Edie Adams on Letterman, October 27, 1982

Edie Adams promotes her then-upcoming Showtime special featuring her deceased husband, "Ernie Kovacs: Television's Original Genius." In the second segment, Bill Wendell, announcer for both Kovacs and Dave, joins the discussion. Unfortunately, there wasn't time for Bill to finish his story.

[@Lampshade51]

Ernie was very lucky to have Edie. After Ernie's death, the networks were throwing out or erasing many of his greatest works and she single- handedly saved many of them. Watching her work with Kovacs and later on her own, you can't help but be impressed with this multi-talented woman.

[@cmcb09]

Not only that, he had always thought the IRS was a scam. After his passing she was handed a huge tax bill, thankfully at the time she was still quite bankable. Thanks to various nightclub engagements and non stop other jobs. Paid it all off and made a nice nest egg for herself.

[@mehermusic2154]

the stupid networks erased the tapes of most of Soupy Sales' brilliant 1960's LIVE TV shows. Jerks!

[@sanford943]

@@mehermusic2154 Back then they never thought of monotizing any of those tapes. After all no internet, no dvd's. Unless some one actually taped the show off the kinescopes all that stuff is gone. It is probably nothing compared to all the movies that have been lost because no on took care of them either.

[@sanford943]

@@cmcb09 Her son talked about that on his podcast. It was quite a bit of money. I think he said it took ten years to pay off that debt. Not sure how much she made for herself.

[@photomanwilliams4147]

My love of Edie Adams got me in so much trouble. Mid 60's I was in high school and Edie and her husband were doing a fundraiser at a golf course not far from my home. I ditched school and was able to sneak onto the grounds. I saw Edie and had to meet her so I approached her. She was kind and we spoke for a few moments. During that time the local newspaper took our picture unknown to me by the way and the next morning the photo appeared in the local newspaper. My parents, and school officials all had the same question for me. How was I able to be in this photo at a time when I was supposed to be in school? Sure, I paid a heavy price for that moment, but the joy I've received over the years at the time such as this exceeds that brief bit of trouble. Yea! totally worth it!

[@dongiller]

That’s a wonderful memory, but the date is off: Ernie was killed in January 1962.

[@photomanwilliams4147]

@@dongiller I mis-spoke, I meant her husband after Earnie's death

[@dongiller]

Ah! That makes more sense. :)

[@Dreamskater100]

What a lovely story!

[@nealbfinn]

I was big time in love with Edie when I was eight years old. Dang, she was gorgeous.

[@salvagemonster3612]

Not surprising since Dave was a huge fan of Ernie. And took so many ideas from his show. What a nice lady

[@davidweinstock4977]

every body took ideas from ernie kovacs. george schlatter's gorgeous wife was the brunette on the show. jolene brand, and schlatter later 'invented' 'laugh in'. i think it was after kovacs died, and he probably didn't go over budget on every scene like kovacs probably did.

[@InsertName125]

I don't think Letterman was "bored" at all. Letterman was an avid fan of his predecessors. Letterman always had a tendency to be less over the top whenever he was interviewing someone he really respected. That's what I see here.

[@Scorchy666]

Agreed. Letterman was showing reverence.

[@badabingbadaboom6333]

She sang my favourite song “That’s All” on the last episode of I Love Lucy. Wells up my eyes each time I listen to it.

[@scotnick59]

she was SO cute whilst singing that!

[@Dreamskater100]

I'd like to see that. Hope it's on youtube.

[@scottevans748]

A trooper, a survivor, and Tempest Stoner. I loved her from the age of ten when I stumbled into the living room whilst she was hawking the cigars. I still do. What a broad, Presbyterian from Tenafly, N.J.

[@Dreamskater100]

What is 'hawking the cigars'?

[@robertburnett5561]

She was crushed by his death. Too young.

[@JesseWright68]

She was an incredible hottie in The Apartment. Great movie too.

[@barbaradownie3265]

LOVE THE NAIROBI TRIO 🥰🥰🥰

[@blackhawkwxfan]

Back in the early 60's, she was smoking hot and quite the singer. I hardly recognized her here. There's a wonderful DVD box set of her variety show, Here's Edie available on Amazon. She can also be seen on some old game show uploads here on KZbin.

[@Tony-yg9mc]

There was a chain of these beauty shops with her name " Edie Adams cut and curl " my grandmother went there every week for her $4 wash and set. Then those shops turned " unisex" .. I found out when I walked into one location for a haircut , decided to try a unisex salon instead of a barber.. ,,only the name changed .. Not the decor or staff even the customers..much to my surprise they gave me a good haircut .. It was just awkward being a 19 yr old college guy getting a haircut amongst the old ladies in curlers .the lady cutting my hair, was a typical old school beautician in a pink uniform your grandma went to and also my grandmas age, but did an impressive haircut. I was a bit nervous since I've never had a beautician cut my hair let alone being the only guy in a beauty shop. Other than a couple posters of men's haircuts, the place had no masculine decor still circa 60's 70s beauty shop equipment.. For $ 8.95 .They also washed my hair , which I've never had done in a shop before either. Another elderly lady working there shampooed my hair first..I remember it felt so weird , I was kind of claustrophobic and antsy in the chair, the lady shampooing me was very nice, I think she knew I was nervous and kept telling me not to move my head and put my head all the way back in the sink. So that was my experience with Edie Adams ..A bit awkward , but 8.95 was good deal for a guys shampooing and haircut.

[@Janster59]

what a sweet woman!

[@Nick-ty9us]

Made sense that the wife of the guy who was one of the inspiration for David Letterman, appeared on his show

[@wiedep]

@ 2:55 Edie mentions "Ernie Kovacs: TVs Original Genius" you can see it here - kzbin.info/www/bejne/nqili31mh7WAjKs

[@eepyeepers]

Loved Edie Adams in Under the Yum Yum Tree with Jack Lemmon

[@Jessica_Valerio]

She looks and sounds like Elayne Boosler here. That 80's hair was something.

[@dafccmoran]

She doesn't sound from NJ at all.

[@Philacav]

Edie Adams was from Pennsylvania, originally.

[@justicebeginstoshine8069]

@@Philacavshe said she was from n.j

[@Tmanaz480]

Man, Bill was tall.

[@Tmanaz480]

She doesn't really explain marginal tax rate correctly.

[@Marcel_Audubon]

It wasn't an IRS hotline

[@pauldriscoll5356]

Can Letterman look more bored?

[@fanboy2015]

He always looked like that. Very low key at this time, He wasnt very animated in 1982, but his comedy was absolutely wierd and hilarious at this time.

[@thesingngchubbs97oapqueen85]

Jim Stark p

[@Marcel_Audubon]

he was annoyed she was deflecting his attempts to have her talk about the hard times