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Storyline & Synopsis

This televised biography special, hosted by Martin Short, examines the innovative work of comedian Ernie Kovacs, featuring a series of clips of his shows and performances. Short explains that Kovacs' work was "simple and innocent" on the surface, but featured a "grim" darker side that pleased his audience, including a memorable sketch in which his opera critic character used a shotgun to express his annoyance with a soprano's performance. He did most of his own writing and created a series of unique characters of various nationalities and professions, including a Prussian DJ and a bumbling magician. He played upon his experience as a second-generation immigrant, born to Hungarian parents, and his most famous characters included Miklos Molnar, a Hungarian cooking show host, and Leena, Queen of the Jungle. A pair of gag glasses helped Kovacs to create Percy Dovetails, a lisping poetry enthusiast of dubious talent.