Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube
    Nostalgia Central
    Banner
    • Home
    • Blog
      • Lists
      • Playlists
    • Television
      • Shows by Decade
        • 1950s Television
        • 1960s Television
        • 1970s Television
        • 1980s Television
        • 1990s Television
      • Shows by Genre
        • Comedy
        • Drama
        • Kids TV
        • Variety
        • News & Sport
        • Advertisements
      • Shows by Country
        • UK TV
        • USA TV
        • Australia & NZ TV
        • Canada TV
        • Europe TV
        • Japan TV
      • Shows A to K
        • Shows A
        • Shows B
        • Shows C
        • Shows D
        • Shows E
        • Shows F
        • Shows G
        • Shows H
        • Shows I
        • Shows J
        • Shows K
      • Shows L to Z
        • Shows L
        • Shows M
        • Shows N
        • Shows O
        • Shows P
        • Shows Q
        • Shows R
        • Shows S
        • Shows T
        • Shows U
        • Shows V
        • Shows W
        • Shows X
        • Shows Y
        • Shows Z
      • Shows 0 to 9
    • Music
      • Music by Decade
        • 1950s Music
        • 1960s Music
        • 1970s Music
        • 1980s Music
        • 1990s Music
      • Music A to K
        • Music A
        • Music B
        • Music C
        • Music D
        • Music E
        • Music F
        • Music G
        • Music H
        • Music I
        • Music J
        • Music K
      • Music L to Z
        • Music L
        • Music M
        • Music N
        • Music O
        • Music P
        • Music Q
        • Music R
        • Music S
        • Music T
        • Music U
        • Music V
        • Music W
        • Music X
        • Music Y
        • Music Z
      • Music 0 to 9
      • Genres
      • Music on Film & TV
      • One-Hit Wonders
      • Online Radio
    • Movies
      • Movies by Decade
        • 1950s Movies
          • Movies 1950
          • Movies 1951
          • Movies 1952
          • Movies 1953
          • Movies 1954
          • Movies 1955
          • Movies 1956
          • Movies 1957
          • Movies 1958
          • Movies 1959
        • 1960s Movies
          • Movies 1960
          • Movies 1961
          • Movies 1962
          • Movies 1963
          • Movies 1964
          • Movies 1965
          • Movies 1966
          • Movies 1967
          • Movies 1968
          • Movies 1969
        • 1970s Movies
          • Movies 1970
          • Movies 1971
          • Movies 1972
          • Movies 1973
          • Movies 1974
          • Movies 1975
          • Movies 1976
          • Movies 1977
          • Movies 1978
          • Movies 1979
        • 1980s Movies
          • Movies 1980
          • Movies 1981
          • Movies 1982
          • Movies 1983
          • Movies 1984
          • Movies 1985
          • Movies 1986
          • Movies 1987
          • Movies 1988
          • Movies 1989
        • 1990s Movies
          • Movies 1990
          • Movies 1991
          • Movies 1992
          • Movies 1993
          • Movies 1994
          • Movies 1995
          • Movies 1996
          • Movies 1997
          • Movies 1998
          • Movies 1999
      • Movies A to K
        • Movies A
        • Movies B
        • Movies C
        • Movies D
        • Movies E
        • Movies F
        • Movies G
        • Movies H
        • Movies I
        • Movies J
        • Movies K
      • Movies L to Z
        • Movies L
        • Movies M
        • Movies N
        • Movies O
        • Movies P
        • Movies Q
        • Movies R
        • Movies S
        • Movies T
        • Movies U
        • Movies V
        • Movies W
        • Movies X
        • Movies Y
        • Movies Z
      • Movies 0 to 9
    • Pop Culture
      • Fads
      • Toys & Games
      • Fashion
      • Decor
      • Food & Drink
      • People
      • Radio
      • Technology
      • Transport
    • Social History
      • 1950s Year by Year
      • 1960s Year by Year
      • 1970s Year by Year
      • 1980s Year by Year
      • 1990s Year by Year
      • Events
    Nostalgia Central
    Home»Television»Shows by Decade»1950s Television
    1950s Television Comedy Shows E 2 Mins Read

    Ernie Kovacs Show, The

    Share
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email

    1 9 5 2 – 1 9 5 6 (USA)

    Few comedians used television more effectively than former radio DJ and continuity announcer Ernie Kovacs, whose shows presented television comedy in a way nobody before had ever attempted.

