Evening star., 1951-06-24
On the Ar
Carson Prefers Excitement
OF Live TeIeyision Shows
By Harry Macarthur


something that we can build q
show on"
After a great deal Of this talk
II don't use jokes, but we try
to get something funny to say
about a situation. or evolving out
OF a situation"-the story line is
blocked out and the script is
written. Then rehearsals start.
when we first started the
show" says Carson, "NBC IN
sisted that we have 10 days for
rehearsals. I finally convinced
them that seven was plenty and
we have done 1t in five.
1--WE do 1t the best way, or
maybe I'm selfish and just think
it's the best way because It's cas-
lest for me. After the script Is In
shape We get the cast together.
Then we sit and read for two days.
That's all, just read.
Then, after two days Of that,
when we know-the lines, at least
when we know them well enough
that We don't have to worry about
them too much, we can rehearse
the business and start to get
things lined up for the cameras.
It's a lot easier to think about
comedy business when you don't
nave to worry about the lines"
Mr.. Carson Is PhiIosophic
About Critics and Borrowers
Mr.. Carson is a philosphic man
about number of phases of
the entertainment business about
which some others fret.
What can you do?" he saws.
for instance. of those who "bor-
row" material. There was that
subway sketch on our second show.
1 did an appearance on the Berle
show not long after it and found
that same sketch. This is q little
embarrassing I told one of Berle's
writer's. I Just did this thing. you
know. I know he said. That's
where we got it, We did a repeat
version of it later and I had my
writer call Berle's writer to tell
fnm to watch and see how the
scene really should be done. What
else can you do?"
Critics who pummel him with
words are taken with equal calm
by the comedian.
In teleyision," he saws. 1--WE
get reviews from all over the
country. One of them praises
something we did as the funniest
thing on television yet and the
next one says that same thing
was horrible and that kind of
stun shouldn't be allowed on the
air. But a man has a right to
say what he thinks and you can't
hate him for disagreAng with
you"
The only critic who ever con-
1used Carson was the one who
found him too slapstick and
thought he ought to comport him.
self more like Milton Berle. He
doesn't think he'll ever figure
that one out.
The Carson movie career is not
ended, though his contract with
Warner Bros. was terminated.
amicably, because of television
and because he couldn't get the
roles he wanted. If the right
part comes along. though, Carson
would do what any other actor
would do if the right part came
along. Right now, he is perfectly
happy with television-the most
exciting and stimulating chal-
lenge he has yet met.
News Of Color, Ethics
And Of Amos n Andy
News in brief:
OF color: CBS-TV starts COM
nercial color tomorrow (WTOP-
TV-4:30 p.m). RCA will field
Test its compatible color system
n New York starting July Q.
OF shows: The TV version of
Amos N Andy" filmed in Holly
wood with Charles Barton direct
ng, starts on WTOP-TV (CBS)
Thursday at $3.50 pm.
OF ethics: NBC made public
Friday its new code of standards
and practices establishing for
television the same high levels
Of good taste and acceptability
which have characterized radio