Original title
Your Show of Shows
Released
2/25/1950
Origin country
US
Genre
Comedy
Production companies
Max Liebman Productions
Status
Ended
Number of seasons
5
Number of episodes
136
Your Show of Shows was a live 90-minute variety show that was broadcast weekly in the United States on NBC, from February 25, 1950, until June 5, 1954, featuring Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca. Other featured performers were Carl Reiner, Howard Morris, Bill Hayes, Judy Johnson, The Hamilton Trio and the soprano Marguerite Piazza. José Ferrer made several guest appearances on the series. The series was telecast from the now-demolished International Theatre at 5 Columbus Circle and the Century Theater, now demolished, in New York. During 2002, Your Show of Shows was ranked #30 on TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time.
In the premiere telecast, guests are actor Burgess Meredith, and comic actress Gertrude Lawrence. Sketches include Imogene Coca in a parody of turn-of-the century star Lilian Russell; Sid Caesar as a psychologist; Lawrence appears in "Live vs. theatre", a take-off on Noel Coward plays; Christopher Columbus; a nervous groom. Songs include "I Don't Know Why" (Lawrence);"Wiffenpoof Song" (Merrill); "Sweet Betsy from Pike" (Fisher, Ross, Hayes); "Smorgasbord" (Coca); "Main Street, U.S.A."(Foss, Fisher and Piazza); "Dangerous Dan McGrew".
Burgess Meredith is again the emcee for the second show. Highlights: The opening sketch follows a writer at the typewriter, revising a story as he types. Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca (introduced by name) enact the story as the writer revises their breakfast ordeal. Also appearing are Robert Merrill, ventriloquist Clifford Guest, and Marguerite Piazza.
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