Ernie Kovacs: The ABC Specials

April 19th, 2012, will mark the one year anniversary of the release of "The Ernie Kovacs Collection" DVD set. Today is the release day for "Ernie Kovacs: The ABC Specials," which is disc 5 from the original set. You can click the link above to learn more about the content of this disc, or the photo ad to purchase it.

Here is a great review from from Dusty Somers of "blogcritics.org."

I've been writing about Ernie for a long time now and highly recommend this packaging of the specials as a fantastic way to introduce the uninitiated to Ernie's work. This is when Ernie was really pushing the video envelope; everything was shot on videotape (no film) and new, innovative special effects and editing techniques were used.  What Ernie did back then with so little is what has influenced so much that is done with video by today's computer generation.  The material on this disc is a MUST SEE for video artists.

Special #6, from November 24, 1961, is the classic "Silent Show," aka "Eugene." This alone is worth the relatively inexpensive "price of admission" for this disc.

Yesterday would have been the 85th birthday of Edie Adams and this disc is a fitting tribute to her.  Without Edie's tireless efforts so much of Ernie's work would have been lost forever.  Special thanks also goes to "Shout Factory!" for releasing it, Edie's son Josh Mills for making that possible and of course to Ben Model, our friend, blog contributor and Kovacs Historian/Curator.  Ben was instrumental in putting this material together.

And speaking of Ben, he'll be hosting a great panel discussion on Ernie and Edie next Friday, April 27, 2012, at the "Museum Of The Moving Image" in Astoria, a section of the lovely borough of Queens, in the wonderful city of New York.  It promises to be great: just take a look at the stellar panel that's been assembled.  And, from what I understand, another stellar panelist is to be added soon (I'll tweet that when it happens).

Do you love Ernie and Edie?  Do you enjoy Greek diners run by charming folks who will remind you of Miklos Molnar?   Well, then buy this disc and get yourself out to Queens next Friday for some dinner and a show!

Until next time fellow Kovacsians:  "It's Been Real!"