Freddy!
The cast of The Joey Bishop Show (1962)
The Danny Thomas Show, was a highly successful program for its star and producer. It spawned another hit sitcom, (The Andy Griffith Show), following an appearance by Griffith on the Thomas show. So, Thomas along with Sheldon Leonard, crafted a pilot for another guest star on Thomas' show, nightclub comedian, and member of Frank Sinatra's, Rat Pack, Joey Bishop.
Bishop was popular in 1961, having appeared in record-breaking engagements with fellow rat-packers at The Sands Hotel in Las Vegas. Bishop was a frequent guest on TV variety and talk shows.
Born Joseph Gottlieb in the Bronx NY but raised in South Philadelphia, he like Marks, was pursuing a career in nightclubs. Like Danny Thomas and Andy Griffith, he tired of traveling around the country and longed for a television series that would keep him at home with his family.
Thomas used his own show's crew to shoot a pilot cheaply, and showcase Bishop as Joey Mason, a bumbling worker at a Los Angeles PR. agency.
Future McHale's Navy star, Joe Flynn played Joey's brother-in-law boss, Frank! Madge Blake was his Mom on the show. And even Danny Thomas' s daughter, Marlo was cast. It ran a full season in 1961 on NBC-TV. Then for 1962, the show was drastically changed.
Joey Bishop Show Keeps Name, Rest Is Changed - Ocala Star-Banner August 5, 1962
By Bob Thomas AP Movie-TV Writer.
About the only resemblance between last season's Joey Bishop show and the coming season's is the name. It's still "The Joey Bishop Show," NBC having vetoed the comedian's suggestion to call it "The New Joey Bishop Show." Bishop fans may be startled to find their hero is no longer a press agent but a late-night television comic. Furthermore, he has jettisoned his mother, bless her heart, for a curvy wife. And he has acquired a whole new bunch of pals.
That Joey was able to make these changes is one the minor miracles of television. Just about everyone, Joey especially, agreed that something was wrong with last season's shows. When a series pulls a wrongo, it is usually yanked at the first sign of spring.
But the series had somehow managed to best its competition on ABC and CBS and rack up an impressive rating. So when Joey promised a clean sweep in format for the next season, NBC went along. I found Joey in the midst of his fourth show, and absolutely happy - for him. That is, he smiled every 15 minutes. I asked what went wrong the first season. "I showed up," he replied.
But on a more analytical basis, he continued: "We did many things wrong. We didn't have enough time to prepare. We violated a very basic concept in comedy. When you have a clever comedian -and in modesty I think I am-you surround him with funny people. When you have a funny comedian, you surround him with clever people. I made the mistake of working with clever people," he said. "Now I am working with funny people - Guy Marks, who is a bright young comedian; Joe Besser, who can get laughs just walking on stage; and Abby Dalton from the 'Hennessy Show, a brilliant talent." ----
Ocala Star-Banner September 17, 1962.
Cynthia Lowry AP
Joey Bishop also returned to NBC - on Saturday night. This season he is more poised, more famous, and a successful established night club comedian. He also picked up a wife on the show. The first show involved one of those typical newlywed situations that television situation comedies specialize in. High point of the show, however, was an imitation by Guy Marks, who plays Joey's manager, of a flamingo. Don't ask how they managed to get that in, but it was very funny! ----
The reviews were coming in and Marks was getting the same amount of attention as the show's star.
The Milwaukee Sentinel - October 27, 1962
By Buck Herzog
....Generally, the level of TV seems a bit higher this season. There are several of the new shows one can look forward to with pleasure - Jackie Gleason, Andy Williams, Lloyd Bridges and the antics of Lucy. Even Joey Bishop's new format, in which he plays a comedian, seems a vast improvement over last season, particularly with Guy Marks in the act as his agent. ----
Marks became an overnight sensation thanks to his hilarious performance as Freddy, Joey's manager. NBC-TV began a barrage of publicity promoting their most popular second banana!
Hank Grant, Interview with Guy Marks in Hollywood - Evening Independent November 1962.
