The Comedian (Playhouse 90)
The Comedian is a 1957 live television drama written by Rod Serling from a novella by Ernest Lehman, directed by John Frankenheimer, and starring Mickey Rooney and Edmond O'Brien.[1]
Opening narration
"Live — from Television City in Hollywood — Playhouse 90! Tonight starring Mickey Rooney, Edmond O'Brien, Kim Hunter, Mel Tormé, Constance Ford. On Playhouse 90 to introduce tonight's show, Miss Claudette Colbert." [Note: Claudette Colbert is the star of the following week's episode, on February 21, "One Coat of White"]
Introduction by Claudette Colbert
"Good Evening. Tonight, Playhouse 90 presents The Comedian, the story of a ruthless, but fascinating entertainer. The Comedian is the work of two distinguished writers, the author of the original story, Ernest Lehman, who has written the screenplays for such popular motion pictures as The King and I, Somebody Up There Likes Me and Executive Suite. The adapter, Rod Serling, whose long list of original television dramas includes the award-winning Patterns, Forbidden Area and Requiem for a Heavyweight. And now, The Comedian."
Background
Rooney portrayed a ragingly egomaniacal television comedian venting his hysterical wrath on his brother (Mel Tormé) with Edmond O'Brien as a fading writer driven to the brink of insanity by the mayhem. The 90-minute drama was broadcast live as part of the anthology series Playhouse 90 on February 14, 1957.[2] The show was captured on crystallinely clear kinescope and is available for viewing at The Paley Center for Media in New York City and Los Angeles. The show is also available as part of a 3-DVD set called "The Golden Age of Television," produced by the Criterion Collection. It is also available for viewing on Hulu.[3]
Cast
References
External links
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| | 1955–1975 | |
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| | 1976–2000 |
- Sherman Yellen for "John Adams: Lawyer" (1976)
- William Blinn & Ernest Kinoy for "Show #2" (1977)
- Gerald Green for "Holocaust" (1978)
- Michele Gallery for "Dying" (1979)
- Seth Freeman for "Cop" (1980)
- Steven Bochco, Michael Kozoll for "Hill Street Station" (1981)
- Steven Bochco, Michael Kozoll, Jeff Lewis, Michael I. Wagner, Anthony Yerkovich for "Freedom's Last Stand" (1982)
- David Milch for "Trial by Fury" (1983)
- Tom Fontana, John Masius, John Ford Noonan for "The Women" (1984)
- Patricia Green for "Who Said It's Fair, Part 2" (1985)
- Tom Fontana, John Masius, Joe Tinker for "Time Heals, Parts I & II" (1986)
- Steven Bochco, Terry Louise Fisher for "The Venus Butterfly" (1987)
- Paul Haggis, Marshall Herskovitz for "Business as Usual" (1988)
- Joseph Dougherty for "First Day/Last Day" (1989)
- David E. Kelley for "Blood, Sweat, and Fears" (1990)
- David E. Kelley for "On the Toad Again" (1991)
- Diane Frolov / Andrew Schneider for "Seoul Mates" (1992)
- Tom Fontana for "Three Men and Adena" (1993)
- Ann Biderman for "Steroid Roy" (1994)
- Lance A. Gentile for "Love's Labor Lost" (1995)
- Darin Morgan for "Clyde Bruckman's Final Repose" (1996)
- Stephen Gaghan / David Milch / Michael R. Perry for "Where's Swaldo?" (1997)
- Bill Clark / Nicholas Wootton / David Milch for "Lost Israel: Part II" (1998)
- David Chase / James Manos, Jr. for "College" (1999)
- Rick Cleveland & Aaron Sorkin for "In Excelsis Deo" (2000)
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| | 2000–present | |
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