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JACK PAAR PROGRAM, THE {OSCAR LEVANT, SHELLEY
BERMAN} (TV)

Summary

One in this series of talk/variety programs hosted by Jack Paar. This program features an interview with pianist and gadfly Oscar Levant as well as performances by comedian Shelley Berman, and neophyte songstress Linda Bennett. Highlights include: Paar's monologue which centers on unusual New York City taxi rides and his own celebrity; Linda Bennett sings "More"; Shelley Berman performs a comedic monologue about psychiatry in which he portrays a highly neurotic man phoning his shrink; and film footage from Hot Springs, Arkansas, where farm animals are taught by benign methods to turn on lamps, dance, and play baseball. Paar dedicates the rest of the program to his interview with Oscar Levant, whom the host refers to as "one of America's great geniuses" after acknowledging that the well-known pianist and witty former "Information Please" panelist has suffered from a series of physical and emotional problems. After the two men jest about Levant's severe hypochondria -- the guest appears to be in physical discomfort throughout the interview -- Levant quips about the following topics: his battles with emotional problems; the discussion he had about psychiatry with "twelve tone system" creator Arnold Schoenberg in the 1930s; his description of television personality David Susskind as "bumptious, arrogant, and brutish"; Danny Kaye's new television show; the negative view he formerly held of talk-show host Johnny Carson, whom he now describes as "witty, charming, and quite good"; why he believes that Jerry Lewis's stupidity is "spontaneous" rather than planned; his own use of sleeping pills; Senator Barry Goldwater's politics; Leonard Bernstein's musical knowledge; and the ballet, which he refers to as "fairies' baseball." Levant then ends the segment with a brief performance at the piano. Paar concludes the program by promoting the following week's show which will feature an appearance by the self-styled California-based seer Criswell, who purports to be able to divine the future. Includes commercials and promos. (This is a black-and-white copy of a color telecast.)

Details

  • NETWORK: NBC
  • DATE: October 11, 1963 Friday 10:00 PM
  • RUNNING TIME: 0:58:39
  • COLOR/B&W: B&W copy of a color telecast
  • CATALOG ID: T:02294
  • GENRE: Talk/Interviews
  • SUBJECT HEADING: Biography; Comedy; Music
  • SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 1962-1965
  • COMMERCIALS:
    • TV - Commercials - Alka-Seltzer effervescent pain reliever and antacid
    • TV - Commercials - Hertz Rent A Car
    • TV - Commercials - Lady Sunbeam Controlled Heat Hair Dryer
    • TV - Commercials - Lady Sunbeam Electric Shaver
    • TV - Commercials - Newport Cigarettes
    • TV - Commercials - Speidel Twist-O-Flex Watches
    • TV - Commercials - Sunbeam Electrical Appliances
    • TV - Promos - "The Jack Paar Program"
    • TV - Promos - "The Lieutenant"

CREDITS

  • Jack Paar … Producer
  • Paul Orr … Producer
  • Paul W. Keyes … Producer
  • Tom Cochran … Associate Producer
  • Hal Gurnee … Director
  • Paul W. Keyes … Writer
  • David Lloyd … Writer
  • Marty Farrell … Writer
  • Chuck Horner … Writer
  • Jack Paar … Host, Interviewer, Talent, "The Jack Paar Program"
  • Oscar Levant … Guest
  • Shelley Berman … Performer
  • Linda Bennett … Singer
  • Johnny Carson
  • Criswell
  • Barry Goldwater
  • Danny Kaye
  • Jerry Lewis
  • Arnold Schoenberg
  • David Susskind