Today is the centennial marking the birth of Ernie Kovacs, the brilliant TV comic and video pioneer who was one of the medium’s first and most influential mad geniuses. He was born in Trenton, NJ, on Jan. 23, 1919, started doing local TV in Philadelphia in the early 1950s, when both he and TV were very young. Tonight’s TCM tribute includes, of course, the comedian’s film work –1957’s Operation Mad Ball at 8:45 p.m. ET, 1960’s Wake Me When It’s Over at 11:30 p.m. ET, 1958’s Bell Book and Candle at 2:30 a.m. ET, and 1961’s Five Golden Hours at 4:30 a.m. ET. But brilliantly and commendably, it also includes examples of Ernie Kovacs’ very best work, which was done on and for television. Consider this a taste of Turner Classic Television: three episodes from Kovacs’ final TV specials for ABC, produced and televised in 1961 and 1962, the year of his untimely death in an auto accident. All I can do is urge you – nay, beg you – to watch and record the trio of specials, which are shown tonight on TCM at 8 p.m. ET, 10:45 p.m. ET, and 1:45 a.m. ET. And I’m not promising for sure, but it’s the first chance in years for you to turn on your TV and see my favorite television creation and moment of all time: Rancid the Devil Horse. But Kovacs as Percy Dovetonsils (pictured), and one-third of the Nairobi Trio – those are guaranteed. Bravo, TCM!