Pavan
05-18-2004, 04:48 PM
TV LAND CELEBRATES THE LIFE OF LEGENDARY TELEVISION, FILM AND STAGE ACTOR TONY RANDALL
Santa Monica, CA, May 18, 2004 - TV Land will honor the life and work of television legend and acclaimed actor Tony Randall with a six-episode presentation of The Odd Couple on Thursday, May 20 from 9 p.m. to 12 Midnight ET/PT. Randall, who passed away in New York last night at the age of 84, co-starred in The Odd Couple - one of the most celebrated sitcoms of all time - as Felix Unger, the high-strung, fastidious roommate to sloppy sportswriter, Oscar Madison (Jack Klugman).
"Tony Randall was a good friend to the entire staff at TV Land and Nick at Nite and we are all deeply saddened by his passing," explains Larry W. Jones, President, TV Land and Nick at Nite. "Tony's portrayal of Felix Unger is just one of his many, many contributions to the world of entertainment. We are honored to have known him and to have worked closely with him and we will remember him fondly forever. Our hearts and thoughts go out to the entire Randall family as we remember Tony for his amazing work and his incredible friendship."
TV Land has hand-picked six of the staff's favorite episodes of the series to showcase on Thursday evening (see below) ranging from Randall's unforgettable performance on the episodes entitled "Password," "Let's Make a Deal," "The Flying Felix" and three others. Additionally, TV Land will begin airing a 30-second tribute spot to Randall immediately.
Born Leonard Rosenberg, Randall was born on February 26, 1920 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He began his career in the 1940s with appearances on radio shows such as Opera Quiz and The Henry Morgan Program. He then began to star in television with roles on the series One Man's Family and the sitcom Mr. Peepers, where he played Harvey Weskit.
After numerous roles in romantic movie comedies, Randall won the part of Felix Unger in the ABC television version of The Odd Couple. Originally a play by Neil Simon and made for television by Garry Marshall, The Odd Couple ran from 1970 to 1975 and followed the misadventures of Felix Unger, played by Tony Randall, and Oscar Madison, played by Jack Klugman, who - after both were asked to leave by their wives - move in together in an Upper West side apartment in New York City. Felix - a professional photographer with a passion for cleanliness and the finer things in life - and his roommate and long-time friend, Oscar - a sports writer who sleeps in a pile of dirty laundry and missing household items - were by far television's most mismatched couple.
It was in 1975 that Randall won an Emmy as a lead actor for his role as Felix Unger. He was also a popular guest on numerous variety shows, and his frequent appearances as a guest on The Tonight Show won him a role playing himself in King of Comedy in 1983, a Martin Scorsese film.
In 1976, Randall starred in the CBS sitcom The Tony Randall Show, where he played Walter Franklin, a Philadelphia judge. He again returned to television in 1981 on NBC, in the critically-acclaimed comedy Love, Sidney. The series was based on the made-for-television movie in which Randall played Sidney Shorr.
In 1991, he launched his National Actors Theatre, a not-for-profit subscription based company formed to bring the great repertoire of the world, with the finest actors, to a theatre that is within reach of all. The National Actors Theatre served as a living library of national and world theatre whose productions included The Crucible, The Seagull, a Tony-nominated production of Saint Joan and The Flowering Peach with Eli Wallach and Anne Jackson. Randall also starred in a national tour of The Odd Couple with Jack Klugman to benefit N.A.T. and then brought the show back to Broadway
The episodes in TV Land's Odd Couple marathon presentation will include:
9 p.m. The Jury Story
Felix tells the story of how he and Oscar first met while on jury duty. Upon learning that the man they helped send to jail has been released, Felix recalls the trouble he had when the jury was locked up. Guest stars Barney Martin.
9:30 p.m. The Odd Couple Meet Their Host
Oscar and Felix both appear on a popular talk show hosted by David Steinberg
10 p.m. Password
Allen Ludden invites Oscar to be a celebrity contestant on his ABC show and eager Felix persuades him to accept the offer and to take him along as his partner. Guest stars Allen Ludden and Betty White, as themselves.
10:30 p.m. My Strife In Court
Oscar receives four tickets to a hit Broadway show and invites Felix and Miriam to be his guests, planning to get a date for himself. But when he is unable to find a girl, he gives Felix the extra ticket to dispose of. This episode contains the classic blackboard scene with "assume." Guest stars Elinor Donahue.
