Embedded Files
Jim worked as comedian Sid Caesar's straight man for four years from 1959-1963. Sid Caesar was one of the first superstars of television with the highly popular Your Show of Shows seen on NBC primetime from 1950 to 1954 and Caesar's Hour on NBC from 1954 to 1957. Despite not having a regular television series between 1957 and 1962, Caesar remained a popular figure with guest appearances on television and personal appearances in nightclubs. Caesar struck a deal with the Consolidated Cigar Sales Co. to do a series of nine half-hour monthly specials on ABC for the 1962-1963 season and As Caesar Sees It was born. The show was a series of satirical skits, and one of Jim's roles was to act as the announcer to help set the scene for each skit. Jim also participated in some of the skits allowing him to exercise his acting muscles.
Jim worked as comedian Sid Caesar's straight man for four years from 1959-1963. Sid Caesar was one of the first superstars of television with the highly popular Your Show of Shows seen on NBC primetime from 1950 to 1954 and Caesar's Hour on NBC from 1954 to 1957. Despite not having a regular television series between 1957 and 1962, Caesar remained a popular figure with guest appearances on television and personal appearances in nightclubs. Caesar struck a deal with the Consolidated Cigar Sales Co. to do a series of nine half-hour monthly specials on ABC for the 1962-1963 season and As Caesar Sees It was born. The show was a series of satirical skits, and one of Jim's roles was to act as the announcer to help set the scene for each skit. Jim also participated in some of the skits allowing him to exercise his acting muscles.
Unlike most shows of the early 1960s, As Caesar Sees It was recorded on the relatively new medium of videotape rather than being filmed. Because of the show's satirical nature, the action was fast and sometimes a bit disjointed. Broadcasting (later Broadcasting & Cable) magazine listed the air dates of three of the specials in its January 7, 1963 issue: January 15, February 12, and March 21. The show aired on Thursday nights from 10:30-11:00 PM until March 21, 1963 when it shifted to Tuesday nights from 9:00-9:30 PM. These 9 specials attracted enough of an audience that ABC signed Sid Caesar for a bi-weekly series called The Sid Caesar Show, which alternated with the Edie Adams variety series Here's Edie during the 1963-1964 season. However, Jim did not appear on the new series as he began pursuing a different career path: game shows.
Unlike most shows of the early 1960s, As Caesar Sees It was recorded on the relatively new medium of videotape rather than being filmed. Because of the show's satirical nature, the action was fast and sometimes a bit disjointed. Broadcasting (later Broadcasting & Cable) magazine listed the air dates of three of the specials in its January 7, 1963 issue: January 15, February 12, and March 21. The show aired on Thursday nights from 10:30-11:00 PM until March 21, 1963 when it shifted to Tuesday nights from 9:00-9:30 PM. These 9 specials attracted enough of an audience that ABC signed Sid Caesar for a bi-weekly series called The Sid Caesar Show, which alternated with the Edie Adams variety series Here's Edie during the 1963-1964 season. However, Jim did not appear on the new series as he began pursuing a different career path: game shows.
The opening title card for the show.
The opening title card for the show.
Here's Jim introducing a segment.
Here's Jim introducing a segment.
The opening scene is in a courtroom where one attorney seeks to prove that the gun he is holding could not be the murder weapon because the firing pin is defective. This is exhibit A.
The opening scene is in a courtroom where one attorney seeks to prove that the gun he is holding could not be the murder weapon because the firing pin is defective. This is exhibit A.
The nurse tends to the injured judge after the gun from exhibit A goes off. Now Sid enters as another attorney holding a different gun which is exhibit B. He says that this gun also could not be the murder weapon.
The nurse tends to the injured judge after the gun from exhibit A goes off. Now Sid enters as another attorney holding a different gun which is exhibit B. He says that this gun also could not be the murder weapon.
The action is suddenly interrupted with what appears to be the jury in the courtroom. These ladies are actually three contestants present to appear on a parody of To Tell the Truth. The announcer asks which one is the real Peter Pan.
The action is suddenly interrupted with what appears to be the jury in the courtroom. These ladies are actually three contestants present to appear on a parody of To Tell the Truth. The announcer asks which one is the real Peter Pan.
Now back to our case. The judge has been bandaged yet again after the gun from exhibit B goes off. This time, Sid holds the gun that he says is the actual murder weapon in our case.
Now back to our case. The judge has been bandaged yet again after the gun from exhibit B goes off. This time, Sid holds the gun that he says is the actual murder weapon in our case.
To prove that this gun is the murder weapon, Sid will shoot a bullet into the wooden box to get the bullet's marking as Jim (center) and the witness (right) watch. Jim plays one of the many attorneys in the case.
To prove that this gun is the murder weapon, Sid will shoot a bullet into the wooden box to get the bullet's marking as Jim (center) and the witness (right) watch. Jim plays one of the many attorneys in the case.
Jim opens the box as Sid removes the bullet which has somehow blown up to an almost missile size. "You sure that's the right one?" asks a puzzled Jim.
Jim opens the box as Sid removes the bullet which has somehow blown up to an almost missile size. "You sure that's the right one?" asks a puzzled Jim.
The bullet explodes!
The bullet explodes!
Once again, the judge sustains another injury at the hands of Sid.
Once again, the judge sustains another injury at the hands of Sid.
Our crazy scene ends with the real Peter Pan contestant suspended in mid-air in the courtroom as Sid, Jim, and the nurse look on.
Our crazy scene ends with the real Peter Pan contestant suspended in mid-air in the courtroom as Sid, Jim, and the nurse look on.
Google Sites
Report abuse