Revision as of 18:27, 29 August 2023 edit 2620:160:eb08::c (talk) →‎Television ← Previous edit		Revision as of 18:27, 29 August 2023 edit undo 2620:160:eb08::c (talk) →‎Television Next edit →
Line 45: Caesar's television career began with an appearance on [[Milton Berle]]'s ''[[Texaco Star Theater]]''<ref name="clips">Day, Patrick Kevin. [http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/showtracker/la-et-st-sid-caesar-five-tv-clips-that-demonstrate-his-comic-genius-20140212,0,4230797.story#ixzz2tAVc97C5 "Sid Caesar: Five TV clips that demonstrate his comic genius"] ''Los Angeles Times'', February 12, 2014</ref> in the fall of 1948.<ref name=brooksmarshp13>{{cite book\|last = Brooks\|first = Tim\|author-link = Tim Brooks (television historian)\|author2=Marsh, Earle \|title = [[The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946–Present]]\|edition= Eighth \|publisher = Ballantine Books\|year = 2003\|page = 13\|isbn = 0-345-45542-8}}</ref> In early 1949, Caesar and Liebman met with [[Pat Weaver]], vice president of television at NBC, which led to Caesar's first series, ''[[Admiral Broadway Revue]]'' with [[Imogene Coca]]. The Friday show was simultaneously broadcast on [[NBC]] and the [[DuMont Television Network\|DuMont]] network, and it was an immediate success. However, its sponsor, [[Admiral (electrical appliances)\|Admiral]], an appliance company, could not keep up with the demand for its new television sets, so the show was cancelled after 26 weeks—ironically, on account of its runaway success.<ref name="LATobit"/> [[File:Coca caesar your show of shows 1952.JPG\|thumb\|[[Imogene Coca]] and Caesar in ''[[Your Show of Shows]]'' (1952)]] On February 25, 1950, Caesar appeared in the first episode of ''[[Your Show of Shows]]'', initially the second half of the two-hour umbrella show, ''Saturday Night Review''; at the end of the 1950–51 season, ''Your Show of Shows'' became its own, 90-minute program from the [[Majestic Theatre (Columbus Circle)\|International Theatre]] at 5 Columbus Circle and later The Center Theatre at Sixth Avenue and 49th Street.<ref name=brooksmarshp1344>Brooks, Marsh, p. 1344.</ref> [[Burgess Meredith]] hosted the first two shows,<ref name=brooksmarshp1344 /> and the premiere featured musical guests [[Gertrude Lawrence]], [[Lily Pons]] and [[Robert Merrill]].<ref name=Auto2/> The show was a mix of [[sketch comedy]], movie and television satires, Caesar's monologues, musical guests, and large production numbers. Guests included: [[Jackie Cooper]], [[Robert Preston (actor)\|Robert Preston]], [[Rex Harrison]], [[Eddie Albert]], [[Michael Redgrave]], [[Basil Rathbone]], [[Charlton Heston]], [[Geraldine Page]], [[Douglas Fairbanks Jr.]], [[Pearl Bailey]], [[Fred Allen]], [[Benny Goodman]], [[Lena Horne]] and many other stars of the time. It was also responsible for bringing together the comedy team of Caesar, Coca, [[Carl Reiner]], and [[Howard Morris]]. Many writers also got their break creating the show's sketches, including [[Lucille Kallen]], [[Mel Brooks]], [[Neil Simon]], [[Michael Stewart (playwright)\|Michael Stewart]], [[Mel Tolkin]] and [[Sheldon Keller]]. Sid Caesar won his first [[Emmy]] in 1952. In 1951 and 1952, he was voted the United States' Best Comedian in ''[[Motion Picture Daily]]''{{'}}s TV poll. The show ended after almost 160 episodes<ref name="Auto2"/> on June 5, 1954.<ref name=brooksmarshp1344 /> A few months later, Caesar returned with ''[[Caesar's Hour]]'', a one-hour sketch/variety show with Morris, Reiner, [[Bea Arthur]] and other members of his former crew. [[Nanette Fabray]] replaced Coca, who had left to star in her own short-lived series. Ultimate creative and technical control was now in Caesar's hands, originating from the [[Center Theatre (New York City)\|Center Theater]] and the weekly budget doubled to $125,000. The premiere on September 27, 1954, featured [[Gina Lollobrigida]].<ref name="Auto2"/> Everything was performed live, including the commercials.{{citation needed\|date=February 2014}}

Sid Caesar: Difference between revisions