Recognition may mean one thing to some people and another thing to others. To Guy Marks, the overnight recognition accorded him for his solid impact as second banana on the Joey Bishop Show means everything. "For the first time in my life, I feel like a member of the human race. I belong." he said, then launched an confession that is rare in entertainment circles where a shining image - even an untrue one - must be projected, not only for reasons of vanity but for career insurance. "
"IT WAS ROUGH going - sometimes we clicked; sometimes we bombed. So, I quit show biz and became a bum again. For three years I drifted from job to job - driving a cab, pickling hams, construction work - then I decided show business was easier and I tried again."
We told Marks that we first caught his act at a Lake Tahoe night club and his polish and cool dignity was more that of a college graduate than a "bum" without a high-school diploma. "I'm a good mimic, thank goodness," he laughed. "But, did you say 'cool dignity'? I was sweating bullets! At that time I was just recovering from my second physical (not nervous) breakdown and again thank goodness, I started to ask myself questions, like why was I different from anyone else."
"I FINALLY figured it. I wanted to be different. I wanted the easy road in life; let the suckers do the hard work, I told myself. I finally grew up after i realized that short cuts in life don't exist. Here I had been working so hard to avoid working hard and all I had to show for it, was a ruptured appendix, chronic bronchitis, an abscessed lung and two years in a tuberculosis sanitarium. I started taking myself seriously. I slept decent hours, ate decent food, worked hard on my act - and when the Joey Bishop Show came along, I was ready for it. If Joey - bless him - had given me this chance three years ago, he would have tossed this bum out after the first show!" ----
Bishop was popular in 1961, having appeared in record-breaking engagements with fellow rat-packers at The Sands Hotel in Las Vegas. Bishop was a frequent guest on TV variety and talk shows.
Born Joseph Gottlieb in the Bronx NY but raised in South Philadelphia, he like Marks, was pursuing a career in nightclubs. Like Danny Thomas and Andy Griffith, he tired of traveling around the country and longed for a television series that would keep him at home with his family.
Thomas used his own show's crew to shoot a pilot cheaply, and showcase Bishop as Joey Mason, a bumbling worker at a Los Angeles PR. agency.
Future McHale's Navy star, Joe Flynn played Joey's brother-in-law boss, Frank! Madge Blake was his Mom on the show. And even Danny Thomas' s daughter, Marlo was cast. It ran a full season in 1961 on NBC-TV. Then for 1962, the show was drastically changed.
Joey Bishop Show Keeps Name, Rest Is Changed - Ocala Star-Banner August 5, 1962
By Bob Thomas AP Movie-TV Writer.
About the only resemblance between last season's Joey Bishop show and the coming season's is the name. It's still "The Joey Bishop Show," NBC having vetoed the comedian's suggestion to call it "The New Joey Bishop Show." Bishop fans may be startled to find their hero is no longer a press agent but a late-night television comic. Furthermore, he has jettisoned his mother, bless her heart, for a curvy wife. And he has acquired a whole new bunch of pals.
That Joey was able to make these changes is one the minor miracles of television. Just about everyone, Joey especially, agreed that something was wrong with last season's shows. When a series pulls a wrongo, it is usually yanked at the first sign of spring.
But the series had somehow managed to best its competition on ABC and CBS and rack up an impressive rating. So when Joey promised a clean sweep in format for the next season, NBC went along. I found Joey in the midst of his fourth show, and absolutely happy - for him. That is, he smiled every 15 minutes. I asked what went wrong the first season. "I showed up," he replied.
But on a more analytical basis, he continued: "We did many things wrong. We didn't have enough time to prepare. We violated a very basic concept in comedy. When you have a clever comedian -and in modesty I think I am-you surround him with funny people. When you have a funny comedian, you surround him with clever people. I made the mistake of working with clever people," he said. "Now I am working with funny people - Guy Marks, who is a bright young comedian; Joe Besser, who can get laughs just walking on stage; and Abby Dalton from the 'Hennessy Show, a brilliant talent." ----
Ocala Star-Banner September 17, 1962.
