he may sound modest but jack paar did more than just make his late night talk-show "work." to mastering the sit-down interview, the second-ever host cement a format that night television today. july 29, 1957. paar cut his teeth entertaining the troops during world war two. by the early '50s he received a few acting roles, one even alongside marilyn monroe in "love nest." however his confidence and intellect were much stronger than his acting and those skills were perfect for a program like "the tonight show." he took the lead from steve allen, whose version was much more of the traditional variety show. "i cannot put on a funny hat, if i do the audience says, 'take it off, it's ridiculous.'" paar didn't need sketches or song-and-dance numbers just his dry and witty humor. "they dry your sinuses. what are these things, sinuses, not adenoids, what are these?" "fingers." "yes." (laughs) he also had an uncanny ability to connect with his celebrity guests often getting them to let their guard down during his famously playful sit-down interviews. "what do you do for exercise?" "i

in 1957, the "next guy" was jack paar, a pioneer for the late-night talk show. "ladies and gentleman this is a 17-jewel, shock-proof, water- proof wrist watch. now watch this impressive demonstration. (hits watch). there you are. this hammer can be purchased at your local department store (claps)." this week "through the decades" would see the debut of a famously wise cracking rabbit. the olympics become the center of a new competition. and the royal wedding watched around the world it's still ahead on "through the decades." decades." he's won an oscar, worked with some of the biggest names in film history, and racked up a career of more than 75 years in front of the camera but he's never strayed far from his roots in a simple rabbit hole after all, it was july 27, 1940, when we first saw bugs bunny pop out of that familiar hole "you know i believe this fella is a r-a-b-b-i-t." technically he was a bunny. a bunny that became more than just a cartoon character. bugs bunny is a piece of american history and he made his very first appearance alongside elmer fudd in

. >> the first time i was on television, it wasn't even the jack paar show because he didn't like me. >> jimmy: that's what they used to do back then. absolutely. >> yeah. >> jimmy: and he -- so you went on there and then just exploded from there. you performed, you sang? >> i sang. >> jimmy: how did he know you? >> orson bean? oh, no. it just so happens that my first manager, when he came back to the bonsoir dressing room, which was as big as a a couch -- he said, "hello. i'm so-and-so. i'm the only gentile manager in the business." [ laughter ] and, you know, he had this client orson bean. that's how he got me on the show. i mean, i signed with him because he took me to a great restaurant and i love to eat. [ laughter ] so -- >> jimmy: that's why you signed with him? >> i swear to god. >> jimmy: really? >> i swear to god. >> jimmy: that's so fun. and then you went on the show and just -- >> now, i have a fantastic manager of 50 years. >> jimmy: i love that guy, by the way. marty. >> isn't he great? marty erlichman. >> jimmy: marty erlichman. [ applause ] >> and it's his birthday tom