The only character no one ever saw inspired more gifts; he was Howard, the World's Strongest Ant. From the time of his WPTZ debut, Howard received more than 30,000 gifts from Kovacs's viewers, including a mink-lined swimming pool. Kovacs began his Early Eyeball Fraternal & Marching Society (EEFMS) while doing "Three to Get Ready". There were membership cards with by-laws and ties; the password was a favorite phrase of Kovacs's: "It's Been Real". Kovacs continued the EEFMS on his morning show when he moved to WCBS in New York in 1952. The success of "Three to Get Ready" proved that people did indeed watch early-morning television, and it was one of the factors that caused NBC to create "The Today Show". WPTZ did not begin broadcasting "Today" when it premiered on January 14, 1952; network influence caused the station to end "Three to Get Ready" at the end of March of that year.