A Face In The Crowd

[JackFavell]

I miss Johnny. Always a good show, no matter what. A very comforting presence.

[RedRiver]

You said it! He might have retired earlier. Much earlier. The show did get kind of lacklustre. But throughout the 1960s and 70s...Wow! You never knew what would happen. I talk to young people who watch Conan, Jimmy and the Scottish man. If they only knew...

[CineMaven]

There is a reason why there is a chair (next to the host) and a couch, next to the chair. B'cuz Johnny and Jack and Merv and Mike and Steve used to host "TALK" shows. Several guests would be on chatting with the host. < (Sigh!)> A long gone tradition. My favorite was watching: Steve and Edie, Suzanne Pleshette, and Phyllis Newman. I felt grown up if I understood what they were talking about. (And not being caught staying up past my 11:00pm bedtime curfew, cruelly imposed by my parents). "School?! I did my homework, what MORE do they want?!! School...schmool, I want to hear Phyllis Newman!!!"

< ( Sigh!)> Who'll cut off their Schlausen now for us?

[JackFavell]

Oh my gosh, you are right! There was an art to being the host, and an art to being a good guest. Phyllis Newman.... holy cow! I haven't thought of her in years. She was so smart.

[RedRiver]

Classic spontaneous entertainment. You never knew when Jerry Lewis would simply wander onstage and join them.

[ChiO]

Classic spontaneous entertainment.

Classic spontaneous entertainment? This is classic Talk Show entertainment.

[youtube][/youtube]

[CineMaven]

I remember she had a sexy throaty laugh. She was very quick witted. Funny the things one remembers...

[JackFavell]

Wow, my husband will be amazed to see this clip, he's a big Zappa fan. Of course, he may not recognize him.....

[intothenitrate]

Thanks for the clip ChiO. Steve Allen is so gracious. Letterman channels him to a certain extent, but he can't conceal his essential mean streak. Allen's disposition is genuinely sweet.

[RedRiver]

Good observation, Nitrate. An actor can abandon his own disposition. A TV personality? Not so much. Meanness and egocentricity are not charming traits. I see this on cable news channels as well. Is this about the story? Or about YOU?

When Steve Allen died, the obits credited him with virtually creating the talk show format. I'd love to see some decent video of that. It's not often I get to say I'm too young, but two year-olds don't watch late night TV!

[CineMaven]

"...Two year olds don't watch late night tv!"??? What kind of movie buff ARE you?

P.S. Letterman is too snarky for me.