I was doing it. They'd say, 'Come on over and talk to us, Sam.'"

People Talking About ...
Sam Lovullo
Highlights
Sam Lovullo on Buck Owens and Roy Clark's "Picking and grinning" segments on Hee Haw, and other recurring bits
04:09
Sam Lovullo on his favorite guests on Hee Haw, including Ray Charles, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Paul Anka
09:57
Sam Lovullo on the need that Hee Haw filled in the culture when it premiered, and why the show worked
03:35
Sam Lovullo on Minnie Pearl on Hee Haw
06:34
Sam Lovullo on how the city of Nashville reacted to the production of Hee Haw
03:30
Sam Lovullo on producing Swing Out, Sweet Land, starring John Wayne
06:30
Full Interview

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Chapter 1
On his early life; on his early influences, and music he listened to growing up; on going to work in the CBS accounting office
On his earliest memories of television; on his day-to-day duties in accounting at CBS; on how the invention of video tape changed the industry

Chapter 2
On getting into producing at CBS; on breaking down a show from a business affairs standpoint; on handling business affairs for The Judy Garland Show
On working with Perry Lafferty at CBS, and on bringing on Hee Haw as a summer replacement; on The Jonathan Winters Show; on Jonathan Winters being in the cast of Hee Haw

Chapter 3
On planting his wife in the audience at The Jonathan Winters Show; on the genesis of Hee Haw, and on deciding to do the show in Nashville; on the development of Hee Haw
On finding the "voice" for Hee Haw, and on the cast of the show; on the Hee Haw theme song; on the need that Hee Haw filled in the culture when it premiered, and why the show worked

Chapter 4
On working with the unions on the production of Hee Haw; on the crew of Hee Haw; on how the city of Nashville reacted to the production of the show
On advertisers' initial reactions to Hee Haw; on the production schedule for Hee Haw; on the studio audience for Hee Haw

Chapter 5
On working with Roy Clark and Buck Owens on Hee Haw; on the Hee Haw being cancelled by CBS and going into syndication; on Buck Owens leaving Hee Haw, and on Roy Clark hosting it alone
On Archie Campbell and the Hager twins on Hee Haw; on Grandpa Jones on Hee Haw; on Lulu Roman and David "Stringbean" Akeman on Hee Haw

Chapter 6
On Junior Samples on Hee Haw; on Minnie Pearl on Hee Haw; on Misty Rowe on Hee Haw
On Slim Pickens on Hee Haw; on George "Goober" Lindsey and Pat Buttram on Hee Haw; on the production schedule of Hee Haw

Chapter 7
On the "Hee Haw Honeys" on Hee Haw, including Kathie Lee Gifford; on the recurring skits and bits on Hee Haw
On Buck Owens and Roy Clark's "Picking and grinning" segments on Hee Haw, and other recurring bits; on the Minnie Pearl's Schoolhouse sketches on Hee Haw; on the guest-stars of Hee Haw, and their wardrobe

Chapter 8
On the humor of Hee Haw; on dealing with record companies and artists once Hee Haw got popular
On his favorite guests on Hee Haw, including Ray Charles, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Paul Anka; on selling Hee Haw in syndication; on Gaylord Productions, Hee Haw's early production company

Chapter 9
On Hee Haw and Gaylord Productions; on where Hee Haw was most popular, and on revamping the show towards the end of its run; on the end of the show
On the legacy of Hee Haw in terms of launching the careers of country singers; on what it was like on the set of Hee Haw when the show was cancelled, and on the longevity of the show; on producing Swing Out, Sweet Land, starring John Wayne

Chapter 10
On producing a gospel show in Canada; on the Hollywood Blacklist; on career highlights
On then-current projects; on his involvement with the Country Music Association; on career highlights and regrets
On advice to aspiring producers; on how he'd like to be remembered
Shows

Hee Haw

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Sam Lovullo on getting into producing at CBS, and on associate producing The Jonathan Winters Show, and on the inception of Hee Haw
05:44
San Lovullo on working with Perry Lafferty at CBS, and on bringing on Hee Haw as a summer replacement
04:37
Sam Lovullo on the genesis of Hee Haw, and on deciding to do the show in Nashville
03:20
Sam Lovullo on the development of Hee Haw
03:00
Sam Lovullo on finding the "voice" for Hee Haw, and on the cast of the show
04:00
Sam Lovullo on the Hee Haw theme song
04:15
Sam Lovullo on the need that Hee Haw filled in the culture when it premiered, and why the show worked
03:35
Sam Lovullo on the bloopers of Hew Haw, often left in, and on the set design of the show
06:05
Sam Lovullo on working with the unions on the production of Hee Haw
03:06
Sam Lovullo on the crew of Hee Haw
05:26
Sam Lovullo on how the city of Nashville reacted to the production of Hee Haw, and on trying to do a reunion show
03:31
Sam Lovullo on advertisers initial reactions to Hee Haw
03:03
Sam Lovullo on the production schedule for Hee Haw
08:05
Sam Lovullo on the studio audience for Hee Haw
03:16
Sam Lovullo on the cast of Hee Haw
02:43
Sam Lovullo on working with Roy Clark and Buck Owens on Hee Haw
08:12
Sam Lovullo on the Hee Haw being cancelled by CBS and going into syndication
05:19
Sam Lovullo on Buck Owens leaving Hee Haw, and on Roy Clark hosting it alone
03:15
Sam Lovullo on Archie Campbell on Hee Haw
03:04
Sam Lovullo on the Hager twins on Hee Haw
00:36
Sam Lovullo on Grandpa Jones on Hee Haw
02:17
Sam Lovullo on Lulu Roman on Hee Haw
02:32
Sam Lovullo on David "Stringbean" Akeman on Hee Haw
02:35
Sam Lovullo on Junior Samples on Hee Haw
07:43
Sam Lovullo on Minnie Pearl on Hee Haw
06:34
Sam Lovullo on Misty Rowe on Hee Haw
01:48
Sam Lovullo on Slim Pickens on Hee Haw
03:36
Sam Lovullo on George "Goober" Lindsey on Hee Haw
03:04
Sam Lovullo on Pat Buttram on Hee Haw
00:52
Sam Lovullo on the production schedule of Hee Haw
05:34
Sam Lovullo on the "Hee Haw Honeys" on Hee Haw, including Kathie Lee Gifford
05:03
Sam Lovullo on the recurring skits and bits on Hee Haw
13:14
Sam Lovullo on Buck Owens and Roy Clark's "Picking and grinning" segments on Hee Haw, and other recurring bits
04:09
Sam Lovullo on the Minnie Pearl's Schoolhouse sketches on Hee Haw
01:03
Sam Lovullo on the guest stars of Hee Haw, and their wardrobe
05:22
Sam Lovullo on the humor of Hee Haw
06:09
Sam Lovullo on dealing with record companies and artists once Hee Haw got popular
08:29
Sam Lovullo on his favorite guests on Hee Haw, including Ray Charles, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Paul Anka
09:57
Sam Lovullo on selling Hee Haw in syndication
02:50
Sam Lovullo on Gaylord Productions, Hee Haw's early production company
02:00
Sam Lovullo on Hee Haw and Gaylord Productions
03:45
Sam Lovullo on where Hee Haw was most popular, and on revamping the show towards the end of its run
04:40
Sam Lovullo on the end of Hee Haw
02:46
Sam Lovullo on the legacy of Hee Haw in terms of launching the careers of country singers
06:54
Sam Lovullo on what it was like on the set of Hee Haw when the show was cancelled, and on the longevity of the show
04:16

