September 21, 1962 - September 10, 1965
Jack's guests are comedian George Gobel, singer Helen O'Connell and Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy.
Highlights:
Attorney General Robert Kennedy reminisces about J.F.K.
He discusses the new President John F. Kennedy Library to open in Boston Massachusetts. Jack Paar shows amusing press conferences with the late President.We also hear JFK's moving speech he gave at the Berlin Wall professing walls are an evil in every regard, an "offense against humanity."
Robert F. Kennedy discusses his plans for the future.
Bobby's first such appearance on television since the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963.
Helen O'Connell sings "Hello, Dolly"(only brief beginning is heard).
INTERESTING FOOTNOTE:
The day after this program was broadcast, a Dallas jury found Jack Ruby guilty of murdering Lee Harvey Oswald, the accused assassin of President John F. Kennedy, and sentenced him to death. The conviction and death sentence were overturned.
Jack Paar elected to pursue a three year NBC series in prime time soon after stepping down as host of THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JACK PAAR (1957-1962). These broadcasts took on the form of a variety / talk show format. Each telecast opened with a Paar monologue. Also shown from time to time were personal home movies shot by Jack on various trips by the Paar family to Africa, Russia, and Europe.Jack's daughter, Randy Paar would often assist her dad narrating these films.
Appearing with Jack were many of his old regulars from the TONIGHT SHOW including Alexander King, Oscar Levant and Jonathan Winters. This 10pm Friday prime time slot attracted many notable guests, including Richard Nixon, Barry Goldwater and Ted Kennedy. Also, given exposure were many young and veteran entertainers, Liza Minnelli, Judy Garland, Ethel Merman, Peggy Lee, and stand-up comedians, among them, Woody Allen, Bill Cosby, Godfrey Cambridge, Jackie Vernon, Mike Nichols & Elaine May, Burns & Schreiber, and Dick Gregory.
Impact appearances occurred introducing footage of The Beatles, prior to the group appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show, and a young Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali), singing and spewing poetry with Jack and Liberace.
After three years (one and a half years less than his tenure on THE TONIGHT SHOW), Jack Paar called it quits and would prematurely retire from the business with the exception of producing and starring in a handful of Specials for NBC and accepting one brief return to regular television, for nine months, hosting an ABC late night talk show, JACK PAAR TONITE in 1973).