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JACK BENNY PROGRAM, THE / aka THE GRAPE NUTS FLAKES PROGRAM - Jack Is Late For the Program

Air Date/Released Sunday, February 7, 1943
Station/Studio NBC Red (radio)
Host/Star Jack Benny
Featuring Joe Besser (Solo)

Jack Benny 1930s - 1950s radio show, noteworthy for the characters and characterizations that made his show a Sunday night favorite. Benny’s regular cast of characters included girlfriend Mary Livingstone (Jack’s real-life wife), vocalist Dennis Day, bandleader Phil Harris, announcer Don Wilson, and valet Eddie ‘Rochester’ Anderson. A trademark of the show was its ensemble chemistry, and writers that wrote as much for the supporting cast’s comic characterizations as they did for the star… e.g., Day’s dumb kid, Harris’ hard-partying bandleader with an orchestra of drunks and ne’er-do-wells, Mary with a wisecrack at the ready to deflate Jack’s vanity, etc.

Continuing its tour of benefit and military base performances, the cast has arrived back in New York City with one exception… Jack fell behind schedule thanks to ‘Rochester,’ took a late train from Norfolk VA, and will be late for the show. Filling in for Jack is guest George Jessel, and Dennis can’t tell the difference. Not knowing that Jack and Rochester are listening on the train’s radio, the cast takes potshots at the star. Jack arrives, and thanks to some earlier prodding by Mary, Jessel wastes no time demanding to be paid $500 for hosting the show, so Jack tries to pay him with a check post-dated 1945. Dennis sings “Moonlight Mood.” Joe Besser arrives announcing himself as Jessel’s employee, looking for a cane George left behind, providing an opportunity for his classic “Not so fa-a-a-st!” schtick. (Rochester later takes an opportunity to imitate Joe with the same catchphrase.)


Abe Lyman was one of several guest conductors for the Benny program in late 1942 and early 1943 when Phil Harris was serving in the Merchant Marine.

Cast: Jack Benny (Himself), Don Wilson (Announcer), Mary Benny (Mary Livingstone), Eddie Anderson (Rochester Van Jones), Dennis Day (Himself), Abe Lyman (Orchestra), George Jessel (Himself), Joe Besser (Himself)

Crew: Ed Beloin, Bill Morrow (Writers)
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