Tweet slightly OT: Ernie Kovacs DVD box set

This may be why Edie had audio transcription records made of these shows for CBS and Dumont, and kept them. Edie deposited them with UCLA Film & YV, who digitized them some years ago. These recording were the basis/source for the Ernie Kovacs Album (vinyl) that Columbia Records put out in the 1970s.

Ben

This may be why Edie had audio transcription records made of these shows for CBS and Dumont, and kept them. Edie deposited them with UCLA Film & YV, who digitized them some years ago. These recording were the basis/source for the Ernie Kovacs Album (vinyl) that Columbia Records put out in the 1970s.

Ben

I had that album as a kid and loved it. Actually, I still have it, though it's in storage. I can still quote an awful lot from it (such as the "Ahmed O Ackbar the Armenian strong man" and "Greater Love Hath No Man" news bits).

Fred

The DVDs arrived today!

I'm gonna be busy for a while...

The DVDs arrived today!

I'm gonna be busy for a while...

My sets arrived today, too -- one box for me, one for a friend -- and I can't wait to dive in.

Thanks so much, Ben, for all your hard work!

Here is the LA Times review from Thursday:

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/ne ... 6776.story

Thanks for posting the L.A. Times piece. We've basically gotten raves from everyone, both in national papers (in US and Canada), as well as more local papers and bloggers. David Bianculli posted twice on his TV Worth Watching blog and talked it up on "Fresh Air" on NPR. Etc etc etc. I will probably post the list of links on the Ernie Kovacs blog at some point soon.

It's been very rewarding to see the press critics' and reporters' enthusiasm for the material, including reporters who admit to being under 50 and experience Kovacs for the first time.

Ben

Just got my set in the mail. Will be watching it this week.

Many thanks to all involved.

Rick

Article / review in the April 24 Boston Globe:

http://articles.boston.com/2011-04-24/a ... rt-program

[Mike Gebert]

My kids found Kovacs too weird and disturbing.

I suspect the flickery nature of early TV has horror movie connotations for them which are not allayed by, say, the Nairobi Trio.

Try again in two years, I guess.

My husband pre-ordered this for me and I can't wait for it to arrive!

Only downside is that my 16mm copy of "It Happened To Ernie" won't be quite as unique as it to be. A small price to pay.

Well, it wasn't really that unigue. I have one, and know of at least two other collectors who have it.

I meant in the sense that we like showing our guests stuff they can't find on video (none of them collect film). Now, it's no longer the case with this promotional film, but it would be so worth it if any of our guests were turned onto Ernie enough to get this DVD set!

Ben, you have my profound thanks for seeing this project through to completion. I've been savoring each program, and my appreciation for Kovacs' genius continues to be validated.

Thanks so much. This was to some degree a labor of love, and the fact that so many fans now have their hands on Kovacs' shows is particularly gratifying.

Ben

I meant in the sense that we like showing our guests stuff they can't find on video (none of them collect film). Now, it's no longer the case with this promotional film, but it would be so worth it if any of our guests were turned onto Ernie enough to get this DVD set!

It's always a unique experience showing film to your guests at home, no matter what the film is.

RICHARD M ROBERTS

It is amazing to watch something that is half a century (or more) old, yet new to me (that's why I'm here in the first place)! I really only first learned about Ernie Kovacs from the 1977 PBS programs, but he already had a familiar air. Now, it's like a visit from an old friend. But that was one of his strengths; the ability to come through so intimately over my orthicon tube.

Next time we do a 16mm program of vintage tv, I'll include "It Happened to Ernie" (and recommend the DVD set to our guests ), but after thoroughly viewing these DVDs, I'll hook my player up to the Predicta and watch them all over again! Nothing like watching vintage television on a vintage television. The Nairobi Trio is even more affecting on those B&W phosphors!

Plus, we have a 1956 RCA color set (and not just a brown one like Percy's) for his silent show . Can't wait!

