Fans or Frenemies?
Sullivan was now among the most well-known and well-liked television stars in the country. Additionally, his name was a byword for success; if you were able to land a spot on his program, stardom was all but guaranteed. Sullivan was brilliant and well-liked, but he developed a reputation behind the scenes for getting into arguments with his guests when they didn’t perform or act in a way he thought was appropriate. Additionally, you could be certain that your invitation to the show would be completely rescinded if you ever managed to lose the star’s favor.
Fans Or Frenemies
Not Great Buddies
Along with gaining notoriety for being the consummate talent scout and launching pad for showbiz careers, Sullivan was also developing a more sinister reputation behind the scenes as a notoriously sensitive and persistent resentment-holder. One of the most well-known examples of this was Buddy Holly’s appearance on the program. Even on screen, the tension could be felt when Sullivan purposefully pronounced Holly’s name incorrectly when introducing him. Miaow! What caused this public snub? In any case, he reportedly asked Holly to soften some of the more suggestive lyrics in his song “Oh Boy,” but Holly refused. And this was just the start of Sullivan’s numerous conflicts in the entertainment industry.
Not Great Buddies