11pm Lets Make A Deal
After burning a hole in Felix's bed, Oscar despairs of raising the money for a new one. But a poker session with his old college friend, Monty Hall, leads to an idea. Guest stars Monty Hall
1130 The Flying Felix
Oscar tires to cure Felix of his fear of flying so he can cover a photo assignment in Houston
Santa Monica, CA, May 18, 2004 - TV Land will honor the life and work of television legend and acclaimed actor Tony Randall with a six-episode presentation of The Odd Couple on Thursday, May 20 from 9 p.m. to 12 Midnight ET/PT. Randall, who passed away in New York last night at the age of 84, co-starred in The Odd Couple - one of the most celebrated sitcoms of all time - as Felix Unger, the high-strung, fastidious roommate to sloppy sportswriter, Oscar Madison (Jack Klugman).
"Tony Randall was a good friend to the entire staff at TV Land and Nick at Nite and we are all deeply saddened by his passing," explains Larry W. Jones, President, TV Land and Nick at Nite. "Tony's portrayal of Felix Unger is just one of his many, many contributions to the world of entertainment. We are honored to have known him and to have worked closely with him and we will remember him fondly forever. Our hearts and thoughts go out to the entire Randall family as we remember Tony for his amazing work and his incredible friendship."
TV Land has hand-picked six of the staff's favorite episodes of the series to showcase on Thursday evening (see below) ranging from Randall's unforgettable performance on the episodes entitled "Password," "Let's Make a Deal," "The Flying Felix" and three others. Additionally, TV Land will begin airing a 30-second tribute spot to Randall immediately.
Born Leonard Rosenberg, Randall was born on February 26, 1920 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He began his career in the 1940s with appearances on radio shows such as Opera Quiz and The Henry Morgan Program. He then began to star in television with roles on the series One Man's Family and the sitcom Mr. Peepers, where he played Harvey Weskit.
After numerous roles in romantic movie comedies, Randall won the part of Felix Unger in the ABC television version of The Odd Couple. Originally a play by Neil Simon and made for television by Garry Marshall, The Odd Couple ran from 1970 to 1975 and followed the misadventures of Felix Unger, played by Tony Randall, and Oscar Madison, played by Jack Klugman, who - after both were asked to leave by their wives - move in together in an Upper West side apartment in New York City. Felix - a professional photographer with a passion for cleanliness and the finer things in life - and his roommate and long-time friend, Oscar - a sports writer who sleeps in a pile of dirty laundry and missing household items - were by far television's most mismatched couple.
It was in 1975 that Randall won an Emmy as a lead actor for his role as Felix Unger. He was also a popular guest on numerous variety shows, and his frequent appearances as a guest on The Tonight Show won him a role playing himself in King of Comedy in 1983, a Martin Scorsese film.
In 1976, Randall starred in the CBS sitcom The Tony Randall Show, where he played Walter Franklin, a Philadelphia judge. He again returned to television in 1981 on NBC, in the critically-acclaimed comedy Love, Sidney. The series was based on the made-for-television movie in which Randall played Sidney Shorr.
In 1991, he launched his National Actors Theatre, a not-for-profit subscription based company formed to bring the great repertoire of the world, with the finest actors, to a theatre that is within reach of all. The National Actors Theatre served as a living library of national and world theatre whose productions included The Crucible, The Seagull, a Tony-nominated production of Saint Joan and The Flowering Peach with Eli Wallach and Anne Jackson. Randall also starred in a national tour of The Odd Couple with Jack Klugman to benefit N.A.T. and then brought the show back to Broadway
The episodes in TV Land's Odd Couple marathon presentation will include:
9 p.m. The Jury Story
Felix tells the story of how he and Oscar first met while on jury duty. Upon learning that the man they helped send to jail has been released, Felix recalls the trouble he had when the jury was locked up. Guest stars Barney Martin.
9:30 p.m. The Odd Couple Meet Their Host
Oscar and Felix both appear on a popular talk show hosted by David Steinberg
10 p.m. Password
Allen Ludden invites Oscar to be a celebrity contestant on his ABC show and eager Felix persuades him to accept the offer and to take him along as his partner. Guest stars Allen Ludden and Betty White, as themselves.
10:30 p.m. My Strife In Court
Oscar receives four tickets to a hit Broadway show and invites Felix and Miriam to be his guests, planning to get a date for himself. But when he is unable to find a girl, he gives Felix the extra ticket to dispose of. This episode contains the classic blackboard scene with "assume." Guest stars Elinor Donahue.
11pm Lets Make A Deal
After burning a hole in Felix's bed, Oscar despairs of raising the money for a new one. But a poker session with his old college friend, Monty Hall, leads to an idea. Guest stars Monty Hall
1130 The Flying Felix
Oscar tires to cure Felix of his fear of flying so he can cover a photo assignment in Houston