TV Confidential with Ed Robertson

TVC 545.4: Greg and Ed discuss how the Pink Panther cartoons stemmed from the opening title sequence of the original Pink Panther movie from 1963, and the great degree to which they influenced many other cartoon series over the past fifty years. All six volumes of The Pink Panther Cartoon Collection are available on Blu-ray release from Kino Lorber, both as individual releases and as a six-volume...

TVC 545.5: A return visit by Howard Storm and Steve Stoliar , co-authors of The Imperfect Storm: From Henry Street to Hollywood , the story of Howard's career as a stand-up comedian, actor, improv performer (with The Committee), and film and TV director. Topics this segment include Howard's stint as a member of The Desilu Players, where he worked closely with Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz and learne...

TVC 545.6: Actor, comedian, and director Howard Storm talks to Ed about the career of Lenny Bruce; how long it takes for most comedians to hone their stand-up act; and the nightclub scene in San Francisco in the 1960s, where Howard developed a following while performing in such venues as The Playboy Club and The hungry i. Steve Stoliar , Howard's collaborator on The Imperfect Storm: From Henry Str...

TVC 545.7: Actor, comedian, and director Howard Storm talks about the time when The Committee performed at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas as the opening act for Blood, Sweat & Tears. Steve Stoliar , Howard's collaborator on The Imperfect Storm: From Henry Street to Hollywood , co-hosts. Want to advertise/sponsor our show? TV Confidential has partnered with AdvertiseCast to handle advertising/sponsors...

From August 2011: Ed welcomes James Christie, author of You're The Director, You Figure It Out: The Life and Films of Richard Donner , a comprehensive biography that discusses Donner's work in feature motion pictures, episodic television, and made-for-TV movies. Topics this segment include the sly bit of activism that Donner worked into Sarah T.: Portrait of a Teenage Alcoholic , the TV-movie that...

A encore presentation of our May 2016 tribute to William Schallert , the amiable, reliable character actor known to Baby Boomers for playing Patty Duke 's dad, Nancy Drew's dad, Gidget's dad, Dobie Gillis ' teacher, the Admiral on Get Smart , plus a host of other roles in various movies and TV series. Topics this segment include Bill's background in music, which he was able to implement in some of...

A encore presentation of our May 2016 tribute to William Schallert , the beloved television favorite who was born this weekend in 1923. Topics this segment include a discussion of Bill's early career with The Circle Theatre, a stage company in Los Angeles whose members also included Mabel Albertson, Kathleen Freeman, Strother Martin, and Danny Arnold. Want to advertise/sponsor our show? TV Confide...

A encore presentation of our May 2016 tribute to beloved television actor William Schallert , featuring highlights from Bill's previous appearances on TV Confidential . In this segment, Bill discusses being directed by Charlie Chaplin in a stage production of Rain , as well as some of his credits from 1959—a year that saw Bill work in fifty-seven different TV shows, including Dobie Gillis , Gunsmo...

A encore presentation of our May 2016 tribute to beloved television actor William Schallert , featuring highlights from Bill's previous appearances on TV Confidential . In this segment, Bill talks to Ed about playing The Admiral on Get Smart ; filling in for Ross Martin on The Wild, Wild West ; his lead role in The Man from Planet X ; and his two terms as president of the Screen Actors Guild durin...

A encore presentation of our May 2016 tribute to beloved television actor William Schallert , featuring highlights from Bill's previous appearances on TV Confidential . In this segment, Bill talks about working with Elvis Presley in Speedway ; with Walter Matthau in both Lonely are the Brave and Charley Varrick ; and the role that Kirk Douglas played in ending the Hollywood Blacklist by ensuring t...

From May 2016: Greg Ehrbar reviews The Matchless Gene Rayburn , a comprehensive biography of game show legend Gene Rayburn ( Match Game ). Want to advertise/sponsor our show? TV Confidential has partnered with AdvertiseCast to handle advertising/sponsorship requests for the podcast edition of our program. They're great to work with and will help you advertise on our show. Please email sales@advert...

From January 2013: Bob Leszczak, author of Single Season Sitcoms, 1948-1979: A Complete Guide , talks to Ed about My World... and Welcome to It , the Emmy Award-winning, critically acclaimed avant garde sitcom starring William Windom that likely wasn't renewed for a second season because the show's animated sequences, which were produced by DePatie-Freleng, were too expensive. Other topics this se...

TVC 499.7: From June 2011: Tony, Donna, and Ed remember The Bicentennial Minutes (CBS, 1974-1976), a series of one-minute educational television segments, produced by CBS News, that aired in prime time (usually at the end of the 8pm hour) to commemorate the bicentennial of the American Revolution. The series premiered on July 4, 1974 and was originally scheduled to end on July 4, 1976, but continu...

