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Season 12, Episode 1 – Aired: 10/15/1961
Season Premiere
Benny begins his 12th season on television with this episode taped in New York City. Jack introduces Phil Silvers in the audience, who promptly comes on stage and the two trade insults. Phil wants to know if Jack has signed his new contract; Benny tells him that's very the reason he's in town. Don's attempt to do the commercial is fouled up by Jack who tries different wigs on the bald announcer. Guest Betty Johnson sings "My Kind of Guy."
In the sketch, Jack goes to his sponsor's office to sign his latest contract. While he waits in the lobby, Silvers is inside trying to talk the sponsor into replacing Jack with himself. Unable to escape without being seen, Phil hides in the closet while Jack comes in and makes his pitch. After finishing, Jack opens the wrong door and finds Silvers...and Garry Moore, Alan King, and Jack Paar. They're also after Benny's job.
StarsJack Benny - Himself / Don Wilson - Himself
Guest Cast
Guest Stars - Jack Paar Alan King Garry Moore Betty Johnson Phil Silvers
Set Decorator - Phil Cuoco / Writers - Sam Perrin George Balzer Al Gordon Hal Goldman / Lighting Designer - Sal Bonsignore / Set Designer - Grover Cole Robert Tyler Lee
Musical Director - Mahlon Merrick / Technical Director - Hal Warner / Producer and Director - Fred De Cordova / Production Supervisor - Herman Glazer
Executive Producer - Irving Fein

Season 12, Episode 2 – Aired: 10/22/1961
Waukegan Show
This episode was recorded in Jack's hometown of Waukegan, Illinois during a recent celebration of its famous former citizen. Don Wilson shows the construction of the brand new Jack Benny Junior High School. Dennis Day, who's not impressed (there are "day schools" everywhere), sings "If Ever I Would Leave You." Jack, Don and the glee club from Benny High sing a State Farm commercial. The mayor of Waukegan presents Benny items to be sealed into the school's cornerstone including his first toy (a cash register), and a (broken) baton from his first violin lesson. A captain from the Great Lakes Naval Training Station reads highlights of Jack's Navy career, discovers Benny was never discharged, and has him hauled away to complete his duty.
Stars
Jack Benny - Himself / Don Wilson - Himself / Dennis Day - Himself
Guest Cast
Guest Stars - Christopher O’Brien Stanley Gordon
Sound Supervisor - Bill Kline / Associate Director - James B. Clark / Musical Director - Mahlon Merrick / Producer and Director - Fred De Cordova
Writers - Al Gordon Hal Goldman Sam Perrin George Balzer / Executive Producer - Irving Fein

Season 12, Episode 3 – Aired: 11/5/1961
Jack on Trial For Murder
Jack receives a court summons because his rooster is bothering the neighbors. He consults a loopy lawyer, Frank Nelson, who says he learned law by watching Perry Mason. His advice to Jack is to plead insanity. Jack returns home and finds Don and a Hawaiian woman doing the hula for the State Farm commercial. Jack dozes off and dreams he's on trial for the cold-blooded murder of the rooster. His lawyer is Raymond Burr as Perry Mason. Mason blames his lousy job of defending Jack on the Benny's writers, saying his are much better. Jack has the usual courtroom breakdown scene and confesses to being the bird murderer.
Stars
Jack Benny - Himself / Don Wilson - Himself / Eddie Anderson - Rochester Van Jones
Guest Cast
Raymond Burr - Perry Mason
Guest Stars - Addison Richards / Angelina Bauer / Grandon Rhodes / Joan Alvin / George E. Stone
Frank Wilcox - Judge
Directors - Fred De Cordova Hal Goldman / Writers - Al Gordon George Balzer Sam Perrin
Recurring Roles
Frank Nelson - J.B. Willoby

Season 12, Episode 4 – Aired: 11/12/1961
Jack Takes The Stewarts To a Play
Don and his wife cancel plans to join Jack and his girlfriend for a play. Not about to waste tickets, Jack calls his old friends Jimmy and Gloria Stewart to ask if they'd like to go. Mistaking Jack Benny for Jack Lemmon, they're delighted to attend. Outside the theater, a bum asks Jack for a dime; Jack gives him a Lipton tea bag. When Benny's free passes turn out to be invalid on weekends, the Stewarts plan to ditch Jack by claiming they need to buy a lamp. Jack takes them to a sleazy auction which features a striptease, an elephant leg stool, an obnoxious auctioneer, and free donuts.
Stars
Jack Benny - Himself / Don Wilson - Himself / Eddie Anderson - Rochester Van Jones
Guest Cast
James Stewart - Himself / Gloria Stewart - Herself / Jesse White - Auctioneer
Guest Stars - Sandra Gould Lionel Ames Carroll Harrison Hal K. Dawson John Craven Gail Bonney Robert F. Hoy
Make-Up Artists - Gene Roemer Harry Ray
Art Directors - Pato Guzman Rolland M. Brooks
Producer and Director - Fred De Cordova
Recurring Roles
Ned Miller - Recurring Role / Benny Rubin - Recurring Role
Musical Director - Mahlon Merrick / Director Of Photography - Sidney Hickox
Writers - Sam Perrin George Balzer Hal Goldman Al Gordon
Executive Producer - Irving Fein