Cynthia Lowry AP
Joey Bishop also returned to NBC - on Saturday night. This season he is more poised, more famous, and a successful established night club comedian. He also picked up a wife on the show. The first show involved one of those typical newlywed situations that television situation comedies specialize in. High point of the show, however, was an imitation by Guy Marks, who plays Joey's manager, of a flamingo. Don't ask how they managed to get that in, but it was very funny! ----
The reviews were coming in and Marks was getting the same amount of attention as the show's star.
The Milwaukee Sentinel - October 27, 1962
By Buck Herzog
....Generally, the level of TV seems a bit higher this season. There are several of the new shows one can look forward to with pleasure - Jackie Gleason, Andy Williams, Lloyd Bridges and the antics of Lucy. Even Joey Bishop's new format, in which he plays a comedian, seems a vast improvement over last season, particularly with Guy Marks in the act as his agent. ----
Marks became an overnight sensation thanks to his hilarious performance as Freddy, Joey's manager. NBC-TV began a barrage of publicity promoting their most popular second banana!
Hank Grant, Interview with Guy Marks in Hollywood - Evening Independent November 1962.
Recognition may mean one thing to some people and another thing to others. To Guy Marks, the overnight recognition accorded him for his solid impact as second banana on the Joey Bishop Show means everything. "For the first time in my life, I feel like a member of the human race. I belong." he said, then launched an confession that is rare in entertainment circles where a shining image - even an untrue one - must be projected, not only for reasons of vanity but for career insurance. "
"IT WAS ROUGH going - sometimes we clicked; sometimes we bombed. So, I quit show biz and became a bum again. For three years I drifted from job to job - driving a cab, pickling hams, construction work - then I decided show business was easier and I tried again."
We told Marks that we first caught his act at a Lake Tahoe night club and his polish and cool dignity was more that of a college graduate than a "bum" without a high-school diploma. "I'm a good mimic, thank goodness," he laughed. "But, did you say 'cool dignity'? I was sweating bullets! At that time I was just recovering from my second physical (not nervous) breakdown and again thank goodness, I started to ask myself questions, like why was I different from anyone else."
"I FINALLY figured it. I wanted to be different. I wanted the easy road in life; let the suckers do the hard work, I told myself. I finally grew up after i realized that short cuts in life don't exist. Here I had been working so hard to avoid working hard and all I had to show for it, was a ruptured appendix, chronic bronchitis, an abscessed lung and two years in a tuberculosis sanitarium. I started taking myself seriously. I slept decent hours, ate decent food, worked hard on my act - and when the Joey Bishop Show came along, I was ready for it. If Joey - bless him - had given me this chance three years ago, he would have tossed this bum out after the first show!" ----
Marks appeared in a total of 19 episodes that season, but whatever good will existed between star and second banana, it was starting to erode and news of an impending departure began to circulate in the press.
Reading Eagle - Dec19, 1962
Joey Bishop will star next season in a weekly, one-hour comedy-variety show on NBC-TV; produced in New York, it means of course, the end of his half-hour series... Guy Marks, featured on Bishop's present program, may leave it: Conflict of comedy talents. ----
Despite the rumors, NBC-TV continued to promote Marks in the press.
Imitations Pay For Guy Marks - Milwaukee Sentinel - December 24, 1962
By Vernon Scott Hollywood, Calif. -UPI- (Excerpts)
The ability to imitate a housefly on a slippery oil cloth is a tenuous hold on show business immortality, but comedian Guy Marks has parlayed this talent into a regular job on the Joey Bishop television series. Ascetic in appearance, tall and loose jointed, Marks has the look of a chronic loser at the race track - precisely the case with him.
In addition to the housefly, he imitates neon signs, alligators, driftwood furniture, rubber bands, frozen chickens and a praying mantis. He is particularly proud of his impression of an ostrich.
Karloff, Bogart
When pressed he will do Boris Karloff and Humphrey Bogart as well. From his choice of subjects it doesn't take a trained psychologist to detect a note of melancholy in Marks who would make an excellent model for a starving poet. But beneath his austere exterior beats a lively sense of humor. Marks comes by his dour appearance honestly, having worked as a florist, busboy, drill press operator, truck driver, merchant seaman, cab driver, ham pickler and other difficult assignments.
