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Person to Person

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TV Series

The Resume

Why Person to Person might be annoying:

    It glamorized cigarette smoking.
    Within the first three months, Ed Murrow had already gotten sick of hosting it.
    Production eschewed interviews with 'ordinary Americans' to focus on 'high-profile celebrities.'
    It was the ugly stepchild of Murrow's more prestigious CBS vehicle 'See it Now' (and the godparent to every tawdry celebrity gossip outlet).
    Its format was heavily scripted (questions tended to serve as cues for the clunky TV cameras).
    Interviews tended to be awkwardly staged, usually not allowing for stimulating conversation (even for an interviewer as gifted as Ed Murrow).
    Ed McMahon reminisced about the show in one of his books, writing: 'About as deep as it got was Murrow asking... Leopold Stokowski if the piano he was showing viewers was in tune.'
    During Marlon Brando's interview, his abusive douche of a father was brought on, openly belittling his son to his face while answering Murrow's questions.
    Sources close to Murrow unanimously admitted that he only served as host at all so that CBS would allow him to pursue more substantive endeavors.
    Murrow's misgivings were so well-known that a drunken Murrow could be heard on a flight from Paris asking Don Hewitt 'what the hell were you doing wasting your time at the Grace Kelly wedding?' Hewitt replied 'the same you were doing looking in Marilyn Monroe's closet on Person to Person.'
    When Mae West promoted her autobiography from her Ravenswood home, CBS execs motioned to cancel her segment only hours before it was set to air, out of fear that her double entendres would be 'misconstrued' (Oct. 4, 1959).
    The main portion of the segment they took issue with West showing Charles Collingwood into her famous bedroom. When asked about the mirrors above her bed, she answered 'they're for observation. I always like to know how I'm doing' (West publicly expressed surprise - saying they only filmed her by her bed 'wearing a very dignified, sedate gown').
    CBS News tried to revive the series with Charlie Rose hosting, in 2012, but they failed to attract even of third of the original’s viewing audience (guests included Warren Buffett, Alicia Keys, Drew Brees, and George Clooney).

Why Person to Person might not be annoying:

    It was cleverly satirized on an episode of I Love Lucy.
    It inspired a popular 1959 Chuck Jones 'Merrie Melodies' cartoon, 'Person to Bunny.'
    It was more popular than its more serious predecessor, 'See it Now.'
    It put Friday nights on the map with viewers; quickly becoming a TGIF evening family ritual.
    Murrow rubbed network execs the wrong way by insisting on allowing the guests whose homes he visited to call him 'Ed,' instead of the more formal 'Mr. Murrow.'
    Richard Nixon insisted on bypassing all other reporters' questions to 'talk to Walter and Ed' (referencing the CBS Evening News and 'Person to Person') during the 1960 Presidential race.
    Harpo Marx gave his 'Person to Person' interview in-character; without saying virtually anything.
    Murrow somehow got Maria Callas to admit that she preferred the quality of American lingerie.
    Fidel Castro made his appearance wearing pajamas less than a month after ousting Batista, prompting Murrow to coolly remark 'you must have had a very busy week!'
    In the same interview, Castro's son could be seen holding a puppy dog - Murrow asked if the puppy was his; it wasn't.
    It personalized celebrities in a way that was previously unheard of (Ethel Waters delivering a powerful rendition of 'His Eye is On The Sparrow,' Sammy Davis, Jr. and Duke Ellington introducing viewers to their grandmother and son, respectively, etc.)
    Concerns mounted in the aftermath of CBS' 64,000 Question-Charles Van Doren dustup when it was revealed that, 'Person to Person,' like the popular quiz show was carefully staged - nothing really came of it, though (most viewers shrugged - of course it was...)
    Tallulah Bankhead had breast enhancement surgery prior to her 'Person to Person' segment and allegedly spent the lead-up to the broadcast trying to get crewmembers to sit on her lap and 'cop a feel.' Murrow's voice could be heard booming through the house loudspeaker 'For God's sake, get her to cover her tits!'

Credit: BoyWiththeGreenHair


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 7 Votes: 71.43% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 101 Votes: 52.48% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 112 Votes: 46.43% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 6 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 10 Votes: 50.0% Annoying