Big Shot

This episode of "GE True Theater" stars the pop singer Johnnie Ray as 'Johnny Pulaski'--a talented young singer who is about to give up his old life and turn professional. He's been given a tryout by some big-shot New York producer and he hopes to make it big. However, despite having talent, the business is amazingly fake and they want him to change his name. After all, an ethnic name like 'Pulaski' probably wouldn't sell a lot of records. But he's proud of his name and worries what changing his name would do to his father--who he adores. So, he's stuck--change the name and be a success or return home.

While Ray has a nice voice, he was no actor. A few times his expression was just baffling and the show comes off as a bit cheesy. But, it also is an interesting curio--a chance to see a 50s crooner try his chance at acting.

By the way, Ray really was hard of hearing and did wear a hearing aid--this isn't a microphone to feed him his lines!