Avid Gambler
During most of his life he has been an avid gambler, finally settling on the ponies after years at dice and cards. "For years I only worked night clubs that were close to a race track," he said, coughing again and running his hand through a shock of black hair. "When you get to know real horse people you realize how fine humanity can be. They're good hearted. I mean the ones who enjoy the track, the horses and the surroundings, not just the gambling aspects of the races."
Educated Player
Marks considers himself an educated horse player but admits dolefully, "I'm still a loser." After spending most of his life traveling across the country with his night club act and at assorted odd jobs, the comedian is delighted to be working steadily in a popular television series."But it has drawbacks, too." he complained. "Out here in California I miss the falling leaves of autumn, the swirl of snow past street lights at night, birds singing in the springtime and the good eastern sea food in the summer. I've been in California for the year and a half and I'm beginning to see red rats." Impressed with his own vivid observations, Marks left the small commissary on the Desilu lot to return to work. It was evident he was thinking of red rats. ----
Reading Eagle - Dec19, 1962
Joey Bishop will star next season in a weekly, one-hour comedy-variety show on NBC-TV; produced in New York, it means of course, the end of his half-hour series... Guy Marks, featured on Bishop's present program, may leave it: Conflict of comedy talents. ----
Despite the rumors, NBC-TV continued to promote Marks in the press.
Imitations Pay For Guy Marks - Milwaukee Sentinel - December 24, 1962
By Vernon Scott Hollywood, Calif. -UPI- (Excerpts)
The ability to imitate a housefly on a slippery oil cloth is a tenuous hold on show business immortality, but comedian Guy Marks has parlayed this talent into a regular job on the Joey Bishop television series. Ascetic in appearance, tall and loose jointed, Marks has the look of a chronic loser at the race track - precisely the case with him.
In addition to the housefly, he imitates neon signs, alligators, driftwood furniture, rubber bands, frozen chickens and a praying mantis. He is particularly proud of his impression of an ostrich.
Karloff, Bogart
When pressed he will do Boris Karloff and Humphrey Bogart as well. From his choice of subjects it doesn't take a trained psychologist to detect a note of melancholy in Marks who would make an excellent model for a starving poet. But beneath his austere exterior beats a lively sense of humor. Marks comes by his dour appearance honestly, having worked as a florist, busboy, drill press operator, truck driver, merchant seaman, cab driver, ham pickler and other difficult assignments.
Avid Gambler
During most of his life he has been an avid gambler, finally settling on the ponies after years at dice and cards. "For years I only worked night clubs that were close to a race track," he said, coughing again and running his hand through a shock of black hair. "When you get to know real horse people you realize how fine humanity can be. They're good hearted. I mean the ones who enjoy the track, the horses and the surroundings, not just the gambling aspects of the races."
Educated Player
Marks considers himself an educated horse player but admits dolefully, "I'm still a loser." After spending most of his life traveling across the country with his night club act and at assorted odd jobs, the comedian is delighted to be working steadily in a popular television series."But it has drawbacks, too." he complained. "Out here in California I miss the falling leaves of autumn, the swirl of snow past street lights at night, birds singing in the springtime and the good eastern sea food in the summer. I've been in California for the year and a half and I'm beginning to see red rats." Impressed with his own vivid observations, Marks left the small commissary on the Desilu lot to return to work. It was evident he was thinking of red rats. ----
One can only assume that one of those "red rats" in Marks' mind may have been Joey Bishop. In any case the rumors in the press began to spiral.
Toledo Blade - December 30, 1962
By Charles Denton
HOLLYWOOD
No room at the top? The second bananas on one of the service comedy series were ordered to shed their press agents. They were getting more space than the star. And Vine Streeters figure comic Corbett Monica rates a medal for bravery for stepping into Joey Bishop's show to replace Guy Marks. Joey doesn't seem to like having sidemen around who get too many laughs. Joey Flynn, now of McHale's Navy, was the first to find that out, and now Marks. ----
At the beginning of 1963, the truth about how bad things had gotten between Bishop and Marks landed in the press.
