TV's forgotten genius: Ernie Kovacs

The process of understanding a new medium is glacial. Unless a visionary arrives in the formative years of a medium's lifespan, most artists within the field find themselves blindly groping in the dark to unravel the most effective use of the form. Cinephiles usually laud Citizen Kane as one of the first films to elevate the medium of movies through its groundbreaking use of cinematography. For perspective, Citizen Kane came out in 1941. That's 53 years after the birth of film as a medium. 

You could argue that the medium of television is currently in the middle of its renaissance. Shows like Breaking BadGame of Thrones, and Ozark have defied the notion that television is a lesser form than film. One of the essential ingredients in the success of the aforementioned shows comes from their use of dynamic shots that evoke emotion. For decades, most of the cinematography in television was strictly functional. It focused on telling the story cheaply and effectively but rarely on artistry. In short, until recently, artists in the field of television seldom played with the medium's potential. Ernie Kovacs is one of the earliest exceptions to this notion. 

Through his madcap comedy series, Ernie Kovacs is credited by peers and historians as one of the most gifted visionaries in television. For his era, Kovacs understood the medium of television intimately. Most Kovacs' gags and premises rely upon clever camera angles and movement that feel contemporary compared to his peers. While some of the jokes don't land with the same punch as the era of their creation, the creativity Kovacs displays is as potent as ever. Personally, The Ernie Kovacs Show feels like an early version of Adult Swim's live-action efforts. Had Kovacs' life not been claimed in a tragic car accident in 1962, who knows how influential he might have become. The current television renaissance could've happened 30 years earlier. 

If you're unfamiliar with Ernie Kovacs, check out some of his greatest highlights in the video linked above.