Edie Adams, It’s Been Real

Posted on 10/24/2008 at 12:45 pm by Bob Cesca

The late Ernie Kovacs is one of my creative heroes — in fact, a painting of Ernie lighting a stick of dynamite like a cigar hangs on the wall over my workstation.

Last week, Ernie’s beloved “favorite wife” Edie Adams died at the age of 81. I’m not sure how I missed that news, but yeah.

For several years, I was working on a feature film adaptation of David Walley’s Kovacs biography Nothing in Moderation — that is, until Walley, who became a really good friend, died suddenly of a heart attack back in 2006. I hope to eventually pick up where Walley and I left off. Kovacs was, without a doubt, one of the most underrated and underappreciated minds of the 20th Century.

Here’s Edie, Ernie and Jack Lemmon as the Nairobi Trio.

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  • Poleezz

    When I was a kid my Mom and Dad used to watch The Ernie Kovac show. He was an amazing comedic genius. Wasn’t Edie Adams the pretty blonde that did those commercials Cigars, cigarettes, tiparillos?

  • cactusgal

    Yeah, she was the Muriel cigar gal…”Why don’t you pick one up and SMOKE it sometime.” Loved her, loved Ernie. RIP Edie.

  • jmrunning3

    Wow, I didn’t realize she was still alive. RIP Edie!I remember so well my dad turning me on to Ernie Kovacs. I was a HUGE Python fan during their original PBS run, and he told me, “If you think they’re good, watch this guy.” A true innovator and brilliant man!!Bob, I hope you are eventually able to resume the movie you were making with David….and where did you get the poster???

  • NotAPollStat

    Thanks for the memory. I was pretty small when Kovacs was on, but I always remembered this skit! Edie Adams was always a classy lady. I wanted to be Edie (before I wanted to be Doris Day.)What a thoughtful tribute!

  • http://UfpbARTWL74YJCjH0bfS Readytohurl

    http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=DX5khYGqjPY&feature=relatedKovacs was brilliant and lived large, and apparently Edie was quite a gal … I understand Ernie left her with a mountain of debt and she worked practically non-stop until she paid it off.

  • Stranahan

    I’m with you, Bob. Kovacs was a real hero of mine and influence growing up. I recently found some old school papers and among them was a short essay I wrote about Ernie in 7th grad. (Feel free to buy the adaptation rights!)