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Two hour-long, live programs, complete with original commercials.
1. NOVEMBER 11, 1956: Guests are Joan Davis (I Married Joan), Julie London, John Cameron Swayze, and Perry Como. Sketches include a bankrupt queen (Joan) attempting to wed a rich Hope; General Hope raging a ratings war with the rival networks (with cameos by Milton Berle and Steve Allen). Como sings two songs.
2. MARCH 10, 1957: Guests are Wally Cox, Rosemary Clooney, and Lana Turner. Comedy includes an Elvis spoof in which Cox's vibrating adam's apple is banned from TV for being suggestive; and a Playhouse 90 spoof.
Two more hour-long shows, both with original commercials.
1. JANUARY 25, 1957: Guests are Eddie Fisher, Betty Grable and Harry James, and the new comedy team of Rowan and Martin. Sketches recall Hope's meeting with Dick and Dan, and the making of a new movie star, Tab Hope, in exchange for selling his sole to the devil (James), who also does a trumpet solo. Grable does an elaborate song and dance number.
2. APRIL 5, 1957: Guests are Frank Sinatra, Natalie Wood (at age 18), and Janis Paige. Comedy features Hope and Sinatra as benched minor league ball players, and Hope and Paige masquerading as millionaires. Natalie discusses her rising career, and Sinatra sings a couple of songs. Loads of Elvis and Ike jokes - it's vintage TV at its best!
1. MAY 15, 1956: Vic Damone, Kim Novak, Leo Durocher, and Ken Murray guest. Comedy includes Hope having a serious meeting with the network executives- a bunch of pre-teens!
2. OCTOBER 21, 1956: A classic hour of comedy as Bob welcomes Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance, and William Frawley in...what else? A spoof of "I Love Lucy", in which Bob plays Ricky Ricardo and Desi plays...Fred Mertz! Also on this program - a rare TV appearance by James Cagney, and Diana Dors. Both hours contain original 1956 and 1957 Chevrolet commercials.
1. DECEMBER 24, 1950: A special Christmas show, sponsored by Frigidaire. Hope welcomes Bob Cummings, opera star Lily Pons, and special guest star Eleanor Roosevelt. Comedy includes department store Santas (including Hope and Cummings) all meeting together on a subway train. Carols sung by a boys' choir rounds out the hour.
2. DECEMBER 28, 1956: A holiday-oriented show from a military base in Alaska. Bob's guests are Ginger Rogers, Mickey Mantle, Jerry Cologna, and singer Peggy King. Mantle plays a pampered, spoiled private who's just been drafted, much to the chagrin of Commander Hope. Also, Hope plays a tourist visiting Alaska during the holiday season. Complete with original commercials!
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