"The Abbott and Costello Show" was the legendary comedy duo's foray into television in a format they could better control. Shows featured their signature brand of burlesque and slapstick humor. The pair played out-of-work friends always needing rent money while sharing a room in Mr. Fields' rooming house and getting into a variety of comedic situations. The loose plots prioritized any bit of comedy without regard to a story, and was the inspiration for Jerry Seinfeld's iconic "Seinfeld". A number of respected sources have placed it among the 100 greatest TV shows of all time.
The show was owned by Lou Costello with Bud Abbott working on salary. Joining the cast is their landlord Sid Fields (himself), Mike "The Cop" Kelly (Gordon Jones), neighbor/Lou's love interest Hillary Brooke (herself), overgrown child Stinky Davis (played by the 45-year-old Joe Besser, "The Three Stooges", "The Joey Bishop Show"), and Italian immigrant Mr. Bacciagalupe (Joe Kirk). Bobby Barber and Milt Bronson also often appeared in a variety of roles. Each episode was directed and produced by Jean Yarbrough. The series ran for 52 episodes from 1952-54, and the complete series is available today on DVD.
Reflecting upon the series, "The Abbott and Costello Show" was unlike anything yet seen on television with a constant stream of burlesque routines in a surrealist, segmented plot long before "The Monkees". Many episodes are mini movies, packing the best parts from their films into around 26 minutes. Gone are the musical numbers and romance, and depth of plot, but the comedy is there in a fraction of the viewing time. The episodes prioritize laughs over plot flow. As the first season progressed it seems the loose plots tightened up a little bit, however. "Hungry" and "Music Lovers" are two personal favorites. Season two opens with a number of changes. There's a new opening and gone are the short on-stage skits. It aids an effort to tighten up the plot, but reshapes what made the show so unique. Many of them, crafted by Clyde Bruckman, are reworked from Three Stooges material, as well as Buster Keaton. While not as strong as a whole as the first season, it is still very good. Overall, the series is an absolute treasure of two of comedy's greatest geniuses.
The show was owned by Lou Costello with Bud Abbott working on salary. Joining the cast is their landlord Sid Fields (himself), Mike "The Cop" Kelly (Gordon Jones), neighbor/Lou's love interest Hillary Brooke (herself), overgrown child Stinky Davis (played by the 45-year-old Joe Besser, "The Three Stooges", "The Joey Bishop Show"), and Italian immigrant Mr. Bacciagalupe (Joe Kirk). Bobby Barber and Milt Bronson also often appeared in a variety of roles. Each episode was directed and produced by Jean Yarbrough. The series ran for 52 episodes from 1952-54, and the complete series is available today on DVD.
Reflecting upon the series, "The Abbott and Costello Show" was unlike anything yet seen on television with a constant stream of burlesque routines in a surrealist, segmented plot long before "The Monkees". Many episodes are mini movies, packing the best parts from their films into around 26 minutes. Gone are the musical numbers and romance, and depth of plot, but the comedy is there in a fraction of the viewing time. The episodes prioritize laughs over plot flow. As the first season progressed it seems the loose plots tightened up a little bit, however. "Hungry" and "Music Lovers" are two personal favorites. Season two opens with a number of changes. There's a new opening and gone are the short on-stage skits. It aids an effort to tighten up the plot, but reshapes what made the show so unique. Many of them, crafted by Clyde Bruckman, are reworked from Three Stooges material, as well as Buster Keaton. While not as strong as a whole as the first season, it is still very good. Overall, the series is an absolute treasure of two of comedy's greatest geniuses.