Ernest Edward Kovacs (1919 – 1962, was a popular American TV comedian, actor, and writer. Often spontaneous, his zany comedy style influenced numerous TV comedy programs for years after his death. Frequently his slapstick humor included unusual behaviors such as hosting a pet marmoset or wrestling a jaguar.
While Kovacs and his wife Edie Adams received Emmy nominations for their comedy series in the 1950s, it was not until after his death in an automobile accident in 1962 that he received an Emmy for Outstanding Electronic Camera Work and the Directors’ Guild award.
Later, he was inducted into the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his work in television.
Source: Wikipedia
Kovacs took over part-time emceeing the Tonight Show which was invented by Steve Allen, who had created the Tonight Show with almost no production budget
####
(wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ernie_Kovacs_Show
From July 2 to September 10, 1956, NBC ran The Ernie Kovacs Show as a summer replacement series for Caesar’s Hour starring Sid Caesar. Kovacs also served as the regular substitute for Steve Allen on Tonight from September 1956 until Allen’s departure from the show.
####
While Kovacs was very funny with his zany bits,no one had the talent to replace Steve Allen, perhaps the most talented performer of the 20th Century.
https://www.nytimes.com/2000/11/01/arts/steve-allen-comedian-who-pioneered-late-night-tv-talk-shows-is-dead-at-78.html