[1] One of the pioneering TV creations of NBC president Pat Weaver, it demonstrated the potential for late-night programming and led to the later development of The Tonight Show.

[4] In February 1952, Amsterdam made his dramatic TV debut on an episode of the DuMont Television Network series Not for Publication.

[6] In 1957, he appeared as "Jack Connors" in the third episode ("The Three Pretenders") of the syndicated television sitcom How to Marry a Millionaire, with Barbara Eden and Merry Anders.

In 1958, he appeared as saloon manager Lucien Bellingham in an episode of the CBS western series Have Gun, Will Travel entitled "The Moor's Revenge".

Like Amsterdam himself, Buddy had a ready quip for any situation, and one of the show's most popular running gags was his insult-laden feud with producer Mel Cooley (Richard Deacon).

Buddy was also one of the rare overtly Jewish characters on TV in that era, with one episode revolving around his belated decision to have a Bar Mitzvah.

Amsterdam also wrote lyrics for the show's theme song, which were never heard on the air, but have been performed by Dick Van Dyke in concert.

", Amsterdam played the role of Ziggy Shnurr, a small-time joke writer, whom Danny found in the Yellow Pages after deciding that the family music act needed some comedy during song breaks.

Amsterdam played Cappy, owner of the local nightclub, in two Beach Party movies of the 1960s, which were produced by American International Pictures, of which he was vice president.

[13][14] Several sources claimed the change had occurred as a result of sponsor conflict with Amsterdam's commitment to The Dick Van Dyke Show.

[17][14] Amsterdam died at Cedars Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles, California, on October 28, 1996, at the age of 87, due to a heart attack.