Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-11-19
On the Air
Jack Carson
will Try TV
| For Viewers
On the Air
By Harry Macarthur

By Harry Macarthur
Jack Carson, a man who gives
more serious thought than many
in his business to the art Of max
ing people laugh, is about to make
a revolutionary move. That's a
dangerous word in broadcasting-
one scared executive once had the
word revolutionary" as, applied
to a boat design in a TV script,
dropped in favor of radical de-
sign"-but it does describe what
Mr.. Carson is IN to.
An astute entertainer as well
as a talented one. Carson knew as
we'll as his critics what was wrong
with his first television show this
season. The book" show, with
which he had considerable success
last year, makes the best use OF
his type of comedy and let's him
stand out as comic actor
whereas the variety revue casts
him as another joke-telling mas
ter of ceremonies
When Carson makes his next
appearance (next Saturday night
on NBC-TV'S "All-Star Revue"D
he will revert tc situation comedy
complete with plot
The revolutionary aspect of this
good news. and even better news,
is that Carson is well aware that
situation comedy in television is
akin to TV drama or the movies.
1t is senseless to try to confine it
to the stage of a theater designed
primarily for the entertainment
of an in-person audience. Mr..
Carson's "All-Star Revue" show
will be done in MICS Studio 8-H
in New York and not in the Gen.
ter Theater.
The program will be televised
with an adaptation of the motion
picture technique. There will be
some Is different sets used, with
Carson and cast moving from one
to another as the action pro-
crosses.
. This Is really a brave move on
his part, since the Studio 8-H
audience space is minute and he
has always commended audience
reaction was necessary to the tim
ing OF his comedy. It is to be
hoped that Carson brings this az
fair off with complete success
since he is taking a step in the
right direction, the direction. that
is. Of television for the teleview-
erS.
Shaky Throne - Milton Berries
fans will be distressed to learn If
and may even charge sabotage or
something worse, but their boy
has been toppled from his position
as king of the ratings, in at least
one audience survey. The Tren-
dex figures for November show
Godfrey's Talent Scouts
leading the top 10. with Uncle
Mlltle in second place. . A con-
tented viewer of James Melton's
Thursday night TV revue reports,
that the director of
that one knows how to solve a
problem when it comes up. Berle.
doing a guest shot. ran over the
time limit, and still was on stage
coaxing applause from the studio
The director didn't wait;
he just cut nimbly to the COM
nercial, leaving Berle standing
there in the dark as far as home
viewers were concerned. The
morning program con-
iucted by Smilin' Ed Mcconnell
started with a glimpse of the
movie to-come. Scene was India.
Man said to a thug standing be-
side his rude hut with a flaming
torch: What are you doing by
ny house? I don't understand
his" The thugs friend belted
The man over the head with an
other flaming torch and they set
fire to his house and the camera
tut back to Smilin' Ed. You're
going to love this story" he
,huckled cheerfully to the kiddies.
'O-o-oh, yes" Sure, Smilin' Ed.
Just stack the corpses in the cor
ner. We're late for our arson
esSon.
Program Notes.-The PIMA will
star in a new half-hour TV show
TO start this Friday at 8 pm. on
NBC-TV. He'll appear weekly.
from New York. for the remainder
If this year, after that alternating
with new Dennis Day show out
IF Hollywood. Jane Froman
will make a guest appearance on
the Pima opener. WTOP-TV's
Top kindergarten" is taking q
oelated vacation, with United
Nations Exclusive" taking over the
80 pm, slot on Monday WedneS-