THE PASSING OF A HERO Chris Byrnes It was Tuesday, January 27th when he passed on. I didn't know him personally, but I was aware of his work and admired him greatly. His name was Jack Paar and he was the man who created the late-night talk show format as the host of The Tonight Show, one of television's longest continuously running programs.
Paar got his start in radio at the age of 16 and worked his way up the ladder in markets like Cleveland, and throughout the U.S. Midwest. During World War II, as part of a special services company that entertained troops in the South Pacific, he honed his talents as a monologist. By chance he caught the ear of Jack Benny who was also entertaining the troops and in mid 1947 Jack was offered a short-term, summer job filling in for Benny. Jack Paar was a smart man and seized this opportunity, working harder than he had ever worked before over that summer to create great radio in order to impress his bosses and not let his friend, Jack Benny down. Actually it was a weekend show, and a Sunday morning timeslot at that, but Jack played it for all it was worth and got noticed by the right people in television.
He came to television with fresh ideas and redefined late night TV and turned it from a typical variety format into something very different. With a rare combination of intelligence, irreverence and intuition, he invented a new genre of programming that would become ubiquitous to television. His simple format, complete with the sofa and desk that remain fixtures today became known as The Tonight Show and became the show on which every star wanted to be from 1957 until he gave it up in 1962. He decided that he wanted to spend more time with his family, playing with electronics and "fighting crabgrass!" During the Golden Age of television, Paar was its golden boy, charming guests and viewers alike. His secret was; keep it simple, find interesting guests and ask them interesting questions. He actually interviewed The Beatles long before Ed Sullivan, because he thought they were funny, not because he liked their music. Paar played host to the brightest and wittiest thinkers, writers, politicians, and entertainers in the country and helped launch the careers of Carol Burnett, Woody Allen and Liza Minnelli. But his guests weren't limited to the glitterati. He discussed religion with Billy Graham, visited Albert Schweitzer in Africa, and talked politics with Richard Nixon. Jack had an uncanny ability to listen carefully to what his guests were saying, and he always engaged them in clever and often witty conservation.
Jack even quit the show briefly in 1960 as a matter of principle, after NBC edited out a joke that used the term "water closet." Almost in tears and clearly angry, Paar looked into the camera and said, "I am leaving The Tonight Show. There must be a better way of making a living than this." That famous "walk-off" and Paar's triumphant return a few weeks later had the country abuzz. He returned with the famous line, "Now, as I was saying before I was interrupted!"
There are some valuable lessons on-air announcers can learn from Jack Paar. As Napoleon once said, "those that do not study history and learn are doomed to repeat the same mistakes of those who have gone before them." So please indulge me for a moment as I list some of the things we can all learn from Jack Parr, of Greenwich, Connecticut.
Seize the Moment: I'm told several other people were offered the part time, weekend gig in early 1947 before Jack was offered it and accepted it. It would have been easy to turn down, since the pay wasn't great and after all, it was only Sunday mornings and only for a few months. So the next time your boss asks you to do a little extra, to do a remote, or "fill in" while someone is away, think of Jack Paar.
Learn To Listen: We all make the mistake of not listening but those who gain wisdom learn how to overcome this human failing. The experts have proven that generally men are worse at this than women since men often talk to impress, whereas most women talk to gather information to help them make a decision. Often, interviewers are so concerned about crafting their next question that they miss the opportunity to follow up on a point the guest just made. Work hard at listening and think before you open your mouth. Too often, announcers are one-dimensional in their banter, and use humour when there are so many other emotions they can call on.
Keep It Simple: The KISS principle works so well on radio, especially in morning drive, when your audience doesn't have time to listen for two hours, or to hang on to every word you say. It comes back to planning, editing and selling your thoughts using only the minimum verbiage to effectively get your message across. Here's a great lesson for every jock, from the rookie to the seasoned pro: Try writing out a few breaks from a recent show and then take a red marker and cross out all the words that were not required. If there is red ink all over the page you're failing the KISS principle
Look At Every Gig As An Opportunity: I suspect that Jack Paar did not view his 12-week assignment as a short-term deal. I'm told he worked harder and smarter than any man before him, and entered that control room every Sunday morning with each break planned, refined and carefully crafted. When an announcer is on-air, he or she IS the radio station. It doesn't matter how many of the behind-the-scenes people do a great job, it all comes down to that announcer's performance. So make the effort and prepare your show before ever open a microphone. It was another successful late night talk show host who summed it all up when he said "There is no business that's as much fun as show business. But there are several businesses like accounting!"
Create A Life Outside of Work: Jack chose to stay at the top for five years before he passed the mantle to Johnny Carson, who hosted The Tonight Show for 30 years. Jack commented during an interview years later, "I should have never given Johnny the show. It would have been better to have rented it to him, or married him!" Joking aside, Jack also worked hard to create a wonderful home life and surrounded himself with friends outside the world of show business. He knew that was the way to stay real and that when he gave it all up, his true friends would stick by him. So make the effort to join clubs and service organizations and become involved in the community where you live. You may find that what you get back is way more than what you put in.
Help Others: Jack said, "I know from my own beginning in radio how important that first break can be, and I've tried to offer such a beginning to new performers on this program." So, no matter where you are in the radio food chain, you will have opportunities to help others and give them a break. Take the chance and allow new people to open that first door. You may be starting another Jack Parr on the exciting road that is radio. |