Just goes to prove; if you commit the biggest blunder in history, but own up to it with grace and humor, you can get away with anything! Well done, Jackie.
I remember this fiasco so clearly--I was 13--and him apologizing for it the next night was so amazing, I knew it would become legendary.Jackie wasn't afraid of anything!
I've watched this b4 but Carson sure DID remind me , I've seen t his follow up apology AND the one episodes approximately 1O years ago I absolutely ADORE him 💓🌠 on EVERYTHING+ find him to be not only EXTREMELY HILARIOUS AND TALENTED BEyond any realm of the imagination but also EXTRa Handsome adorable lovable and gorgeous ‼️🥰👍 And AWAAAY we gO ,💕🙂✨🌛✨🌛
I've seen Jackie Gleason in plenty of shows: The Honeymooners, Smokey and the Bandit, etc. But this apology has got to be why he held the moniker as The Great One. To be able to sit there and just going "off the cuff" and being able to not only hold the audience's attention for 30minutes, but to consistently hysterical at the same time is some tremendous act of an entertainer.
Really ? I never knew that. You'd think he would have at least recv'd an honorary one for his overall achievements in television ! After all, he was one of the pioneering comics in TV ! That truly is sad.... 😞
I had no idea! I am old enough to have watched all of his original shows. He was a huge star for many years. SMH that he never received an Emmy. God knows he deserved at least one or more.
Envy is an ugly trait. Everyone knew he was the great one, and some people in the industry hated him for it. Gleason was the top, and it’s pretty pathetic that he never received an award for his amazing talent and contributions to show business.
Emmy's are bullshit. Jason Alexander never got one either for his brilliant work on Seinfeld. (Jason was clearly inspired by Jackie on several occasions)
I saw these shows as they happened. Mr Gleason's follow-up shows were something to look forward to. Just sitting there with his coffee and talking to me as a viewer. It was great.
What was it called? "You're In the Picture" would be a great title for a TV interview show, but I understand they didn't keep the title, which would've been tainted by the game show.
So many great performers make a bomb product, they just move on and pretend it never happened. Takes a excellent performer to not only recognize it and then laugh at it. Jackie Gleeson was a once in lifetime talent.
This is pure gold. I have always heard about this legendary bomb and this is the first chance I've had to see it. Gleason's follow up may have been one of the funniest half hours I've ever seen! Thanks!
christ this shit is live, no script. this is exactly how people in the 60's talk to each other, making jokes with each other, this is a piece of real history.
What a great piece of tv history - thanks much for the upload! Gleason is terrific admitting that the show was a disaster and not passing the blame around. That's class.
He told Morley Safer during his "60 MINUTES" interview in 1984 that when he proposed the "apology" before the CBS brass, they objected, saying, "What are you talking about? This is a *network!* You can't do that!" Yet he did.
I saw it when it was shown. It was terrible by ANY standards. The entire family (yes, we all watched together) agreed that it was just awful. Jackie handled it like a champ!
Me too ! I had seen the apology years ago (I think here at youtube) but never thought I'd get the chance to see the ill-fated original (and ONLY) episode ! I don't find it all that awful. But it is rather dismal.....
To run against the tide, there actually was a germ of a good, solid game here. The problem was Gleason. In one of the bios written about him, Gleason thought it would be a cinch to be a panel show host and make easy money. Jackie is trying hard to come up with witty answers to their questions and score the laughs at the expense of clarity. In a game like this, you root for and help the panel, because if you help them succeed, everybody looks good.
While I agree the way Gleeson ran it helped sink this, there was definitely a good idea here. I think less pictures would have helped (ie longer time to solve each), and stand up comedians as guests so the entertainment became paramount rather than actually solving it. Maybe give each person 4 questions per turn and rotated until time ran out
I think where you nail it is they hadn't put in the work needed. This was very much a show where you needed, much like what's my line, to have some training of the panelist in what questions to ask, how to clearly frame a question so the audience and Jackie know exactly what is being asked, and what answers mean. There are some sound issue you can tell and there is the basic problem that its not always clear if they asking( or being told) about the entire picture or just their own bit. This leads to lots of confusion and the cross talk that basically sinks it. You have dead time while they are figuring out what to do and crosstalk you can't understand. Maybe had they piloted the show for a few weeks to work out the basic kinks of how to do it, it would have worked but as it is its an amazingly amateurish and aversive thing to get air. The kind of bomb that could only happen with great talent, because you'd never let lesser people do this kind of thing.
This demonstrates how Gleason's braggadocio was perfectly balanced by self-deprecating humor. In this case, given the disastrous situation, he turned on the self-deprecation full blast, demonstrating that he was a master of the form. The whole half-hour is a marvel.
Heavens to Murgatroid ! Can't THANK YOU enough for uploading this for us to marvel at. I've been reading about this incredible flop for years. Never thought I'd actually get to see it ! I have seen the second "apology" episode. Mr Gleason had the moxie & good sense to make a simple apology. What a class act he was. CHEERS !! :-)
Nothing with Jackie can ever really be a bomb in my opinion. What makes these shows unbearable are the shameless advertising usually by the tobacco companies.
Is it ironic that the closing promo on "You're In the Picture" was "The Twilight Zone". This production was in "Twilight Zone" territory to say the least
thank you for posting this, it was great to see the actual show and Gleason's apology show afterwards,, there s a great interview on UA-cam with Johnny Carson and Gleason on The Tonight show when they're talking about this,, great stuff, again, thanks for posting it
Carson was fired by Gleason after the run-through -- as was Patricia Cutts, who was replaced by Sterling. The Fat One wanted bigger names. Carson was supposed to be replaced by Keenan Wynn, who was still being listed in the papers as being on the premiere the day of it, but Wynn was replaced at the 11th hour by Harrington, Jr. (As legend goes, Wynn slammed face-first into a glass door and was not TV-presentable.) Ironically, Harrington was best known at the time for "The Tonight Show," which Carson would soon take over -- and become a bigger name than all of them in the process.
@@LoneWolfAttack You’re right about Carson. But, in time, Harrington would do well for himself as he would portray Dwayne Schneider for nine years (1975-84) on Norman Lear’s “One Day At a Time”. He did well enough, in fact, that the series finale was intended as the pilot for his own spinoff, on which CBS decided against picking up the option. This is ironic, given that that marks at least the second time Harrington appeared in a pilot and CBS decided against picking up the option. (Harrington himself, almost presciently, made a comment to that effect, amongst his many wisecracks about the situation, here on “You’re In the Picture”.)
Seriously tho, this was Jackie coming out and saying "Look folks! We screwed up and screwed up big time! Can you forgive us? You won't see it again." Class act.
YES- Total class act- tdy this kind of caliber is gone with the wind. tdy, it's-- oh, i misspoke myself, or- oh it was a wardrobe malfunction, or i had a memory lapse etc or even worse excuses. A true reflection of today's totally deteriorated society.
It did come back,but as a talk show and a terrible one at that. It lasted two more episodes as such before CBS finally came to their senses and cancelled it.
