For Release: 2007-12-17 14:46:00
Nearly 100 stars from television’s formative years tell their stories in a revealing new four-part documentary, Pioneers of Television, beginning Wednesday, Jan. 2 at 8/7 p.m. CT on KET2 and KET HD and Thursday, Jan. 3 at 9/8 p.m. CT on KET1. Each of the new one-hour episodes focuses on a different genre: sitcoms, late night, variety and game shows.Blending new interviews with irresistible archival clips, Pioneers of Television offers a fresh take on television’s first celebrities, including Dick Van Dyke, Mary Tyler Moore, Andy Griffith, Betty White, Regis Philbin, Phyllis Diller, Dick Cavett, Tommy Smothers and the late Merv Griffin, among others.
In Pioneers of Television viewers will hear fascinating stories, never-before-seen images and timeless clips that still entertain decades later. The programs include:
“Sitcoms” (Jan. 2/3) focuses on five key sitcoms: I Love Lucy, The Honeymooners, Make Room for Daddy, The Andy Griffith Show and The Dick Van Dyke Show.
“Late Night” (Jan. 9/10) tells the stories of Steve Allen, Jack Paar and Johnny Carson and is peppered with never-before-seen clips, including Carson performing in his early 20s.
“Variety” (Jan. 16/17) begins with Ed Sullivan’s Toast of the Town and progresses through The Carol Burnett Show, Smothers Brothers and Laugh-In, among others. Tim Conway and Jonathan Winters tell hilarious stories about their variety show years. Conversely, Pat Boone offers chilling insight into early TV’s unspoken racism, and Tommy Smothers details the compelling behind-the-scenes story of his landmark show.
“Game Shows” (Jan. 23/24) traces one of broadcasting’s strongest genres — from its beginnings in radio through its heyday in the late ’60s. Bob Barker talks about his earliest work, and Merv Griffin details his creation of Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy.
Pioneers of Television is produced by Boettcher/Trinklein Media Inc. More information about KET programming and education services, as well as how to support KET, can be found at www.ket.org.
Contact: Ellen Soileau
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Phyllis Diller with Johnny Carson
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