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"Best TV Humor of 1957"


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I was at a flea market on a routine souvenir hunt today and I had one very curious find: a pocketbook entitled “BEST TV HUMOR OF 1957.” Written by Irving Settel, it promises “The Rib-Breakers from the Top Stars”:

 

“TV makes the top comedy of the year. If you’ve seen the real rib-breakers, you’ll laugh out loud all over again when you read them. If you’ve missed these shows, you’re all set for the treat of the year. BEST TV HUMOR OF 1957 has the best headliners – and the best of their best. As a wonderful parlour game, take your favourite program, assign reading roles at a party, and watch the hilarious results pile fun on fun.”

 

So far, so good. Inside, the book has script selections from Mr. Settel’s choices for Top TV Comedies of the year, and their respective episodes.

 

His selection:

 

  • The Steve Allen Show (selected segments from various episodes)
  • Our Miss Brooks (Episode: Living Statues)
  • December Bride (Episode: House on Blocks)
  • The Perry Como Show (Guests: Groucho & Melinda Marx, Gina Lollobrigida)
  • Mr. Adams & Eve (Episode: Typical Marrieds)
  • The Goldbergs (Episode: Wedding Plans)
  • The Jerry Lewis Show (Appears to be a one-off featuring Jan Murray)
  • The Garry Moore Show (Sketch: Having A Daughter)
  • The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (Episode: The Kappa Sig Party)
  • Private Secretary (Episode: Where There’s A Will)
  • Father Knows Best (Episode: Betty Goes Steady)
  • The Jonathan Winters Show (Selected sketches)

 

Hmm…notice one big omission?

 

In his introduction, which notes Mr. Adams & Eve is the only new show to make his list, he alludes to some of the perplexing omissions from the list, arguing that many of TV’s top “comedians” had become overexposed in the audience’s “quest for the new”.

 

“This characteristic is uniquely television’s and its effect has been to enforce a more limited routines upon its performers. Many of the leading comedians have switched from the crushing grind of a weekly show to appearances every other week, once a month, or to agreeably occasional guest appearances. Perhaps here lies the solution to the problem which has been plaguing television comedians. The forthcoming season will reveal its practicality.”

 

Interesting that his omission of I Love Lucy, and his observations, were soon followed by what was to become The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour!

 

Even more baffling is how many ILL gems he had to choose from this season, yet dips from elsewhere in the Desilu pond.

 

(Also of note: The cover features Spring Byington, Jerry Lewis, Buddy Hackett, Garry Moore, Steve Allen, Robert Young, Ann Sothern, Ozzie Nelson, and Eve Arden. No live for the Duffs, Perry Como, Gertrude Berg, or poor Harriet!)

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If these are supposed to be from the 56-57 season, then it looks like Mr. Settel is a little off in a few of his selections. The episode, Living Statues from Our Miss Brooks apparently aired in 1952. Also The Goldbergs went off the air after the 55-56 season. So if he's going farther back it's even more strange that a Lucy episode wasn't selected.

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I was at a flea market on a routine souvenir hunt today and I had one very curious find: a pocketbook entitled “BEST TV HUMOR OF 1957.” Written by Irving Settel, it promises “The Rib-Breakers from the Top Stars”:

 

“TV makes the top comedy of the year. If you’ve seen the real rib-breakers, you’ll laugh out loud all over again when you read them. If you’ve missed these shows, you’re all set for the treat of the year. BEST TV HUMOR OF 1957 has the best headliners – and the best of their best. As a wonderful parlour game, take your favourite program, assign reading roles at a party, and watch the hilarious results pile fun on fun.”

 

So far, so good. Inside, the book has script selections from Mr. Settel’s choices for Top TV Comedies of the year, and their respective episodes.

 

His selection:

 

  • The Steve Allen Show (selected segments from various episodes)
  • Our Miss Brooks (Episode: Living Statues)
  • December Bride (Episode: House on Blocks)
  • The Perry Como Show (Guests: Groucho & Melinda Marx, Gina Lollobrigida)
  • Mr. Adams & Eve (Episode: Typical Marrieds)
  • The Goldbergs (Episode: Wedding Plans)
  • The Jerry Lewis Show (Appears to be a one-off featuring Jan Murray)
  • The Garry Moore Show (Sketch: Having A Daughter)
  • The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (Episode: The Kappa Sig Party)
  • Private Secretary (Episode: Where There’s A Will)
  • Father Knows Best (Episode: Betty Goes Steady)
  • The Jonathan Winters Show (Selected sketches)

 

Hmm…notice one big omission?

 

In his introduction, which notes Mr. Adams & Eve is the only new show to make his list, he alludes to some of the perplexing omissions from the list, arguing that many of TV’s top “comedians” had become overexposed in the audience’s “quest for the new”.

 

“This characteristic is uniquely television’s and its effect has been to enforce a more limited routines upon its performers. Many of the leading comedians have switched from the crushing grind of a weekly show to appearances every other week, once a month, or to agreeably occasional guest appearances. Perhaps here lies the solution to the problem which has been plaguing television comedians. The forthcoming season will reveal its practicality.”

 

Interesting that his omission of I Love Lucy, and his observations, were soon followed by what was to become The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour!

 

Even more baffling is how many ILL gems he had to choose from this season, yet dips from elsewhere in the Desilu pond.

 

(Also of note: The cover features Spring Byington, Jerry Lewis, Buddy Hackett, Garry Moore, Steve Allen, Robert Young, Ann Sothern, Ozzie Nelson, and Eve Arden. No live for the Duffs, Perry Como, Gertrude Berg, or poor Harriet!)

What a find!! :) And you probably paid all of what, $1??? Good for you!  :peachonthebeach:

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