Sid Caesar and Your Show of Shows
Author | : Karen J. Harvey |
Publisher | : McFarland |
Total Pages | : 253 |
Release | : 2020-12-17 |
ISBN-10 | : 9781476641836 |
ISBN-13 | : 1476641838 |
Rating | : 4/5 (36 Downloads) |
Book excerpt: In the early days of television, "comedy" often meant stale vaudeville routines and stand-up. Then, in 1950, a new comedy-variety show debuted on NBC--Your Show of Shows. Its gifted and mercurial star, Sid Caesar, talented ensemble cast and superb writing staff--including Mel Brooks, Neil Simon, Lucille Kallen and Mel Tolkin--would create comedy designed for the new medium and provide a template for successful shows that followed. With rare illustrations and the most complete sketch guide yet compiled, this book highlights Caesar's reputation as a brilliant comic actor and describes the writing and production of the weekly live broadcast that kept 60 million TV viewers home on Saturday nights.