TRIBUTE TO "MR. TELEVISION," A: MILTON BERLE (TV)
Summary
This special honors the television career of funny-man Milton Berle. Berle's friends and colleagues pay tribute to the comedian, speaking of their personal relationships and often introducing clips of Berle's work -- ranging from his stardom on "The Milton Berle Show" to guest appearances on "The Muppet Show" and various television specials. First, Bob Hope and Kirk Douglas introduce Berle, both crediting him as the foundation of television comedy. Next, Johnny Carson takes the stage, tells a few jokes, and introduces clips that include Berle's use of props. Marlo Thomas explains that when she was a child Berle would come to her birthday parties dressed as a clown; she introduces clips of Berle with famous faces including Cole Porter, Nat "King" Cole, Frank Sinatra, Martha Raye, Tallulah Bankhead, Edward G. Robinson, Elvis Presley, Peter Lorre, Carl Sandburg, and Jack Benny. George Carlin reads a letter to Berle, joking that he should send it registered in case Berle decides to use some of the jokes it contains. Next, entertainers Donny and Marie Osmond introduce clips demonstrating Berle's musical talent as he performs with the Borrah Minnevitch Rascals and the Metropolitan Opera Sextet. Joey Bishop introduces clips in which Berle turns mistakes into comedy. These include such luminaries as Martha Raye, Charles Coburn, Eddie "Rochester" Anderson, Laurence Harvey, and Jack Benny. Muppet Kermit the Frog discusses everything he learned from working with Berle and introduces clips of a running gag throughout Berle's career in which the comedian is hit with powder by someone yelling "makeup." Clips of Frank Sinatra on "The Milton Berle Show" precede Sinatra's heartfelt thanks to his longtime friend. Gabriel Kaplan also briefly thanks the comic, and Flip Wilson, in drag, introduces clips of Berle in the same mode, featuring Tony Martin, Carmen Miranda, Jackie Gleason, and Mickey Rooney. Actress Angie Dickinson reminds viewers that Berle was an actor as well as a comic and introduces a clip from his role in "Doyle Against the House." Carl Reiner reveals that Berle and his guests on "The Milton Berle Show" never used cue cards in an introduction to various clips from that show that feature Arthur Treacher; Gracie Fields; Robert Alda; Red Skelton; Cyril Ritchard; and Sammy Davis, Jr. Next, Gene Kelly introduces clips that showcase Berle as a dancer. Don Rickles briefly jokes and then offers a short tribute. In the following segment, Lucille Ball recalls Berle's graciousness to the women with whom he worked and introduces clips of the comedian with Joan Davis, Barbara Heller, and herself. Finally, Gregory Peck introduces Berle, who takes the stage to a standing ovation from the audience. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE: March 26, 1978 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:49:48
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:55005
- GENRE: Specials
- SUBJECT HEADING: Comedians; Comedy
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV, 1978
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Jerry Frank … Executive Producer
- Bill Carruthers … Producer, Director
- Barry Koeb … Researcher
- Hallie Stich … Researcher
- Marty Farrell … Writer
- Buddy Arnold … Writing (Misc.), Creative Consultant
- Jack Elliott … Music by
- Allyn Ferguson … Music by
- Robert Alda
- Anderson, Eddie "Rochester"
- Lucille Ball
- Tallulah Bankhead
- Jack Benny
- Milton Berle
- Joey Bishop
- Borrah Minnevitch Rascals, The
- George Carlin
- Johnny Carson
- Charles Coburn
- Cole, Nat "King"
- Joan Davis
- Sammy Davis Jr.
- Angie Dickinson
- Kirk Douglas
- Gracie Fields
- Jackie Gleason
- Laurence Harvey
- Barbara Heller
- Bob Hope
- Gabriel Kaplan
- Gene Kelly
- Kermit the Frog
- Peter Lorre
- Tony Martin
- Metropolitan Opera Sextet, The
- Carmen Miranda
- Donny Osmond
- Marie Osmond
- Gregory Peck
- Cole Porter
- Elvis Presley
- Martha Raye
- Carl Reiner
- Don Rickles
- Cyril Ritchard
- Edward G. Robinson
- Mickey Rooney
- Carl Sandburg
- Frank Sinatra
- Red Skelton
- Marlo Thomas
- Arthur Treacher
- Flip Wilson