Saturday, September 20, 2008

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

The Hollywood Palace with host Tennessee Ernie Ford and guests Ann Miller, Jack Carter and Edie Adams (1965)

Okay, I understand that you might not have the time or even the desire to watch all of these Hollywood Palace installments so let me just suggest you do this. Watch the first two and a half minutes of the final video from this episode - and let Tennessee Ernie blow your mind. You'll be glad you did. Seriously.

The Hollywood Palace with host Englebert Humperdinck and guests Nancy Ames, Sid Caesar, Jack E. Leonard and Gladys Knight and the Pips (1969) - Footage Offline - 09/10/10

Of all the episodes I'm posting today and have posted recently (well, that Denbobboy has posted actually) this is by far my fave. Jack E. Leonard was getting up there in age by the time of this appearance and would die less than four years later. The brief appearance of the unimpressed pianist accompanying Leonard is reminiscent of Don Rickles' live act - and makes me wonder if the idea was borrowed from Leonard's act. There was a wee bit of controversy/hostility around Rickles' act when he first made the scene in the fifties - not because of his insult style - but because some thought his persona resembled Jack E. Leonard's a bit too much.

Monday, September 15, 2008