The Ernie Kovacs Collection
Posted on April 6, 2011
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On April 19, Shout! Factory will release a lavish six-disc set compiling the work of one of the greatest comics of the 20th century — Ernie Kovacs. This is a collection not to be missed. Here’s the press release:
Featuring more than 13 hours of Kovacs’ original classic television content, unforgettable characters and a treasure trove of genuine rarities all collected in a lavishly packaged six-DVD box set. The vast majority of this content has not been seen in over 50 years.
With a gift for inventive comedy that was alternately cerebral, goofy and just plain absurd, Ernie Kovacs (www.erniekovacs.com) transformed television’s early era into his own personal playground — and invited viewers to enjoy every sight gag and loony character. Kovacs, whose offbeat humor graced the airwaves for just a decade in the 1950s and 60s, served healthy portions of the offbeat to his audiences, who had never seen anything quite like this cigar-wielding charmer. Wickedly funny but not offensive, Kovacs’ unique humor and flair for improvisation would ripple across generations, influencing TV funnymen from Johnny Carson and Monty Python to David Letterman, Pee-wee Herman and “Saturday Night Live.”
Kovacs, who died in a 1962 car accident, left behind a stunning body of work that survives thanks to the indefatigable efforts of his wife and co-star, the late Edie Adams. With many of the programs newly transferred from original 16mm kinescopes and curated by noted film/television historian Ben Model, “The Ernie Kovacs Collection” DVD box set is the first-ever comprehensive collection of Kovacs’ work — encompassing the full breadth of existing material, from his local Philadelphia morning shows in the early 1950s and national evening shows to the ABC primetime specials in the early 1960s that cemented his legend. Along with such iconic pieces at The Nairobi Trio and such signature characters as poet Percy Dovetonsils, Miklos Molnar, Matzoh Hepplewhite, Mr. Question Man and Uncle Gruesome, fans will finally get to enjoy Kovacs’ genuine gift for improvisation, charm and warmth as host of his many variety shows.
The DVD set also includes the rare color version of Kovacs’ famous “Silent Show” (aka “Eugene”), an unprecedented wordless classic featuring a hapless character wandering through a typically Kovacsian world of surreal visual gags. In addition to a wealth of bonus features, “The Ernie Kovacs Collection” includes a commemorative booklet filled with rare photos, informative program notes and a special tribute by award-winning novelist Jonathan Lethem.
From Shout! Factory. Retail price: $69.97
Contents:
Episodes from his local and national morning shows
Episodes from his NBC primetime show
“Take a Good Look”
Five ABC TV specials
The color version of his legendary silent show “Eugene”
Classic sketches
DVD Bonus Features:
1987 Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Hall Of Fame induction
“Remembering Ernie” with George Schlatter (“Laugh-In”) and Jolene Brand
Kovacs’ award-winning commercials for Dutch Masters Cigars
“Baseball Film”
Making of “Baseball Film”
“The Mysterious Knockwurst”
Performer Andy McKay’s 8mm home movies
“Superclod” Test
“Take A Good Look” clues
“Take A Good Look” sales film
“Silents Please” host segments
“Our Man In Havana” Behind-the-scenes footage
Dutch Masters Cigars commercials
Kovacs’ trailer for “Operation Mad Ball”
“It Happened to Ernie” featuring Jack Lemmon and Ernie Kovacs
Muriel Cigars commercials featuring Edie Adams
Clip of Ernie Kovacs’ ABC Special from December 12, 1961
Complete Contents:
THE ERNIE KOVACS COLLECTION – Disc 1 (THE EARLY YEARS)
It’s Time For Ernie
March 7, 1951
It’s Time For Ernie
June 1951
Ernie In Kovacsland
July 6, 1951
Ernie In Kovacsland
August 23, 1951
Kovacs On The Corner
Date UnknownÂ
Kovacs Unlimited
May 28, 1952
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Bonus Material:
1987 ATAS Hall Of Fame InductionÂ
Remembering Ernie with George Schlatter And Jolene Brand
“Baseball Filmâ€Â                                            Â
Making Of “Baseball Filmâ€Â             Â
“The Mysterious Knockwurst†                  Â
Andy McKay 8mm Home Movies              Â
Â
THE ERNIE KOVACS COLLECTION – Disc 2 (THE NBC MORNING SHOW)
The Ernie Kovacs Show
December 19, 1955
The Ernie Kovacs Show
February 20, 1956
The Ernie Kovacs Show
March 15, 1956
The Ernie Kovacs Show
April 12, 1956
The Ernie Kovacs Show
June 12, 1956
Bonus Material:
Percy Dovetonsils: “Ode To Stanley’s Pussycatâ€
Martin Krutch, Public Eye
Rock Mississippi in “Fingers Under Weskitâ€
Howard, The World’s Strongest Ant
J. Burlington Gearshift
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THE ERNIE KOVACS COLLECTION – Disc 3 (THE NBC EVENING SHOW)
The Ernie Kovacs Show
July 2, 1956
The Ernie Kovacs Show
July 30, 1956
The Ernie Kovacs Show
September 3, 1956
 Bonus Material:
“Superclod†Test
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THE ERNIE KOVACS COLLECTION – Disc 4 (THE LATE 1950s)
Saturday Color Carnival: “The Ernie Kovacs Showâ€
airdate: January 19, 1957 (NBC)
Kovacs On Music
airdate: May 22, 1959 (NBC)
Take A Good Look
airdate: July 21, 1960 (ABC)
with panelists Cesar Romero, Edie Adams and Jack Carson
Bonus Material:
Take A Good Look Clues                                        Â
Take A Good Look Sales Film                                             Â
Silents Please
Our Man In Havana Behind-The-Scenes Footage            Â
Â
THE ERNIE KOVACS COLLECTION – Disc 5 (THE ABC SPECIALS)
THE ERNIE KOVACS COLLECTION: The ABC Specials
Kovacs Special #4
September 21, 1961
Kovacs Special #5
October 28, 1961
Kovacs Special #6
November 24, 1961
Kovacs Special #7
December 12, 1961
Kovacs Special #8
January 23, 1962
Bonus Material:
Dutch Masters commercials
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THE ERNIE KOVACS COLLECTION – Disc 6 (CLASSIC PIECES)
The NBC Morning Show
·         Percy Dovetonsils Reads “Roughing Itâ€
·         Ferrante & Teicher Perform “Oh Susannahâ€
·         Mr. Question Man
·         Rock Mississippi: “Fingers Under Weskitâ€
·         Drawing With John Magee
·         Leena Queen Of The Jungle
·         Leroy L. Leroy
·         A Series Of Magazine Ads
·         Tales From Uncle Gruesome
·         Crossed Skillets
·         Leonard And Lola
·         Percy Dovetonsils almost Reads An Ode
 The NBC Evening Show
·         The Late Late Late Late Hungarian Movie
·         Mr. ScienceÂ
·         Nairobi Trio
·         Howdy Deedy
·         Let’s Take A Visit
·         TV Backstage
·         Trapizza
·         Vas You Dere?
Bonus Material:
Trailer for Operation Mad Ball
It Happened To Ernie                      Â
Muriel Cigar commercials featuring Edie Adams
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