I have never seen the full episode, or it presented side-by-side with the apology... Thank you! The irony is that, worked differently, the premise was successful on several 1970's variety shows - as short, one off, skits. And was, reworked with 'moving' pictures, also very successfully on 'Whose Line Is It Anyway' as one of the games. The idea seems like it was underdeveloped, and they tried to fit to many pictures into a single episode. With the panel breaking out of the 'take your turn' format fairly quickly. Some commenters think Jackie quipping was an issue... but, in the office play through I'm sure they determined that this would be his role as the 'host'. In the office they had plenty of time for that kind of interaction, not so on live TV, which they apparently didn't account for. (Let's not overlook the racy, for the time, second picture representing the title of a song that was banned from radio play in large areas of the country, and that anti-bikini laws were very real at the time.) The combination of development time, content vs. time limitations, and treading on certain social standards probably doomed the show more then the actual premise.
I've never seen this before, really cool to finally see it, I'd seen him talking about it on Carson's before. The guy was so hilarious so naturally and just honest guy.
Jackie Gleason fulfilled his 13-week commitment to "You're In The Picture" by doing an interview show. The next year, the fall of 1962, Jackie resumed his hour-long Saturday night variety series, which moved from New York to Miami Beach in 1964 and stayed there until it ended in 1970.
This is a great vid. Thanks for posting. Back in the 1960"s I enjoyed watching his show called "Jackie Gleason; The American Scene Magazine" that he did from Miami Beach. I have always wondered if those shows were ever syndicated or put onto DVD where you could purchase them. The did some really funny sketches on those shows but the best part of the show was his sketch called "Joe the bartender" which he did with Frank Fontaine who played Crazy Gugenheim and then Frank would sing a song at the end. Sure do miss that kind of TV.
That DVD is around, maybe SHOUT Factory?... NY Channel 9 replayed JG ASM back in the 1980s...Frank's 'act' got too long in the tooth with the viewer constantly questioning is this guy a big mumbling dope or a genius singer who sings loud and clear?
Yes, Jackie had most of the comedy sketches from the 1964-'65 season {his first in Miami Beach}- including the "Joe the Bartender" segemts with Frank "Crazy Googanheim" Fontaine- edited into 130 half-hours, and syndicated in the 1984-'85 season through 20th Century-Fox Television.
Gleason lost Kellogg's because of the statement about Chock Full O' Booze coffee! The sponsors declared they would never sponsor any more of Gleason's programs! But his Endorsements of L&M Cigarettes continued. The story was a audience member had put Booze in his coffee before he came on,without his knowing!
I've read about this show in various TV history books but never seen it until now. Amazing that prints of this and Gleason's subsequent apology show are still in existence as I figured CBS would have wanted the kinescopes destroyed. Good thing though, as this is true television history. Can't help but feel for Gleason trying to hold this thing together knowing it's a total dud. His recovery from it the following week and ability to make an entertaining and funny monologue out of a disaster is classic Jackie Gleason. The joys of live TV.
I saw this live. CBS should have instead televised the Inaugural Ball. One thing shown here is that the celebrities were far better educated than are the narcissists of today.
I remember watching the infamous "You're in the Picture" episode and follow-ups when I was 12 years old. As a kid I didn't think the show was all that bad but Gleason's "apology tour" was comic gold! Has was indeed The Great One.
I am thrilled to see these side by side. Great work!! I'm wondering, though...Carson, in his interview with Gleason, mentioned that HE was in an episode. Could that one have been taped, then shelved for some reason?
Johnny Carson and Patricia Cutts did the run-through, and were promptly fired by Gleason, reportedly because he wanted bigger stars (or perhaps because they upstaged him). It was reported at the time that 4 episodes were being taped in advance of the live premiere. It's not known if any actually were, but it's believed they weren't as both Pats have said this is the only episode they did.
Jackie was right - this was the only show of its kind - no other Star ever went on TV to apologize for a terrible program and was hilarious while doing it.
Jackie Gleason was pure talent - entertained the audience for 30 minutes with no set, no panel, nothing. Just a hilarious monologue, bashing himself and CBS.
Been wanting to see this for YEARS,finally happened,,took Gleason to tell CBS there will be a apology for this terrible show,he was right and it maintained the Tiffany for the Tiffany Network.
I was a kid, but I remember seeing this show AND the following week's apology from Jackie Gleason. It really wasn't THAT terrible...maybe the concept didn't fit with audience tastes. At any rate, it was newsworthy then (and now) that the audience tuned in a week later to see the host declare "the biggest bomb in history. Jackie Gleason made a mistake and owned it... a great TV pioneer!
One of two memorable performances on January 27, 1961. The second was Leontyne Price making her debut at the Metropolitan Opera, also in Manhattan. Reportedly after the show, she received a 42-minute standing ovation.
He did several characters, Reginaid van Gleason III,Joe the Bartender,& Poor Soul among others.He received an Oscar nomination for The Hustler, & was in other dramatic roles.
Everything happens for a reason! Even flops! I’m so glad I found this. Watching Gleason’s explanation and apology for this show has given me new insight into his talent. After being a fan of his for nearly 40 years, I now have a better understanding of who he was. And why the Honeymooners worked so well and remains timeless to this day. Because Jackie Gleason had an uncanny ability to do things on the fly and make it look effortless. No wonder he seldom rehearsed!
Wow! I remember watching this on TV with my father; I would have been in the 2nd grade; attending a one-room country school house in southeastern Nebraska. At the time, the CBS affiliate was our only channel with clear reception. BTW, in the first skit Pat Carroll mentions the inauguratl ball. The airdate of January 20, 1961 was the same day that JFK was inaugurated as the 35th president.
"You don't have to be Alexander Graham Bell to pick up the phone and find out it's DEAD!" (42:25 - 42:37) Spoken like the true Brooklyn, New York native he was-Lol! Love it!
Watching Jackie Gleason come out and just sit down and converse with the studio audience and television viewers, I have no doubt if he had wanted to host a network talk show he could have been on a par with anyone, even Johnny Carson.
I always wanted to see this. It was pretty bad, but not as bad as I was expecting. Might have worked better if the panelists were given a little more time, and if Jackie didn't take up what little time they had by quipping.
@@georgetirebiter4035 which I’m almost convinced is why he apologized. I’m sure he knew who he was dealing with in terms of his own self, and knew how to smooth it over.
Quite right. Thanks for posting this. I had seen Gleason's apology episode before but never the actual show. It wasn't great but I didn't think it was all that bad either. I enjoyed seeing these people again. It didn't hurt to be a smidgen toked either.
and who enjoy listening to Johnny Olson in the intro? Her e is Johnny Olson announcing a game show not made by Goodson-Todman. Most of us born after this may remember him with the Price is Right, Match Game, or Concentration.
For all of its flaws Jackie''s still 1000 times better than today's God-awful no-talent game show hosts, Steve Harvey immediately coming to mind as a prime example.
