Soupy Sales Dead at 83 - soupy sales - Gawker

R.I.P - live TV legend Soupy Sales, Dead at 83

Back in the era when many shows were live, the Soupster logged as much live camera time as anyone in history, possible excepting Hugh Downs. He certainly logged more pies in the face (25,000, by his count) than anyone else. He was a silly, amusing man and, by reputation, a good guy grateful for his career luck.

Trivia: he began his TV career on WKRC (with a "C") in Cincinnati.

Per Wikipedia:

On New Year's Day 1965, miffed at having to work on the holiday, Sales ended his live broadcast by encouraging his young viewers to tiptoe into their still-sleeping parents' bedrooms and remove those "funny green pieces of paper with pictures of U.S. Presidents" from their pants and pocketbooks. "Put them in an envelope and mail them to me," Soupy instructed the children. "And I'll send you a postcard from Puerto Rico!" He was then hit with a pie. Several days later, a chagrined Soupy announced that money was unexpectedly being received in the mail. He explained that he had been joking and announced that unreturnable contributions would be donated to charity. As parents' complaints increased, WNEW's management felt compelled to suspend Sales for two weeks. Young viewers picketed Channel 5. The uproar surrounding Sales' suspension increased his popularity.