Don Adams' Screen Test

In two 15-minute segments, Don Adams would direct the re-creation of a classic film moment using contestants/would-be actors. The making of the re-enactment was the comic part, even if the scene itself was not.

I remember them recreating Marlon Brando in "On the Waterfront" and the beach kiss in "From Here to Eternity".

Hysterically funny? No, but I remember that we made a point to watch it each week (in the pre-VCR days, don't you know?)

I've loved old movie ever since I was a kid. I was 13 when this played on TV. I expected the worst but tuned in. Actually it was pretty fun! Seeing some "name" actors enacting scenes from classic Hollywood films with amateurs was...bizarre (but fun). The ones that stand out were Loretta Swit in "Werewolf of London"; Don Rickles (doing Marlon Brando) in "On the Waterfront", Ed Asner in "Psycho"; Danny Thomas (doing Burt Lancaster) in "From Here to Eternity" and Darren McGavin (doing Humphrey Bogart) in "To Have and Have Not". The show wasn't exactly hilarious but just fascinating to watch. The only bad thing is that Don Adams wasn't given enough to do. A fun short-lived show from the 1970s.

"How would you like to be in the movies?" asked Don Adams each week at the opening of his own Screen Test show. It was a pretty funny game show where contestants teamed up with celebrities to reenact famous movie scenes. What made the show so funny was the numerous flubs from the contestants as they tried to master the scene.

To me, it was a labor of love for Adams, a classic movie buff who also directed a number of episodes of his classic sitcom Get Smart and appeared as a guest on the syndicated game show The Movie Game. But unfortunately, Screen Test suffered against the Prime Time Access competition as well as pressure from distributor MCA to change the format and that's what contributed to its demise after only one season. But in the 80s, when blooper shows became popular on network TV, outtakes from Screen Test resurfaced on the ABC series Foul Ups, Bleeps and Blunders. At least the show got somewhat of a second life and it should have had a longer run if it wasn't for corporate interference.

This vintage game show had contestants become actors in scenes from famous movies. A mock-up set was built on the game show stage, many times it was an amazing re-creation of a famous set. The contestants had to re-inact said movie scene opposite actors provided by the show. My fondest memories of this show featured one guest, some woman, made-up to recreate Elsa Lanchester's hissing BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN. Another contestant, a man off the street had to re-do the famous death scene "...thanks for the bullet..." from WEREWOLF OF LONDON. They even had an in-camera tranformation effect. It was a great insight to the film-making process.

I worked on this show .. Don Adams WAS my boss on/off for about 5 years .. he ONLY wanted Marty Pasetta to direct .. and Don could persuade anyone to do what he wanted:) .. The pilot, James Caan, Patty Duke, Connie Stevens, Jason Miller was an hour .. there were 3 judges and just ONE winning contestant from the 4 . when we did the series .. (people flew in from all over the world to try to get on the show) .. we shot two shows a day every other day for a total of 24 episodes OR 12 days of shooting . it was quite a FEAT .. but both Marty Pasetta (he is just super) and Don Adams knew exactly what it was they each wanted and got along just GREAT .. got it all done 'on the button' . Universal, where series was shot, had never done TAPE before and all 'THE SUITS' would come to watch & see 'how is that done?' .. we gathered out audience from the tour center . the contestants had to fill out forms in various newspapers or magazines .. thousands were interviewed by casting directors on the back lot at Universal . then about 500 were seen by Don/Marty .. we had a script supervisor to help . also a censor from both NBC & CBS as it was syndicated and would be on each network around the country .. Don & I traveled around the country to promote the show . it was super . it was Don's way of 'showing how outtakes happen' .. Universal canceled the show after ONE season . but they were immediately sorry they did NOT let it run for at least ONE more season ..

that was NOT a man off the street playing FRANKENSTEIN . that was LYLE Waggoner . who graciously came directly from his workout at the local gym due to another actor/singer or would it be singer/actor? .. uhhhh .. leaving ..

Nancy E. Barr http://us.IMDb.com/Name?Barr,+Nancy+E.