1961 The Biggest Bomb on Television and Historically Famous After-Show - The Great One [RESTORED]

YOU'RE IN THE PICTURE - Two complete episodes of television history - cleaned up with noise reduction....Taken from the Internet Archive, EP Steve Carlin's "You're In The Picture" featuring Jackie Gleason as host aired on January 20, 1961. And due to the abysmal reviews and this not being a Gleason production, Jackie demanded to return to CBS on January 27, 1961. You'll also note there are no end credits to this particular episode, although it opens like the last one, and only one sponsor remains - L&M (Liggett & Meyers) cigarettes - which he smokes many of during these episodes (to the stub, no less!)...

Though public domain and at the Paley Center for Media, a certain Estate will attempt to pull this if I dare name the famous comedian in the title.

But I can name the character Ralph Kramden, from the show "The Honeymooners" which this actor played.

This show came from CBS-TV Studio 50, also known as "The Ed Sullivan Theater", named after another person a certain Estate and Entertainment Company will pull videos about...

The first episode (the game show, "You're In The Picture" - - produced by none other than the producer of "The $64,000 Question/Challenge" where the answers were given before the show) is what it is - - a bomb.

The second episode (the talk show) is television history - and rarely seen as often in its entirety.

Careful TV fans will notice this show has a completely different 'production company', and is NOT entirely supervised by you know who.

The first thing evident is no Sammy Spear and his Orchestra (Norman Leyden and his Dixieland band take over - who would later move to Oregon to conduct the Oregon Symphonic Pops). Syd Zelinka, the long-time Gleason writer, probably took care of Jackie's 'crafted' quips, but doubt he had anything to do with the rest of the production...

I don't think Jackie ever spoke to Executive Producer Steve Carlin ("The $64,000 Question" quiz show) again - Carlin went to Europe to produce more game shows, then returned in the late 60s... Honeymooner fans might remember a certain quiz show Ralph Kramden appeared on :-)

Note Jackie took full music credit, however (Well, it IS "Melancholy Serenade')!!!! Don't know the name of his closing tune on the first episode...

Love how he admits he's 'sneaky' and has a way to get into things (like the music credits and the money that comes from it!).

NOTE: THIS VIDEO IS A RESTORED VERSION of a public domain kinescope, a copy of which is in the Paley Center for Media. This originated from the Internet Archive and is publically available and is presented here solely for HISTORICAL and EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY - AND IS NOT LICENSED FOR BROADCAST. All Rights Reserved to any true copyright holders, however, FAIR USE rules should be applied in this presentation of A RESTORED NEW RECORDING archive as there is NO MONETIZATION.

THE PROBLEM OF THE GAME: Needed simplicity. Strange obscurities (i.e."Beeftrust Girls") are one problem. Another, Jackie doesn't assist them. The smartass jokes are frustrating to viewers and guests. Each guest had no time to even get one question out like poor Arthur Treacher. Sure he had his 'act' on film, but he was just a regular guy here, and Jackie mocks him and wastes his time with his not funny "Ah-h-h-h thur" while Mr. Treacher gets frustrated. By the end of the show, I think all the guests said to themselves, "WTF just happened tonight?"

[chrisn]

I remember this fiasco so clearly--I was 13--and him apologizing for it the next night was so amazing, I knew it would become legendary.Jackie wasn't afraid of anything!

[thomasthomas]

Just goes to prove; if you commit the biggest blunder in history, but own up to it with grace and humor, you can get away with anything!
Well done, Jackie.

[Smittyschannel]

WHO'S here after seeing Gleason on Johnny Carson's episode?? Had to come see what the show was all about

[deadpan]

I've seen Jackie Gleason in plenty of shows: The Honeymooners, Smokey and the Bandit, etc. But this apology has got to be why he held the moniker as The Great One. To be able to sit there and just going "off the cuff" and being able to not only hold the audience's attention for 30minutes, but to consistently hysterical at the same time is some tremendous act of an entertainer.

[mikeymessier]

This is better than 95% of network shows today! HOLLA HOLLA HEY!

[stardogbillionaire]

So many great performers make a bomb product, they just move on and pretend it never happened. Takes a excellent performer to not only recognize it and then laugh at it. Jackie Gleeson was a once in lifetime talent.

[Saigonjoe]

I saw these shows as they happened. Mr Gleason's follow-up shows were something to look forward to. Just sitting there with his coffee and talking to me as a viewer. It was great.

[ReviewGuy]

christ this shit is live, no script. this is exactly how people in the 60's talk to each other, making jokes with each other, this is a piece of real history.

[santafejack]

He was “in a show so bad it closed at intermission.” What a great laugh!

[modernretroradio]

I've been hearing about this for decades. I really appreciate this upload!!!!

[harleygrit]

The saddest and biggest slight ever done to this comic GENIUS was that he NEVER received an Emmy!

[aadamtx]

What a great piece of tv history - thanks much for the upload! Gleason is terrific admitting that the show was a disaster and not passing the blame around. That's class.

[samp.]

I love how Jackie's confidence slowly drains out from his face as the show goes on

[jamming]

He took a apology and turned it into a fantastic 1 man comedy show! : )

[Nick_S_]

This is classic Gleason turning lemons into lemonade. Nice work @MUSICOM PRODUCTIONS !

[markspangler]

This is pure gold. I have always heard about this legendary bomb and this is the first chance I've had to see it. Gleason's follow up may have been one of the funniest half hours I've ever seen! Thanks!

[Eldo]

This really wasn't a bomb at all given todays standards. This was entertaining and Jackie's smooth delivery and humor made it great actually.

[kevinnelson]

Someone should revive this with Craig Ferguson as host. He can open each show with an apology for what the viewers are about to see.

[JoeNocella]

He was so comfortable speaking to an audience.

[jubalcalif]

Heavens to Murgatroid ! Can't THANK YOU enough for uploading this for us to marvel at. I've been reading about this incredible flop for years. Never thought I'd actually get to see it ! I have seen the second "apology" episode. Mr Gleason had the moxie & good sense to make a simple apology. What a class act he was. CHEERS !! :-)