Evening star., 1951-09-18
On the Air
|CBS Woos
audience
By Harry Macarthur

S0O- " even dS ~ 10 ny N0N,
though the nature of the observ-
aIce is different.
The evening is given over on
NBC-TV, as you hardly need to
be told, since the network has not
precisely made a secret of what
lit was up to. to the supercharged
excitement of "All-Star Revue"
and "Your Show of Shows" The
former is a prime example of a
popular type of show developed by
televislon, it's version of the big
comedy program Of radio. The
latter is TVS most successful at
tempts to capture the style, mood
and spirit of the intimate Broad
way revue.
During this same period Of time,
between 8 and 1890 pm. Satur-
days, CBS-TV puts It's faith in
less spectacular fare. Most Of it is
Iingratiating entertainment, how
ever, and it is quite possible that
this may he the area where tele-
vision viewing habits develop in
patterns different from those Of
the old listening habits.
1t could be that we will not
become slaves of the same pro-
gram week after week. but rather
will switch from one network
to another depending on the mood
of the moment. If the sponsors
let us get away with this sort of
thing, it could work out very well
all around. You might find it a
pleasant experience to pass up
Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca
now and then in favor Of Faye
Emerson, or vice persa.
The CBS-TV answer to NBC-
TVS 2la hour frolic starts at 8.
as 1t did last year. with THE
Ken Murray Show" Your de-
gree of tolerance of Mr.. Murray
is something you'll have to dee
eide for yourself. AS an old
vaudeville hand. he knows his
way around a stage and his show
differs from other showcases for
Tv comedians in that 1t is more
Eaptly titled a variety" show than
any of the others.
Mr.. Murray is not afraid to mix
a. sketch by a serious dramatic
actor, even delving into tragedy
or melodrama, in with songs and
dances and comedy routines. His
television hour seldom is a dull
one.
Mr.. Murray is followed at 9
O'Clock by Faye Emerson's WON
derful Town." which must be
classed among the satisfying TV
sessions. Miss Emerson has been
kidded lot about her apparent
willingness in television's early
years to turn up wherever there
has been a camera in action, but
the fact remains that she is as
attractive and gracious as you
could hope your hostess to be.
Most Importantly. she is one OF
that select group. unfortunately
small one, composed Of those
who understand clearly the ma
ture of television as an intimate
means of communication between
someone with something to say
and one or two people in a living
room who are prepared to listen.
Miss Emerson does noh stand up
before the cameras and DO a show
to be broadcast; she uses the cam
eras as a means Of dropping in
for a visit. On this present "Won-
derful Town" show, she saluteS a
new city every week, telling some
thing of it's past history and pres
ent spirit, with the help Of guest
appearances by civic officials and
famous persons connected in some
way with the city being saluted.
It's usually a most enjoyable ses-
sion.
Miss Emerson is followed on
CBS-TV on Saturday night by
1.-THE Show Goes On" the talent
program which introduces young
performers to those who might
have use for their talents. The
quality of this talent is widely
variable, Of course, but there is
nothing uneven about Robert @.
Lewis performance as master of
ceremonies. He's always agree
able, sometimes funny and always
eaSy-to-take.
| Mr.. Lewis contribution is fol-
lowed by the hour-long Songs for
Sale" at 10 pm. which is now
conducted by Steve Allen. Mr..
Allen is a low pressure guy who
wears better than almost any
other TV personality. He is not
in there pitching for laughs all
the time, but is content to let
humor develop out of situation,
which it seems to have habit Of
doing when he's around.
Songs for Sale," in case you
never encountered it, is the TV
and radio program which gives
amateur songwriters chance to
show of their wares through top
notch orchestration and present.
alton by singers who are experts
at putting song over.
There is a panel of judges
("Zoo Parade" is about the only
show left without a paneD to
provide expert comment and ad-
vice for the embryo song writers.
There's often a lot of humor in
these comments, too, when such
q one as Russ Morgan is one OF
the experts, for instance.
x X \ r
1t was Mr.. Morgan who took
exception to the attitude of the
other judges on Songs for Sale
week or so ago with What are
you fellows going to do now If this
song comes out on about eight
records in a few weeks and is a
big hit-leave town." He does not
always defend the young tune
smith, though. Later that same
night he admitted he didn't think
n