Summary

The seventh in this eight-part documentary hosted and narrated by Edwin Newman, which examines the history and development of the television medium and its role in society. This part uses clips and interviews to examine the development of "light entertainment" genres such as the variety show, the talk show, and the game show. Topics covered include the variety show's decline in popularity; the 1950s quiz show scandals; and game shows and variety shows in other countries. Those interviewed include writer/producer Larry Gelbart; producer George Schlatter; Merv Griffin; game show host Wink Martindale; Les Brown, editor of Channels magazine; Jack Barry, host of "21"; and Steve Carlin, executive producer of "The $64,000 Question." Included are clips of "Hollywood Palace" with Bing Crosby (1965); "Your Hit Parade" (1951); "The Lawrence Welk Show" (1955); "Arthur Godfrey and His Friends"; "The Perry Como Show"; "Another Evening with Fred Astaire"; "My Name is Barbra"; "The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour"; "The Carol Burnett Show" (the comedy sketch "Went With the Wind"); "Motown: Yesterday, Today, Forever" with Michael Jackson; MTV video clips, featuring Elvis Costello, The Cars, and Peter Gabriel; musical variety from Brazil, Italy, East Germany, and Egypt; Griffin interviewing John Wayne; the first episode of "The Tonight Show," starring Steve Allen, live from the Hudson Theatre in New York City, 1954, and later episodes with hosts Jack Paar and Johnny Carson (guests Oscar Levant, Beatrice Lillie, and Dudley Moore); Dick Cavett interviewing Marcello Mastroianni and Sophia Loren; "The Oprah Winfrey Show"; "The Dr. Ruth Show" with guest Cyndi Lauper; "Donahue"; "Wheel of Fortune"; "Judge for Yourself" with host Fred Allen, 1953; "Break the Bank" with host Bert Parks; "I've Got a Secret"; "Queen for a Day"; "The Price Is Right" with host Bill Cullen; "To Tell the Truth"; Charles Van Doren making a statement about the quiz show scandals; "Play Your Hunch" with host Griffin, 1961; "What's My Line," with guest celebrities Edgar Bergen, Ernie Kovacs, Elizabeth Taylor, Jimmy Stewart, Joan Crawford, Arlene Francis, Ronald Reagan, and Dorothy Kilgallen; "Jeux Sans Frontieres" (European contest); "Ultraquiz" (Japanese game show); "Let's Make a Deal" with host Monty Hall; "The Gong Show"; "The All New Dating Game"; and "Jeopardy!" with host Alex Trebek. Also included in brief clips are Rosemary Clooney, Kate Smith, Dinah Shore, Nat King Cole, Noel Coward, Ethel Merman and Mary Martin, Carol Burnett and Julie Andrews, and Lena Horne. Includes commercials and promos.