LIVE, LEARN, & LOVE
Do you take
delight in watching films, listening to pop music, or reading books? For
English learners, movies, songs, and books are one of the most wonderful
sources to explore the language! You can indulge in your favorite pastime and
still learn some expressions, words of wisdom, and oftentimes good lessons
while you’re at it.
#76. Sunday
Best: The Untold Story of Ed Sullivan (documentary film, 2025)
Although Ed Sullivan is best remembered for introducing
Elvis Presley and The Beatles to mainstream America, this documentary shifts
the spotlight to one of his greatest yet often overlooked achievements—his
unwavering commitment to booking and showcasing Black artists on national
television.
(Harry
Belafonte said): “Everything that you have suggested I’m guilty of having done
is true. But tell me something. When the Irish did battle with the British, the
rebel mood was considered quite heroic by all the Irish citizens in the world.
Explain to me what the difference is when those of us of color also strike out against
the same oppression. The Irish rebels who do that are heroic. Black rebels who
do that are not patriotic. We thought this was not about loyalty to the nation.
It’s about loyalty to the human condition, and our humanity was being terribly
brutalized. I left the meeting with nothing really resolved and I couldn’t have
been back in the office more than an hour or two, then I got a call from my agent,
and he said, “I don’t know what you said to Ed Sullivan, but you’re on the
show.”
ð This
powerful story recounts a pivotal 1953 meeting between Harry Belafonte and
television host Ed Sullivan that helped save Belafonte from Hollywood's
anti-communist blacklist. Accused because of his progressive political views
and civil rights activism, Belafonte chose honesty over compromise. Rather than
denying his beliefs, he appealed to Sullivan's Irish Catholic heritage, asking
him to consider the double standard in how patriotism was defined.
Belafonte pointed out that the Irish struggle against British rule was widely admired as a heroic fight for freedom, while Black Americans seeking equality and justice were often branded as unpatriotic or even subversive. He argued that true loyalty is not blind devotion to a nation but a commitment to human dignity and the courage to oppose injustice wherever it exists. His words deeply moved Sullivan. Despite pressure from sponsors and the climate of McCarthy-era anti-communism, Sullivan chose to stand by Belafonte and invited him onto The Ed Sullivan Show.
(Ed
Sullivan said about the harsh criticism from a newspaper columnist Harriet Van
Horne) “I hate adverse criticism. I am pop-off.”
ð This
is a famous quote stemmed from a long-standing feud between Ed Sullivan and the
renowned television critic Harriet Van Horne. Van Horne once famously mocked
Sullivan, writing, "Ed Sullivan got where he is not by having a
personality, but by having no personality."
Although Sullivan was often criticized for his stiff on-screen presence, those who knew him recognized a very different side of his character. He was known for his thin skin and fiery Irish temper, yet he was also quick to admit when he had overreacted. Sullivan once said, "I'm a pop-off. I flare up, then I go around apologizing." His willingness to acknowledge his flaws made him a more complex and deeply human figure than his critics often portrayed.
(Ed Sullivan said) “I’m delighted that Jack Kennedy won. It’s time the younger men of the country step in and make the decisions which have been loused up so often by their elders.”
ð Ed
Sullivan reflected his optimism following John F. Kennedy's historic
presidential victory in 1960. As one of the nation's most influential
television personalities, Sullivan welcomed a new generation of leadership and
believed it was time for younger voices to help shape America's future.
His comment captured the spirit of a nation experiencing a profound cultural shift. The election of the youngest president in the U.S. history inspired hope for renewal and progress. He embraced that same philosophy on The Ed Sullivan Show, consistently introducing bold, innovative, and youthful performers whose talent would redefine American entertainment and popular culture.
** Jean’s Small Thoughts:
Throughout
history, it has never been easy to be at the forefront of a cultural shift or
to become a revolutionary force in any field. My mother, who studied civil
aviation the United States on a Korean government scholarship during the late
1950s and early 1960s, often told me about The Ed Sullivan Show. Although she
was too busy with her studies to watch much television, she was well aware of
its enormous cultural influence.
This
documentary gave me a much deeper appreciation of Ed Sullivan and left me in
awe of his courage. At a time when the entertainment industry was deeply shaped
by racism and segregation, Sullivan challenged the status quo. He stood firmly
against pressure from network executives, sponsors, and others who opposed
featuring Black performers. More than simply giving them airtime, he celebrated
their talent and humanity, helping to reshape American television and culture.
Today, I
often see journalists, news outlets, and even self-proclaimed reporters turning
journalism into a platform for sensationalism, clickbait, fallacious stories, and
misinformation while there are bigger fish to fry such as dying people in GAZA
strip and war zones. Too many seem to have lost sight of the profession's
fundamental purpose and ethical responsibility. As a result, finding a truly
trustworthy source of news has become increasingly difficult.
This
documentary reminds us that even a television host could demonstrate greater
integrity, fairness, and courage than many politicians or newspaper editorial
boards during an era when people were recklessly accused of being communists
without evidence. Ed Sullivan never hesitated to speak out against injustice or
stand up to those in power. He remained committed to what he believed was his
responsibility to the audience: introducing truly talented performers,
regardless of their race or ethnic background, and allowing America to
recognize its genuine treasures. I have found his straightforward and
courageous attitude very attractive, because not everybody could stand up to a
batch of clueless brickbats on them in public. In this respect, Ed Sullivan had not shrunk or stepped back in front of the hectoring social norms.
All my admiration
goes to Ed Sullivan who became the lasting example of how integrity, empathy,
and moral courage can overcome prejudice and political fear in society. He was the real star of his own show filling it with budding glitterati regardless of their races.




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