Remember that 2nd Ernie Kovacs DVD set I've been working on as curator since last Sept that I didn't tell you about? Surprise!! Comes out in October.

Silent movie connections: DVD set contains "Medicine Man" with Ernie and Buster Keaton, also an episode of "Take a Good Look" where one of the secret guests is Mack Sennett.

Read the full, detailed, press release with complete disc-by-disc rundown by clicking here.

Click here to pre-order. Shout Factory website is only place to get the free bonus DVD that contains 7 add'l episodes of "TaGL".

Ben

Great stuff! My order went up immediately!

Remember that 2nd Ernie Kovacs DVD set I've been working on as curator since last Sept that I didn't tell you about? Surprise!! Comes out in October.

Silent movie connections: DVD set contains "Medicine Man" with Ernie and Buster Keaton, also an episode of "Take a Good Look" where one of the secret guests is Mack Sennett.

Read the full, detailed, press release with complete disc-by-disc rundown by clicking here.

Click here to pre-order. Shout Factory website is only place to get the free bonus DVD that contains 7 add'l episodes of "TaGL".

Ben

How about putting in the captions this time? I'm bitter that the first set was totally without captions.

Jim

I have nothing to do with that aspect of production and don't know if this release is captioned. Sorry bout that...

Ben

Remember that 2nd Ernie Kovacs DVD set I've been working on as curator since last Sept that I didn't tell you about? Surprise!! Comes out in October. Silent movie connections: DVD set contains "Medicine Man" with Ernie and Buster Keaton, also an episode of "Take a Good Look" where one of the secret guests is Mack Sennett.
Ben

Wonderful.
The episode of What's My Line with Kovacs and Keaton pops up, but I'd assumed their "Medicine Man" pilot was lost.
Any chance of Ulcer Gulch surfacing? Showdown at Ulcer Gulch (1956)
Directed by Shamus Culhane Writing credits Ted Key (Hazel cartoonist)
Cast Orson Bean Salome Jens Groucho Marx Chico Marx Ernie Kovacs
Edie Adams Bob Hope Bing Crosby Gilbert Mack Gordon B. Clarke Dwight Marfield

"Medicine Man" was not lost, and has been available for viewing at the Paley Center (formerly MT&R, formerly MB) for the last 30 years. It will be seen on the new DVD set in a new transfer off the studio's fine grain. "Showdown at Ulcer Gulch" survives.

Ben

"Medicine Man" was not lost, and has been available for viewing at the Paley Center (formerly MT&R, formerly MB) for the last 30 years. It will be seen on the new DVD set in a new transfer off the studio's fine grain. "Showdown at Ulcer Gulch" survives.

Ben

I remember reading that the Paley Center also has the first two episodes Kovacs' last ABC series, which did not make it onto the first set. Is that information correct?

That's correct. Ernie's first three ABC specials are not on the last set or the one that's coming out (rights issues…don't ask…) but they are all available at Paley. Most of the sketches from specials 1, 2 and 3 are used on the old 1977 "Best of Ernie Kovacs" shows, and one could actually reassemble the specials from those.

Ben

"The Ernie Kovacs Collection, vol. 2" comes out Tues Oct 23.

The 3-disc set contains:
— 8 of Ernie's 1956 daytime comedy/variety shows for NBC
— 18 bonus sketches from the 1956 show
— 3 episodes of "Take a Good Look" - on one, Mack Sennett is the secret guest
— the unaired pilot for the sitcom western "Medicine Man" starring Kovacs and Buster Keaton
— a 15 minute one-on-one interview with Kovacs from the CBC in 1961
— trailers
— the Kovacs panel event from Aug 2011 held at the American Cinematheque

Prices may be cheaper on Amazon et al, but if you order from Shout Factory's site you will get the bonus disc which contains 7 add'l episodes of "Take a Good Look".

I was curator on this set, and wrote liners.

Ben