I'm amazed this still exists, let alone that it's up on YouTube. In January 20, 1961 (the same day John F. Kennedy was inaugurated), CBS debuted a new prime-time game show hosted by Jackie Gleason. It was called You're in the Picture. The show was done live despite a huge blizzard which blanketed New York. One of the scheduled panelists, Keenan Wynn, didn't show that evening and was replaced just before airtime by Pat Harrington, Jr. There seems to be some debate as to whether the blizzard kept Mr. Wynn away or if he smelled what was about to happen. Here is the full first (and only) episode that was broadcast of You're in the Picture…
The morning after it aired, critics hated the show…but not nearly as much as Gleason hated it. Though originally hired just to be the host, he seized control of the program, assembling meetings and calling in experts and show doctors to figure out what to do. One of those called in was producer Allan Sherman, a year before he recorded My Son, the Folk Singer, which would quickly become one of the fastest-selling records in history. Sherman's main contribution was apparently to convince Gleason that the basic premise of the show was unfixable.
However he decided it, Mr. Gleason told CBS he would not be doing that format again, no matter what. So the following Friday evening, the time slot was taken up by a half-hour of Jackie Gleason apologizing for the first episode. He just sat in a chair and trashed what they'd done the week before. You can watch that episode on this page.
This time, the critics were delighted, praising Mr. Gleason for his uncommon honesty and humility. Thereafter, he filled the time slot with a half hour of conversation called The Jackie Gleason Show — basically just him interviewing one of his show biz buddies. Eventually, CBS found some other program to air on Friday nights at 9:30 and the last of the talk shows aired on March 24. The episode of You're in the Picture that had been taped earlier next aired. One of the panelists on that one was apparently Johnny Carson.
The apology was a nice piece of damage control for Jackie Gleason. His popularity soared after it and in September of '62, he returned to CBS Television with a new version of his old variety show. It was a hit and a nice rebound from one of television's most celebrated favorites.