The Dick Cavett Show - Comic Legends (1969)

Great Series

This series of interviews is head and shoulders above what you get on TV these days. Get it! December 25, 2007

Dick Cavett is Maddeningly Unprepared

The thing that comes through on all of these interviews is how woefully unprepared Dick Cavett was to discuss these brillant comedians life's work.

Cavett did minimal preparation for his guests' appearances, and it showed. Often times Cavett would have an hour to fill, and he would rely solely on his guests to be "on" and fill the hour as if by some magic. I can see where he would make this mistake once, but as he makes it over and over again it was incredibly fustrating to watch.

What a squandered opportunity!

These comedians became legends precisely because they respected their art - and their audiences - by being always prepared and fanatical about the details, and the least Cavett could have done was prepare for his interviews. It wasn't his guest's job to do Cavett's job!

Several guests, from Jerry Lewis to Bob Hope, were visibly annoyed at times by the lack of production values on Cavett's show, and jokingly made comments that hardly masked their annoyance. The seeming indifference by Cavett to problems in his own show clearly rankled their sense of professionalism.

To give one example, Jerry Lewis, in addition to his comedy, is a brillant director, film innovator (he invented the video tap for film cameras so takes could be reviewed instantly) and also a known perfectionist, was livid that the projectionist didn't correctly set the loop on the projector, and hence his brillant "Errand Boy" clip was oh so slightly out of sync. Cavett didn't seem to care.

Then Cavett, having run out of interview material, took Jerry to the edge of the stage and let the audience ask questions (as Cavett freely admitted he was out of them) and of course the audience was innane and all over the map.

Cavett was way out of his league with these masters, and the only watchable interview was Groucho Marx, who took control away from Cavett from the get-go and interviewed himself. I'll give it three stars, but if it was Cavett alone I was rating, I'd give it none. April 3, 2007

Forgotten Talk Show Host

Dick Cavett was a popular talk show host in the 1970s. His name has faded away through the years, but looking back on this DVD collection, one can see that his charm and personality have not faded through the changes in time. Although his guest were often classic stars, his interviews with them remain fresh and exciting to modern audiences. Here we have his vibrant and lovable style opposite such famous names as Woody Allen, Jack Benny, Bill Cosby, George Burns, The Smothers Brothers, and Jerry Lewis.

Some of the standout interviews deserve some note. There are two appearances by the wacky and opinionated Groucho Marx, a man who agrees to sing some of the classic songs and reflect on his life in show business. As with many classic stars, he expresses distaste with "modern" film and feels that their shock value makes them trashy. He sports a silly golf cap with three round characters on top, a true testament to his outlandish personality.

It is evident in Mel Brooks' appearance that the man loves to perform. It does not take much convincing to get him to get up and make a fool of himself. His bit on the show is rather short, but it is far from forgettable. At the end, he begins to get into an arguement with a censor which one wishes would have had more time.

Lucille Ball is interviewed. Her episode is peppered with film clips ranging from an early appearance in Roman Scandals to a bit in I Love Lucy. For such a beloved comic star, she seems a bit haughty and short with Cavett, an easy going interviewer.

Cavett was thrilled when Bob Hope appeared on the program. Hope was his idol as a young boy which is obvious by the way he is interviewed. Even for those who are not big Hope fans, it is hard not to enjoy this appearance. He is compliant, fun, informative, and interesting.

Perhaps the most fun interview is that with Carol Burnett. She and Cavett seem to be similar in their love for classic films, sense of humor, and overall personality. Their similarities make them an excellent team to watch whether they are singing songs or engaging in small talk.

Cavett opens each episode with a bit of commentary. It makes them all the more interesting to watch. February 17, 2007

A sweet walk down memory lane.

Dick Cavett was a breath of fresh air when he first hit the TV scene. These DVDs let us breathe that air again. Always a pleasure to watch him work. And it is also sweet to see how much the guests love and respect him. Great meets great! January 14, 2007

Cavett At His Best

I loved this collection of Cavett comedic greats.
These are a special treat, well worth purchasing. January 6, 2007

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