I've been looking for actual footage of this show for maybe ten years. I was told it was "lost". MANY videos of "top ten worst TV shows" list this as the all-time worst, and I can see why. But it seems almost like a miracle that the footage has resurfaced. I never had any luck navigating the Internet Archive, which seems to have been designed in 1990. I just cannot find anything. Who knows what other gems may be lurking there. And it is too bad we have to be so careful of copyright strikes. I have one right now - a strike, not a claim - because I posted a 15-second, silent gif of an antique puppet. It turned out the NAME of the puppet was copyrighted. I was very naive for a long time and thought only the CONTENT was the problem, but now I see even the description and thumbnail is sufficient for a crackdown. I had a warning about "decency" because I used the word "bra" in a title!
Gleason's theme, "Melancholy Serenade", is strikingly similar to "Thru the Courtesy of Love" from the movie "Here Comes Carter". It's so similar that Warner Music seriously considered suing him for plagiarism, but its parent company (Warner Brothers) felt that Gleason was becoming a big star, who wouldn't want to work with them if they sued him. So, they didn't. But if you listen to the two songs, you'll notice the resemblance.
I doubt it. But I do recall reading a biography of Raymond Burr years ago & it mentioned that during one season "Perry Mason" was sponsored in part by Parliament cigarettes & he was given a LOT of cartons by the company. So many that Mr Burr would give most of them away to smoker friends. Years ago when I was a smoker I tried a Parliament. Didn't care for it at all. A person does get used to their own brand (which was "Lark" in my case). I am happy to say I quit smoking back in 1984.
Just hilarious, and terrific. I unfortunately watched a clip of only the apology a day ago, but having seen the problem show, and then the apology show the context was much better, and the apology show was even more funny. He was one of the classiest guys in his day, and no one like him or many others of that era are left today. I miss them all.
The show was a little slow and dry, but it wasn't really all that bad. Seems like Gleason wanted to cut the critics off at the knees, and he did. I was expecting something really, really bad, like on the level of the Gong Show. But seriously, ever watch "Queen for a Day"? Absolutely horrific, and it makes this show look great by comparison.
You know, I actually didn't find this to be a bad show at all. It was pretty funny! It's kind of like a highly mutated form of "What's My Line?". Reminds me of something you'd see on "Whose Line Is It Anyway?". This could work as a sketch bit within a variety show, or on one of the late-night talk shows. Johnny Carson could definitely have pulled this off, it's no more far-fetched than the Mighty Carson Art Players, Karnak the Magnificent, or Aunt Blabby. But Jackie Gleason shines as well.
@@artsmith1347 I have to disagree. He carried the show in the way only Jackie Gleason could. His interaction with the panel reminded me a lot of Groucho Marx in "You Bet Your Life".
@@faustin3867 You nailed it. Groucho Marx was a hog while on panel shows (he would hijack anything anytime anyplace and make it all about him). His appearances on "What's My Line" were terrible, because the game would always grind to a halt while he did his stupid mugging. Jackie Gleason was exactly the same. They always made it about themselves, and there was no room for anyone else.
@@faustin3867 Yes, but on that show he didn't have a celebrity panel, and usually the contestant wasn't even a professional entertainer. (Groucho's version is an unfair comparison to game shows generally, because it was so highly produced, filming much more than was aired; a fairer comparison would be to the Buddy Hackett or even Bill Cosby version.) "You're in the Picture" wasted a panel of otherwise witty types.
I recognized the opening announcer 's voice from The dating game and Price is Right. Jackie Gleason says his name is Olson. Johnny Olson. Tell em what they won, Johnny.
Jackie insisted Johnny continue as his announcer during his 1962-'70 variety show from New York (and later, in Miami Beach; at the time, Olson had to commute on weekends to work on the Gleason show, then return to New York to announce his various Goodson-Todman game and panel shows {'WHAT'S MY LINE?", "TO TELL THE TRUTH", "THE MATCH GAME", et. al.}).
You'd have too many political correctness issues. For example, just imagine Ice-T sticking his head in the Beeftrust Girls opening... er... instead he does CarShield huckster ads...
Don Lipp also had a hand in another embarrassing game show in 1974-75. It was “The Moneymaze,” hosted by Nick Clooney, Rosemary’s brother and George’s father.
LOL - Using people as "Game Board Pieces" on a set...I was 8 during ABC's "The Moneymaze". Even as a child I knew a flop. But then I saw "Shenanigans" on UA-cam from '65 and now I saw everything.
"SHENANIGANS" was specifically designed to sell sponsor Milton Bradley's toys and games (which they did for a season and a half). They even marketed a board game of the show.
@@musicom67 was always rumored that George Clooney purchased the lot of "Money Maze" tapes from program producer Dick Cavett's Daphne Productions - and recycled them...
@@christopherdunne7848 I remember watching "Shenanagins" on TV on Saturday mornings back in 60s when I was a kid ! The host was veteran comic actor Stubby Kaye (best known for his role of "Nicely Nicely" in the original Broadway & movie versions of "Guys & Dolls"). My gosh...had not thought about that TV kid's game show in 40 yrs !!
The first episode is pure hell. That was torture. I wonder if Pat Carroll gained all her weight right then and if Pat Harrington, Jr. developed wrinkles at that moment. The second episode is gorgeous. I love that man.
Kellogg's did NOT appreciate the joke during that episode when he called what he sipped from his coffee cup "Chock Full O'Booze" (at 33:05). They were OFFENDED that he dared mention drinking on a FAMILY show they were sponsoring. They ended their sponsorship after the second telecast {officially, they stated, "This isn't the show we bought"}. Liggett & Myers continued as his primary sponsor (no doubt because of the way he bit into his cigarettes on camera, L&M or not), right through his impromptu interview series featuring his friends and cronies [including Mickey Rooney, Bobby Darin, Art Carney, Jayne Mansfield, et. al.], which lasted through the end of March 1961. James T. Aubrey, CBS' ruthless president- who never liked or respected him- was glad his commitment for the show was finally over. He told fellow executive Oscar Katz, "Well, you got him out of your system", as though he were the flu or the plague.
By the way, he promised he was going to say something about "YOU'RE IN THE PICTURE" returning at the end of the second telecast. But he had NO intention of EVER doing that program again; that's why he said at the end, "I don't know what we're going to do....." He double-crossed both the network and his producer (who soon departed), then convinced CBS his idea for a one-on-one interview show would be a great one to fufill the remaining weeks of his contract for the series. They had no choice.
He KNEW "YOU'RE IN THE PICTURE" was going to be a disaster. However, he was in the middle of an exclusive 15 year contract with CBS that required him to do SOMETHING for the network every year; apparently, producing Kate Smith's 1960 "comeback" on the network [which lasted 26 weeks] wasn't enough. They wanted him to appear on another weekly series. As he told Morley Safer on "60 MINUTES' in 1984, "All I can tell you {is} that there were, perhaps, 30 executives at CBS who thought {'YOU'RE IN THE PICTURE'} was the funniest thing they had ever seen in their life! *I* began to think it was the funniest thing I had ever seen in my life. And then we did it, and CRASH!".
I'd argue this wasn't the biggest bomb in TV -- "Turn On" was infamously effectively cancelled before the pilot had finished airing, and George Schlatter wasn't allowed to make a 30-minute public apology the next week...
