“Danny Kaye’s Reputation Is On The Line In Television Show”
The Evening Courier – Sep. 19, 1963
By: Vernon Scott
HOLLYWOOD (UPI) – A favorite hangout for butterflies today is the pit of Danny Kaye’s stomach as the comedian anticipates public reaction to the first segment of his television series.
After all these years of triumphs and awards, Kaye still is twitching with anxiety.
His reputation is at stake tonight and he knows it.
In the past, Kaye has starred in expensive, time-
Relentless Treadmill
Now he finds himself on the relentless treadmill of a weekly series which won’t stop for perfectionists such as Kaye.
“An entertainer’s reputation is always at stake,” he said from a plush new penthouse CBS has built for him atop the network building. “The most I can hope for is to perform as well as I know how, to bring my own standard of performance to television.
“It won’t have the kind of nurturing and polish of my stage work or movies where I honed and polished various pieces of business for many years. But we’ve already taped give shows and I think we’re airing the best one tonight.”
No Familiar Material
Kaye said he will not present any of the familiar material he has used previously in other mediums, or on his television spectaculars for that matter.
Neither will he fall back on the old “git-
“Our format really isn’t fixed yet,” he explained. “A great deal will depend on how I’m received by the public and critics. They will determine what we are going to do. Naturally, we won’t continue with ideas that the audience doesn’t like.
“Of course, you can’t really tell about the future of the show by just one outing. We have 33 shows to do in all, and it may be a number of months before we settle down to our stride.”
Thriving on Pressure
Despite the plunge into new territory, Kaye says he is thriving on the pressure and hectic schedule.
“I haven’t been this excited, busy or productive in years,” Danny said. “The show has an aura of immediacy about it, the excitement of a live performance.”
Kaye has lined up an impressive list of guest stars. Tonight it will be Jackie Cooper and Lovelady Powell. But he will rely on his own folksy personality and tremendous range of talent to capture a wide audience.
Even so, he is gambling. Should the show bomb, Kaye would not find movie offers as bountiful as in the past, nor would sponsors be eager to set him up in another series at the prices he commands. These eventualities undoubtedly have crossed his mind.
“One thing about a weekly show,” he concluded. “There’s not enough time to brood about a bad one, and no time to take bows for a great one. We’ll just do the best we can and hope for the kind of show that pleases the public.”