The Morey Amsterdam Show (1948–1950) User Reviews

Classic stuff from the DuMont Network

[I-Hate_Radithor_10 · 8/10 · 3 February 2009]

What more could you really want? Morey Amsterdam starts the show by telling a joke, then sings a jazzy comedy song in his slightly wobbly singing voice. Then, a man and woman do a novelty dance number that spoofs photography. Morey tells a few more jokes, then does a sketch with Art Carney spoofing television shows on the air at that time. Then, a young attractive female singer performs the jazzy "You Lucky People" with her sweet, lovely vocals. Then, Morey Amsterdam, Art Carney and several other people spoof ballet! Thus, the show ends. Episode aired during early 1950. This show comes from an era when TV was new and exciting, and full of optimism. Two of the cast members, Morey & Art, later found fame on later series on other networks. The whole show is set in New York City night club, and is very hip. This is a true joy to watch and sinc emany of the episodes are known to survive, somebody should repeat the program along with other forgotten classics from the years before the "reality TV" nonsense.

The Original "Tonight" Show

[Furb · 31 May 2004]

What most of the write-ups for this show don't say is that it was a late night show though only one night per week. For those who can remember it, the transition of Art Carney from Newton the Waiter on this show to Norton on the Honeymooners didn't seem a big change, in name or in the actions of the characters.

When this ended, Broadway Open House took it's place. "Tonight" was not a name associated with Steve Allen, as his shows were always the "Steve Allen Show," but he was the first to do a Monday through Friday, late night show.

So there is, in my mind, a direct line from Morey Amsterdam to Jay Leno in the late night arena.

The Tonight Show

[kfreund-4 · 20 January 2007]

Furb was wrong. The Tonight Show was called just that while Steve Allen was host from about 1954-57. After that Steve had his own show called the Steve Allen Show in prime time. Jack Paar called his show the Jack Paar Program although conversationally in his monologue he often said something like "welcome to the Tonight Show". When Johnny Carson took over the show in 1962 it was called the Tonight Show officially again. Jay Leno has now been host for over 14 years. Thinking back, Steve Allen did the best job. He had a company of performers that appeared regularly like Andy Williams, Steve Lawrence, Edye Gorme, Louis Nye, Tom Poston, Don Knots, Dayton Allen and others. What a cast. And all of them became stars with careers lasting decades.