Post by carpetcrawler on Jun 5, 2015 22:06:24 GMT -5
In Peter Marshall's really good book "Backstage with the Hollywood Square", Peter makes mention of disliking only two people: Dan Rowan and Bert Convy. Peter goes into detail about why he doesn't like Dan, but doesn't mention anything about Bert. I remember when I first read this this was a surprise, as Bert Convy is someone I really haven't heard, well, anything on, good or bad. Over the years a small trickle of info came out about what happened (Peter as it turns out filed a lawsuit against Bert over the hosting of 3rd Degree. Peter was supposed to be the host and did the pilot, Bert decided to just do the show himself) but never a full story straight from the source. Just recently found an interview Peter did with television historian Kliph Nesteroff in 2012 that now finally tells the tale:
I do kind of understand Peter's position here. I love Bert to death but this really is some surprisingly shady business on Bert's end.
Kliph Nesteroff: Another guy that ended up hosting game shows instead of continuing on Broadway... is the other person you mentioned in your book as not liking... although you never elaborate why... Bert Convy.
Peter Marshall: Another ass. The only two people I ever disliked in my whole life. Bert Convy I knew quite well. He came after me to do a pilot called Third Degree. I didn't like it. He wanted me to do the original thing he wound up doing - Win, Lose or Draw. I said, "It's a kid's show. It will only last two or three years at the most." I was right.
It only lasted a couple seasons. Third Degree, Warner Brothers came after me and I knew the head of the television department. He said, "Come on, Pete, do it." So I did the pilot. It was the only game show pilot sold all year. Convy got fired from his own show Win, Lose or Draw. They wanted a younger guy. So he wound up hosting Third Degree - without telling me. I had a meeting with TelePictures. They came here to my house and said, "We're not going to use you."
I said, "What are you talking about? I have a contract." They said, "Bert wants to do it." I said, "Well, where's Bert?" They said, "Uh, well, he didn't want to come." All he had to do was say, "Pete, I tell you what. If you don't mind, I want to do the show. I'll pay you off." I would have said, "Hey, Bert. Go ahead. Do the show. I didn't even like the show to begin with." And I didn't. It was a phony show.
But that little prick never came to my house and he never even called me. So, I sued them. I had a contract. I would have won a lot of money... but... he died. I dropped the suit because he had kids. He had some really nice kids and I knew his daughter well. She was a darling little girl, so I dropped the lawsuit.
So that was my experience with that little... and I said to TelePictures, "The show won't work with Bert Convy. He's not a 7:30 performer. He's too slick. He's like a fop." Guys control the 7:30 timeslot. They come home, they grab a beer, they'll hate Bert Convy. He's too pretty, too slick. I was right. They canceled it during the first season.
Peter Marshall: Another ass. The only two people I ever disliked in my whole life. Bert Convy I knew quite well. He came after me to do a pilot called Third Degree. I didn't like it. He wanted me to do the original thing he wound up doing - Win, Lose or Draw. I said, "It's a kid's show. It will only last two or three years at the most." I was right.
It only lasted a couple seasons. Third Degree, Warner Brothers came after me and I knew the head of the television department. He said, "Come on, Pete, do it." So I did the pilot. It was the only game show pilot sold all year. Convy got fired from his own show Win, Lose or Draw. They wanted a younger guy. So he wound up hosting Third Degree - without telling me. I had a meeting with TelePictures. They came here to my house and said, "We're not going to use you."
I said, "What are you talking about? I have a contract." They said, "Bert wants to do it." I said, "Well, where's Bert?" They said, "Uh, well, he didn't want to come." All he had to do was say, "Pete, I tell you what. If you don't mind, I want to do the show. I'll pay you off." I would have said, "Hey, Bert. Go ahead. Do the show. I didn't even like the show to begin with." And I didn't. It was a phony show.
But that little prick never came to my house and he never even called me. So, I sued them. I had a contract. I would have won a lot of money... but... he died. I dropped the suit because he had kids. He had some really nice kids and I knew his daughter well. She was a darling little girl, so I dropped the lawsuit.
So that was my experience with that little... and I said to TelePictures, "The show won't work with Bert Convy. He's not a 7:30 performer. He's too slick. He's like a fop." Guys control the 7:30 timeslot. They come home, they grab a beer, they'll hate Bert Convy. He's too pretty, too slick. I was right. They canceled it during the first season.
I do kind of understand Peter's position here. I love Bert to death but this really is some surprisingly shady business on Bert's end.