I had seen this before and then watched Johnny Carson with Jackie Gleason as the guest where Johnny said he was on this show. He's not, very strange since he mentioned something that did happen in this episode.
Johnny Carson, in one of his classic monologues, once said that TV signals travel out forever and ever into space. Per Carson, “That means that right now, on Pluto, they have just cancelled ‘Hello, Larry.’ “
It may have been a bomb then, and Gleason famously apologized for it, but I’m sitting here laughing my ass off 🤣 If only today’s comedies were this funny……..
The first time I saw the comedic 1942 movie "Larceny, Inc" starring Edward G. Robinson, I was surprised to see Jackie Gleason playing a bit role as a soda jerk. That was when he was first trying to get a foothold in Hollywood movies but, after a couple of years and about a half dozen different movie roles (some uncredited,) that career didn't work out. He then landed the role of Chester Riley in the initial Emmy award-winning season of TV series "The Life of Riley." (William Bendix was doing the radio version and his contract forbade television appearances. But Bendix assumed the role in the TV series for the remaining six seasons.) Gleason's appearance on TV turned out to be a stroke of luck and he was never out of work after that.
I have noticed - maybe it has changed, I hope so - that there is practically NO footage of Jackie's American Scene Magazine show which I remember from the mid-to-late '60s. I'd LOVE to see Crazy Guggenheim and The Poor Soul and the June Taylor Dancers again! And AWAAAAAAAY we go!
Whoever owns the copyrights pulls them immediately from UA-cam. They were syndicated in the 1980s...I have plenty but they get PULLED. We'll see how to sneak some in ;-)
@@musicom67 Just be careful, YT acts without warning and the rules change all the time. And it's all done by bots. I tried to contest a copyright strike and they went all legal on me.
Keep in mind that when Jackie revived his variety show in 1962, Philip Morris {Marlboro, Parliament, Benson & Hedges, et. al.} was one of his primary sponsors, through the 1960's. Naturally, he had to smoke on camera [even though he rarely appeared in "integrated" commercials for them during the program]- and he was used to the habit, which made them *VERY* happy to be identified with him.
@@sdcoinshooter Me too ! I am surprised he lived as long as he did. I read online that he died at the age of 71 from colon cancer that has spread to his liver. Considering his heavy smoking habit, I'm surprised he wasn't felled much earlier by lung cancer !!
![Jackie Gleason - You're in the Picture ("Apology" episode) [part 1 of 2]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/cwrJsOZv32M/mqdefault.jpg)
![Jackie Gleason - You're in the Picture ("Apology" episode) [part 1 of 2]](/img/tr.png)
Just goes to prove; if you commit the biggest blunder in history, but own up to it with grace and humor, you can get away with anything!
Well done, Jackie.
How are you doing Thomas
Well said and well put. Mr Gleason was a class act all the way.
@@JenniferSmith-ho3im All goes well.
Can we text better off here
It wasn't the biggest blunder in history or in television entertainment history. But Gleason milked it until the cow passed out.
I remember this fiasco so clearly--I was 13--and him apologizing for it the next night was so amazing, I knew it would become legendary.Jackie wasn't afraid of anything!
WHO'S here after seeing Gleason on Johnny Carson's episode?? Had to come see what the show was all about
That's exactly what I watched before searching for t his video.
Not me. I've known about this show for 40 years. Some of us predate the internet.
I've watched this b4 but Carson sure DID remind me , I've seen t his follow up apology AND the one episodes approximately 1O years ago I absolutely ADORE him 💓🌠 on EVERYTHING+ find him to be not only EXTREMELY HILARIOUS AND TALENTED BEyond any realm of the imagination but also EXTRa
Handsome adorable lovable and gorgeous ‼️🥰👍
And AWAAAY we gO ,💕🙂✨🌛✨🌛
I was 12 years old when i saw this show. I can’t believe I’m still around
That’s why I’m here!!
I've seen Jackie Gleason in plenty of shows: The Honeymooners, Smokey and the Bandit, etc. But this apology has got to be why he held the moniker as The Great One. To be able to sit there and just going "off the cuff" and being able to not only hold the audience's attention for 30minutes, but to consistently hysterical at the same time is some tremendous act of an entertainer.
You speak the truth, Kemo Sabe !! 👍
Including doing the commercials...omg. amazing.
The saddest and biggest slight ever done to this comic GENIUS was that he NEVER received an Emmy!
Really ? I never knew that. You'd think he would have at least recv'd an honorary one for his overall achievements in television ! After all, he was one of the pioneering comics in TV ! That truly is sad.... 😞
I had no idea! I am old enough to have watched all of his original shows. He was a huge star for many years. SMH that he never received an Emmy. God knows he deserved at least one or more.
Envy is an ugly trait. Everyone knew he was the great one, and some people in the industry hated him for it. Gleason was the top, and it’s pretty pathetic that he never received an award for his amazing talent and contributions to show business.
That Is Sad! Such A Talent!💔
Emmy's are bullshit. Jason Alexander never got one either for his brilliant work on Seinfeld. (Jason was clearly inspired by Jackie on several occasions)
I saw these shows as they happened. Mr Gleason's follow-up shows were something to look forward to. Just sitting there with his coffee and talking to me as a viewer. It was great.
What was it called? "You're In the Picture" would be a great title for a TV interview show, but I understand they didn't keep the title, which would've been tainted by the game show.
So many great performers make a bomb product, they just move on and pretend it never happened. Takes a excellent performer to not only recognize it and then laugh at it. Jackie Gleeson was a once in lifetime talent.
This is pure gold. I have always heard about this legendary bomb and this is the first chance I've had to see it. Gleason's follow up may have been one of the funniest half hours I've ever seen! Thanks!
See? Sometimes when you fish on UA-cam, you find a whale! ;-)
@@musicom67
Thank you, been looking for this.
@@musicom67 So very true !
christ this shit is live, no script. this is exactly how people in the 60's talk to each other, making jokes with each other, this is a piece of real history.
Someone should revive this with Craig Ferguson as host. He can open each show with an apology for what the viewers are about to see.
This is better than 95% of network shows today! HOLLA HOLLA HEY!
I've been hearing about this for decades. I really appreciate this upload!!!!
Many have!!! I only saw it in the old Museum of Broadcasting in the 1980s...Now you don't have to go ;-)
What a great piece of tv history - thanks much for the upload! Gleason is terrific admitting that the show was a disaster and not passing the blame around. That's class.
He was “in a show so bad it closed at intermission.” What a great laugh!
This is classic Gleason turning lemons into lemonade. Nice work @MUSICOM PRODUCTIONS !
CBS said,according to Gleason later,we don't make apologies on the air and he replied well,now we will!
Actually, he turned those lemons into scotch.
He told Morley Safer during his "60 MINUTES" interview in 1984 that when he proposed the "apology" before the CBS brass, they objected, saying, "What are you talking about? This is a *network!* You can't do that!" Yet he did.
He took a apology and turned it into a fantastic 1 man comedy show! : )
This really wasn't a bomb at all given todays standards. This was entertaining and Jackie's smooth delivery and humor made it great actually.
