Kovacs on the Corner (1952)

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Hello?

Here's something I never thought I'd see.. the much-maligned and very short-lived Kovacs Philly daytime vehicle Kovacs on the Corner. Clearly taking its "inspiration" from Allen's Alley (which bombed spectacularly on TV), Ernie copes with the show's weak motif by largely ignoring it. The result has something of the same loopy conversational charm as Kukla, Fran, and Ollie and there's a nice anarchic sheen around the edges but Ernie is clearly biding his time. KOTC lasted a mere three months and telelegend has it that he took a hammer to the sets on the final episode. I don't doubt it, but I suspect it wasn't done with the ferocity that has been suggested. Kovacs clearly doesn't have that kind of emotional investment in it.