Twentieth Century-Fox could not take it. Scores of disillusioned cinemaddicts had written letters to express their horror at the idea that 20th Century's beglamored Gene Tierney smoked cigars. The studio told NBC to fire the man who said so (Hollywood Gossip Columnist Jimmie Fidler) or no 20th Century star could ever appear on the network again.
Patiently NBC pointed out that Fidler worked for its recently severed affiliate, the Blue Network. "Red, white or blue," roared Studio Head William Goetz, "it's all NBC to us." The Blue Network stuck by Fidler, so Goetz removed stogied Guest Tierney from Abbott & Costello's...
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