I saw it when it was shown. It was terrible by ANY standards. The entire family (yes, we all watched together) agreed that it was just awful. Jackie handled it like a champ!
He was so comfortable speaking to an audience.
An hour or two at Toots Shors before would make anybody comfortable. He had a backup in his teacup for more comfort. ;-)
He looked more uncomfortable hosting "you're in the picture"
I love how Jackie's confidence slowly drains out from his face as the show goes on
Thanks for this -- I've seen The Apology, but never The Bomb!
Me too ! I had seen the apology years ago (I think here at youtube) but never thought I'd get the chance to see the ill-fated original (and ONLY) episode ! I don't find it all that awful. But it is rather dismal.....
To run against the tide, there actually was a germ of a good, solid game here. The problem was Gleason. In one of the bios written about him, Gleason thought it would be a cinch to be a panel show host and make easy money. Jackie is trying hard to come up with witty answers to their questions and score the laughs at the expense of clarity. In a game like this, you root for and help the panel, because if you help them succeed, everybody looks good.
While I agree the way Gleeson ran it helped sink this, there was definitely a good idea here. I think less pictures would have helped (ie longer time to solve each), and stand up comedians as guests so the entertainment became paramount rather than actually solving it. Maybe give each person 4 questions per turn and rotated until time ran out
It actually reminds me of the "Newsflash" game on Whose Line Is It Anyway.
It could have been a clever bit as part of a larger variety show format. But it's a pretty slim idea to cover a whole half hour program.
@@GathererHade Longer times to guess the picture would surely have killed the show. In show biz less is more
I think where you nail it is they hadn't put in the work needed. This was very much a show where you needed, much like what's my line, to have some training of the panelist in what questions to ask, how to clearly frame a question so the audience and Jackie know exactly what is being asked, and what answers mean. There are some sound issue you can tell and there is the basic problem that its not always clear if they asking( or being told) about the entire picture or just their own bit. This leads to lots of confusion and the cross talk that basically sinks it. You have dead time while they are figuring out what to do and crosstalk you can't understand. Maybe had they piloted the show for a few weeks to work out the basic kinks of how to do it, it would have worked but as it is its an amazingly amateurish and aversive thing to get air. The kind of bomb that could only happen with great talent, because you'd never let lesser people do this kind of thing.
This demonstrates how Gleason's braggadocio was perfectly balanced by self-deprecating humor. In this case, given the disastrous situation, he turned on the self-deprecation full blast, demonstrating that he was a master of the form. The whole half-hour is a marvel.
It truly says something that this 'bomb' and hilarious follow-up is 100x better than the garbage shows produced today.
Heavens to Murgatroid ! Can't THANK YOU enough for uploading this for us to marvel at. I've been reading about this incredible flop for years. Never thought I'd actually get to see it ! I have seen the second "apology" episode. Mr Gleason had the moxie & good sense to make a simple apology. What a class act he was. CHEERS !! :-)
I just KNEW some people wanted to see it
@@musicom67 And of course you were right ! Proof positive that great minds REALLY do think alike ! 👍
This was amazing. You have to love Jackie Gleason.
Right On, Roz !!
The bomb episode is priceless , turned it into a hilarious half hour, .. the great one indeed
I agree 100 per cent !
Nothing with Jackie can ever really be a bomb in my opinion. What makes these shows unbearable are the shameless advertising usually by the tobacco companies.
I was surprised to see you in the comments haha, by the way your UA-cam guitar lessons are so helpful
It was another time. Don't be a puss.
Is it ironic that the closing promo on "You're In the Picture" was "The Twilight Zone". This production was in "Twilight Zone" territory to say the least
thank you for posting this, it was great to see the actual show and Gleason's apology show afterwards,, there s a great interview on UA-cam with Johnny Carson and Gleason on The Tonight show when they're talking about this,, great stuff, again, thanks for posting it
Johnny said he was on the show with Arthur Treacher and Jan Sterling and left out Pat Carroll and Pat Harrington and of course Johnny wasn't on.
@@anthonya2349 yeah Anthony he (Carson) must've been thinking of another show because this only ran once
@Mark Astolfi ah ok
Carson was fired by Gleason after the run-through -- as was Patricia Cutts, who was replaced by Sterling. The Fat One wanted bigger names. Carson was supposed to be replaced by Keenan Wynn, who was still being listed in the papers as being on the premiere the day of it, but Wynn was replaced at the 11th hour by Harrington, Jr. (As legend goes, Wynn slammed face-first into a glass door and was not TV-presentable.) Ironically, Harrington was best known at the time for "The Tonight Show," which Carson would soon take over -- and become a bigger name than all of them in the process.
@@LoneWolfAttack You’re right about Carson. But, in time, Harrington would do well for himself as he would portray Dwayne Schneider for nine years (1975-84) on Norman Lear’s “One Day At a Time”. He did well enough, in fact, that the series finale was intended as the pilot for his own spinoff, on which CBS decided against picking up the option. This is ironic, given that that marks at least the second time Harrington appeared in a pilot and CBS decided against picking up the option. (Harrington himself, almost presciently, made a comment to that effect, amongst his many wisecracks about the situation, here on “You’re In the Picture”.)
Seriously tho, this was Jackie coming out and saying "Look folks! We screwed up and screwed up big time! Can you forgive us? You won't see it again." Class act.
LOL - He also had a little thing called a CONTRACT...
@@musicom67 Yes that's true. But to turn into a mea culpa and have it become an informal like talk show afterwards was all Jackie's idea.
YES- Total class act- tdy this kind of caliber is gone with the wind. tdy, it's-- oh, i misspoke myself, or- oh it was a wardrobe malfunction, or i had a memory lapse etc or even worse excuses. A true reflection of today's totally deteriorated society.
It did come back,but as a talk show and a terrible one at that. It lasted two more episodes as such before CBS finally came to their senses and cancelled it.
I have never seen the full episode, or it presented side-by-side with the apology... Thank you!
The irony is that, worked differently, the premise was successful on several 1970's variety shows - as short, one off, skits. And was, reworked with 'moving' pictures, also very successfully on 'Whose Line Is It Anyway' as one of the games.
The idea seems like it was underdeveloped, and they tried to fit to many pictures into a single episode. With the panel breaking out of the 'take your turn' format fairly quickly. Some commenters think Jackie quipping was an issue... but, in the office play through I'm sure they determined that this would be his role as the 'host'. In the office they had plenty of time for that kind of interaction, not so on live TV, which they apparently didn't account for. (Let's not overlook the racy, for the time, second picture representing the title of a song that was banned from radio play in large areas of the country, and that anti-bikini laws were very real at the time.)
The combination of development time, content vs. time limitations, and treading on certain social standards probably doomed the show more then the actual premise.
I've never seen this before, really cool to finally see it, I'd seen him talking about it on Carson's before. The guy was so hilarious so naturally and just honest guy.
having the timecodes blurred out for some ungodly reason is a far bigger distraction than the ones where they were left in.
Jackie Gleason fulfilled his 13-week commitment to "You're In The Picture" by doing an interview show.
