During his 7-part interview, Noriyuke Pat Morita (1932-2005) talks about his early years, including his spending part of his childhood in an internment camp for Japanese-Americans during World War II. Mr. Morita discusses turning to comedy performance at 30, and quickly rosing to his television debut on Hollywood Palace. He talks about landing a role on Happy Days as Arnold. He also discusses his work on Sanford and Son and speaks fondly of his mentor, the late Redd Foxx. He also talks about his work on the “Karate Kid” feature films and his general philosophy about his career. To access all segments, visit channel playlists or go to tvinterviewsarchive.blogspot.com
Actor/Comedian Tim Conway talks about his early years in local TV at Cleveland’s WJW, where he was discovered by Rose Marie leading to his appearances on The New Steve Allen Show. He describes his regular appearance as “Ensign Charles Parker” on McHale’s Navy. He and Harvey Korman (in a separate interview) spoke in great detail about their years on The Carol Burnett Show, including descriptions of famous characters and sketches. They also talk about their work in recent years touring the country with their two-man stage show. Conway discusses other television appearances including the notorious variety flop Turn-On, which was canceled after one airing. Additionally, he talks about his work in feature films such as The Shaggy DA For all segments visit channel playlists or go to tvinterviewsarchive.blogspot.com
Host/Announcer Ed McMahon talks about the end of “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson”, Bette Midler, and the MDA telethon with Jerry Lewis. This is part of a multi-tape interview. To access all segments, visit channel playlists or go to tvinterviewsarchive.blogspot.com
Watch the full interview at emmytvlegends.org During his 7-part interview, Noriyuke Pat Morita (1932-2005) talks about his early years, including his spending part of his childhood in an internment camp for Japanese-Americans during World War II. Mr. Morita discusses turning to comedy performance at 30, and quickly rosing to his television debut on Hollywood Palace. He talks about landing a role on Happy Days as Arnold. He also discusses his work on Sanford and Son and speaks fondly of his mentor, the late Redd Foxx. He also talks about his work on the “Karate Kid” feature films and his general philosophy about his career.
See the entire indexed interview at emmytvlegends.org In her 5-part (each 30-minute segment is posted separately) oral history interview, performer Rose Marie talks about her career which began at the age of three when she was “Baby Rose Marie.” She describes her years as a child star and her transition to an adult actress. She talks about her early television appearances on Milton Berle’s Texaco Star Theatre, The Colgate Comedy Hour, and her work as a regular on My Sister Eileen (1960-61), in the role of Bertha Bronsky. She describes her most memorable and enduring work for television on The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961-66), in which she played the role of writer Sally Rogers. Rose Marie also details her appearance as a regular panelist on The Hollywood Squares (1966-82) and as a regular character on The Doris Day Show, in which she appeared from 1969-71. She also talks about her more recent appearances as a regular in the series Scorch (1992) and Hardball (1994) and guest shots on such series as Murphy Brown, Wings, and Caroline in the City (in which she appeared with long-time friend and Dick Van Dyke Show co-star Morey Amsterdam). From emmytvlegends.org
Sharon Gless remembers the moment she decided to pursue her dream of acting, while in her mid-20s: One of my jobs was to interview actresses [at a film company] who would meet my boss, and then Id go in and read with them. I was getting $200 a week, and these actresses were getting a lot more money. I thought I was better than they were in the readings. So I stopped being afraid— the dream had always stayed in the back of my mind. Sharon Gless has starred in numerous television series, but is most associated with her Emmy-winning performance as Christine Cagney in Cagney & Lacey. In her Archive interview, Gless talks about growing up in Los Angeles (with some familial connections to the entertainment business) and her early interest in acting. She recalls her days as a contract player in television at Universal, eventually cast as a regular in the detective drama Switch. She comments briefly on her first starring television series, Turnabout, with a pilot co-written by Steven Bochco. She relates how she was approached for Cagney & Lacey (initially the television movie and later the series) and her eventual casting, replacing Meg Foster. For Cagney & Lacey, she discusses her initial dispute over billing, describes her character Christine Cagney, gives her impressions of the ensemble, comments on memorable storylines, and makes mention of the reunion television movies. She recalls the impact of the series: We were the first women—first actresses—that had ever been honored …
Host and Creator Fred Rogers (Mr. Rogers) talks about his early years and influences. This is part of a multi-part oral history interview. To access all segments, visit channel playlists or go to tvinterviewsarchive.blogspot.co
The Archive of American Television conducted the last in-depth interview with the great comedian George Carlin on December 17, 2007, for nearly four hours in Venice, CA. see the complete interview at www.emmytvlegends.org In this excerpt, Carlin talks about the change in his act from a ‘mainstream’ television comic to the ‘counterculture dean’, with the dramatic changes in his standup persona occurring before millions on television. For more information about this and other Archive interviews, visit emmytvlegends.org This interview was conducted by Jenni Matz and Henry Colman.
Actor/Writer/Director Alan Alda discusses his early years and his father’s career in burlesque. The interview was conducted by Michael Rosen on November 17, 2000. This is part of a multi-segment oral history interview. For all interview segments visit channel playlists or go to tvinterviewsarchive.blogspot.com
