tv 1951

Season 1, Episode 2 – Aired: 1/28/1951
Faye Emerson and Frank Sinatra Show
Jack's guests are TV hostess Faye Emerson and singer Frank Sinatra. Benny and Sinatra do a skit about New York City and Frank performs "Take My Love". From his dressing room Jack phones Mary to ask how he looks on TV; she confuses him with Sinatra. Jack tells Faye Emerson he should be her love interest in her new romance movie. To prove he's more than a comedian, he does a dramatic scene with her that's supposed to end in a kiss. Sinatra walks in, makes fun of Jack's delivery, and steals the kiss for himself. Frank Fontaine portrays John L.T. Savonie, a character that he would later use as Crazy Guggenheim on Jackie Gleason and his American Scene Magazine. In a running gag, he recites his endless Social Security number.

Stars
Eddie Anderson - Rochester Van Jones
Jack Benny - Himself

Guest Cast
Frank Fontaine - John L. C. Sivoney
Frank Sinatra - Himself
Faye Emerson - Herself

Recurring Roles
Martin Sperzel - Sportsmen Quartet (1950-1957)
Martin Sperzel - Sportsmen Quartet (1950-1957)
Bob Stevens (III) - Sportsmen Quartet (1950-1951)
Gurney Bell - Sportsmen Quartet Member

Ken MacClelland - Set Designer
Hilliard Marks - Producer
Dick Linkroum - Director

Mahlon Merrick - Music Director

Season 1, Episode 3 – Aired: 4/1/1951
Claudette Colbert and Basil Rathbone Show
Jack wants a dramatic role on an episode of Robert Montgomery Presents Your Lucky Strike Theatre that's already set to star Claudette Colbert and Basil Rathbone. He goes to the sponsor's office and pleads with producer Montgomery to dump Rathbone and use him instead. Not taking no for an answer, Jack crashes a rehearsal of the show at Colbert's apartment; Montgomery gives him a small part to read just to shut him up. Benny proves to be such a disruptive pest, Rathbone calls him a "schlemiel" and storms out.

Stars
Eddie Anderson - Rochester Van Jones
Don Wilson - Himself
Jack Benny - Himself
Dennis Day - Himself

Guest Cast
Claudette Colbert - Herself
Robert Montgomery - Himself
Basil Rathbone - Himself

Recurring Roles
Martin Sperzel - Sportsmen Quartet (1950-1957)
Bill Days - Sportsmen Quartet
Gurney Bell - Sportsmen Quartet
Jay Meyer - Sportsmen Quartet (1951-1954)

Dick Linkroum - Director
Writers: John Tackaberry, George Balzer, Milt Josefsberg, Sam Perrin
Raymond Scott - Musical Director
Hilliard Marks - Producer
Ken MacClelland - Art Director

Season 1, Episode 4 – Aired: 5/20/1951
Ben Hogan Show
Jack's practicing his violin at home; every time he hits a bad note, the portrait of Jascha Heifetz falls off the wall. He, Mary and Rochester (his caddy) go to Hillcrest Country Club to play golf with Bob Crosby. In the club locker room, Crosby sings "Because of You." Jack doesn't recognize golfing legend Ben Hogan and begins giving him unsolicited advice on how to hold a club and hit a ball. After being introduced, Jack realizes he does Hogan's laundry. On the course, Benny swings and misses before finally hitting it into the woods. Refusing to lose a ball, cheapskate Jack takes Rochester to search for it. Two days later, they finally give up.

Stars
Jack Benny - Himself
Eddie Anderson - Rochester Van Jones
Don Wilson - Himself

Guest Cast

Ben Hogan - Himself

Recurring Roles
Mary Livingstone - Herself
Bob Crosby - Himself

Ken MacClelland - Art Director
Dick Linkroum - Director
Writers: John Tackaberry, George Balzer, Milt Josefsberg, Sam Perrin
Hilliard Marks - Producer
Raymond Scott - Musical Director

Season 2, Episode 1 – Aired: 11/4/1951
Dorothy Shay
The guest stars are singer Dorothy Shay, the "Park Avenue hillbilly" and musician Frank Remley.
Bob Crosby walks on stage in the middle of one of Jack's monologue jokes and proceeds to sing "I'm Sending You a Big Bouquet of Roses". Then, Don Wilson interrupts to apologize for being late. Mel Blanc is the taxi driver who brought Wilson to the studio. Dorothy Shay sings "Beverly Hills".
Shay introduces, from the Ozarks, Zeke Benny and His Mad Mountain Boys. Jack, in bibbed overalls, leads the ragged bunch of hillbilly musicians in performing "You are My Sunshine" and "Fascinating rhythm". Zeke introduces the band members, including the young pre-teen girl vocalist as "my wife".

Stars
Jack Benny - Himself
Don Wilson - Himself

Guest Cast
Dorothy Shay - Herself
Lynette Bryant - Ma

Recurring Roles
Mel Blanc - Taxi driver
Bob Crosby - Himself
Sammy Weiss - Himself, Musician
Charles Bagby - Himself, Musician

Ralph Levy - Director
Writers: John Tackaberry, George Balzer, Milt Josefsberg, Sam Perrin
Ralph Levy - Producer
Hilliard Marks - Producer
Art Director - Harry Kemm

Season 2, Episode 2 – Aired: 12/16/1951
Helene Francois Show
Jack's ancient Maxwell breaks down in Beverly Hills while Rochester is driving him to the studio. The radiator erupts steam, the headlight falls out, and the hood flaps like a bird's wing. In his monologue, Benny discusses Christmas presents for his cast and crew. Jack introduces Helene Francois, a French singer he says he heard in a New York nightclub, who performs "All My Love." Don Wilson comes out dressed in beret and velvet coat to appear "continental" and impress Miss Francois. Jack brings back Lynette Bryant, the poker-faced girl his previous program's hillbilly segment, for a chat. Jujitsu expert Leon Salvadore, who supposed can throw anyone within 12 seconds faces six burly men from the gym. They promptly beat the heck out of him.

Stars
Jack Benny - Himself
Don Wilson - Himself
Dennis Day - Himself
Eddie Anderson - Rochester Van Jones

Guest Cast
Lynette Bryant - Herself
Helene Francios - Herself

Recurring Roles
Martin Sperzel - Sportsmen Quartet (1950-1957)
Jay Meyer - Sportsmen Quartet (1951-1954)
Bill Days - Sportsmen Quartet
Gurney Bell - Sportsmen Quartet