Dorothy Kilgallen's Voice - The Montreal Gazette - January 25, 1963
It's no secret that the parting between Joey Bishop and Guy Marks was far from friendly, but no one revealed that they were close to the fisticuffs stage... ----
Earl Wilson, Toledo Blade - January 26, 1963
Guy Marks will become a regular on the Jackie Gleason show after he leaves the Joey Bishop opus. (This never panned out of course.)
----
Bishop offered his own take in the press via, a popular gossip column.
Dorothy Kilgallen's Column from The Toledo Blade - February 4, 1963
Joey Bishop's explanation as to why Guy Marks is no longer a member of his happy TV family was a hot one - Joey gave out a statement contending that success came too suddenly to Guy and he couldn't take it.... ----
The press wasn't buying it!
Evening Independent - March 14, 1963
...Corbett Monica will return to Joey Bishop's show this fall. Corbett, called in to fill in for Guy Marks, has done a fine job, but not good enough to bug Joey. It was Mark's immediate acceptance by the audience that led to his downfall. ----
New to the Bishop show, Monica continued to defend his new boss in the press.
Toledo Blade - April 22, 1963 - Viewing with TV Hal Humphrey
A Comic's View Of A 'Comic' Rumor
HOLLYWOOD - (Excerpts)
A silly rumor persists that if anybody gets funnier than the boss on the Joey Bishop Show, he is summarily fired. So Joey did fire two comic foils in a season and a half. So what? Maybe one week he forgot to take his Anacin and blew up when he found their cars in his parking space.
At any rate, there now is a witness willing to testify that Joey is a sweet, lovable character whose real mission in life is to help other comics get laughs. "I don't know what it was with Joe Flynn or Guy Marks, but it's foolish to say they are out because they got too many laughs," attests Corbett Monica, the latest comic addition to the show.
"Joey is the boss, and he is in control. If he hadn't wanted these guys to get laughs, he'd take them out of the script before show time. Right? I get lots of laughs, but would I get 'em if Joey didn't want me to? I don't understand this talk about Joey."
In Corbett's case, the friendship with Joey goes back a ways. They both come from Englewwod, N.J., and for eight years lived only four blocks from each other. Once when Joey was hosting NBC's "Tonight" show for a week, he had his friend and neighbor, Corbett, on twice as a guest. It was then that Joey decided Corbett would be right for Joey's own comedy series. ----
Could it be that Joey was taking advantage of the situation with Marks to make room for his old buddy Monica?
In any case, by September of that year, even Joe Flynn, enjoying success of his own on McHale's Navy weighed in on the Bishop Show, albeit indirectly.
The Evening Independent - September 2, 1963
By Cynthia Lowry
Hollywood
Actor's feuds can be very fierce. Joe Flynn, who now plays the sarcastic Captain Binghamton in "McHale's Navy" still is so annoyed with "The Joey Bishop Show" that he doesn't even mention it in his list of acting credits - although he included brief appearances on "Hawaiian Eye," "Ozzie and Harriet" and "The Eddie Fisher Show." Flynn played a sharp-tongued ne'er do well brother-in-law during the first year of the Bishop comedy, a role that was swept away with a lot of others when the series was completely revamped and renamed "The New Joey Bishop Show." ----
The Joey Bishop Show ran from 1961-1964 on NBC-TV. Then, in 1964, it moved to CBS-TV, for a final season and soon after cancelled when ratings sunk while going up against NBC's hit, western, Bonanaza.
Unlike the color version of the NBC show, CBS shot the Bishop show in monochrome (Black & White). This is often sited for it's diminished value in syndication. The series had rarely been seen in coming years, until ME-TV picked it up for cable syndication in 2012.
