TV Radio Mirror (Jan - Jun 1963)

continued Q. Why do you have such a "thing" about age? A. I don't have a "thing" about age. Everybody else does. In Europe, men believe that a woman, like a fine wine, improves with age. Here, men believe that, as a woman ages, she loses her fizzle — so they open a new bottle. Q. What is your favorite form of relaxation, enjoyment, entertainment? A. I sit and stare a lot. I love that. Q. Your first job as a comedy writer was in radio, wasn't it? A. Yes, I began with Groucho Marx. I was six years old. Q. What has been your other experience? A. Don't get personal. Q. Selma, how do you see yourself in show business in the future? A. As a tall willowy blonde. Working the kinks out: It took TV a long time to get around to it, but they've finally followed their entertainment predecessors — theater and movies — by going into rehearsal, even for a quiz show! Renata Boeck — next Mrs. Fisher? Now don't get the wrong idea. ABC, which launched "100 Grand" with all the theatricality of a Broadway drama, didn't rehearse its contestants beforehand (that would harken back to the tut-tut days of the rigged quiz shows), but it did send up trial balloons with dry-run contestants, so that emcee Jack Clark could familiarize himself with the game and be in peak form when it got under way for real. For example: After a dry-run contestant had answered a question incorrectly, Jack said, "No, I'm sorry, that's not right." The director, to keep the game moving on a finger-snapping level, suggested: "No, Jack, just say 'incorrect' and get on to the next question." And that's why the show comes off as a polished production. Title Change: In "The Cleopatra Papers," it's revealed that Joseph Mankiewicz was asked to participate in the TV show, "The World of Darryl F. Zanuck," just about the time he and Zanuck were having disagreements over editing that watchumacallit picture. Mankiewicz said: "Sure, if you change the title to 'Stop the World of Darryl F. Zanuck.' " Fearless Forecasts: The early bird'll catch the culture next year: NBC's "Today" (from 7-9 A.M., yawn) will originate shows from The World's Fair — tell the boss you'll be late for work. . . . The Space Age is arriving on TV — ABC wants to do a show about the Air Force Academy, "All Systems Go," and they'd like Brig. Gen. Jimmy Stewart for it. . . . "Day in the Life of an Actress" focuses on Shirley Knight — and not Doris Day — which should make Cole Porter happy. . . . Tracy Everitt, Liza Minelli's boy friend, has won a permanent dancing spot on "The Judy Garland Show" — and we call that a wonderful way of getting to know the folks. ... Ed Sullivan's adding a comedienne to his show as a secretary. Anything to get Ed to laugh, eh? Ump and at 'Em: Art Passerela, the former American League umpire-turned-actor, will have a featured role in Ray Walston's new CBS show, "My Favorite Martian." "It's perfect casting," sneered a baseball buff. "Everyone knows umpires come from Mars, anyway." Art met Walston when he was technical advisor on "Damn Yankees," but actually Art's been acting for a couple of years now. Last season he was in fourteen episodes of "The Untouchables." What did he play? Gangsters, naturally. NBC is financing the pilot on "The Paul Lynde Show," which it hopes to buy next season. Paul will play his familiar comedy role. The story line has Paul as a toy manufacturer, a widower with two teenage children who hate every toy Paul brings into the house. "I'm moving very slowly on this," Paul was quoted as saying. "I want to make this show so good, it'll be irresistible to anyone who sees it." Paul, who'd like to lead a double life professionally, makes his drama debut on "Burke's Law" and will also show up on the "The Patty Duke Show." In Hollywood now, he's moved into an $85-a-month pad while waiting completion of his $100,000 mansion. Don't Print That: The star of one of the service comedies is holding up production with demands for more money. . . . Friends of producer George Schlatter say he's waiting for a financial settlement before he talks about why he was fired as producer of Judy Garland's TV show, but that when he does talk — wow! . . . The Big, Big star of a coming show this season has confirmed everyone's worst fears: He's having a fit of temperamenr about how the show should be done. . . . A popular movie star, who finally consented to do a regular TV series, is already disenchanted with his part, and wants out. — That's Earl Q. Did Sheila MacRae see a ghost?