Phil Silvers
Uncle Miltie's Lifetime Contract
September 03, 2009
by David Krell
david@davidkrell.com
When did Milton Berle debut as the host and star of Texaco Star Theatre on NBC?
Before.
Before Jackie Gleason introduced Ralph Kramden.
Before Lucille Ball began a 20+ year career on network television sitcoms bearing the shortened version of her name -- Lucy.
Before Phil Silvers showed the art of con artistry as Sergeant Ernie Bilko.
Milton Berle was the first television star. He made his television debut in 1948.
Berle had a rich history in show business prior to 1948. He started at the age of five in silent movies.
Vaudeville, nightclubs, and films followed.
Berle's deep experience as a Master of Ceremonies in nightclubs gave him a nice foundation for keeping the attention of the live audience of Texaco Star Theatre, a variety show.
And Berle dominated America's attention in the infant days of television on Tuesday nights at 8:00pm.
A television soon became a household necessity, not merely a luxury, thanks to Uncle Miltie.
And it replaced radio as the primary medium of entertainment.
With relatively little competition, Berle was a sensation.
So sensational that NBC gave him a lifetime contract.
Signed on May 3, 1951, the exclusive contract bound Berle to NBC for $200,000 per year for thirty years.
Locking America's Uncle Miltie into an exclusive deal showed the confidence that NBC had in its first television personality.
And it showed the confidence that Berle had in NBC.
The glory days of television looked endless with a corresponding limitless reign of its king.
But like all good things, it came to an end.
In 1953, the show changed sponsors.
The Buick-Berle Show a.k.a. The Milton Berle Show aired until 1956.
With increasing competition, Berle could never recapture the wonder of America that he enjoyed as the country's first television superstar.
Because of the exclusive contract with NBC, Berle could not appear on other networks.
And his program offerings diminished.
Jackpot Bowling was one of them.
To expand his possibilities, Berle renegotiated with NBC in 1965 and the exclusive contract became a non-exclusive contract. And the yearly salary of $200,000 became $120,000.
The end date of 1981 stayed.
Berle appeared rather steadily on television as a guest star during the remainder of the contract, including appearances on Here's Lucy, The Joey Bishop Show, The Mod Squad, Batman, Love, American Style, Mannix, and The Love Boat.
But the record will show that his greatest television contribution was his first. So great that he got a 30-year deal.
david@davidkrell.com
When did Milton Berle debut as the host and star of Texaco Star Theatre on NBC?
Before.
Before Jackie Gleason introduced Ralph Kramden.
Before Lucille Ball began a 20+ year career on network television sitcoms bearing the shortened version of her name -- Lucy.
Before Phil Silvers showed the art of con artistry as Sergeant Ernie Bilko.
Milton Berle was the first television star. He made his television debut in 1948.
Berle had a rich history in show business prior to 1948. He started at the age of five in silent movies.
Vaudeville, nightclubs, and films followed.
Berle's deep experience as a Master of Ceremonies in nightclubs gave him a nice foundation for keeping the attention of the live audience of Texaco Star Theatre, a variety show.
And Berle dominated America's attention in the infant days of television on Tuesday nights at 8:00pm.
A television soon became a household necessity, not merely a luxury, thanks to Uncle Miltie.
And it replaced radio as the primary medium of entertainment.
With relatively little competition, Berle was a sensation.
So sensational that NBC gave him a lifetime contract.
Signed on May 3, 1951, the exclusive contract bound Berle to NBC for $200,000 per year for thirty years.
Locking America's Uncle Miltie into an exclusive deal showed the confidence that NBC had in its first television personality.
And it showed the confidence that Berle had in NBC.
The glory days of television looked endless with a corresponding limitless reign of its king.
But like all good things, it came to an end.
In 1953, the show changed sponsors.
The Buick-Berle Show a.k.a. The Milton Berle Show aired until 1956.
With increasing competition, Berle could never recapture the wonder of America that he enjoyed as the country's first television superstar.
Because of the exclusive contract with NBC, Berle could not appear on other networks.
And his program offerings diminished.
Jackpot Bowling was one of them.
To expand his possibilities, Berle renegotiated with NBC in 1965 and the exclusive contract became a non-exclusive contract. And the yearly salary of $200,000 became $120,000.
The end date of 1981 stayed.
Berle appeared rather steadily on television as a guest star during the remainder of the contract, including appearances on Here's Lucy, The Joey Bishop Show, The Mod Squad, Batman, Love, American Style, Mannix, and The Love Boat.
But the record will show that his greatest television contribution was his first. So great that he got a 30-year deal.
The Ultimate TV Network
July 21, 2009
by David Krell
david@davidkrell.com
If I created the ultimate television network, the prime time program lineup would probably look like this:
On Sunday, I would start with the legends. I Love Lucy at 8:00pm followed by The Jack Benny Program at 8:30pm.