Toledo Blade - December 30, 1962
By Charles Denton
HOLLYWOOD
No room at the top? The second bananas on one of the service comedy series were ordered to shed their press agents. They were getting more space than the star. And Vine Streeters figure comic Corbett Monica rates a medal for bravery for stepping into Joey Bishop's show to replace Guy Marks. Joey doesn't seem to like having sidemen around who get too many laughs. Joey Flynn, now of McHale's Navy, was the first to find that out, and now Marks. ----
At the beginning of 1963, the truth about how bad things had gotten between Bishop and Marks landed in the press.
Dorothy Kilgallen's Voice - The Montreal Gazette - January 25, 1963
It's no secret that the parting between Joey Bishop and Guy Marks was far from friendly, but no one revealed that they were close to the fisticuffs stage... ----
Earl Wilson, Toledo Blade - January 26, 1963
Guy Marks will become a regular on the Jackie Gleason show after he leaves the Joey Bishop opus. (This never panned out of course.)
----
Bishop offered his own take in the press via, a popular gossip column.
Dorothy Kilgallen's Column from The Toledo Blade - February 4, 1963
Joey Bishop's explanation as to why Guy Marks is no longer a member of his happy TV family was a hot one - Joey gave out a statement contending that success came too suddenly to Guy and he couldn't take it.... ----
The press wasn't buying it!
Evening Independent - March 14, 1963
...Corbett Monica will return to Joey Bishop's show this fall. Corbett, called in to fill in for Guy Marks, has done a fine job, but not good enough to bug Joey. It was Mark's immediate acceptance by the audience that led to his downfall. ----
New to the Bishop show, Monica continued to defend his new boss in the press.
Toledo Blade - April 22, 1963 - Viewing with TV Hal Humphrey
A Comic's View Of A 'Comic' Rumor
HOLLYWOOD - (Excerpts)
A silly rumor persists that if anybody gets funnier than the boss on the Joey Bishop Show, he is summarily fired. So Joey did fire two comic foils in a season and a half. So what? Maybe one week he forgot to take his Anacin and blew up when he found their cars in his parking space.
At any rate, there now is a witness willing to testify that Joey is a sweet, lovable character whose real mission in life is to help other comics get laughs. "I don't know what it was with Joe Flynn or Guy Marks, but it's foolish to say they are out because they got too many laughs," attests Corbett Monica, the latest comic addition to the show.
"Joey is the boss, and he is in control. If he hadn't wanted these guys to get laughs, he'd take them out of the script before show time. Right? I get lots of laughs, but would I get 'em if Joey didn't want me to? I don't understand this talk about Joey."
In Corbett's case, the friendship with Joey goes back a ways. They both come from Englewwod, N.J., and for eight years lived only four blocks from each other. Once when Joey was hosting NBC's "Tonight" show for a week, he had his friend and neighbor, Corbett, on twice as a guest. It was then that Joey decided Corbett would be right for Joey's own comedy series. ----
Could it be that Joey was taking advantage of the situation with Marks to make room for his old buddy Monica?
In any case, by September of that year, even Joe Flynn, enjoying success of his own on McHale's Navy weighed in on the Bishop Show, albeit indirectly.
The Evening Independent - September 2, 1963
By Cynthia Lowry
Hollywood
Actor's feuds can be very fierce. Joe Flynn, who now plays the sarcastic Captain Binghamton in "McHale's Navy" still is so annoyed with "The Joey Bishop Show" that he doesn't even mention it in his list of acting credits - although he included brief appearances on "Hawaiian Eye," "Ozzie and Harriet" and "The Eddie Fisher Show." Flynn played a sharp-tongued ne'er do well brother-in-law during the first year of the Bishop comedy, a role that was swept away with a lot of others when the series was completely revamped and renamed "The New Joey Bishop Show." ----
The Joey Bishop Show ran from 1961-1964 on NBC-TV. Then, in 1964, it moved to CBS-TV, for a final season and soon after cancelled when ratings sunk while going up against NBC's hit, western, Bonanaza.
Unlike the color version of the NBC show, CBS shot the Bishop show in monochrome (Black & White). This is often sited for it's diminished value in syndication. The series had rarely been seen in coming years, until ME-TV picked it up for cable syndication in 2012.