Season 12, Episode 5 – Aired: 11/19/1961
Tennessee Ernie Ford Show
No one bothered to tell Jack that his guest, Tennessee Ernie Ford, would be appearing via live remote from his farm in Lakeport, CA. The two chat about farming and Ernie sings "John Henry" at his barn before the picture goes black. When the picture comes back, it's an attractive woman; Ernie says it's one of his "pea pickers." Ford also displays the square egg he's developed. The technology goes haywire when they attempt a split-screen fiddle duet of "Sweet Georgia Brown." Finally, things go berserk and Jack ending up in Ernie's barn and Ernie on Jack's studio stage. Don does the State Farm commercial with a man on a pogo stick.
Stars
Jack Benny - Himself / Don Wilson - Himself
Guest Cast
Tennessee Ernie Ford - Himself / Jane Burgess - Ernie's Peapicker / Guest Stars - Eddie Ryder Jack Searl
Assistant Director - Jack Aldworth / Editorial Supervisor - Bill Heath / Film Editor - J.R. Whittredge / Casting Director - Kerwin Coughlin
Costume Supervisor - Bob Christenson / Sound Mixer - Cam McCulloch / Property Master - Ken Westcott / Script Supervisor - Frances Steens
Set Decorator - Ross Dowd / Make-Up Artists - Norbert Miles George Lane / Production Management - James Paisley / Music Editor - Jack Hunsaker
Sound Editor - Jack A. Finlay / Art Director - Rolland M. Brooks

Season 12, Episode 6 – Aired: 11/26/1961
Jack Plays Golf
No one at Hillcrest wants to play golf with Jack because he's such a cheat. Members, including Don, now golf at sunrise to avoid him. He manages to make up a foursome with golf pro Eric Monti and two unsuspecting out-of-towners. Jack talks them into a high-stakes wager: ten cents for the game. Don does the Lipton Tea commercial in the locker-room. On the course, Jack cheats repeatedly, irritating the visitors to the point that they quit. Monti arranges to get an "important call" to get out of playing. When it's just Jack and the caddy, he hits a hole in one. He's delighted until he remembers that it's tradition to buy free drinks for everyone in the clubhouse.
Stars
Jack Benny - Himself / Don Wilson - Himself
Guest Cast
Guest Stars - Eric Monti Ned Miller John Gallaudet Barry Kelley William McLean John Graham Louis Nicoletti Jack Boyle Damian O'Flynn
Bobby Johnson Ray Walker Hugh Sanders Howard Wendell
Recurring Roles
Mel Blanc - Voice of Squirrel
Film Editor - J.R. Whittredge / Editorial Supervisor - Bill Heath / Assistant Director - Jack Aldworth / Production Management - James Paisley
Production Supervisor - Argyle Nelson / Art Directors - Rolland M. Brooks Pato Guzman / Director Of Photography - Henry Cronjager
Casting Director - Kerwin Coughlin / Sound Editor - Jack A. Finlay / Music Editor - Jack Hunsaker / Executive Producer - Irving Fein
Script Supervisor - Frances Steens / Property Master - Ken Westcott

Season 12, Episode 7 – Aired: 12/3/1961
Jack Is Followed Home
Guest star Bobby Rydell sings "Sitting On Top Of The World," and "Toot Toot Tootsie Goodbye." After the show, Jack is followed home, and a rock is thrown through his window. The rock thrower turns out to be Dennis, who is mad at Jack because Bobby sang instead of Dennis Day. Jack decides to take the law into his own hands, when he punishes Dennis.
Stars
Don Wilson - Himself / Dennis Day - Himself / Eddie Anderson - Rochester Van Jones / Jack Benny - Himself
Guest Cast
Robert Brubaker - Guest Star / Bobby Rydell - Himself
Director - Fred De Cordova / Writers - Hal Goldman Al Gordon George Balzer Sam Perrin

Season 12, Episode 8 – Aired: 12/10/1961
Jack Goes To The Cafeteria
Taking the bus to the studio, Jack asks the man beside him to help him rehearse a scene from the show. The two attract unwanted attention playing an arguing husband and wife. While waiting for Jack to arrive, Jane Morgan sings "The Second Time Around." When he finally gets to work, Jack flirts with Jane, and invites her to lunch at a cafeteria. After arguing with every employee working the food line, he and Jane rehearse the "arguing couple" sketch. The others in the cafeteria think they're actually fighting and begin to take sides. Soon, a full-fledged brawl breaks out.
Stars
Jack Benny - Himself / Don Wilson - Himself
Guest Cast
Jane Morgan - Herself / Dave Willock - Man on Bus / Vito Scotti - Chinese Food Server / Victor Sen Yung - Mexican Food Server
Guest Stars - Gil Perkins Robert Bice George Barrows Fred Graham Lee Millar Edith Simmons Charity Grace Ginny Tyler Mimi Doyle Frank Gerstle
Recurring Roles
Ned Miller - Recurring Role / Ross Elliott - Director / Benny Rubin - Bus Driver
Sound Editor - Jack A. Finlay / Music Editor - Jack Hunsaker / Casting Director - Kerwin Coughlin / Film Editor - J.R. Whittredge / Editorial Supervisor - Bill Heath
Production Management - James Paisley / Assistant Director - Jack Aldworth / Script Supervisor - Frances Steens
Writers - Sam Perrin George Balzer Al Gordon Hal Goldman

