Milton Berle And His Television Legacy

When Milton Berle died in 2002, few of the media that reported on his passing even began to fathom the enormity of his impact. In most publications, Berle received less ink than British comedy actor Dudley Moore and director Billy Wilder. While both men were certainly talented and worthy of eulogizing, to suggest that they left a legacy even comparable to Berle's is absurd and demonstrates a complete ignorance of entertainment history. Berle didn't just blaze the trail, he found the trail and cleared it. Berle not only 'made' television, but laid the foundation for the entire entertainment culture of the late 20th century up until the present. Before Milton Berle, no one cared what was on TV because it was all banal, poorly produced schlock. Berle's "Texaco Star Theater" was the first blockbuster hit on television and put up numbers that are unfathomable today-it would routinely draw 80%+ of the television audience and hit over 90% on a few occasions. By way of comparison, consider that the NFL and the TV networks consider it a great year when the Superbowl draws a 70% share. It was only after people started to care about what was on TV that the entire industry prospered--viewers flocked to the shows, advertisers rushed to sponsor shows, networks tried to outdo each other with producing new shows, and an entire media category sprung up to cover the industry. He peers knew the score which is why he earned the name: Mr. Television. Berle was born on July 12, 1908 and his showbiz career began as a small boy. A career in vaudeville followed, which led to the television show that made him an institution. His TV success wasnt a fluke, or a case of him being in the right place at the right time. He had an uncanny understanding of how to utilize the medium, and an ability to adapt his stage act to the new audience. Berle worked constantly throughout his 88 year career, even earning an Emmy Award nomination in the late 1990's. Perhaps the best testimony to the sort of man Milton Berle was can be seen in the near universal goodwill he engendered during his life. Everyone regardless of stature or importance gives the same account"a quick witted, easy-going, fun loving gentleman who enjoyed the finer things in life. Of particular note was the omnipresent cigar. While George Burns may have been a more famous cigar emissary, Berles tastes were far more refined in this regard. Burns typically smoked inexpensive machine made sticks, while Berles tastes tended toward high end Montecristos. Milton Berle was a gentleman, an icon and an excellent role model for all American men. His legacy is all around us in the pop culture, even if the culture he created no longer realizes it.