The next year, the fall of 1962, Jackie resumed his hour-long Saturday night variety series, which moved from New York to Miami Beach in 1964 and stayed there until it ended in 1970.
The Jackie Gleason Show was a staple in my household for its eight year run
This is a great vid. Thanks for posting. Back in the 1960"s I enjoyed watching his show called "Jackie Gleason; The American Scene Magazine" that he did from Miami Beach.
I have always wondered if those shows were ever syndicated or put onto DVD where you could purchase them. The did some really funny sketches on those shows but the
best part of the show was his sketch called "Joe the bartender" which he did with Frank Fontaine who played Crazy Gugenheim and then Frank would sing a song at
the end. Sure do miss that kind of TV.
That DVD is around, maybe SHOUT Factory?... NY Channel 9 replayed JG ASM back in the 1980s...Frank's 'act' got too long in the tooth with the viewer constantly questioning is this guy a big mumbling dope or a genius singer who sings loud and clear?
Yes, Jackie had most of the comedy sketches from the 1964-'65 season {his first in Miami Beach}- including the "Joe the Bartender" segemts with Frank "Crazy Googanheim" Fontaine- edited into 130 half-hours, and syndicated in the 1984-'85 season through 20th Century-Fox Television.
I have fond memories of watching The Jackie Gleason Show as a kid each Saturday night back in the 60s.
@@jubalcalif9100 me too.
I miss variety shows myself Maybe there will be a successful one sometime soon.
Great clip including Dennis James, in the Corn Flakes commercial. He hosted the nighttime Price is Right 1972-77.
Dennis spoke for Kellogg's for years.
Gleason lost Kellogg's because of the statement about Chock Full O' Booze coffee! The sponsors declared they would never sponsor any more of Gleason's programs! But his Endorsements of L&M Cigarettes continued. The story was a audience member had put Booze in his coffee before he came on,without his knowing!
Didn't know Schneider from one day at a time was on this
@@fromthesidelines the way James said Proteum instead of Protein is hilarious!
@@mrmjb1960 That would explain Gleason’s reaction when taking that first sip.
Great upload. Wow. Legendary horrible concept show that you can tell Jackie sees it's going shitty pretty quickly.
I've read about this show in various TV history books but never seen it until now. Amazing that prints of this and Gleason's subsequent apology show are still in existence as I figured CBS would have wanted the kinescopes destroyed. Good thing though, as this is true television history. Can't help but feel for Gleason trying to hold this thing together knowing it's a total dud. His recovery from it the following week and ability to make an entertaining and funny monologue out of a disaster is classic Jackie Gleason. The joys of live TV.
I saw this live.
CBS should have instead televised the Inaugural Ball.
One thing shown here is that the celebrities were far better educated than are the narcissists of today.
The consummate professional, let's sit and talk, and tell each other all about it. Just wonderful, thank you for posting this.
I remember watching the infamous "You're in the Picture" episode and follow-ups when I was 12 years old. As a kid I didn't think the show was all that bad but Gleason's "apology tour" was comic gold! Has was indeed The Great One.
I am thrilled to see these side by side. Great work!! I'm wondering, though...Carson, in his interview with Gleason, mentioned that HE was in an episode. Could that one have been taped, then shelved for some reason?
Johnny was probably in the episode that was taped in advance, and permanently "shelved".
Go watch the 13 week theatre episode about this show. Carson was there for the rehersal, but bailed when he saw how bad it was.
@@stevenmanchester2104 No kidding??? That explains a lot!! Thank you!!!!!
Johnny Carson and Patricia Cutts did the run-through, and were promptly fired by Gleason, reportedly because he wanted bigger stars (or perhaps because they upstaged him). It was reported at the time that 4 episodes were being taped in advance of the live premiere. It's not known if any actually were, but it's believed they weren't as both Pats have said this is the only episode they did.
Jackie was right - this was the only show of its kind - no other Star ever went on TV to apologize for a terrible program and was hilarious while doing it.
Indeed !!
Jackie Gleason was pure talent - entertained the audience for 30 minutes with no set, no panel, nothing. Just a hilarious monologue, bashing himself and CBS.
Been wanting to see this for YEARS,finally happened,,took Gleason to tell CBS there will be a apology for this terrible show,he was right and it maintained the Tiffany for the Tiffany Network.
I knew there were people like you and me wanting that 🙂
I thought I'd never see this show with Jackie Gleason
How are you doing James ?
I was a kid, but I remember seeing this show AND the following week's apology from Jackie Gleason. It really wasn't THAT terrible...maybe the concept didn't fit with audience tastes. At any rate, it was newsworthy then (and now) that the audience tuned in a week later to see the host declare "the biggest bomb in history. Jackie Gleason made a mistake and owned it... a great TV pioneer!
Thank you so much for uploading this
One of two memorable performances on January 27, 1961. The second was Leontyne Price making her debut at the Metropolitan Opera, also in Manhattan. Reportedly after the show, she received a 42-minute standing ovation.
I've always told people that there was so much more to Jackie Gleason than Ralph Kramden. This is proof.
Indubitably ! No wonder he was known as The Great One. Incredibly talented & versatile gentleman.
He did several characters, Reginaid van Gleason III,Joe the Bartender,& Poor Soul among others.He received an Oscar nomination for The Hustler, & was in other dramatic roles.
He harnessed his street smarts and handled this fabulously. Sidebar: The cigarette commercials were so manipulative.
I love the swinging rendition of Jackie's signature tune "Melancholy Serenade". Turns it into a musical oxymoron.
"This was all Norton's idea! What a mental case!"
“Hello, ball!”
The Great One!! I could listen to him all day
You got that right ! One of the true icons of comedy.
How sweet it is!
Everything happens for a reason! Even flops! I’m so glad I found this. Watching Gleason’s explanation and apology for this show has given me new insight into his talent. After being a fan of his for nearly 40 years, I now have a better understanding of who he was. And why the Honeymooners worked so well and remains timeless to this day. Because Jackie Gleason had an uncanny ability to do things on the fly and make it look effortless. No wonder he seldom rehearsed!
I'm glad to have seen this. I heard Jackie Gleason and Johnny Carson talk about this. I thought Johnny Carson was on this show back in the day.
Love the tube shaped picture. Very nice early 60s type picture!
Figured it out. The appreciation of the 'frame' is only by those who 'get it' (lived it) - those 30 and under - eh, not so much
Wow! I remember watching this on TV with my father; I would have been in the 2nd grade; attending a one-room country school house in southeastern Nebraska. At the time, the CBS affiliate was our only channel with clear reception. BTW, in the first skit Pat Carroll mentions the inauguratl ball. The airdate of January 20, 1961 was the same day that JFK was inaugurated as the 35th president.
"You don't have to be Alexander Graham Bell to pick up the phone and find out it's DEAD!" (42:25 - 42:37) Spoken like the true Brooklyn, New York native he was-Lol! Love it!
One interesting bit about the apology show is that it works as a brief recap of Jackie Gleason's career, starting as a tummler.
Watching Jackie Gleason come out and just sit down and converse with the studio audience and television viewers, I have no doubt if he had wanted to host a network talk show he could have been on a par with anyone, even Johnny Carson.
