Book Excerpt: "When Caesar Was King" by David Margolick

TL;DR

Fred Allen initially viewed television as a flawed medium, but exempted Sid Caesar from his criticism.
Caesar's suitability for television was attributed to his facial expressions and observational humor, which worked well in close-up and for "home consumption."
Caesar experienced significant stage fright and anxiety, often struggling to deliver his opening lines and present guests, which viewers perceived as "fluffs" and part of the show's charm.
The show's kinescopes were preserved for practical reasons, allowing for the reuse of old sketches, a testament to Liebman's philosophy: "Better a good old thing than a bad new thing."
Despite early criticisms of predictability, "Your Show of Shows" was highly popular, drawing comparisons to Chaplin and Fields and significantly impacting Saturday night entertainment, even influencing theater schedules.

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