Season 12, Episode 9 – Aired: 12/17/1961
Jack Writes a Song
Jack wrote a song titled "When You Say I Beg Your Pardon, Then I'll Come Back To You." It's so putrid, whenever he sings it, windows automatically fly open. He asks film composer Dimitri Tiomkin to come over, hoping to convince the famous writer to arrange the tune for him. Don drops by to do his State Farm commercial and insult Jack's musical masterpiece. Locksmiths also show up to try to open his vault, the entrance to which is hidden behind a revolving bookcase. Jack sings the song for Tiomkin, who thinks it's lousy. As Jack picks up the violin to play the lilting melody for him, the locksmiths begin blasting, the windows fly open, plaster begins falling and Dimitri makes a dash for the door.
Stars
Jack Benny - Himself / Eddie Anderson - Rochester Van Jones / Don Wilson - Himself
Guest Cast
Dimitri Tiomkin - Himself
Director - Fred De Cordova / Sound Mixer - Cam McCulloch / Make-Up Artists - Norbert Miles Lee Greenway
Recurring Roles
Maudie Prickett - Mrs. Gordon / Benny Rubin - Locksmith / Ned Miller - Charlie, Locksmith
Musical Director - Mahlon Merrick / Director Of Photography - Henry Cronjager / Art Directors - Pato Guzman Rolland M. Brooks
Writers - Sam Perrin George Balzer Al Gordon Hal Goldman

Season 12, Episode 10 – Aired: 12/24/1961
Christmas Party
To prove he's not a cheapskate, Jack throws a Christmas party for his cast and crew; he even hands out surprise gifts. Frank Nelson, there with his "wife," finds Benny's sudden looseness with money suspicious and uncovers the secret behind Jack's sudden generosity.
Don Wilson conducts an applause test of three Santa Clauses for the Lipton Tea commercial.
In the warm finale, the regulars gather around a Christmas tree and welcome Mel Blanc, making his first appearance since his near-fatal car accident. He exchanges a few quips with Jack and does some of the voices he's performed on the show including Sy and Professor LeBlanc.
Stars
Jack Benny - Himself / Eddie Anderson - Rochester Van Jones / Dennis Day - Himself / Don Wilson - Himself
Guest Cast
Guest Stars - Jeff McTighe Mary Ellen Morris Mary Lansing Win Elliot Barbara Kirk Sam Hearn
Writers - Hal Goldman George Balzer Sam Perrin Al Gordon
Recurring Roles
Mel Blanc - Himself / Frank Nelson - Himself
Producer and Director - Fred De Cordova / Technical Director - Robert R. Stone / Art Director - Robert Tyler Lee / Executive Producer - Irving Fein
Musical Director - Mahlon Merrick

Season 12, Episode 11 – Aired: 12/31/1961
New Year's Eve
Jack explains to a reporter how he spent last New Year's Eve.
In the flashback, several musicians are celebrating in Jack's dressing room prior to heading to Don's house for the big party. Dennis comes in dressed as baby New Year, then sings the State Farm commercial with Don accompanying on tuba. Jack, dressed in black tie and tails, informs the boys he'll miss the party because he has a big date on the town with his new gal Gloria.
Gloria calls and cancels, leaving Jack with no plans. Dejectedly, he wanders the streets, stopping into a diner for a bowl of soup. The waitress, Gloria, apologizes for canceling because of work.
Back at home, he finds Rochester, also dressed up, heading out to celebrate. Feeling sad that Jack's all alone, Rochester stays home and the two ring in the New Year over a bottle of champagne.
Stars
Jack Benny - Himself / Eddie Anderson - Rochester Van Jones / Don Wilson - Himself / Dennis Day - Himself
Guest Cast
Charles Bagby - Himself, Musician
Producers - Hilliard Marks Al Simon (Producer for McCadden Corp.)
Writers - John Tackaberry Milt Josefsberg Sam Perrin George Balzer Al Gordon Hal Goldman
Musical Director - Mahlon Merrick / Associate Producer - Richard Fisher / Director Of Photography - Philip Tannura / Art Director - Robert Tyler Lee
Editorial Supervisor - Stanley Frazen / Film Editor - Guy Scarpitta / Production Supervisor - Herbert W. Browar