The pairing makes sense since Lucille Ball and Jack Benny were not only show business icons, but also neighbors in real life. They lived next door to each other on North Roxbury Drive in Beverly Hills.
Then, we turn to the rural heavyweights. The Andy Griffith Show at 9:00pm and The Beverly Hillbillies at 9:30pm.
Sunday nights should be nice and easy, after all. And what's nicer and easier than our friends in Mayberry and the hillbilly transplants to the land of Rodeo Drive?
At 10:00pm, The Sopranos.
On Monday nights, I would pair The Dick Van Dyke Show and Mary Tyler Moore in the 8 o'clock hour, followed by M*A*S*H and Murphy Brown in the 9 o'clock hour.
At 10:00pm, St. Elsewhere.
Tuesday nights would start with family comedy. The Cosby Show and Family Ties 8:00pm and 8:30pm respectively.
Everybody Loves Raymond at 9:00pm and Two and a Half Men at 9:30pm.
At 10:00pm, Law & Order.
Wednesday nights would start with sophistication.
Frasier at 8:00pm and The Odd Couple at 8:30pm. I'm sure Felix Unger would have enjoyed talking wine, opera, and art with the Crane brothers.
The 9 o'clock hour would consist of You'll Never Get Rich starring Phil Silvers as Sergeant Bilko and The Twilight Zone.
At 10:00pm, Hill Street Blues.
Of course, Thursday nights would truly be Must See TV with Cheers, Taxi, Seinfeld, and Friends followed by ER at 10:00pm.
Friday night would be another family-friendly night, starting with The Brady Bunch at 8:00pm and The Wonder Years at 8:30pm.
At 9:00pm, Friday Night Lights, a depiction of a west Texas town obsessed with high school football.
At 10:00pm, The Wire.
Saturday night begins with cartoons.
The Simpsons at 8:00pm and King of the Hill at 8:30pm.
The Honeymooners at 9:00pm and Curb Your Enthusiasm at 9:30pm.
At 10:00pm, Homicide: Life on the Street, an undervalued, underrated, and underwatched program during its tenure on NBC in the 1990's.
Reasonable minds can differ.
Should Happy Days be in the lineup instead of The Brady Bunch?
What about L.A. Law, thirtysomething, Scrubs, or All in the Family?
What's the standard for making the linuep?
All good questions.
For now, it's merely instinctive.
Programs can be replaced.
Or I can start another network.
david@davidkrell.com
If I created the ultimate television network, the prime time program lineup would probably look like this:
On Sunday, I would start with the legends. I Love Lucy at 8:00pm followed by The Jack Benny Program at 8:30pm.
The pairing makes sense since Lucille Ball and Jack Benny were not only show business icons, but also neighbors in real life. They lived next door to each other on North Roxbury Drive in Beverly Hills.
Then, we turn to the rural heavyweights. The Andy Griffith Show at 9:00pm and The Beverly Hillbillies at 9:30pm.
Sunday nights should be nice and easy, after all. And what's nicer and easier than our friends in Mayberry and the hillbilly transplants to the land of Rodeo Drive?
At 10:00pm, The Sopranos.
On Monday nights, I would pair The Dick Van Dyke Show and Mary Tyler Moore in the 8 o'clock hour, followed by M*A*S*H and Murphy Brown in the 9 o'clock hour.
At 10:00pm, St. Elsewhere.
Tuesday nights would start with family comedy. The Cosby Show and Family Ties 8:00pm and 8:30pm respectively.
Everybody Loves Raymond at 9:00pm and Two and a Half Men at 9:30pm.
At 10:00pm, Law & Order.
Wednesday nights would start with sophistication.
Frasier at 8:00pm and The Odd Couple at 8:30pm. I'm sure Felix Unger would have enjoyed talking wine, opera, and art with the Crane brothers.
The 9 o'clock hour would consist of You'll Never Get Rich starring Phil Silvers as Sergeant Bilko and The Twilight Zone.
At 10:00pm, Hill Street Blues.
Of course, Thursday nights would truly be Must See TV with Cheers, Taxi, Seinfeld, and Friends followed by ER at 10:00pm.
Friday night would be another family-friendly night, starting with The Brady Bunch at 8:00pm and The Wonder Years at 8:30pm.
At 9:00pm, Friday Night Lights, a depiction of a west Texas town obsessed with high school football.
At 10:00pm, The Wire.
Saturday night begins with cartoons.
The Simpsons at 8:00pm and King of the Hill at 8:30pm.
The Honeymooners at 9:00pm and Curb Your Enthusiasm at 9:30pm.
At 10:00pm, Homicide: Life on the Street, an undervalued, underrated, and underwatched program during its tenure on NBC in the 1990's.
Reasonable minds can differ.
Should Happy Days be in the lineup instead of The Brady Bunch?
What about L.A. Law, thirtysomething, Scrubs, or All in the Family?
What's the standard for making the linuep?
All good questions.
For now, it's merely instinctive.
Programs can be replaced.
Or I can start another network.