Ernie Kovacs created some hilarious comic characters, many of whom are in this installment. Miklos Molnar makes "Chicken Molnar"; poet Percy Dovetonsils reads "Ode from a Germ's Eye Viewpoint"; Auntie Gruesome tells the stories Rapunzel and Cinderella; and the Nairobi Trio perform as only they can. Plus the best of the oscilloscope sight gags. Ernie Kovacs was more than a television pioneer -- he was also a sought-after character actor who appeared in such films as Operation Madball, Our Man in Havana, Sail a Crooked Ship and Bell, Book and Candle. Most of these movies from the late-1950's and early-1960's co-starred his best friend and poker buddy Jack Lemmon. By this point in his life, Kovacs was working at a frantic pace: in addition to the films and his television shows, he also wrote a book entitled How to Talk at Gin. He explained his energy as being the result of "three steam baths a day, lots of good brandy, about twenty cigars, and work all night."

• published: 18 May 2017
• views: 6964