Video duration: 172 seconds
Global video hits: 63255
Kovacs was a pioneer of TV comedy in the 1950's, edging closer, I think, to performance art than what people typically think of as comedy. Even with Percy Dovetonsils the comedy is odd, low key, and character generated, even though there is a poetic punch line toward the end.
Video duration: 264 seconds
Global video hits: 1687
This blackout clip has Ernie satirizing topics which always appear to have social relevence...even after 48 years! Seems familiar? Keep in mind that Ernie at the time was also an occasional contributing writer to, and apparent reader of, Mad Magazine.
Video duration: 104 seconds
Global video hits: 1503
In one of his very rare programs shot in color, Ernie performs his "Tilted Table" routine as the character "Eugene" from his 30 minute award winning TV special "The Silent Show". The indicated air date of 1957, and the inclusion of his sidekick Henry Lascoe, would mark the origin of this sketch way before it's better known black and white performance from his ABC Television Network special.
Video duration: 150 seconds
Global video hits: 49917
Classic television from the always experimental Ernie Kovack, who was so ahead of his time, commedians are still stealing his stuff today. It was later reported that Jack Lemmon is in the monkey suit with the drum mallets.
Video duration: 61 seconds
Global video hits: 17998
Television comedy pioneer Ernie Kovacs stars in this short skit about a great white hunter on the prowl for elephants. Check out Ernie's wife, the lovely Edie Adams, as his "native assistant."
Video duration: 238 seconds
Global video hits: 19560
Musical short produced by Ernie Kovacs in which various objects in the kitchen come to life. The music they dance to is "Cherokee" by space age pop maestro Juan Esquivel.
Video duration: 206 seconds
Global video hits: 39841
The closing credits to one of Ernie's ABC Specials. Something of a lost art considering networks now want the time to plug their upcoming shows. My favorite part of this is the credit for the Production Coordinator- given Ernie's propensity for exceeding budgets, what we see may not have been too far from the truth.
Video duration: 592 seconds
Global video hits: 2373
Edited from the first half-hour of one of Ernie's last 1956 NBC evening programs. Includes opening monologue (goldfish in the water cooler), What's My Hush-Hush, and a presidential report from doubletalker Al Kelly. From isntlifeterrible.com
![Ernie Kovacs & Edie Adams--What\](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/5vEiWKK3pOE/2.jpg "Ernie Kovacs & Edie Adams--What\")
![Ernie Kovack\](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/DoLTFQsFswM/2.jpg "Ernie Kovack\")