Jonathan Winters Show, The (1967-69)

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Sam Lovullo on getting into producing at CBS, and on associate producing The Jonathan Winters Show, and on the inception of Hee Haw
05:44
San Lovullo on The Jonathan Winters Show
04:25
San Lovullo on Jonathan Winters being in the cast of Hee Haw
02:38
San Lovullo on the cast and guest-stars of The Jonathan Winters Show
03:52
Sam Lovullo on planting his wife in the audience at The Jonathan Winters Show
03:52

Judy Garland Show, The

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Sam Lovullo on handling business affairs for The Judy Garland Show
01:32
Topics

Advice

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Sam Lovullo on advice to aspiring producers
01:40

Bloopers

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Sam Lovullo on the bloopers of Hew Haw, often left in, and on the set design of the show
06:05

Hollywood Blacklist

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Sam Lovullo on the Hollywood Blacklist
00:50

Industry Crossroads

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Sam Lovullo on the Hollywood Blacklist
00:50

Pop Culture

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Sam Lovullo on the Hee Haw theme song
04:15

TV Theme Songs

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Sam Lovullo on the Hee Haw theme song
04:15

Technological Innovation

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Sam Lovullo on how the invention of video tape changed the industry, and on transitioning into business affairs
07:34

Television Industry

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Sam Lovullo on the Hollywood Blacklist
00:50
Sam Lovullo on advice to aspiring producers
01:40
Professions

Executives

View Profession
Sam Lovullo on breaking down a show from a business affairs standpoint
05:20

Producers

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Sam Lovullo on advice to aspiring producers
01:40

Television Executive

View Profession
Sam Lovullo on breaking down a show from a business affairs standpoint
05:20
Genres

Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials

View Genre
Sam Lovullo on producing Hee Haw and The Jonathan Winters Show
28:09
Sam Lovullo on producing Hee Haw
24:16
Sam Lovullo on producing Hee Haw
29:09
San Lovullo on producing Hee Haw
28:00
Sam Lovullo on producing Hee Haw
29:12
Sam Lovullo on producing Hee Haw
28:55
Sam Lovullo on producing Hee Haw
29:25
Sam Lovullo on producing Hee Haw
22:23
Sam Lovullo on producing Swing Out, Sweet Land
05:54
People

George Lindsey

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Sam Lovullo on George "Goober" Lindsey on Hee Haw
03:04

John Wayne

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Sam Lovullo on producing Swing Out, Sweet Land, starring John Wayne
06:30

Jonathan Winters

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San Lovullo on Jonathan Winters being in the cast of Hee Haw
02:38
San Lovullo on the cast and guest-stars of The Jonathan Winters Show
03:52
Sam Lovullo on planting his wife in the audience at The Jonathan Winters Show
03:52

Judy Garland

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Sam Lovullo on handling business affairs for The Judy Garland Show
01:32

Kathie Lee Gifford

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on the "Hee Haw Honeys" on Hee Haw, including Kathie Lee Gifford
05:03

Minnie Pearl

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Sam Lovullo on Minnie Pearl on Hee Haw
06:34

Pat Buttram

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Sam Lovullo on Pat Buttram on Hee Haw
00:52

Paul Anka

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Sam Lovullo on his favorite guests on Hee Haw, including Ray Charles, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Paul Anka
09:57

Perry Lafferty

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San Lovullo on working with Perry Lafferty at CBS, and on bringing on Hee Haw as a summer replacement
04:37

Ray Charles

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Sam Lovullo on his favorite guests on Hee Haw, including Ray Charles, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Paul Anka
09:57

Roy Clark

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Sam Lovullo on working with Roy Clark and Buck Owens on Hee Haw
08:12
Sam Lovullo on Buck Owens leaving Hee Haw, and on Roy Clark hosting it alone
03:16

Sammy Davis, Jr.

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Sam Lovullo on his favorite guests on Hee Haw, including Ray Charles, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Paul Anka
09:57

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