First hour: Bob Leszczak, author of Single Season Sitcoms, 1948-1979: A Complete Guide , provides Ed with the back story of The Paul Lynde Show, The Nancy Walker Show, Headmaster, My World and Welcome to It, The McLean Stevenson Show and other comedy series that, for one reason or another, lasted less than one season.  Want to advertise/sponsor our show? TV Confidential  has partnered with Adverti...

From January 2013: Bob Leszczak, author of Single Season Sitcoms, 1948-1979: A Complete Guide , provides some background details about The Good Life, A Year at the Top, Ichabod and Me and other comedy series that, for one reason or another, lasted less than one season. Want to advertise/sponsor our show? TV Confidential  has partnered with AdvertiseCast to handle advertising/sponsorship requests f...

TVC 544.1: Ed, Tony, and Donna welcome Emmy nominated comedy writer Jim Abel l . Jim spent three years as a staff writer for Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (NBC, 1968-1973), while his other credits include Lily Tomlin's second comedy album, And That's the Truth , plus many of the blackout sketches on Love, American Style . Topics this segment include the clever ways in which Laugh-In circumvented the n...

TVC 544.2: Emmy nominated comedy writer Jim Abel l shares a few more stories about writing for Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In and Love, American Style , including how he and his writing partner, Chet Dowling, often found inspiration from the tombstones of the great comedians who lay in repose at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Burbank, California. Want to advertise/sponsor our show? TV Confidential has partner...

TVC 544.3: An encore presentation of our March 2019 conversation with Will Ryan , Nick Santa Maria and Michael Schlesinger . Will and Ryan are the stars, and Mike is the writer, producer and director, of The Misadventures of Biffle and Shooster —the Rondo Award-nominated DVD collection of 1930s-style comedies that pay homage to The Three Stooges, Abbott and Costello, Laurel and Hardy and other vin...

TVC 544.4: From March 2019: Will Ryan , Nick Santa Maria and Michael Schlesinger of The Misadventures of Biffle and Shooster talk to Ed and Greg Ehrbar about why the humor of the Biffle and Shooster shorts is timeless and appeals to all age groups. Want to advertise/sponsor our show? TV Confidential has partnered with AdvertiseCast to handle advertising/sponsorship requests for the podcast edition...

TVC 544.5: From March 2019: Will Ryan , Nick Santa Maria and Michael Schlesinger talk to Ed and Greg Ehrbar about the various comic inspirations for the Biffle and Shooster shorts, which include Laurel and Hardy, Abbott and Costello, The Ritz Brothers, and even the obscure comedy team of Duke Mitchell and Sammy Petrillo. The Misadventures of Biffle and Shooster is available now on DVD.  Want to ad...

TVC 544.6: Award-winning ad writer and columnist Michael Shevack shares the back story of the spot for which he is best known: The iconic slogan for Gillette razors, "Gillette, the best a man can get." Michael's books include Soul Lessons from The Wizard of Oz: How to Find Your Yellow Brick Road and The Six Fix: Spiritual Healthcare for a Stronger America . Want to advertise/sponsor our show? TV C...

From August 2011: Ed and Tony welcome Edgar Award-nominated writer, producer and novelist Lee Goldberg ( Diagnosis Murder, Monk, Psych, Hunter, Spenser: For Hire, Successful Television Writing ). Topics this segment include what not to do when writing a spec script for a particular TV series, and why writing episodic television in general is like being a carpenter for hire. Want to advertise/spons...

From August 2011: Ed and Tony welcome Edgar Award-nominated writer, producer and novelist Lee Goldberg ( Diagnosis Murder, Monk, Psych, Hunter, Spenser: For Hire, Lost Hills, Bone Canyon, Successful Television Writing ). Topics this segment include how Lee and his longtime writing partner, William Rabkin, worked together when they wrote and produced television, and why Act I of any given script is...

From August 2011: Ed and Tony welcome Edgar Award-nominated writer, producer and novelist Lee Goldberg ( Diagnosis Murder, Monk, Psych, Hunter, Spenser: For Hire, Lost Hills, Bone Canyon, Successful Television Writing ). Topics this segment include why, once a pilot is sold, the networks become very protective of what they call "the franchise" of the series--that is, the show's contract with the a...

TVC 543.1: A return appearance by Alexis Hunter , author of Joi Lansing: A Body to Die For , a memoir of Alexis' life with singer/actress Joi Lansing , which began in 1969 and continued until Joi's death from breast cancer in August 1972. Alexis' book is a love story that also serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of silicon enhancements. Want to advertise/sponsor our show? TV Confidential...