Thank You, Thank You, Thank You. I watched all 3 programs in this thread and I thoroughly enjoyed them. What a rich history!!!
"When I got off the train I was loaded with pimples and despair"
I always wanted to see this. It was pretty bad, but not as bad as I was expecting.
Might have worked better if the panelists were given a little more time, and if Jackie didn't take up what little time they had by quipping.
It doesn't seem any worse than some other game shows of the time.
I agree. Gleason couldn't stay out of his own way. His multiple asides and ambiguous responses to the guesses was a big factor in why it bombed.
@@georgetirebiter4035 which I’m almost convinced is why he apologized. I’m sure he knew who he was dealing with in terms of his own self, and knew how to smooth it over.
Thanks for posting this, been wanting to see this for years it's better than bad it's good!
Quite right. Thanks for posting this. I had seen Gleason's apology episode before but never the actual show. It wasn't great but I didn't think it was all that bad either. I enjoyed seeing these people again. It didn't hurt to be a smidgen toked either.
JUST a smidgen???
The first YITP might have stunk but it instigated Gleason's brilliant 30-minute monolog the next week, apparently extemporaneous.
This was so nervy of Gleason. Facing failure and owning it, with class and good humor.
I certainly have a notion to second THAT emotion !
Jackie was indeed The Great One!
and who enjoy listening to Johnny Olson in the intro? Her e is Johnny Olson announcing a game show not made by Goodson-Todman. Most of us born after this may remember him with the Price is Right, Match Game, or Concentration.
For all of its flaws Jackie''s still 1000 times better than today's God-awful no-talent game show hosts, Steve Harvey immediately coming to mind as a prime example.
Jackie didn't speak Ebonics and have marbles in his mouth.
It's such a shame that you're required to watch all the TV you hate. If only it were a free and very white country.......
I'm sure he was better at the talk show he replaced the game show with than the dorks currently hosting them
Through his mind, The Great One was undoubtedy thinking "How Sweet It Isn't"
I've been looking for actual footage of this show for maybe ten years. I was told it was "lost". MANY videos of "top ten worst TV shows" list this as the all-time worst, and I can see why. But it seems almost like a miracle that the footage has resurfaced. I never had any luck navigating the Internet Archive, which seems to have been designed in 1990. I just cannot find anything. Who knows what other gems may be lurking there. And it is too bad we have to be so careful of copyright strikes. I have one right now - a strike, not a claim - because I posted a 15-second, silent gif of an antique puppet. It turned out the NAME of the puppet was copyrighted. I was very naive for a long time and thought only the CONTENT was the problem, but now I see even the description and thumbnail is sufficient for a crackdown. I had a warning about "decency" because I used the word "bra" in a title!
A class act! And kudos to the people in charge that had the gumption to know “the great one” was right and could save their reputations. Bravo!
Gleason's theme, "Melancholy Serenade", is strikingly similar to "Thru the Courtesy of Love" from the movie "Here Comes Carter". It's so similar that Warner Music seriously considered suing him for plagiarism, but its parent company (Warner Brothers) felt that Gleason was becoming a big star, who wouldn't want to work with them if they sued him. So, they didn't.
But if you listen to the two songs, you'll notice the resemblance.
Finally, I'm hoping that the Care packages weren't like, cartons and cartons of cigarettes.
I doubt it. But I do recall reading a biography of Raymond Burr years ago & it mentioned that during one season "Perry Mason" was sponsored in part by Parliament cigarettes & he was given a LOT of cartons by the company. So many that Mr Burr would give most of them away to smoker friends. Years ago when I was a smoker I tried a Parliament. Didn't care for it at all. A person does get used to their own brand (which was "Lark" in my case). I am happy to say I quit smoking back in 1984.
@@jubalcalif9100 So, you quit on a Lark? 🤣
I don't know about his apology. This is more entertaining than anything on TV today. He should have waited 60 years to apologize.
Jackie was definitely the "Great One". Nobody like him before or since.
How are you doing dougmilesmedia?
Just hilarious, and terrific. I unfortunately watched a clip of only the apology a day ago, but having seen the problem show, and then the apology show the context was much better, and the apology show was even more funny. He was one of the classiest guys in his day, and no one like him or many others of that era are left today. I miss them all.
Beautiful ..just beautiful ,pal ! The Great One ... Mr Jackie Gleason .
Only Jackie Gleason can pull off an apology for being responsible for one of TV's biggest busts. 😅
The show was a little slow and dry, but it wasn't really all that bad. Seems like Gleason wanted to cut the critics off at the knees, and he did. I was expecting something really, really bad, like on the level of the Gong Show. But seriously, ever watch "Queen for a Day"? Absolutely horrific, and it makes this show look great by comparison.
And “Queen” lasted a loooooooong time!
You know, I actually didn't find this to be a bad show at all. It was pretty funny! It's kind of like a highly mutated form of "What's My Line?". Reminds me of something you'd see on "Whose Line Is It Anyway?". This could work as a sketch bit within a variety show, or on one of the late-night talk shows. Johnny Carson could definitely have pulled this off, it's no more far-fetched than the Mighty Carson Art Players, Karnak the Magnificent, or Aunt Blabby. But Jackie Gleason shines as well.
I agree. It might have been better if the "host" did less of the talking.
@@artsmith1347 I have to disagree. He carried the show in the way only Jackie Gleason could. His interaction with the panel reminded me a lot of Groucho Marx in "You Bet Your Life".
@@faustin3867 You nailed it. Groucho Marx was a hog while on panel shows (he would hijack anything anytime anyplace and make it all about him). His appearances on "What's My Line" were terrible, because the game would always grind to a halt while he did his stupid mugging. Jackie Gleason was exactly the same. They always made it about themselves, and there was no room for anyone else.
@@faustin3867 Yes, but on that show he didn't have a celebrity panel, and usually the contestant wasn't even a professional entertainer. (Groucho's version is an unfair comparison to game shows generally, because it was so highly produced, filming much more than was aired; a fairer comparison would be to the Buddy Hackett or even Bill Cosby version.) "You're in the Picture" wasted a panel of otherwise witty types.
News at the time; "This is one of the worst TV shows ever."
*The CW laughing in the background.*
I recognized the opening announcer 's voice from The dating game and Price is Right. Jackie Gleason says his name is Olson. Johnny Olson. Tell em what they won, Johnny.
Jackie insisted Johnny continue as his announcer during his 1962-'70 variety show from New York (and later, in Miami Beach; at the time, Olson had to commute on weekends to work on the Gleason show, then return to New York to announce his various Goodson-Todman game and panel shows {'WHAT'S MY LINE?", "TO TELL THE TRUTH", "THE MATCH GAME", et. al.}).
If he only could have seen some of the television on today, he probably would have given this another look.
You'd have too many political correctness issues. For example, just imagine Ice-T sticking his head in the Beeftrust Girls opening... er... instead he does CarShield huckster ads...
@@musicom67 idk the l&m sponsored ads can stay in the past
@@charliewhite3905 Yeah that segue reminded me of a UA-camr doing one of those sponsored bits for earbuds or a VPN.
