TVXOHOF, APRIL 2016 - JACK CARTER

Better late than never.....

JACK CARTER

From Wikipedia:
Jack Chakrin (June 24, 1922 – June 28, 2015), known by his stage name Jack Carter, was an American comedian, actor and television presenter. Brooklyn-born Carter had a long-running comedy act similar to fellow rapid-paced contemporaries Milton Berle and Morey Amsterdam.

He hosted an early television variety program called 'Cavalcade of Stars' on the DuMont Network. He was lured to NBC to host his own program titled 'The Jack Carter Show'. Carter recommended Jackie Gleason take his place as host of 'Cavalcade of Stars'. 'The Jack Carter Show' appeared under the banner of the 'Saturday Night Revue', NBC's two-and-a-half-hour Saturday night programming slot. Carter hosted his show for one hour each week followed by the 90-minute 'Your Show of Shows' starring Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca, Carl Reiner, and Howard Morris. Carter remained friends with Sid Caesar his entire life and delivered the eulogy at his funeral.

His only major Broadway appearance was opposite Sammy Davis, Jr. in the 1956 musical "Mr. Wonderful". He had previously replaced Phil Silvers in the Broadway show "Top Banana". He was a frequent guest on 'The Ed Sullivan Show' during the 1960s and early 1970s, and was known for his impression of Ed Sullivan. He appeared as himself (along with his then-wife Paula Stewart) in the comedy series 'The Joey Bishop Show'. In the late 1960s, he was the host of a game-show pilot called 'Second Guessers'. The pilot did not sell. 

He was also a frequent panelist on the television game show 'Match Game' during the 1973–1974 season and again during the early 1980s. In 1975, he appeared as a guest star on the quiz show '$10,000 Pyramid' with contestant Liz Hogan Schultz.

He made appearances on many television series, including 'Diagnosis: Unknown', 'The Dick Van Dyke Show', 'Mr. Smith Goes to Washington', 'The Rockford Files', 'The Wild Wild West', 'Tales of Tomorrow', 'The Kallikaks', '7th Heaven', 'The Road West', 'Sanford and Son', 'Tattletales', 'Monk', 'Desperate Housewives', and 'Shameless'. His last round of work included a cameo on 'New Girl' and a voice on 'Family Guy'.

Carter died on June 28, 2015, at his home in Beverly Hills, California, of respiratory failure. He was 93.

I really dropped the boat and missed the ball on this one.  When Jack Carter died last June, I celebrated the many characters he contributed to the populace of Earth Prime-Time.  But I never considered his appearances on a host of TV shows as a member of the League of Themselves.  Jack Carter should have been one of the [too] many memorial inductions last year.  But failing that, I decided the televersion of the motormouth comic would be the perfect representative for the month of April.  

Just look at the list of his appearances as himself......

 'Make Room for Daddy' 
- Danny's Replacement (1962)The club books Jack Carter, as Danny's replacement, while he's on a European tour. 

'The Joey Bishop Show' 
- Jack Carter Helps Joey Propose (1964) 

'The Name of the Game'
- I Love You, Billy Baker: Part 1 (1970) 

Las Vegas entertainer Billy Baker doesn't like interviews - especially when they concern that girl who died so mysteriously, Jeff Dillon investigates.

- I Love You, Billy Baker: Part 2 (1970)

In the second half of this two-part episode, the world of entertainer Billy Baker begins to unravel completely.

'Empty Nest'
- Final Analysis (1992)

'Blossom'
- Only When I Laugh (1992) 

Blossom and Six get fake IDs so that they can attend a friend's nightclub performance. Feeling bad for a comedian that dies in his ambulance, Anthony decides to use the family home to host his funeral.

'Cybill'
- See Jeff Jump, Jump, Jeff, Jump! (1995) 

Jeff decides to give up his career as a stuntman, so Cybill tracks down his mentor to change his mind. Meanwhile, Maryann becomes engrossed in the O.J. Simpson murder trial.

'Caroline in the City'
- Caroline and the Comic (1996) 

An old friend of Richard's father, Ben, appears. Ben was a struggling stand-up comedian and they now want him for a benefit. Richard has issues with his father so Caroline intervenes to get them together.

'Touched by an Angel'
- Cry and You Cry Alone (1998) 

Maury and his comedy partner split their act years ago in anger, but now are being inducted into the Hall of Fame. They try to get along to perform an act for the induction ceremony, but argue about who is the real star.

'Stark Raving Mad'
- The Hypnotist (2000)
After Ian hypnotizes them into believing they're Romeo and Juliette, Jake and Tess vanish.

I'm sorry you're no longer around to evoke the brash vaudeville style, Mr. Carter, but I hope this small tribute helps keep your memory alive, at least among the members of Team Toobworld......

BCnU!