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JACK BENNY PROGRAM, THE - English Sketch

Air Date/Released Sunday, April 16, 1961
Station/Studio CBS / J&M Productions
Featuring Joe Besser (Solo)

Jack Benny adapted his long-running 1930s - 1950s radio show to television in 1950, with the characters and characterizations that made his show a Sunday night favorite for decades. As the TV show progressed thru the 1950s, some of the regular cast retired, e.g., Jack's real-life wife Mary 'Livingstone' Benny, and the show focused more on Jack's "on-air variety show" adventures with guest stars. Regardless, Benny's vain and cheap characterization never changed, and radio cast members Mary, Dennis Day, Phil Harris, Bob Crosby, Artie Auerbach, Sheldon Leonard and The Sportsmen Quartet continued to make guest and cameo appearances. Don Wilson, Mel Blanc and Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson were supporting mainstays throughout its run, and Jack's television program remained a quality, comedy classic until it ended in 1965.

A TV magazine reporter (Jack Albertson) and photographer (Joe Besser) interrupt Jack's on-air monologue to take his picture and wind up arguing amongst themselves. Jack introduces guest star Peter Lawford, who joins Benny in an English drawing room farce... Jack plays an English matinee idol with designs on Lawford's wife.


Filmed on 2/24/61, this episode is a remake of Jack's live/kinescoped May 2, 1954 show with guest star David Niven, which featured Joe Besser in the same role.

Cast: Jack Benny (Himself, Cecil Frothingham), Peter Lawford (Himself, Lord Milbeck), Diana Dors (Herself, Lady Milbeck), Don Wilson (Himself), Joe Besser (Sam, photographer), Jack Albertson (Reporter), Milt Parsons (Jason), Dave Willock (Traveling salesman), Johnny Schultz (Derek Milbeck)

Crew: Fred De Cordova (Producer, Director), Irving Fein (Executive Producer), Sam Perrin, George Balzer, Al Gordon, Hal Goldman (Writers), Mahlon Merrick (Musical Conductor)
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