    Just a few of the innovations Kovacs featured – in front of an audience of “twenty-three passing strangers” – were blackouts, spoofs of TV commercials and other television programmes, and trick camera effects (such as showing a fully dressed woman and several animals step out of a bathtub in which Kovacs was sitting and taking a bath).

    Kovacs also played a number of characters, including Percy Dovetonsils (an effeminate, martini-drinking poet), Wolfgang Sauerbraten (a German disc jockey), Irving Wong (a Chinese songwriter), J Walter Puppybreath, and Uncle Gruesome.

    Among his regular cast members were his wife, Edie Adams; pianist Ernie Hartak; and straight men Trigger Lund and Andy McKay.

    Regularly seen on the Kovacs show were the features You Asked To See It, Mr Question Man and Clowdy Faire, Your Weather Girl.

    In the late 50s and early 60s, Kovacs was seen on a number of TV specials but did not have another regular show of his own after 1956.

    His brilliant career was cut short in January 1962 when he was killed in an automobile accident in Los Angeles, aged just 42.

    In 1977, excerpts from several of his shows were aired in a special, The Best of Ernie Kovacs.

    Video

    Related Posts

    • Jack Jackson Show, The
      Jack Jackson Show, The
      1 9 5 5 - 1 9 5 9 (UK) Jack Jackson was a bandleader and trumpeter who gave up his…
    • Teenage Mailbag
      Teenage Mailbag
      1 9 5 7 - 1 9 5 8 (Australia) Music requested by Melbourne (Australia) teenagers was presented by young…
    • Youth Wants to Know
      Youth Wants to Know
      1 9 5 1 - 1 9 5 8 (USA) 30 minute episodes This was the longest-running of several 1950s public…
    • Take A Guess
      Take A Guess
      1 9 5 3 (USA) 13 x 30 minute episodes Contestants on this Thursday night summer quiz show from CBS were…
    • Emu's Broadcasting Company
      Emu's Broadcasting Company
      1 9 7 5 - 1 9 8 0 (UK) Rod Hull and his Emu presented this kid's show from Emu's own…
    • They're Off
      They're Off
      1 9 5 6 (UK) 8 x 30 minute episodes This short-lived early quiz show from Granada Television was racing-themed and…
    • Take A Good Look
      Take A Good Look
      1 9 5 9 - 1 9 6 1 (USA) This American television game show was created by and starred…
    • Mistress, The
      Mistress, The
      1 9 8 5 - 1 9 8 7 (UK) 12 x 30 minute episodes Written by Carla Lane, this BBC…

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email
    Previous ArticleGirl With Something Extra, The
    Next Article Dads

    Comments are closed.

    NC Radio Player
    Search the site

    Nostalgia Central has been a labour of love since 1998. The site carries no advertising, and I rely on donations to help with running costs and to keep the site running for your entertainment and education.

    If you find the site informative or enjoyable, please consider a donation – no matter how small. 

    Thank you so much.
    Enjoy your trip in the time machine!

    You may also like

    • Take A Good Look
      Take A Good Look
      1 9 5 9 - 1 9 6 1 (USA) This American television game show was created by and starred…
    • Take A Guess
      Take A Guess
      1 9 5 3 (USA) 13 x 30 minute episodes Contestants on this Thursday night summer quiz show from CBS were…
    • Jack Paar Show, The
      Jack Paar Show, The
      1 9 5 3 - 1 9 5 7 (USA) Radio comedian Jack Paar made his first television appearance in…
    • Space Patrol
      Space Patrol
      1 9 5 0 - 1 9 5 5 (USA) 175 x 15/30 minute episodes Space Patrol began in 1950 as…


    Nostalgia Central covers the period 1950 to 1999 and contains some words and references which reflect the attitudes of those times and which may be considered culturally sensitive, offensive or inappropriate today.
    Copyright © 1998, 2023 Nostalgia Central. Run by volunteers. Funded by donations.
    • About Nostalgia Central
    • Contact
    • FAQ

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.