'Soupy Sales: The Whole Gang Is Here' on WLIW

THE SHOW "Soupy Sales: The Whole Gang Is Here"

WHEN | WHERE Saturday night at 6 on WLIW/21

REASON TO WATCH Clips, clips, clips . . .

WHAT IT'S ABOUT Written and directed by Smithtown native (now living in Bohemia) Marino Amoruso, this is an especially clip-rich overview of the unforgettable kids TV host, who was born Milton Supman in 1926 and who died in October as Soupy Sales.

Think . . . well, think pies of the cream variety. There were (you will learn) more than 20,000 thrown over the years. Soupy appeared in about 5,000 shows, so that averaged out to about four pies an episode.

The show focuses on two phases in this colorful career - the New York years of the '60s, by far his most famous, and the show of the late '70s. This program has generous samples from both the black-and-white and color years, plus some true rarities, including a 1966 pilot called "The Hoofer," in which he starred with Donald O'Connor. Or this: On Soupy's set, there was always a door that he would open to some surprise, and he would often open it not knowing precisely what lurked behind. In one instance, his staff had hired a stripper, and Soupy opened the door to face a naked woman. Fans saw only his reaction; tonight, viewers will actually see the lady. "Uncle Floyd" Vivino of "The Uncle Floyd Show" provides commentary.

MY SAY For a shining period in the mid-1960s, New York had one of the great kids' shows. Soupy's show was quirky and charming, filled with sight gags, and puns - most of them awful and appropriately rewarded with a pie to the face of the punster. There were many characters, notably Soupy's huge, bipedal dog (always off-camera) White Fang, and Pookie the Lion. Fang, always in need of a trim and pedicure, had marvelously expressive hands/paws.

(For some reason, no mention tonight of Philo Kvetch, the detective, or the Mask, or Onions Oregano . . . so the whole gang isn't quite here.)

All of it was inane and often wonderful and pleasingly amateurish. If something fell on the studio floor, you would certainly hear it. This 40-minute telecast captures the spirit well.

BOTTOM LINE Sales played a key role in New York's TV history. This film is a loving reminder of what has been lost.

GRADE A