Most people live one life. Others, such as Hank Garrett, are fortunate to have lived many lives in the span of his long, successful career. Born in New York’s Big Apple and raised in Harlem, Hank achieved one of his first dreams by becoming a championship power lifter and bodybuilder, then enjoyed a career as a famous wrestler known as "The Minnesota Farm Boy" (which is interesting, since Hank had never been out of New York at the time!). After five years of slamming into canvasses, Hank realized that comedy would be less hazardous to his health, so he made his way to the New York Catskill Mountains, where the likes of Buddy Hackett had become famous doing stand-up comedy.After working with such stars as Della Reese, Jerry Vale and Tony Bennett, Hank was discovered one night by writer/producer Nat Hiken (The Phil Silvers Show), who soon cast him as Officer Ed Nicholson on Car 54, Where Are You? The success of Car 54 helped Hank launch a successful acting career, which has included such film and TV credits as The Producers, Serpico, Three Days of the Condor, The Boys Next Door and Paris, as well as voiceover work on such animated series as Garfield and G.I. Joe. We’ll talk about Hank’s work with Fred Gwynne, Al Lewis, Joe E. Ross and Nat Hiken on Car 54, as well as his work with such legends as Tony Bennett, Sammy Davis Jr., Sydney Pollack, James Earl Jones and Robert Redford, when Hank Garrett joins us in our second hour.
(The first season of Car 54, Where Are You? is now available on DVD. If you order Season One directly through Hank, he will autograph it for you, and all proceeds will benefit disabled veterans. It’s a great way to help those who have served our country, as you enjoy one of TV’s great comedies.)
This week’s show will also look back at the life and career of Emmy Award-winning writer, producer and director Leonard Stern, who died this past June 7 at the age of 88. Though mostly remembered for producing the long-running NBC comedy series Get Smart starring Don Adams and Barbara Feldon, Leonard Stern also left his mark in television and publishing in many other ways. He wrote for Jackie Gleason, Steve Allen and Phil Silvers; co-created the best-selling Mad Libs word-game books; and produced and created such popular and/or acclaimed series as He and She, The Good Guys, I’m Dickens, He’s Fenster, The Snoop Sisters and McMillan and Wife.Joining us in our tribute to Leonard Stern will be radio host, TV historian and producer Jim Benson. Jim not only worked closely with Leonard Stern on one of his final projects (the pending DVD release of I’m Dickens, He’s Fenster), but got to know Leonard very well as a friend over the last seven years. Jim Benson will join us in our first hour.
Also in our first hour: Tony Figueroa and Donna Allen with a new edition of This Week in TV History. Full program as always... we certainly hope you’ll join us.
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