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AMERICAN MASTERS: JACK PAAR: "AS I WAS SAYING. . ." (TV)

Summary

One in this documentary series that explores the lives and achievements of America's most celebrated native-born and adopted artists and performers. This edition uses still photos, footage of television appearances, and interviews with colleagues and the subject himself to examine the career of Jack Paar, "the midnight Edward R. Murrow." This talk-show host was known for his art of conversation and for his ability to attract personalities who ordinarily would not think of appearing on an ad-lib television program.

The documentary begins with clips of Paar interviews with Jack Benny, Buddy Hackett, Richard Nixon, and Bill Cosby and of his appearance as a guest on "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson," after which it presents a brief account of his early days in broadcasting. In portions of an interview on "The David Letterman Show," Paar remembers his childhood stuttering problem and explains its influence on the movie "The King of Comedy"; he also recalls his experiences as a radio announcer. He was at the microphone during Orson Welles's famous "War of the Worlds" broadcast and for the announcement of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Paar's career really began, however, in the army during World War II. Director Paul Keyes calls him "the voice of the enlisted man" of the day; Paar read monologues and emceed programs, including one that led to his arrest, according to director Hy Averback. Following NBC footage of "A Funny Thing Happened to Me on the Way to Hollywood," in which Paar jokes about his appearance in the movies, the film shows footage of his first movie role in "Variety Time," in which he does a comic dance routine; he is also shown in "Love Nest," in which he is infatuated with Marilyn Monroe.

After temporarily sitting in for Jack Benny on his television show and working with Hy Averback, Larry Gelbart, Hans Conried, and Ed Sullivan, Paar replaced Walter Cronkite on CBS's "The Morning Show." Director Hal Gurnee talks about NBC's decision to ask Paar to revive "The Tonight Show" after Steve Allen's departure, and he credits Paar with inventing the current talk show format, in which witty guests engage in conversation. Segments of the program shown here include the first episode, introduced by future co-host Hugh Downs; a clip in which society columnist Elsa Maxwell recalls Queen Elizabeth's elegant dismissal of an opera by William Walton; a conversation with Genevieve; Jonathan Winters' impersonation of an effeminate forest sprite; Jim Henson's Kermit the Frog's altercation with a mysterious worm; and Woody Allen's tale of his battle with electrical appliances. Averback, Gurnee, and Walter Cronkite comment on the craftsmanship of Paar's jokes, after which footage is shown of his monologues concerning his family and his dog. A segment of "The Tonight Show" featuring Godfrey Cambridge joking about the Black experience comes next, followed by Bill Cosby's well know routine about Noah's ark; Cosby goes on to characterize Paar as a pioneer in encouraging Black performers to expand their base of material. Next, segments of the program taped in unusual locations include scenes of Paar inadvertently insulting the residents of Hawaii; posing as a bullfighter in Madrid; impersonating locals and practicing karate with Buddy Hackett and Hans Conried in Japan; and taping an interview with Judy Garland in London, in which she tells a comical story about Marlene Dietrich's eccentricities. Paar's involvement in serious issues is showcased in a clip of his visit to the Molokai Leper Colony and a discussion with Billy Graham.

Averback comments on Paar's mastery of listening to his guests; the film then shows Jayne Mansfield speaking about her new, more serious image, and Genevieve and Reiko having some fun. Paar explains that he particularly enjoyed interviewing the British because of their love of the English language; Malcolm Muggeridge appears discussing the comedy of sex, Peter Ustinov tells a story about playing a scene with Laurence Olivier, and Richard Burton recalls performing for Winston Churchill. As an example of Paar's exemplary juxtaposition of guests, the documentary shows a clip of one "Tonight Show" in which Liberace accompanies Cassius Clay on the piano as the fighter reads one of his "poems." Known for getting guests to open up, Paar is shown talking to Barry Goldwater; John F. Kennedy; Robert Kennedy, discussing the legacy of his assassinated brother; and Richard Nixon, who plays one of his musical compositions on the piano. After some clips of Paar's "African Diary," filmed on location, Downs and Gurnee discuss the talk-show host's personal on-air grievances with Ed Sullivan and Walter Winchell. Next comes an examination of his brief departure from the airwaves after the network cut one of his jokes. Final segments depict his variety show, "The Jack Paar Program"; these include footage of Debbie Reynolds attempting to ravage Paar, of Paar clowning around with Robert Goulet and Judy Garland, and of his final appearance on the program on June 25, 1965.

Cataloging of this program was made possible by Rosalind P. Walter, 1999.

Details

  • NETWORK: PBS WNET New York, NY
  • DATE: May 7, 1997 9:00 PM
  • RUNNING TIME: 1:56:47
  • COLOR/B&W: Color
  • CATALOG ID: T:57502
  • GENRE: Arts documentaries
  • SUBJECT HEADING: Talk-show hosts; Television personalities; Comedy
  • SERIES RUN: PBS - TV series, 1986-
  • COMMERCIALS: N/A

CREDITS

  • Michael Macari, Jr. … Producer, Director
  • Bruce Colgate … Co-Producer, Animation , Title Animation by
  • Peter Jay Gould … Animation, Title Animation by, Researcher
  • For "American Masters":
  • Susan Lacy … Executive Producer
  • Tamar Hacker … Senior Producer
  • Jac Venza … Executive Director
  • Karen Bernstein … Associate Producer
  • Thomas Wagner … Theme Music by
  • Steve Allen
  • Woody Allen
  • Hy Averback
  • Jack Benny
  • Richard Burton
  • Godfrey Cambridge
  • Johnny Carson
  • Winston Churchill
  • Clay, Cassius (See also: Ali, Muhammad)
  • Hans Conried
  • Bill Cosby
  • Walter Cronkite
  • Marlene Dietrich
  • Hugh Downs
  • Elizabeth II, Queen of Great Britain
  • Judy Garland
  • Larry Gelbart
  • Genevieve
  • Barry Goldwater
  • Robert Goulet
  • Billy Graham
  • Hal Gurnee
  • Buddy Hackett
  • Jim Henson
  • John F. Kennedy
  • Robert F. Kennedy
  • Paul Keyes
  • David Letterman
  • Liberace
  • Jayne Mansfield
  • Elsa Maxwell
  • Marilyn Monroe
  • Malcolm Muggeridge
  • Richard M. Nixon
  • Laurence Olivier
  • Jack Paar
  • Reiko
  • Debbie Reynolds
  • Ed Sullivan
  • Peter Ustinov
  • William Walton
  • Orson Welles
  • Walter Winchell
  • Jonathan Winters