I remembe reading r an article from the seventies when he called TV comedies " pitiful. They're just sexual innuendo."
Don Lipp also had a hand in another embarrassing game show in 1974-75. It was “The Moneymaze,” hosted by Nick Clooney, Rosemary’s brother and George’s father.
LOL - Using people as "Game Board Pieces" on a set...I was 8 during ABC's "The Moneymaze". Even as a child I knew a flop. But then I saw "Shenanigans" on UA-cam from '65 and now I saw everything.
And “Shenanigans” was simply a remake of “Video Village” (there’s a videotape 1962 V.V. episode here on YT).
"SHENANIGANS" was specifically designed to sell sponsor Milton Bradley's toys and games (which they did for a season and a half). They even marketed a board game of the show.
@@musicom67 was always rumored that George Clooney purchased the lot of "Money Maze" tapes from program producer Dick Cavett's Daphne Productions - and recycled them...
@@christopherdunne7848 I remember watching "Shenanagins" on TV on Saturday mornings back in 60s when I was a kid ! The host was veteran comic actor Stubby Kaye (best known for his role of "Nicely Nicely" in the original Broadway & movie versions of "Guys & Dolls"). My gosh...had not thought about that TV kid's game show in 40 yrs !!
What kills me was their claim in the 60’s that Corn Flakes was the world’s favorite cereal. Hardly!!!
The first episode is pure hell. That was torture. I wonder if Pat Carroll gained all her weight right then and if Pat Harrington, Jr. developed wrinkles at that moment.
The second episode is gorgeous. I love that man.
How must Arthur Treacher must have felt having his face over an image of a woman in a tiny swimsuit. 🤪
29:50 - The second episode - "The Apology"... 31:38 - The famous soundbite "We layed the biggest bomb..."
@@fromthesidelines I couldn't even sit through the first episode ;-) Even a second time!
Kellogg's did NOT appreciate the joke during that episode when he called what he sipped from his coffee cup "Chock Full O'Booze" (at 33:05). They were OFFENDED that he dared mention drinking on a FAMILY show they were sponsoring. They ended their sponsorship after the second telecast {officially, they stated, "This isn't the show we bought"}. Liggett & Myers continued as his primary sponsor (no doubt because of the way he bit into his cigarettes on camera, L&M or not), right through his impromptu interview series featuring his friends and cronies [including Mickey Rooney, Bobby Darin, Art Carney, Jayne Mansfield, et. al.], which lasted through the end of March 1961.
James T. Aubrey, CBS' ruthless president- who never liked or respected him- was glad his commitment for the show was finally over. He told fellow executive Oscar Katz, "Well, you got him out of your system", as though he were the flu or the plague.
By the way, he promised he was going to say something about "YOU'RE IN THE PICTURE" returning at the end of the second telecast. But he had NO intention of EVER doing that program again; that's why he said at the end, "I don't know what we're going to do....." He double-crossed both the network and his producer (who soon departed), then convinced CBS his idea for a one-on-one interview show would be a great one to fufill the remaining weeks of his contract for the series. They had no choice.
He KNEW "YOU'RE IN THE PICTURE" was going to be a disaster. However, he was in the middle of an exclusive 15 year contract with CBS that required him to do SOMETHING for the network every year; apparently, producing Kate Smith's 1960 "comeback" on the network [which lasted 26 weeks] wasn't enough. They wanted him to appear on another weekly series. As he told Morley Safer on "60 MINUTES' in 1984, "All I can tell you {is} that there were, perhaps, 30 executives at CBS who thought {'YOU'RE IN THE PICTURE'} was the funniest thing they had ever seen in their life! *I* began to think it was the funniest thing I had ever seen in my life. And then we did it, and CRASH!".
@@fromthesidelines I would like to see those 11 or so talk shows Jackie did after the second show.
I wonder if they have survived.
I'd argue this wasn't the biggest bomb in TV -- "Turn On" was infamously effectively cancelled before the pilot had finished airing, and George Schlatter wasn't allowed to make a 30-minute public apology the next week...
There was also the little-remembered "Nuthouse" with Alan Seus.
I had seen this before and then watched Johnny Carson with Jackie Gleason as the guest where Johnny said he was on this show. He's not, very strange since he mentioned something that did happen in this episode.
Faulty memory. Carson was on a lot of shows early in his career.
60 years ago TODAY. INCREDIBLE. 😳
Has the show reached Proxima Centauri yet?, Grandpa ;-)
Johnny Carson, in one of his classic monologues, once said that TV signals travel out forever and ever into space. Per Carson, “That means that right now, on Pluto, they have just cancelled ‘Hello, Larry.’ “
He is the great one! Jackie is upstairs shaking his head at what is going on today in 2021.
He was great as the bass player in "Orchestra Wives."
It may have been a bomb then, and Gleason famously apologized for it, but I’m sitting here laughing my ass off 🤣 If only today’s comedies were this funny……..
L&M has found the secret that unlocks flavor in a filter cigarette
The first time I saw the comedic 1942 movie "Larceny, Inc" starring Edward G. Robinson, I was surprised to see Jackie Gleason playing a bit role as a soda jerk. That was when he was first trying to get a foothold in Hollywood movies but, after a couple of years and about a half dozen different movie roles (some uncredited,) that career didn't work out. He then landed the role of Chester Riley in the initial Emmy award-winning season of TV series "The Life of Riley." (William Bendix was doing the radio version and his contract forbade television appearances. But Bendix assumed the role in the TV series for the remaining six seasons.) Gleason's appearance on TV turned out to be a stroke of luck and he was never out of work after that.
I was four years old when this aired. We didn’t have a television until I was seven or eight though.
I have noticed - maybe it has changed, I hope so - that there is practically NO footage of Jackie's American Scene Magazine show which I remember from the mid-to-late '60s. I'd LOVE to see Crazy Guggenheim and The Poor Soul and the June Taylor Dancers again! And AWAAAAAAAY we go!
Whoever owns the copyrights pulls them immediately from UA-cam. They were syndicated in the 1980s...I have plenty but they get PULLED. We'll see how to sneak some in ;-)
@@musicom67 Just be careful, YT acts without warning and the rules change all the time. And it's all done by bots. I tried to contest a copyright strike and they went all legal on me.
There is a ton of ir on the internet archive.
Insane how much he was smoking
"Keep the sponsor happy".
If I hosted this show, I'd be chain smoking and sneaking a few drinks in between
He smoked up to six packs a day. Even after his bypass he was a heavy smoker, I am surprised he lived as long as he did.
Keep in mind that when Jackie revived his variety show in 1962, Philip Morris {Marlboro, Parliament, Benson & Hedges, et. al.} was one of his primary sponsors, through the 1960's. Naturally, he had to smoke on camera [even though he rarely appeared in "integrated" commercials for them during the program]- and he was used to the habit, which made them *VERY* happy to be identified with him.
@@sdcoinshooter Me too ! I am surprised he lived as long as he did. I read online that he died at the age of 71 from colon cancer that has spread to his liver. Considering his heavy smoking habit, I'm surprised he wasn't felled much earlier by lung cancer !!