Here's one of those videos I couldn't get to post yesterday. Simple as it looks(and it was damned hard to do--the medium technically was as crude as could be, making even simple editing a problem), the thing on display here is the imagination and goofiness of Kovacs' stuff(even the credits)at a time when most TV was, well...he was unique. He's had a huge influence on me--and on a lot of other folks, including many artists.
ADDENDUM: Those new visitors to this blog who admire the particular genius of Kovacs as I do might like to read my previous post about him here.
Thanks for that . I'm laughing and I really needed the laugh today.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was in junior high school the PBS affiliate in our little town ran two shows that had a formative effect on my sense of humor : Ernie Kovacs and Monty Python's Flying Circus. I've never been the same since , and I'm glad of it...
yeah Kovacs and Python were household favorites when I was a kid. very important in childhood humor development
ReplyDeleteWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was soooo nice to see this!!!!! Thanks much!
ReplyDeleteI've learned a lot from this blog and this is the first time I have commented here. You've introduced me to Freddy Moore girls and Ernie Kovacs. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Max---nothing makes me happier than to share the good stuff!
ReplyDeleteThanks for reminding me of this show. When I was a kid it was the best variety comedy show around. I still remember the opening credits with Ernie smoking a cigar under water.
ReplyDeleteIf you like Ernie then this version of him abusing the 1812 Overture may be of interest to you!
ReplyDeleteI have more where that came from; drop a note if you'd like...
Amazing and funny - Kovacs had a special view of the world. I loved it when I was kid - it was often re-run. In addition to Kovacs, I had "The Wallace and Ladmo Show", which was just as subversively funny, and tho nominally a kids show, it often had Kovacs inspired bits. Thanks for posting this!
ReplyDeleteGod, I miss Comedy Central showing Kovacs late at night.
ReplyDeleteI used to have an entire performance of the Nairobi Trio on tape. Doubt I still have it though. Surely a recording of that's floating around YouTube, right?
thanks!
ReplyDeleteyou've picked a good one!
I recommend the biography, the name of which escapes me.
Darn shame Ernie died in a Corvair. Some people think he lost control of the car while reaching for one of his cigars in the glove box.
Unsafe at any speed.
I have to concur, Kovacs and Python on PBS in Dallas as a teen, and I still remember ernie blowing the 'underwater smoke' in the opening. And not to mention the Nairobi trio. I have the python on DVD, any chance for Ernie to get the archival treatment?
ReplyDelete