THE ERNIE KOVACS COLLECTION
Shout Factory / 1951-62 / 780 mins / NR

THE SERIES:
Nicol Williamson’s Merlin, in John Boorman’s definitive Arthurian screen adaptation EXCALIBUR, addressed the Knights of the Round Table after their victory over the Saxons by telling them to rejoice and remember that night. He ended his speech with an ominous warning: “For it is the doom of men that they forget.” This tragic observation is continually reinforced by the film medium, something that is barely a century old, and television, which is younger still. Most of the movie going population knows next to nothing about Mary Pickford, Harry Langdon or even Douglas Fairbanks, yet they were essential pioneers in that mediums development.

On the television front, the name Ernie Kovacs will likewise mean almost nothing to the vast majority of the population that watches it. But without him, television would have evolved into something…different. There is probably no single individual in the entire history of television that had a more pronounced influence on its evolution in so many different aspects than did Ernie Kovacs. And yet most people have never heard of him.

Kovacs was not just an early television comedian like Sid Caesar, Milton Berle and Jack Benny. He was a tireless innovator, a constant experimenter and an artist that saw the medium of television in a way no one else did. When television was in its infancy and feeling around to discover its place, Kovacs was dabbling in its future.

Kovacs’ variety shows were filled with non-sequester and surreal sketches that often addressed the audience directly usually to comment on his own jokes; much like “Monty Pythons Flying Circus,” “Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In” and “Saturday Night Live” would refine fifteen and twenty years later.

He created an early morning news and weather show (filled with his wonderfully bizarre humor) for the NBC affiliate he was at in the mid-1950’s. 7am to 9am was a time when most stations were off the air because they felt nobody would watch so early. NBC noticed Kovacs’ show and its enormous popularity. They then created “The Today Show” and subsequently forced Kovacs’ show, “Three to Get Ready,” off the air in favor of their version.

Kovacs also refused to play up to anyone. On his late night talk show, “The Ernie Kovacs Show,” he would regularly lampoon and satirize current figures in the news. His biting, off the cuff interview style would directly influence future late night talk show host David Letterman. He was also one of the founding hosts of “The Tonight Show” covering two nights a week to Steve Allen’s three.

“Kovacs On The Corner” would influence yet another type of television show that is commonplace today. In this late morning broadcast, Kovacs would walk through an imaginary neighborhood populated with friendly citizens whom he would meet with on a regular basis. I don’t know if it was a sunny day or if he swept the clouds away, but I have to wonder if Jim Henson’s “Sesame Street” or “Captain Kangaroo” would have been the same when they came into existence just over fifteen years later without Kovacs’ kid-friendly show.

With such a mind bogglingly important repertoire (and I didn’t even go into his acclaimed prime time specials which he is most known for), how could television audiences not know who Ernie Kovacs was? The answer is simple. Most of his work has not been seen since it originally aired. On top of that, most of it was destroyed by either reusing the original magnetic tapes (to save money for the local stations) or by dumping the original kinescopes into New York Bay (a clever way a lawyer used to avoid the problem of how to house the materials for their client).

When Kovacs’ wife and frequent co-star, Edie Adams, learned of the random destruction of her and her husband’s work, she did something about it. With her own money, she went to the networks and affiliates and offered to buy whatever materials they still had of Kovacs. Because of her tireless efforts, we have a small portion of one of the most important figures in the history of television.

Even more importantly (I’m now speaking as a film fan and collector), the amazing people at Shout! Factory have put together a truly dazzling collection of over 13 hours of this material, most of which has not been seen by anyone in nearly 50 years. In this set, we get episodes from his morning shows (sadly none of “Kovacs On The Corner” still exists) and his NBC Prime-Time Show; an episode of “Take A Good Look” (possible the most insanely difficult game show ever made), five of the ABC specials and the rare color version of his legendary silent show, “Eugene.”

It may be our doom that we forget, but thankfully companies like Shout! Factory keep the memories alive. Now that Ernie Kovacs is available to the public again, maybe his genius will influence a whole new generation of film and television creators.

THE DISC:
The six discs are presented in their original 1.33 aspect ratio and mono sound. The quality varies sometime dramatically from episode to episode but the mere fact that we can watch these shows is cause enough to celebrate.

THE EXTRAS:
Many of Ernie Kovacs’ skits survive intact even when the complete show they originally aired in was lost. Shout! Factory has included a bounty of these orphaned pieces as well as his award winning commercials and other bits and pieces as supplements:

“1987 Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame Induction” (which includes fond memories from close friend Jack Lemmon)

“Remembering Ernie with George Schlatter and Jolene Brand”

A selection of his classic commercials for Dutch Masters Cigars.

The “Baseball Film” and a “Making of” for it.

“The Mysterious Knockwurst” short.

8mm films from performer Andy McKay.
 
The “Superclod” Test.

“Take A Good Look Clues” (these are just the skit segment from lost shows. Thankfully, we are told what the clues in the skits meant!)

The “Take A Good Look Sales Film” is something Ernie shot to sell the series, but he barely mentions it once.

“Silents Please” host segments (Ernie hosted a series showcasing silent films and these are some of his intros and outros)

Rare behind the scenes footage from OUR MAN IN HAVANA, one of Ernies feature films.

“It Happened To Ernie” featuring Jack Lemmon and Kovacs.

And even more treasures are here to be discovered. Shout! Factory did an amazing job with this set.

MY SAY:
Probably the single most important television release we’ll get this year, if not this decade. “The Ernie Kovacs Collection” is a truly must see for anyone interested in the history of television.